Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Invest vs Robinhood UK, 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, CMC Invest offers better pricing than Robinhood UK 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 - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year, while Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - CMC Invest would cost £0 per year, while Robinhood UK 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 choosing between CMC Invest and Robinhood UK for your investing needs, it’s crucial to consider the variety of investment options each offers. Both platforms allow users to engage in share trading, but CMC Invest stands out by offering a wider array of choices. CMC Invest provides access to Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), funds, and investment trusts, making it a versatile choice for investors looking for diverse investment products. On the other hand, Robinhood UK focuses primarily on share trading and does not extend services to ETFs, funds, or investment trusts, which might limit options for those seeking to diversify their portfolio.
Another essential factor is user ratings and rankings in terms of investment choices. CMC Invest has earned a commendable 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, positioning it 15th among 18 brokers, showcasing its strong offering in investment products. Meanwhile, Robinhood UK has garnered a more modest rating of 3 stars, and its exact ranking in investment choices is not provided. Ultimately, an investor’s decision might hinge on the need for specific investment products, with CMC Invest generally offering a broader selection to cater to varying investment strategies.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When it comes to charting tools, both CMC Invest and Robinhood UK have their limitations. Neither platform allows users to display corporate events like earnings or dividends directly on charts, and both lack drawing tools. However, Robinhood UK edges out slightly by offering three technical indicators for charting compared to none from CMC Invest. Unfortunately, neither platform allows notes, index overlays, or stock overlays on charts, keeping their tools relatively basic for users who want to analyze market trends visually.
In terms of platform accessibility, Robinhood UK offers the convenience of a browser-based trading platform, which CMC Invest does not provide. Both brokers excel in providing essential features like stock price alerts and real-time market data, ensuring that traders are kept in the loop with the latest market movements. While both platforms cater to basic trading needs, Robinhood UK slightly outperforms in terms of technical charting capabilities and platform flexibility.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 3 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When it comes to retirement accounts, online broker CMC Invest has a clear edge over Robinhood UK. CMC Invest offers both ISA and SIPP accounts, providing a flexible suite of options for those planning their financial future. On the other hand, Robinhood UK does not currently offer ISA or SIPP accounts, which might limit its appeal for UK investors looking to invest efficiently for retirement. For those specifically interested in tax-advantaged accounts, CMC Invest presents a more comprehensive solution.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of online brokers CMC Invest and Robinhood UK, both platforms provide robust options for iPhone and Android users. CMC Invest's app boasts a strong rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, earning it a commendable #7 ranking among 18 brokers for mobile apps. Meanwhile, Robinhood UK also offers accessible apps for both iPhone and Android, receiving a solid 4-star rating. However, it does not have a specific ranking in UK.StockBrokers.com's list for mobile apps. Overall, both CMC Invest and Robinhood UK deliver convenient mobile trading experiences suitable for modern investors.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors between CMC Invest and Robinhood UK, one finds notable differences. Neither platform offers live or archived educational webinars, but both provide education on share trading, with CMC Invest extending its resources to cover funds and retirement topics, unlike Robinhood UK. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, CMC Invest earns a commendable 4-star rating for its beginner education, ranking 13th among 18 brokers. In contrast, Robinhood UK receives a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars and is not ranked among these brokers for beginner education. This suggests that CMC Invest may offer a more comprehensive educational experience for new investors looking to learn about various financial topics.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers CMC Invest and Robinhood UK, CMC Invest stands out for offering research reports on funds, a feature not available with Robinhood UK. Both brokers provide research on shares and ETFs, but only CMC Invest offers research specifically on funds. Neither platform offers research on CFDs or bonds, nor do they provide tools to view portfolio allocation by asset class. This comparison shows that while both platforms share some similarities in their research offerings, CMC Invest provides additional insights for fund-focused investors.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | No |
Which broker is better overall, CMC Invest or Robinhood UK? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found CMC Invest to be a better trading platform overall.
CMC Invest offers commission-free trading of U.K.-listed shares and U.S. equities via a mobile app only. Though a newer entrant to the U.K. share dealing market and currently somewhat limited, it’s powered by global contender CMC Markets, making it likely that its offerings will expand.
| Feature |
CMC Invest
|
Robinhood UK
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both CMC Invest and Robinhood UK do not offer crypto trading options, making them less suitable for investors specifically interested in cryptocurrencies.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Invest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | CMC Invest Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | CMC Invest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | CMC Invest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 / £120 / £300 | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £120 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £120 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £120 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £120 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £120 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £0 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Invest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Platforms & Tools | CMC Invest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | No | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 3 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | CMC Invest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | No |
| Education | CMC Invest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | CMC Invest | Robinhood UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | CMC Invest Review | Robinhood UK Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
IG Group Review
Saxo Review
eToro Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Trading 212 Review
XTB Review
CMC Invest Review
Vanguard Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
Halifax Review
Freetrade Review