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.
When comparing Saxo and CMC Invest, both platforms offer share trading and ETF trading, catering to investors interested in the stock market and diversified portfolios. However, Saxo stands out by providing CFD trading and access to a wider range of investment options, including corporate and government bonds, as well as funds trading. CMC Invest, while lacking some options like CFD and bond trading, still offers a solid selection with funds and investment trusts, appealing to those focusing on straightforward investments.
In terms of user ratings, Saxo excels with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking first out of 21 brokers for investment choices. CMC Invest follows with a respectable 4.5-star rating, placing 14th. While both platforms do not offer crypto trading, spread betting, or advisory services, Saxo's broader array of investment products may appeal more to those seeking a comprehensive trading experience within the UK market.
| 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 options, both Saxo and CMC Invest provide apps for iPhone and Android users. Saxo's app stands out with a top rating of 5 stars and ranks first among 21 brokers, according to UK.StockBrokers.com, highlighting its superior functionality and user satisfaction. Meanwhile, CMC Invest also delivers a commendable mobile experience with a respectable 4.5-star rating, ranking 11th, offering a solid choice for those looking for a reliable trading app. Both platforms ensure accessibility for on-the-go trading, but Saxo holds a slight edge in terms of overall user approval.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners in investing, choosing between Saxo and CMC Invest involves considering their distinct educational resources. Saxo shines by offering live educational webinars, which are also archived for on-demand viewing, making it easy to learn at your own pace. However, Saxo doesn't cover topics like share trading, funds, or retirement. In contrast, CMC Invest excels in these specific educational areas but lacks live and archived webinars. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Saxo stands out, boasting a 5-star rating and ranking third out of 21 brokers for beginner education, while CMC Invest, with a 4-star rating, sits at the 15th position. Overall, Saxo offers more dynamic learning opportunities, whereas CMC Invest provides targeted topic-based guidance.
| 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 |
|
|
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
|
|---|---|---|
| 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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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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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