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Interactive Brokers vs CMC Invest 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

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.

Interactive Brokers
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, 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.

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 comparing investment choices between Interactive Brokers and CMC Invest, UK investors can expect some distinct differences. For those interested in share trading, both brokers offer access to the stock market. However, if you're looking to delve into cryptocurrencies, Interactive Brokers emerges as the preferred platform, offering crypto trading, whereas CMC Invest does not. Investors keen on trading Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and funds will find both brokers suitable, as each provides these options.

If your investment strategy involves corporate bonds, government bonds, or CFDs, Interactive Brokers covers these areas, setting it apart from CMC Invest, which does not offer them. While CMC Invest might not cater to all niche investment desires, its solid offerings in traditional investments, such as investment trusts and shares, help it to secure a commendable 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Interactive Brokers boasts a 5-star rating, ranking second out of 21 brokers, marking it as a more diverse choice for seasoned investors.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes No
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info Yes Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes No
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info Yes No
Advisor Services info No No
Investment Choices 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

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 logoInteractive Brokers
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Web Platform info Yes No
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 96 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 80 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No

ISAs and SIPPs

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.

Mobile App

For UK investors seeking seamless mobile trading, both Interactive Brokers and CMC Invest offer user-friendly apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Interactive Brokers stands out with its top-tier performance, earning a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and securing the #4 spot among 21 brokers for mobile app quality. Conversely, CMC Invest boasts a commendable 4.5-star rating, placing it at #11. Both options cater to investors on the go, but Interactive Brokers may appeal to those prioritizing a higher-rated mobile trading experience.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

For those just starting their investment journey in the UK, Interactive Brokers and CMC Invest offer educational resources with unique qualities. Interactive Brokers provides both live and on-demand webinars, giving beginners flexibility in learning. In contrast, CMC Invest does not offer webinars. Both platforms cover essential topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement planning. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is highly rated at 4.5 stars and ranks 8th among 21 brokers for its beginner-friendly education, while CMC Invest holds a solid 4-star rating, placing at 15th. This makes Interactive Brokers a slightly more comprehensive choice for investors new to the scene.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

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 logoInteractive Brokers
CMC Invest logoCMC Invest
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes No

Interactive Brokers vs CMC Invest Winner

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

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Interactive Brokers or CMC Invest?

Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself from CMC Invest by offering crypto trading, a feature not available with CMC Invest, thereby appealing to investors seeking a comprehensive online brokerage with cryptocurrency options.

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Compare

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Overall Rating Interactive Brokers CMC Invest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Review Interactive Brokers Review CMC Invest Review
Winner check_circle
Investments Interactive Brokers CMC Invest
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes No
Funds info Yes Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info Yes No
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes No
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info Yes info No
Advisor Services info No No
Trading Fees Interactive Brokers CMC Invest
Minimum Deposit info £0 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £3 £0
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £3 £0
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £3 £0
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £15 £0 / £120 / £300 info
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £36 £0 / £120 / £300
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £108 £0 / £120 / £300
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £360 £0 / £120 / £300
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 / £14.85 info £120
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £0 £120 info
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £0 £120 info
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £0 £120 info
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £0 £120 info
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) N/A
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info 0.1% (for <10,000 EUR) 0.025% (for >10,000 EUR) N/A
ETFs - Fee info £3 £0
Investment Trusts - Fee info N/A £0
Telephone Dealing Fee info £25 £0
Broker Screenshots Interactive Brokers CMC Invest
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools Interactive Brokers CMC Invest
Web Platform info Yes No
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 96 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 80 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No
Research Interactive Brokers CMC Invest
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes No
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes No
Education Interactive Brokers CMC Invest
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Overall Summary Interactive Brokers CMC Invest
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Review Interactive Brokers Review CMC Invest Review
Winner check_circle
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