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IG vs CMC Invest 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

July 31, 2025
  Fact Checked

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
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £1
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Your capital is at risk.

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.

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

IG and CMC Invest both let UK investors trade shares, ETFs and investment trusts, so each covers the main options many people look for when opening an account. Neither broker offers crypto trading, spread betting, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts) or adviser services, but IG also stands out for offering CFD trading, while CMC Invest does not. CMC Invest does offer funds trading, which IG does not.

On investment choice, IG is rated 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com and ranks 6th out of 21 brokers, compared with CMC Invest’s 4 stars and 14th place. In simple terms, IG has the wider account choice overall, while CMC Invest may suit investors who want funds alongside shares, ETFs and investment trusts.

Feature IG logoIG
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Share Trading Yes Yes
CFD Trading Yes No
ETFs Yes Yes
Mutual Funds No Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) No No
Investment Trusts Yes Yes
Spread Betting Yes No
Crypto Trading
Advisor Services No No
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4/5 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

IG stands out for UK investors who want strong trading tools. Its browser-based platform supports detailed charting with 19 drawing tools, 33 technical indicators, corporate events on charts (earnings, splits, dividends), plus the ability to add notes, index overlays and stock overlays. You also get stock price alerts and real-time market data.

CMC Invest keeps things basic. While it offers price alerts and real-time market data, it doesn’t provide a browser-based trading platform, and its charts don’t support corporate events, drawing tools, technical indicators, notes, or index/stock overlays. If you need full-featured charting on the web, IG is the more suitable choice; if you only need live prices and alerts, CMC Invest may suffice.

Feature IG logoIG
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Web Platform Yes No
Stock Alerts Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies 33 0
Charting - Drawing Tools 19 0
Charting - Notes Yes No
Charting - Display Corporate Events Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays Yes No

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 comparing mobile trading apps, both IG and CMC Invest offer iPhone and Android apps. UK.StockBrokers.com rates IG’s app 5 stars and ranks it #2 out of 21 brokers for Mobile Apps, while CMC Invest’s app earns 3.5 stars and ranks #13. If mobile experience matters most, IG leads, though both provide apps on the two major platforms.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

For UK beginner investors comparing IG vs CMC Invest, IG stands out with live educational webinars and an on-demand library, plus guidance on funds and retirement (but not share trading). CMC Invest offers education on share trading and retirement (but not funds) and does not provide webinars or recordings. Reflecting this, UK.StockBrokers.com rates IG 5/5 stars and ranks it #1 of 21 for beginner education, while CMC Invest scores 2.5/5 stars and ranks #16.

Feature IG logoIG
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Client Webinars Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) Yes No
Education (Share Trading) No Yes
Education (Funds) Yes No
Education (Retirement) Yes Yes
Education 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

IG vs CMC Invest for UK market research: IG offers research reports for funds and lets you see your portfolio allocation by asset class, alongside shares and ETF research; it does not provide general funds research or bonds research. CMC Invest lacks fund research reports and does not show allocation by asset class, but it does offer funds research plus shares and ETF research; it also has no bonds research. Choose IG if you want fund reports and a clear view of your portfolio mix, or CMC Invest if you need funds research within the platform.

Feature IG logoIG
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Research - Shares Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Bonds No No
Research - Funds No Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports Yes No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown Yes No

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 3.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 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 2.5/5 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

0 of 5
Overall Rating IG CMC Invest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 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 2.5/5 Stars
Review IG Review CMC Invest Review
Winner check_circle
Investments IG CMC Invest
ISA Yes Yes
SIPP Yes Yes
Share Trading Yes Yes
CFD Trading Yes No
Mutual Funds No Yes
ETFs Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate No No
Bonds - Government (Gilts) No No
Investment Trusts Yes Yes
Spread Betting Yes No
Crypto Trading
Advisor Services No No
Trading Fees IG CMC Invest
Minimum Deposit £0 £1
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month £0 £0
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month £0 £0
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month £0 £0
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 N/A £83.88 / £131.88
Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K N/A £83.88 / £131.88
Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m N/A £83.88 / £131.88
Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over N/A £83.88 / £131.88
Bonds - Corporate - Fee N/A N/A
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee N/A N/A
ETFs - Fee £0 £0
Investment Trusts - Fee £0 £0
Telephone Dealing Fee £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 Yes No
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Stock Alerts Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies 33 0
Charting - Drawing Tools 19 0
Charting - Notes Yes No
Charting - Display Corporate Events Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays Yes No
Research IG CMC Invest
Research - Shares Yes Yes
Research - CFDs
Research - Funds No Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports Yes No
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Bonds No No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown Yes No
Education IG CMC Invest
Education (Share Trading) No Yes
Education (Funds) Yes No
Education (Retirement) Yes Yes
Client Webinars Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) Yes No
Overall Summary IG CMC Invest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 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 2.5/5 Stars
Review IG Review CMC Invest Review
Winner check_circle
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