Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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, Trading 212 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 - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while CMC Invest would cost £0 / £120 / £300 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £1 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 investment options, both Trading 212 and CMC Invest offer a range of choices for UK investors. Trading 212 provides platforms for share trading, ETF trading, CFD trading, and investment trusts. However, it does not include options for crypto trading, spread betting, fund trading, or bonds. On the other hand, CMC Invest offers share trading, ETF trading, funds trading, and investment trusts, but lacks facilities for crypto trading, spread betting, and CFDs.
Based on UK.StockBrokers.com ratings, both platforms score equally well at 4.5 stars for investment choices. Despite this tie in ratings, CMC Invest holds a slight edge in overall ranking, coming in at 14th out of 21 brokers while Trading 212 sits in the 16th position. Both platforms skip on offering advisor services, focusing instead on providing a comprehensive selection of direct trading opportunities to their users.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | 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.
When it comes to trading tools, online broker Trading 212 clearly takes the lead over CMC Invest. Trading 212 provides a substantial array of 27 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, allowing users to perform detailed analysis on their charts. On the other hand, CMC Invest offers no drawing tools or technical indicators, which might limit the depth of market analysis for its users. Furthermore, Trading 212 enhances user experience by allowing notes to be added to charts, a feature absent in CMC Invest's offerings. For those using browsers, Trading 212 includes a browser-based trading platform, whereas CMC Invest does not provide such an option.
Both Trading 212 and CMC Invest offer real-time market data and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates, which help traders stay updated with market changes. However, neither broker includes corporate events, index overlays, or stock overlays on their charting features. This similarity might level the field slightly, but the lack of more in-depth charting capabilities might affect traders who rely heavily on visual analysis. Overall, for UK traders focused on detailed charting and analysis tools, Trading 212 provides a more comprehensive suite compared to CMC Invest.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online brokers for retirement accounts in the UK, Trading 212 and CMC Invest each have distinct offerings. Trading 212 provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), making it a suitable option for users focused on tax-efficient saving. CMC Invest, on the other hand, not only offers ISAs but also Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP). This makes CMC Invest an appealing choice for those looking to manage their retirement planning more comprehensively, combining both tax savings and pension growth options. Overall, both platforms cater to different needs, with Trading 212 focusing on ISAs and CMC Invest providing broader retirement solutions with the addition of SIPP accounts.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking a mobile trading platform, both Trading 212 and CMC Invest offer reliable apps for iPhone and Android users. Trading 212 stands out with a top-rated 5-star score from UK.StockBrokers.com for its app, ranking it third among 21 brokers. In comparison, CMC Invest holds a respectable 4.5-star rating, placing it 11th. Both apps are accessible and provide useful tools for managing investments on the go, but Trading 212's higher ranking might appeal more to those prioritizing app efficiency and user experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners exploring online broker options for education, Trading 212 and CMC Invest present solid choices. While neither platform provides live or on-demand educational webinars, both offer instructional content on share trading and investing in funds. However, only CMC Invest extends its educational materials to cover retirement topics. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both brokers earn a commendable 4-star rating for beginner education, yet Trading 212 edges ahead in rank, securing the 13th position out of 21 brokers compared to CMC Invest's 15th place. Both platforms deliver valuable educational support, but Trading 212 slightly leads in overall ranking, while CMC Invest adds retirement education to its portfolio.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When it comes to market research features, Trading 212 and CMC Invest each have their strengths for UK investors. Trading 212 excels with its ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class and offers research on shares, ETFs, and CFDs. However, it lacks research reports for funds and bonds. On the other hand, CMC Invest provides investors with research reports for funds, alongside shares and ETFs, but it does not support portfolio allocation insights by asset class nor research for CFDs and bonds. Both platforms cater to different investor needs, so your choice depends on what's important for your investment strategy.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
CMC Invest
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or CMC Invest? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.
Trading 212 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.
| Feature |
Trading 212
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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 Trading 212 and CMC Invest do not offer crypto trading, positioning them as online brokers that focus on other investment options for users seeking alternatives to cryptocurrency transactions.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | CMC Invest | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £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 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 / £120 / £300 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £120 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | 0 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0 | £0 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £0 |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | CMC Invest | |
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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 | Trading 212 | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | No | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Trading 212 | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Trading 212 | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | CMC Invest | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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