Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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, Interactive Brokers 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 - Interactive Brokers would cost £15 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £36 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £108 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £360 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Brokers would cost £0 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.
Interactive Brokers and CMC Invest are two prominent online trading platforms available to UK investors, each offering distinct sets of investment choices. Both platforms allow trading of shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and investment trusts, making them suitable for investors interested in these markets. However, Interactive Brokers sets itself apart by providing access to corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and contract for difference (CFD) trading, which are not available through CMC Invest. On the other hand, neither platform offers services like crypto trading, spread betting, or advisor services.
When considering evaluations by UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers receives a stellar rating of 5 stars for its comprehensive investment choices, earning the second rank among 18 brokers. CMC Invest, while slightly behind, still maintains a respectable 4.5-star rating, positioned at the fourteenth rank for investment options. This comparison highlights a key difference in service offerings and rankings, providing UK investors with insights into choosing a platform that best suits their trading preferences.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | 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 | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools offered by Interactive Brokers and CMC Invest, UK investors may find notable differences between the two. Interactive Brokers stands out with its extensive charting capabilities, providing the ability to display corporate events like earnings and dividends directly on charts, along with 80 drawing tools and 96 technical indicators. Users can also annotate charts and add both index and stock overlays for detailed analysis. On the other hand, CMC Invest does not support chart annotations, overlays, or offer any drawing tools or technical indicators, focusing instead on providing real-time market data.
Interactive Brokers also appeals to traders with its browser-based trading platform, offering a convenient option for managing investments online. While both platforms provide the capability to create alerts for stock price updates, CMC Invest only offers real-time market data, as Interactive Brokers lacks this feature. These differences may influence investors' choices based on their preference for advanced analytical tools or immediate market information.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 96 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 80 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing Interactive Brokers to CMC Invest for UK investors looking into retirement accounts, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). This makes them appealing options for those interested in tax-efficient investing strategies. Whether you're saving for your future through an ISA or planning your retirement with a SIPP, both Interactive Brokers and CMC Invest provide the necessary account types to meet your financial goals. Consider factors like fees and user experience when choosing the best fit for your investment needs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking reliable mobile trading options, both Interactive Brokers and CMC Invest offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Interactive Brokers' mobile app shines with a full 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the impressive #4 spot among 18 brokers. Meanwhile, CMC Invest is not far behind with a commendable 4.5-star rating, placing it at #11. Whether you prioritize top-tier rankings or notable ratings, both platforms provide solid mobile app choices that cater to your trading needs.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When considering beginner investor educational resources in the UK, Interactive Brokers and CMC Invest cater to different needs. Interactive Brokers stands out with its 4.5-star rating, offering live and on-demand webinars, alongside comprehensive content on share trading, funds, and retirement. Meanwhile, CMC Invest provides learning material on share trading, funds, and retirement without the added option of webinars, receiving a 4-star rating. Ranked #8 out of 18 brokers by UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is preferred for its extensive educational offerings, while CMC Invest, ranked #15, serves as an alternative for straightforward educational support.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When considering market research features, both Interactive Brokers and CMC Invest provide research reports for funds, shares, and ETFs, making them solid choices for comprehensive research on common investment vehicles. Interactive Brokers stands out with its ability to show portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available with CMC Invest, providing an edge for investors keen on tracking diversification. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers offers research on CFDs and bonds, filling a gap where CMC Invest does not, which might be crucial for traders and investors looking for insights into these specific areas. UK investors seeking diverse and in-depth market research options will find Interactive Brokers advantageous due to its wider array of research offerings compared to CMC Invest.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | 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, Interactive Brokers or CMC Invest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Brokers to be a better trading platform overall.
Interactive Brokers is a sophisticated trading platform aimed at confident and institutional-grade investors. For newer investors, Interactive Brokers is more intimidating, though it's worth exploring the platform to see if you could save money or access more investments compared to other brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
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| Website |
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While neither Interactive Brokers nor CMC Invest offers crypto trading, investors comparing these two online brokers should consider other features that align with their trading needs.
Select Brokers
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | CMC Invest | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | 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 | Yes | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Brokers | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £15 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £36 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £360 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £14.85 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £120 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | N/A | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £25 | £0 |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Interactive Brokers | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 96 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 80 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | 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 | Interactive Brokers | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Brokers | CMC Invest | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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