Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Investor 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 Investor 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 Investor would cost £79.83 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £107.76 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £203.52 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £538.68 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Investor 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.
When it comes to choosing an online broker in the UK, Interactive Investor and CMC Invest both provide a variety of investment choices, but their offerings differ slightly. Both platforms allow share trading, which is appealing to those interested in owning stocks directly. Additionally, they both support trading of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and funds, offering diverse avenues for investors to diversify their portfolios. Investment trusts are also available on both platforms. However, where Interactive Investor stands out is in the ability to trade corporate and government bonds, options that CMC Invest does not offer. Both platforms do not offer crypto trading, spread betting, Contract for Difference (CFD) trading, or advisor services, indicating a more traditional investment approach.
In terms of ratings, Interactive Investor receives a strong endorsement with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, ranking it third out of 18 brokers. Meanwhile, CMC Invest, rated at 4.5 stars, comes in at the 14th position. While both platforms have their merits, these rankings highlight Interactive Investor's broader selection of investment avenues in comparison to CMC Invest, making it a preferred choice for those seeking versatile investment options. Yet, CMC Invest may appeal to investors looking for a straightforward approach to share and fund trading without the complexities of bonds.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For UK investors searching for comprehensive trading tools, Interactive Investor stands out compared to CMC Invest. Interactive Investor provides a range of advanced charting features, including the ability to showcase corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts. It also supports 18 drawing tools and 104 technical indicators, empowering users to make well-informed trading decisions. In contrast, CMC Invest does not offer these charting capabilities, potentially hindering more detailed technical analysis.
Interactive Investor further enhances its charting utility by allowing users to add notes and both index and stock overlays, which are features not available with CMC Invest. Additionally, while both brokers supply real-time market data and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates, only Interactive Investor offers a browser-based trading platform, granting greater flexibility for users who prefer trading from various devices. This makes Interactive Investor a more versatile choice for traders with a deeper interest in technical analysis and browser accessibility.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
For UK investors seeking retirement account options, both Interactive Investor and CMC Invest serve as viable online brokers offering Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Interactive Investor provides a platform where users can effectively manage their ISAs and SIPPs, catering to those who want a streamlined approach to their investments. Similarly, CMC Invest offers the same account types, ensuring investors have access to tax-efficient savings and pension growth opportunities. In summary, both platforms support ISAs and SIPPs, helping UK investors make informed decisions about their financial futures with their versatile offerings.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both Interactive Investor and CMC Invest offer iPhone and Android apps, making it easy for UK investors to manage their portfolios on the go. Rated 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, both platforms provide highly regarded mobile trading experiences. However, when comparing their rankings among 18 brokers, Interactive Investor edges ahead, securing the 7th spot for mobile app performance, while CMC Invest is positioned at 11th. This comparison highlights that although both apps are equally rated for user satisfaction, Interactive Investor is perceived as having a slightly superior offering in the competitive landscape.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For those new to investing in the UK, both Interactive Investor and CMC Invest provide valuable educational resources, but key differences exist. Interactive Investor stands out with live and on-demand educational webinars, which CMC Invest does not offer. Both brokers offer guidance on share trading, funds, and retirement, ensuring a strong foundation for beginners. However, Interactive Investor earns a higher rating of 5 stars for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking second among 18 brokers, while CMC Invest receives 4 stars and holds the 15th rank. This suggests that Interactive Investor might be the preferred choice for new investors seeking comprehensive educational support.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
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 Interactive Investor and CMC Invest for their market research features, both platforms offer research reports for funds, shares, and ETFs, providing UK investors with valuable insights. Interactive Investor stands out by also offering research on bonds and the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, which CMC Invest does not provide. However, neither offers research on CFDs. With these differences, Interactive Investor may better suit those looking for comprehensive market analysis and portfolio insights.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | 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 Investor or CMC Invest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Investor to be a better trading platform overall.
The standout feature at Interactive Investor (ii) is its low flat-rate fees. Other investment platforms typically favour percentage fees for fund investing, although more brokers are now opting for flat fees. Our view is that Interactive Investor is a great platform for any investor, offering a wide range of investments for cheap prices on the whole.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
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CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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When comparing online brokers Interactive Investor and CMC Invest, it's important to note that neither platform currently offers the option for crypto trading.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Investor | CMC Invest | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Investor | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | 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 | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Investor | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.83 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £107.76 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £203.52 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £538.68 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £71.85 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £59.88 - £143.88 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £143.88 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £143.88 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £143.88 | £120 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £3.99 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £3.99 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3.99 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £3.99 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £49 | £0 |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Investor | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Interactive Investor | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Interactive Investor | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | 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 Investor | 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 Investor | CMC Invest | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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