Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo 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, CMC Invest offers better pricing than Saxo 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 - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
12 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
36 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
120 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Saxo 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.
Saxo and CMC Invest both stand as prominent options for UK investors seeking diverse investment choices, each offering unique advantages. Both brokers support share and exchange-traded funds (ETF) trading, making them accessible for those looking to trade in various markets. However, Saxo offers a broader array of trading options. With the inclusion of CFDs, corporate and government bonds, and investment trusts, Saxo provides more avenues for investors. On the other hand, CMC Invest, despite not offering CFD or bond trading, still provides a solid portfolio with shares, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts.
Rated 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, Saxo holds the top rank among 18 other brokers. Meanwhile, CMC Invest earns an admirable 4.5-star rating but is ranked 14th, highlighting room for expansion in its offerings. While neither broker offers cryptocurrency trading, spread betting, or advisor services, Saxo's comprehensive selection stands out for investors seeking a wider range of trading opportunities in the UK.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | 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 traders looking to compare Saxo and CMC Invest, the differences in their trading tools are quite pronounced. Saxo provides traders with an extensive set of charting features, including 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators, ensuring a comprehensive analysis experience. Traders can personalize their charts further on Saxo by adding notes, as well as index and stock overlays. Additionally, Saxo users benefit from a browser-based trading platform, allowing for flexibility and convenience when accessing the markets. Both platforms do offer stock price alerts and real-time market data, which is essential for staying informed on market movements.
On the other hand, CMC Invest falls short in several areas compared to Saxo. While CMC Invest also provides real-time market data and allows users to set alerts for stock price updates, it lacks any drawing tools and technical indicators for charting. Furthermore, there is no option to add notes or overlays to charts on the CMC Invest platform. Potential users should also note that CMC Invest does not offer a browser-based trading platform, potentially limiting how traders can interact with their investments. These differences could significantly impact the trading experience depending on an individual’s needs and trading strategies.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
For UK investors exploring online brokers for retirement savings, both Saxo and CMC Invest present solid choices by offering key retirement accounts. Each broker provides access to ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) and SIPPs (Self-Invested Personal Pensions), allowing you to manage and grow your savings tax efficiently. Whether you're inclined towards ISAs for straightforward savings or looking into SIPPs for more hands-on retirement planning, both Saxo and CMC Invest accommodate these needs effectively, giving you ample flexibility in managing your financial future.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking user-friendly mobile trading solutions, both Saxo and CMC Invest offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Saxo's mobile app is highly acclaimed, earning a top rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, and it's ranked as the best among 18 brokers for mobile apps. Meanwhile, CMC Invest's app is also well-regarded with a 4.5-star rating, securing the 11th spot in the rankings. Whether users prioritize top-tier ratings or reliable trading support, both brokers provide solid mobile platforms to meet diverse trading needs.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners delving into investment education, Saxo and CMC Invest each offer unique strengths. Saxo excels in webinars, providing live sessions and on-demand archives for broadened accessibility. However, it lacks specific educational content on share trading, funds, and retirement, areas where CMC Invest shines by offering focused resources. Saxo's robust offering results in a 5-star rating and a commendable #3 rank out of 18 brokers by UK.StockBrokers.com. CMC Invest, rated 4 stars and ranked #15, compensates with a focus on detailed content for practical wealth management. Both platforms cater to varied learning preferences, ensuring a suitable fit for any new investor looking to enhance their financial knowledge.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Saxo and CMC Invest for market research features, UK investors will find that both brokers provide extensive research reports for funds, shares, and ETFs. While both cater to the needs of these investors, Saxo stands out as it offers a more comprehensive range of research options, including coverage on CFDs and bonds, which CMC Invest does not provide. Additionally, Saxo users benefit from the ability to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature absent from CMC Invest's offerings. This makes Saxo a potentially more suitable option for those seeking detailed market insights and portfolio management tools.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | 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, Saxo or CMC Invest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Saxo to be a better trading platform overall.
Saxo’ trading platform is highly sophisticated and offers a huge range of international shares and funds. The biggest downside is the cost, as its charges are higher than its U.K. competitors. It's best suited for experienced investors rather than beginners.
| Feature |
Saxo
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CMC Invest
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|---|---|---|
| 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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Both Saxo and CMC Invest do not offer cryptocurrency trading options, highlighting a limitation in their investment platforms for those specifically seeking cryptocurrency investments.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | CMC Invest | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Saxo | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | 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 | Saxo | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.4% + 0% commission: £120 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £800 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 to £1,000 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,998 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £1,000 | £120 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | €20 minimum | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | €20 minimum | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | From $1 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | From $1 / £3 / €10 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £0 |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | CMC Invest | |
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| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Saxo | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Saxo | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | 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 | Saxo | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Saxo | CMC Invest | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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