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.
For UK investors seeking online trading options, both Trading 212 and CMC Invest offer a selection of investment choices, each with its unique offerings. Trading 212 provides share trading, ETFs, CFDs, and investment trusts, making it a versatile platform for those interested in diverse trading options. However, it does not offer crypto trading, spread betting, funds trading, or bond trading. On the other hand, CMC Invest allows its users to engage in share trading, ETF trading, funds trading, and investment trusts. Like Trading 212, CMC Invest does not provide options for crypto trading, spread betting, or bond trading.
When it comes to user ratings by UK.StockBrokers.com, both platforms score well with 4.5 out of 5 stars for their investment choices. Despite both sharing high marks, each platform is positioned differently among their peers, with Trading 212 ranked at number 16 and CMC Invest positioned slightly higher at number 14 out of 18 brokers. This suggests subtle differences in their offerings, which might influence the choice of platform depending on specific trading interests and priorities.
| 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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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
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 exploring mobile trading options, both Trading 212 and CMC Invest offer iPhone and Android apps, catering to various device preferences. Trading 212's app stands out with a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the #3 position in a comparison of 18 brokers, reflecting strong user satisfaction. Meanwhile, CMC Invest's app is rated 4.5 stars, holding the #11 spot, indicating solid performance but slightly trailing behind Trading 212 in user rankings. These ratings help highlight Trading 212's edge in mobile app user experience for UK investors seeking a seamless trading experience on the go.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources, both Trading 212 and CMC Invest offer guidance in share trading and investment funds, although neither hosts educational client webinars or provides archived sessions. Differing in their content, CMC Invest uniquely provides educational material on retirement, while Trading 212 does not. Both platforms are well-rated by UK.StockBrokers.com for their beginner education, each receiving four stars. Yet, when compared among 18 brokers, Trading 212 holds the 13th spot, slightly ahead of CMC Invest, which ranks at 15th. Ultimately, both brokers offer solid resources for learning about basic investing topics, though Trading 212 slightly edges out in the rankings.
| 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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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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| 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 | 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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| Education |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | CMC Invest Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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