Scores, winners and data below compare these brokers as CFD/FX brokers (leveraged trading on forex, indices, commodities and crypto), using the data of CMC Markets' UK entity and IG Markets' UK entity. Scores, winners and data below compare these brokers as stock brokers (real shares and ETFs you own outright), using the data of CMC Markets' UK entity and IG Markets' UK entity.
CMC Markets
Regulated in your country CMC Markets is allowed by FCA to onboard clients residing in the UK.
78% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
IG Markets
Regulated in your country IG Markets is allowed by FCA to onboard clients residing in the UK.
70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Best for
What we compare A comparison of the kinds of traders CMC Markets and IG Markets are best suited to, based on what each one actually offers in United Kingdom.CMC Markets is better than IG Markets for long-term investors, while IG Markets is better for day traders, professional traders and futures traders. High-volume traders, scalpers and swing traders can choose either CMC Markets or IG Markets.
| Overall score | CMC Markets 84 -6 78 -10 | IG Markets 90 Best 88 Best |
|---|---|---|
| Day trading i | ||
| Long-term investing i | ||
| Professional traders i | ||
| High-volume traders i | ||
| Scalpers i | ||
| Swing traders i | ||
| News traders i | ||
| Algo traders i | ||
| Stock traders i | ||
| Crypto traders i | ||
| Futures traders i | ||
| Options traders i |
Regulation
What we compare A comparison between the financial authorities that supervise CMC Markets and the ones that supervise IG Markets.CMC Markets and IG Markets are both regulated in the UK, by the FCA.
| Section score | CMC Markets 100 100 | IG Markets 100 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier-1 regulators | ||
| ESMA (European Union) i | ||
| FCA (United Kingdom) i | ||
| ASIC (Australia) i | ||
| CFTC (United States) i | ||
| NFA (United States) i | ||
| SEC (United States) i | ||
| CIRO (Canada) i | ||
| MAS (Singapore) i | ||
| SFC (Hong Kong) i | ||
| JFSA (Japan) i | ||
| FINMA (Switzerland) i | ||
| Tier-2 regulators | ||
| FMA (New Zealand) i | ||
| CBR (Russia) i | ||
| FSCA (South Africa) i | ||
| DFSA (Dubai) i | ||
| CSRC (China) i | ||
| ISA (Israel) i | ||
| LFSA (Malaysia) i | ||
| JSC (Jordan) i | ||
| CMA (Kenya) i | ||
| Tier-3 regulators | ||
| FSA (Seychelles) i | ||
| MMA (Maldives) i | ||
| SCB (Bahamas) i | ||
| FSC (Mauritius) i | ||
| VFSC (Vanuatu) i | ||
| FSC (Belize) i | ||
| CIMA (Cayman Islands) i | ||
| SV FSA (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) i | ||
| FSRC (St. Kitts & Nevis) i | ||
| BMA (Bermuda) i | ||
| BVI FSC (British Virgin Islands) i | ||
| EDR (External Dispute Resolution) i | ||
Safety
What we compare A comparison of the tools and services that CMC Markets and IG Markets have in place to protect your money in United Kingdom.CMC Markets and IG Markets both offer segregated client funds and an investor compensation scheme. CMC Markets also offers additional money insurance. IG Markets is also a licensed bank.
| Section score | CMC Markets 95 Best 95 Best | IG Markets 91 -4 91 -4 |
|---|---|---|
| Company info | ||
| Is it publicly traded i | ||
| Is it a bank i | ||
| Year founded i | 1989 | 1974 |
| Parent company i | CMC Markets plc | IG Group Holdings plc |
| CEO i | Peter Cruddas | Breon Corcoran |
| Money safety | ||
| Segregated client funds i | ||
| Two-factor authentication i | ||
| Investor compensation scheme i | ||
| Additional money insurance i | ||
| Partner bank i | NatWest, Barclays, Lloyds | Barclays|Lloyds |
| Brand power | ||
| Number of customers worldwide i | 1,000,000 | 820,000 |
| Annual revenue i | USD 324,700,000 | USD 987,300,000 |
| Monthly website search traffic i | 10.5M monthly visits | 97.1K monthly visits |
Costs
What we compare A comparison of what it costs to trade with CMC Markets and with IG Markets in United Kingdom, both on each trade and on holding the account.IG Markets is better than CMC Markets for CFD/FX costs, since IG Markets is cheaper on EUR/USD, at 5.08 USD per lot (against CMC Markets' 7 USD), has tighter S&P 500 CFD spreads, at 0.4 points (against CMC Markets' 0.5 points), and does not charge inactivity fees, unlike CMC Markets. Neither CMC Markets nor IG Markets charges account maintenance fees or deposit fees.
