Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Invest vs Halifax, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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 Halifax for share dealing.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.
3 fund trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £0 per year.
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.
When comparing CMC Invest to Halifax in terms of investment choices, both platforms offer a range of options, though CMC Invest mainly focuses on share trading, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts. On the other hand, Halifax extends its investment capabilities to include corporate bonds, government bonds, and also offers advisor services, giving it a broader appeal for investors interested in diverse financial instruments. However, neither platform provides opportunities for crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, aligning them in these aspects.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Halifax holds a higher rating of 5 stars for investment choices, compared to CMC Invest's 4.5 stars. This is reflected in Halifax's higher rank of 7th out of 18 brokers, whereas CMC Invest stands at 15th. Thus, while both platforms support trading in ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, Halifax's additional offerings in bonds and advisory services give it an edge in investment variety.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of CMC Invest and Halifax, it's clear that neither broker provides advanced charting features. Both CMC Invest and Halifax do not support displaying corporate events like earnings, dividends, or splits directly on charts, nor do they offer drawing tools, technical indicators, or the option to add notes or overlays to charts. However, a notable difference is Halifax's provision of a browser-based trading platform, offering flexibility for users who prefer accessing their accounts via web browsers.
Despite the absence of certain charting capabilities, both CMC Invest and Halifax ensure traders can stay informed with stock price updates by allowing the creation of alerts. Additionally, CMC Invest stands out by offering real-time market data, which can be crucial for traders who rely on up-to-the-minute information to make informed decisions. In contrast, Halifax does not offer real-time market data, which might be a consideration for those prioritizing immediate access to market fluctuations.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online brokers CMC Invest and Halifax for retirement accounts, both offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making them robust options for planning your financial future. CMC Invest provides both ISA and SIPP accounts, allowing investors to manage their savings and pensions with ease. Similarly, Halifax also offers ISA and SIPP accounts, providing a versatile solution for individuals looking to secure their retirement funds. These offerings ensure that whether you choose CMC Invest or Halifax, you'll have comprehensive support for your investment strategy.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile applications of online brokers CMC Invest and Halifax, both offer convenient access via iPhone and Android devices. CMC Invest stands out with a robust app earning a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, reflecting its user-friendly design and comprehensive features. In contrast, Halifax's app, rated at 3.5 stars, provides a solid platform but lacks some of the refinements found in its competitor's offering. Among 18 brokers assessed by UK.StockBrokers.com for mobile app performance, CMC Invest ranks impressively at #7, showcasing its strong appeal and functionality for mobile users, while Halifax positions at #14, indicating room for improvement to meet contemporary user expectations.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors between CMC Invest and Halifax, CMC Invest offers a more comprehensive learning experience. While neither platform provides live or archived client webinars, CMC Invest stands out by offering educational content on share trading, funds, and retirement, whereas Halifax does not cover these topics. This focus on diverse educational materials earns CMC Invest a higher beginner education rating of 4 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, compared to Halifax's 3.5 stars. Additionally, CMC Invest is ranked 13th out of 18 brokers for beginner education, outperforming Halifax, which is ranked 16th. Overall, CMC Invest provides a richer educational foundation for novice investors.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers CMC Invest and Halifax, each platform offers distinct advantages. CMC Invest provides research reports for funds and comprehensive research on shares, ETFs, and funds, making it a robust choice for investors seeking detailed analysis. However, it does not offer insights on portfolio allocation by asset class or research on CFDs and bonds. On the other hand, Halifax also delivers strong research capabilities for shares, ETFs, and funds, and stands out with its bond research offerings. Like CMC Invest, Halifax does not provide tools for portfolio allocation visualization or CFDs research. Therefore, when choosing between CMC Invest and Halifax, your decision might hinge on whether bond research is a priority for your investment strategy.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | No |
Which broker is better overall, CMC Invest or Halifax? 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
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
When comparing online brokers CMC Invest and Halifax, neither platform offers cryptocurrency trading options.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Invest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | CMC Invest Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | CMC Invest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | CMC Invest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £9.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £83.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £150 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £378 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £1,176 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £120 | £64.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £120 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £120 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £120 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £120 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £9.5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £0 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Invest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools | CMC Invest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | CMC Invest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | No |
| Education | CMC Invest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | CMC Invest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | CMC Invest Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
IG Group Review
Saxo Review
eToro Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Trading 212 Review
XTB Review
CMC Invest Review
Vanguard Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
Halifax Review
Freetrade Review
