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.
Your capital is at risk.
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.
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 both cater to UK investors with a variety of investment choices, but they differ significantly in their offerings. Interactive Brokers shines with a comprehensive range of investment options, including share and crypto trading, ETFs, funds, corporate and government bonds, CFD trading, and investment trusts. This extensive selection earns them a 5-star rating and the #2 spot in investment choices according to UK.StockBrokers.com. In contrast, CMC Invest provides access to share trading, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, yet falls short in areas like crypto and CFD trading, as well as bond offerings. Despite these limitations, CMC Invest secures a commendable 4.5-star rating and ranks #14 among 21 brokers for investment choices.
While both brokers offer solid platforms for trading shares and ETFs, Interactive Brokers stands out by offering a wider array of investment possibilities, making it a preferred choice for those seeking extensive financial instruments. On the other hand, CMC Invest might appeal to those who focus primarily on basic asset classes without venturing into more specialized trading options. Neither broker offers advisor services, which is something to consider if personalized financial advice is a priority. Investors should weigh these differences based on their unique trading needs and preferences to decide which platform best suits their investment strategy.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
CMC Invest
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|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
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 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.
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
|
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 |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Interactive Brokers and CMC Invest, both platforms cater to UK investors by offering research reports for shares, ETFs, and funds, giving users insights to make informed decisions. However, Interactive Brokers stands out by providing research on bonds and the capability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, offering more detailed analysis and portfolio management options. In contrast, CMC Invest lacks these specific features, focusing primarily on research for shares, ETFs, and funds without the added advantage of bond research or asset allocation insights.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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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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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 | |
| Mutual 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 | ||
| 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) | |||
| 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 | £0 | £120 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £0 | £120 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £120 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £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 | |
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| 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 | |||
| 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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