IG Markets is better than CMC Markets for real stock costs, because IG Markets does not charge inactivity fees, unlike CMC Markets. Neither CMC Markets nor IG Markets charges account maintenance fees or deposit fees.
| Section score | CMC Markets 73 -14 44 -31 | IG Markets 87 Best 75 Best |
|---|---|---|
| Broker fees | ||
| Deposit fees i | ||
| Withdrawal fees i | ||
| Overnight fees i | ||
| Inactivity fees i | ||
| Currency conversion fees i | ||
| Discounts on volume i | ||
| Real time market data fee i | ||
| Dividend withholding i | ||
| Account opening fees i | ||
| Account maintenance fee i | ||
| Portfolio management fee i | ||
| Fees on CFDs | ||
| Forex commission per lot i | USD 5 | Free |
| EUR/USD average standard spread i | ||
| EUR/USD average raw spread i | ||
| EUR/USD average fixed spread i | ||
| EUR/USD total cost per lot i | USD 7 | USD 5.075 |
| S&P 500 fees (CFD) i | 0.5 points | 0.4 points |
| Gold fees (CFD) i | 0.2 points | 0.3 points |
| Bitcoin fees (CFD) i | USD 36 | |
| US stocks fees (CFD) i | USD 0.02 | USD 0.02 |
| Fees on stocks | ||
| Stock fee type i | Commission | |
| US stocks fees (real) i | Free | |
| ETF fees (real) i | Free | |
| Management costs i | ||
| Connection costs i | ||
| Fees on futures | ||
| Futures fees per contract i | USD 2 | |
| Platform fees i | ||
| Fees on options | ||
| Options fees per contract i | Free | USD 2 |
| Event fees i | ||
| Fees on savings plans | ||
| IRA opening fee i | ||
| IRA maintenance fee i | ||
| 401k opening fee i | ||
| 401k maintenance fee i | ||
Available markets
What we compare A comparison of the markets and products you can trade with CMC Markets and with IG Markets in United Kingdom, and of how many instruments each one gives access to.IG Markets is better than CMC Markets for CFD/FX markets, given that IG Markets gives access to 17,000 tradable symbols (against CMC Markets' 12,000), offers futures on indices and commodities, which CMC Markets does not, and offers options on commodities, forex, indices and stocks, which CMC Markets does not. Both CMC Markets and IG Markets offer CFDs on commodities, forex, indices and stocks.
IG Markets is better than CMC Markets for real stock markets, as IG Markets gives access to 17,000 tradable symbols (against CMC Markets' 12,000), offers futures on indices and commodities, which CMC Markets does not, and offers options on commodities, forex, indices and stocks, which CMC Markets does not. Both CMC Markets and IG Markets offer CFDs on commodities, forex, indices and stocks.
| Section score | CMC Markets 65 -35 30 -70 | IG Markets 100 Best 100 Best |
|---|---|---|
| Total tradable symbols i | 12,000 | 17,000 |
| Currency pairs i | ||
| Indices i | ||
| Commodities i | ||
| Stocks i | ||
| ETF i | ||
| Cryptocurrencies i | ||
| Bonds i | ||
| Interest rates i | ||
| Portfolios i | ||
| CFDs i | Commodities, Forex, Indices, Stocks | Commodities, Forex, Indices, Stocks |
| Futures i | Indices, Commodities | |
| Options i | Commodities, Forex, Indices, Stocks | |
| Assets you can own i | ETF, Stocks |
Platform
What we compare A comparison of the trading platforms that CMC Markets and IG Markets make available to their clients in United Kingdom.CMC Markets is better than IG Markets for platforms, given that CMC Markets offers social trading and copy trading, which IG Markets does not. CMC Markets and IG Markets both offer a proprietary platform and MetaTrader 5.
