Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Invest vs Bestinvest, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, CMC Invest offers better pricing than Bestinvest for share dealing.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
CMC Invest and Bestinvest both let UK investors trade shares, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts through their accounts. Neither supports crypto trading, CFD trading, corporate bonds, or government bonds (gilts). A key difference is advice: Bestinvest offers advisor services, while CMC Invest does not.
For investment choices, UK.StockBrokers.com rates CMC Invest 4 stars (ranked 14th of 21) and Bestinvest 4.5 stars (ranked 10th of 21). If you want a similar range of shares, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts—plus access to advice—Bestinvest edges it; if you don’t need advice, CMC Invest provides comparable market access.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools of CMC Invest and Bestinvest, a distinct difference appears in their features and capabilities. Bestinvest comes ahead in charting tools with nine drawing tools and 36 technical indicators, while CMC Invest doesn't support any. Additionally, Bestinvest allows traders to add notes to charts and overlay stocks, advantages not provided by CMC Invest. Moreover, Bestinvest offers a browser-based trading platform, which CMC Invest lacks. On the flip side, both platforms allow users to set stock price alerts, but only CMC Invest provides real-time market data, enhancing decision-making speed.
Neither broker offers the ability to display corporate events like earnings or dividends directly on their charts, an important consideration for investors. For specific charting strategies, those interested in overlaying indexes will find neither platform fulfills this requirement. Overall, Bestinvest stands out with its comprehensive charting accessories, ideal for those who heavily rely on technical analysis, while CMC Invest's real-time market data can be appealing to traders who prioritise prompt information.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 36 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 9 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When choosing between CMC Invest and Bestinvest for retirement accounts in the UK, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), catering to diverse investment goals. CMC Invest provides a streamlined experience with their ISA and SIPP offerings, appealing to those who value straightforward investment options. Bestinvest also delivers competitive ISA and SIPP choices, often highlighted for their investment advice and portfolio management features. With each broker providing these essential retirement account types, UK investors can select based on their unique needs and preferences, knowing both options support key investment structures.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors comparing mobile apps, both CMC Invest and Bestinvest offer iPhone and Android apps. UK.StockBrokers.com rates each app 3.5 out of 5 stars, though CMC Invest ranks higher for Mobile Apps at 11th out of 21 brokers, compared with Bestinvest at 16th. If you want similar app quality with a slight edge in overall mobile standing, CMC Invest may suit you, while Bestinvest remains a dependable option if you already use its services.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investor education in the UK, Bestinvest outshines CMC Invest: it runs educational webinars with an on-demand archive and covers share trading, funds, and retirement. UK.StockBrokers.com rates Bestinvest 5/5 and ranks it 6th of 21. CMC Invest offers no webinars or on-demand content, covers share trading and retirement but not funds, and holds a 2.5/5 rating with a 15th-place rank. If you want structured learning and easy replays, Bestinvest is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
For UK investors comparing market research, CMC Invest and Bestinvest both provide shares, ETFs, and funds research, but Bestinvest goes further with research reports for funds and a clear view of your portfolio allocation by asset class—features CMC Invest lacks. Neither platform offers bonds research. If you want fund reports and allocation insights alongside core market research, Bestinvest has the edge; if you only need research on shares, ETFs, and funds, CMC Invest can still fit the bill.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, CMC Invest or Bestinvest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found CMC Invest to be a better trading platform overall.
CMC Invest offers commission-free trading of U.K.-listed shares and U.S. equities via a mobile app only. Though a newer entrant to the U.K. share dealing market and currently somewhat limited, it’s powered by global contender CMC Markets, making it likely that its offerings will expand.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
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Bestinvest
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Mobile App |
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Both CMC Invest and Bestinvest do not offer cryptocurrency trading, focusing instead on a variety of traditional investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Invest | Bestinvest | |
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| Review | CMC Invest Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | CMC Invest | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | CMC Invest | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £50 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 - £4.95 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £83.88 / £131.88 | Up to £500 or £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £83.88 / £131.88 | £500 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £83.88 / £131.88 | £100 - £1,000 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £83.88 / £131.88 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £4.95 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £4.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £4.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £0 | £30 |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Invest | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | CMC Invest | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 36 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 9 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | CMC Invest | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | CMC Invest | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | CMC Invest | Bestinvest | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | CMC Invest Review | Bestinvest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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