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.
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 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 comparing the online brokerage services of Interactive Investor and CMC Invest, both offer share trading and the ability to trade Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), providing investors with diverse options. Interactive Investor stands out with a wider range of investment choices, including funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts, earning a stellar five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices. In contrast, CMC Invest also supports trading in funds and investment trusts but does not offer options in corporate bonds or gilts trading. Despite this, CMC Invest still holds a favorable 4.5-star rating.
Both brokers give UK investors robust platforms to expand their portfolios, although Interactive Investor secures a higher ranking, placing third out of 21 brokers according to UK.StockBrokers.com, while CMC Invest ranks 14th. With Interactive Investor's more comprehensive selection of investment products, it may be the better choice for those looking to diversify their investment portfolios beyond typical shares and ETFs.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For UK investors evaluating online trading platforms, Interactive Investor provides a comprehensive suite of charting and analysis tools compared to CMC Invest. Interactive Investor stands out by offering an extensive 18 drawing tools and 104 technical indicators for charting, features not available with CMC Invest. Additionally, Interactive Investor enables users to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, along with capabilities to add notes, index and stock overlays, and create custom alerts. This enhances the analytical experience for traders looking to delve deeper into market trends.
While both platforms provide a browser-based trading experience and real-time market data for timely investment decisions, Interactive Investor offers a more feature-rich environment tailored for technically inclined traders. However, for those who focus primarily on real-time data and price alerts without in-depth charting requirements, CMC Invest suffices. It ultimately depends on an investor's specific needs and preference for advanced charting and analytical tools when choosing between Interactive Investor and CMC Invest.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
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.
For UK investors exploring online broker options, both Interactive Investor and CMC Invest provide mobile apps for iPhone and Android users. Each app is highly rated at 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, indicating a strong user experience. Among 21 brokers, Interactive Investor stands out slightly higher, being ranked 7th for its mobile app, while CMC Invest holds the 11th spot. These rankings offer a glimpse into the competitive performance of both platforms in mobile trading convenience and functionality.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources, Interactive Investor and CMC Invest offer different experiences. Interactive Investor stands out with live and archived educational webinars, allowing flexibility in learning, while CMC Invest currently lacks this feature. Both platforms provide resources covering crucial topics like share trading, funds, and retirement planning. However, Interactive Investor excels with a top-rated 5-star score and a #2 ranking for beginner education by UK.StockBrokers.com, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing novice investors. In contrast, CMC Invest, despite offering solid educational support in key areas, holds a 4-star rating and ranks #15, indicating room for improvement in its educational offerings.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Interactive Investor and CMC Invest, both platforms offer research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and general funds, making them credible choices for UK investors seeking detailed insights. Interactive Investor sets itself apart by additionally providing information on portfolio allocation by asset class and research on bonds, broadening its research scope for investors looking to diversify their portfolios. While both brokers provide substantial research capabilities, Interactive Investor offers a more comprehensive array of options, appealing to those looking to delve deeper into market analysis.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
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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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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Interactive Investor does not offer crypto trading, whereas CMC Invest provides investors with the ability to trade cryptocurrencies, highlighting a key difference between the two online brokerage platforms.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
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 | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| 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 | |
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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 Investor | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | ||
| 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 | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Investor | 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 | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Investor | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Investor | CMC Invest | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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