| Section score | CMC Markets 97 Best 97 Best | IG Markets 91 -6 91 -6 |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietary platform i | ||
| MetaTrader 4 i | ||
| MetaTrader 5 i | ||
| cTrader i | ||
| Social trading platform i | ||
| Copy trading platform i | ||
| ZuluTrade i | ||
| TradingView i | ||
| Duplitrade i | ||
| Mirror Trader i | ||
| NinjaTrader i | ||
| AutoChartist i | ||
| Real time pricing i | ||
| 5 digit pricing i | ||
| One-click trading i |
Mobile
What we compare A comparison of the mobile apps of CMC Markets and IG Markets in United Kingdom, and of what each one lets you do from your phone.IG Markets is better than CMC Markets for mobile trading, since IG Markets offers mobile trading signals, mobile charting tools and mobile drawing tools, which CMC Markets does not. Both CMC Markets and IG Markets offer a proprietary mobile app and the MetaTrader 5 app.
| Section score | CMC Markets 73 -20 73 -20 | IG Markets 93 Best 93 Best |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietary app i | ||
| Social trading app i | ||
| Copy trading app i | ||
| MetaTrader 4 app i | ||
| MetaTrader 5 app i | ||
| cTrader app i | ||
| Mobile trading signals i | ||
| Mobile alerts i | ||
| Mobile charting tools i | ||
| Mobile drawing tools i | ||
| Mobile watchlist i | ||
| Smartwatch app i |
Trading features
What we compare A comparison of the trading tools and strategies that CMC Markets and IG Markets allow on their platforms in United Kingdom.IG Markets is better than CMC Markets for CFD/FX trading features, since IG Markets offers guaranteed stop losses, tier-1 liquidity providers and VPS hosting, which CMC Markets does not. CMC Markets and IG Markets both offer negative balance protection and trailing stops.
IG Markets is better than CMC Markets for real stock trading features, as IG Markets offers fractional shares, tier-1 liquidity providers and API access, which CMC Markets does not. CMC Markets and IG Markets both offer trailing stops.
| Section score | CMC Markets 69 -20 71 -21 | IG Markets 89 Best 92 Best |
|---|---|---|
| Trade execution | ||
| Broker type i | Agency | Agency |
| Average execution time i | 9 ms | 14 ms |
| Slippage occurrence i | 11% | |
| Requotes occurrence i | 0.08% | |
| Tier-1 liquidity providers i | ||
| PFOF i | ||
| Leverage | ||
| Major FX pairs leverage i | 30:1 | 30:1 |
| Minor/Exotic FX pairs leverage i | 20:1 | 20:1 |
| Major indices leverage i | 20:1 | 20:1 |
| Minor indices leverage i | 10:1 | 10:1 |
| Gold leverage i | 20:1 | 20:1 |
| Commodities leverage i | 10:1 | 10:1 |
| Equities leverage i | 5:1 | 5:1 |
| Cryptocurrency leverage i | ||
| Risk management | ||
| Stop losses i | ||
| Take profits i | ||
| Limit orders i | ||
| Trailing stop i | ||
| Margin call i | ||
| OCO orders i | ||
| Guaranteed stop loss i | ||
| Negative balance protection i | ||
| Minimum trade size (FX) i | 0.01 lots | 0.01 lots |
| Minimum trade size (stocks) i | USD 0 | USD 0 |
| Fractional stocks i | ||
| Trading compliance | ||
| Scalping strategies allowed i | ||
| Hedging strategies allowed i | ||
| Automated trading strategy allowed i | ||
| EAs use allowed i | ||
| HFT strategy allowed i | ||
| VPS use allowed i | ||
| API use allowed i | ||
| Price scraping allowed i | ||
| FIFO rule applies i | ||
Account types
What we compare A comparison of the kinds of account you can open at CMC Markets and at IG Markets in United Kingdom, and of who each one is meant for.CMC Markets and IG Markets are equally good for CFD/FX account types, since CMC Markets offers an unlimited demo account while IG Markets offers a raw spread account. Both CMC Markets and IG Markets offer a demo account and a professional traders account.
