Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Hargreaves Lansdown vs CMC Invest, 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 Hargreaves Lansdown 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 - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
12 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
36 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
120 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1 per year, while CMC Invest 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 it comes to investment options, both Hargreaves Lansdown and CMC Invest offer a solid range of choices, but there are some notable differences. Both platforms provide the ability to trade shares, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, ensuring investors can build diverse portfolios. However, Hargreaves Lansdown stands apart with the added capability to trade corporate and government bonds (gilts) and also offers advisor services, which are not available with CMC Invest. These additional services help Hargreaves Lansdown receive a higher rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com compared to CMC Invest's 4.5 stars.
Despite the close star ratings, Hargreaves Lansdown is ranked higher in terms of investment choices, securing the 4th position among 18 brokers assessed by UK.StockBrokers.com, whereas CMC Invest is ranked 15th. Both platforms are not suitable for those interested in crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, as neither offers these services. Overall, while both brokers offer robust options, Hargreaves Lansdown edges out CMC Invest with a wider selection and supportive advisory services for their users.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and CMC Invest in terms of trading tools, Hargreaves Lansdown clearly leads with its robust charting capabilities. It offers an array of features including the ability to display corporate events like earnings and dividends directly on charts, which CMC Invest does not provide. Moreover, Hargreaves Lansdown boasts 11 drawing tools and 15 technical indicators for detailed analysis, whereas CMC Invest offers none. Additionally, Hargreaves Lansdown allows the addition of both index and stock overlays to charts, further tailoring the user experience for advanced traders, a feature absent in CMC Invest's offerings.
Both platforms offer real-time market data and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, ensuring traders receive timely information. However, Hargreaves Lansdown enhances user accessibility with a browser-based trading platform, a convenience that CMC Invest lacks. While neither platform supports adding notes to charts, Hargreaves Lansdown's comprehensive toolset provides a more enriched trading environment compared to CMC Invest. For traders seeking a platform with expansive charting features and a more interactive trading experience, Hargreaves Lansdown emerges as the superior choice.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and CMC Invest, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP), catering to those focused on retirement savings. Hargreaves Lansdown, a well-known name in the investment world, provides a robust suite of features and resources for managing one's retirement funds through ISAs and SIPPs. Similarly, CMC Invest also offers these tax-efficient accounts, ensuring investors have access to essential tools for securing their financial futures. Whether you're choosing Hargreaves Lansdown or CMC Invest, you'll find both are equipped to support your retirement investment needs with their comprehensive account offerings.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both Hargreaves Lansdown and CMC Invest offer intuitive mobile apps available on iPhone and Android devices, catering to the needs of modern investors on-the-go. Rated an impressive 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, Hargreaves Lansdown's app stands out with a #4 ranking among 18 competitors, highlighting its robust features and user-friendly interface. CMC Invest, also boasting a 4.5-star rating, delivers a solid mobile trading experience with a #7 ranking. Whether users are managing investments through Hargreaves Lansdown or CMC Invest, both platforms provide reliable, highly rated mobile access to trading.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing beginner investor educational resources, Hargreaves Lansdown and CMC Invest offer distinct advantages. Hargreaves Lansdown provides educational client webinars, unlike CMC Invest, although neither company archives these webinars for on-demand viewing. Both brokers offer comprehensive education on share trading, funds, and retirement topics. However, Hargreaves Lansdown stands out with a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for beginner education, ranking 4th out of 18 brokers. Meanwhile, CMC Invest is rated 4 stars, securing the 13th position. This comparison suggests that Hargreaves Lansdown may offer a slightly more robust educational experience for beginners.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When it comes to market research features, Hargreaves Lansdown and CMC Invest both provide valuable resources, although they cater to slightly different needs. Both platforms offer research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and do not cover CFDs, ensuring investors have a solid foundation for decision-making. However, Hargreaves Lansdown distinguishes itself by allowing users to see portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature absent in CMC Invest. Additionally, Hargreaves Lansdown provides bonds research, further enhancing its offering for investors looking to diversify their portfolios, a service not available with CMC Invest. Overall, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a broader range of research tools compared to CMC Invest, making it a more comprehensive option for those seeking in-depth market insights.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, Hargreaves Lansdown or CMC Invest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Hargreaves Lansdown to be a better trading platform overall.
As the U.K.’s biggest investment platform for individual investors, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a wide range of investment choices for either beginners or seasoned investors. However, its fees are generally more expensive than rival brokers, which can become an issue for large investment pots.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
When comparing online brokers, both Hargreaves Lansdown and CMC Invest do not offer crypto trading, positioning themselves as traditional investment platforms.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Hargreaves Lansdown | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Hargreaves Lansdown | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | Up to £625 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,250 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | Up to £1,000 | £120 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | £0 |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools | Hargreaves Lansdown | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Hargreaves Lansdown | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | CMC Invest 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