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IG vs CMC Invest 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

In this head to head comparison of IG vs CMC Invest, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

IG
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
CMC Invest
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Fees

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, IG offers better pricing than CMC Invest 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 - IG would cost £0 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.

12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.

36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.

120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.

3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 per year.

query_stats 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.

Investment Choices

When considering the varied investment options provided by online brokers, IG and CMC Invest offer compelling services for UK investors. Both platforms enable share and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) trading, which are popular investment choices. Additionally, they support investment trust trading, providing further diversification options for investors. However, CMC Invest stands out by offering funds trading, a service not explicitly advertised by IG. Both brokers have received 4.5-star ratings from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices, indicating a high level of customer satisfaction.

When examining their standing among peers, IG ranks at number 11 out of 21 brokers, slightly ahead of CMC Invest, which stands at number 14. This suggests that while both platforms are highly rated, IG may provide a wider or marginally more competitive range of investment possibilities. Despite the close competition, potential investors should consider their specific trading needs and preferences, as offerings such as crypto trading, spread betting, and bond trading were not compared for both brokers.

Feature IG logoIG
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info Yes
Crypto Trading info
Advisor Services info
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

For UK investors comparing trading tools, IG stands out significantly against CMC Invest. IG offers a more feature-rich environment, allowing users to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on their charts. It provides an impressive suite of 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators for intricate chart analysis. Additionally, IG allows traders to add personal notes to charts, creating a more organised and effective trading experience. Both platforms offer real-time market data and the capability to create alerts for stock price updates, catering to real-time trading needs.

While IG supports a browser-based trading platform, details on similar support from CMC Invest are unavailable. Consequently, IG appears to cater to traders seeking in-depth charting and analysis capabilities, whereas CMC Invest may serve those who do not require advanced charting features. Thus, IG might be the preferred choice for investors looking for comprehensive trading tools.

Feature IG logoIG
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Web Platform info Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 19 0
Charting - Notes info Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes
Charting - Stock Overlays info
Charting - Index Overlays info

ISAs and SIPPs

For UK investors comparing retirement investment options between IG and CMC Invest, both online brokers offer a variety of tax-efficient accounts to suit your needs. IG provides both Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), giving you flexibility in managing your savings and retirement investments. Similarly, CMC Invest also offers ISAs and SIPPs. Choosing between them may come down to other factors such as platform features or customer service, as both brokers offer the essential retirement account types needed for British investors seeking to maximize their tax benefits while planning for the future.

Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.

Mobile App

For UK investors seeking a reliable mobile trading experience, both IG and CMC Invest offer iPhone and Android apps to suit your needs. Rated 5 stars for its mobile app, IG ranks as the second-best choice among 21 brokers according to UK.StockBrokers.com, reflecting its superior user experience. Meanwhile, CMC Invest provides a strong offering with a 4.5-star rating, securing the 11th spot on the same list, making it a commendable option for mobile trading enthusiasts.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources, IG and CMC Invest offer distinct experiences. IG provides comprehensive client webinars, including on-demand archives, across various topics such as share trading and retirement. CMC Invest, while also offering education on share trading, goes further by incorporating content on funds and retirement, though it lacks archived webinars. In terms of quality, IG is unrivaled, achieving a prestigious 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and ranking first among 21 competitors for beginner education. CMC Invest, though commendable, receives a 4-star rating and ranks 15th. These differences highlight IG's superior support for those new to investing.

Feature IG logoIG
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Client Webinars info Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When comparing IG and CMC Invest for market research features, both platforms provide research reports for funds, supporting investors in making informed decisions. They equally cater to those interested in shares and ETFs, offering research options in these areas. However, CMC Invest stands out with its unique offering of research for funds, which IG lacks. On the other hand, IG offers research on Contracts for Difference (CFDs), providing an option that CMC Invest does not match. Both platforms do not currently offer research on bonds or detailed views of portfolio allocation by asset class, which could be a consideration for investors focusing on these aspects. Overall, each service brings different strengths to the table, allowing investors to choose based on their specific research needs.

Feature IG logoIG
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info
Research - Funds info Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info

IG vs CMC Invest Winner

Which broker is better overall, IG or CMC Invest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found IG to be a better trading platform overall.

IG is an investment platform aimed at experienced investors looking to make frequent trades on the stock market, with thousands of shares, trusts and ETFs to trade. It offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use trading platform that is used by both private and professional investors.

Feature IG logoIG
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with IG or CMC Invest?

Both IG and CMC Invest do not offer crypto trading options in their investment platforms, with each providing a wide array of other financial instruments and markets for trading.

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Compare

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Overall Rating IG CMC Invest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Review IG Review CMC Invest Review
Winner check_circle
Investments IG CMC Invest
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes
Funds info Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info Yes
Crypto Trading info
Advisor Services info
Trading Fees IG CMC Invest
Minimum Deposit info £0 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £0 info £0
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £0 info £0
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £0 info £0
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 / £120 / £300 info
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 / £120 / £300
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 / £120 / £300
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £0 / £120 / £300
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info N/A £120
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £0 / £96 info £120 info
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £0 / £96 info £120 info
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £0 / £96 info £120 info
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £0 / £96 info £120 info
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info N/A N/A
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info N/A N/A
ETFs - Fee info £0 - £8 £0
Investment Trusts - Fee info £0 - £8 £0
Telephone Dealing Fee info £50 £0
Broker Screenshots IG CMC Invest
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools IG CMC Invest
Web Platform info Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 19 0
Charting - Notes info Yes
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes
Charting - Stock Overlays info
Charting - Index Overlays info
Research IG CMC Invest
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes
Research - Funds info Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info
Education IG CMC Invest
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes
Overall Summary IG CMC Invest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Review IG Review CMC Invest Review
Winner check_circle
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