CMC Markets is better than IG Markets for real stock account types, since CMC Markets offers a margin investing account and an unlimited demo account, which IG Markets does not. Both CMC Markets and IG Markets offer a demo account and a corporate account.
| Section score | CMC Markets 48 45 Best | IG Markets 46 -2 29 -16 |
|---|---|---|
| Demo account i | ||
| Unlimited demo account i | ||
| Standard account i | ||
| Micro account i | ||
| Cent account i | ||
| Nano account i | ||
| Raw spread account i | ||
| ECN account i | ||
| Swap-free account i | ||
| Islamic account i | ||
| Professional traders account i | ||
| Fixed spread account i | ||
| Spread betting account i | ||
| Copy trading account i | ||
| Corporate account i | ||
| Managed account i | ||
| Stock investing account i | ||
| Margin investing account i | ||
| Savings account i | ||
| Retirement account i |
Account opening
What we compare A comparison of what it takes to open and fund an account with CMC Markets and with IG Markets in United Kingdom.CMC Markets is better than IG Markets for account opening, given that CMC Markets offers 2 account base currencies (against IG Markets' 1), and has no minimum withdrawal (against IG Markets' 100 USD). Neither CMC Markets nor IG Markets requires a minimum deposit.
| Section score | CMC Markets 65 Best 65 Best | IG Markets 62 -3 62 -3 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit i | USD 0 | USD 0 |
| Minimum withdrawal i | USD 0 | USD 100 |
| Wire transfers i | ||
| Credit cards i | ||
| Debit cards i | ||
| eWallets i | ||
| Local payment methods i | ||
| Account base currencies i | EUR, USD | GBP |
| Deposit waiting time i | up to 2 business days | Instant |
| Withdrawal waiting time i | up to 2 business days | up to 1 business days |
| Bonus program i |
Customer care
What we compare A comparison of the customer support of CMC Markets and IG Markets in United Kingdom, in how it can be reached and how fast it answers.IG Markets is better than CMC Markets for customer care, since IG Markets offers customer support in 12 languages (against CMC Markets' 9), and has a website in 12 languages (against CMC Markets' 9). CMC Markets and IG Markets both offer a dedicated account manager and phone support.
| Section score | CMC Markets 73 -5 73 -5 | IG Markets 78 Best 78 Best |
|---|---|---|
| Number of languages supported i | 9 | 12 |
| Website languages i | German, English, French, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, Chinese | Arabic, Danish, German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish |
| Website available in English i | ||
| Customer support languages i | German, English, French, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, Chinese | Arabic, Danish, German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish |
| Customer support in English i | ||
| Call back request i | ||
| Email support i | ||
| Phone support i | ||
| Live chat i | ||
| Priority customer support i | ||
| Dedicated account manager i | ||
| Cash sweep i | ||
| Stock lending i | ||
| Distributes proceeds i | ||
| Tax withholding agent i | ||
| Tax assistance i |
Learning
What we compare A comparison of the educational material that CMC Markets and IG Markets provide to their clients in United Kingdom.CMC Markets and IG Markets are equally good for learning, as both offer education for advanced traders and webinars.
| Section score | CMC Markets 100 100 | IG Markets 100 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Education | ||
| Education center i | ||
| Education for beginners i | ||
| Education for advanced traders i | ||
| Webinars i | ||
| Tutorials i | ||
| Glossary i | ||
| Research | ||
| Economic calendar i | ||
| Traders' sentiment i | ||
| Daily market commentary i | ||
| Daily trading ideas i | ||
| News via social media i | ||
| Professional reports i | ||
| Watchlist i | ||
CMC Markets vs IG Markets: which one should you choose?
CMC Markets
CFD/FX Choose CMC Markets if you want an online CFD broker for copy and social trading, with fast execution.
Stocks Choose CMC Markets if you want a stock brokerage service with copy and social trading.
Open Account 78% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
IG Markets
CFD/FX Choose IG Markets if you want a CFD and forex broker with a wide choice of markets and low trading costs.
Stocks Choose IG Markets if you want a broker for securities investing with commission-free US stocks and a wide choice of markets.
Open Account 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.Other popular comparisons
Below are other head-to-head comparisons that include CMC Markets or IG Markets, each scored with the same data and method as this page.
