CMC Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Comparison and Analysis

Security and Rating

When it comes to security, both CMC Markets and Interactive Brokers are highly regulated and have strong security measures in place. CMC Markets is regulated by ASIC, FCA, MAS, FMA, and IIROC, while Interactive Brokers is regulated by FCA, several EU regulators, ASIC, HKSFC, SEBI, IIROC, FFAJ, MAS, SEC, and CFTC. Both brokers have a security rating of 95, which is a testament to their commitment to keeping their clients’ funds and personal information safe.

Demo Account

If you’re new to trading or want to test out a new strategy, a demo account can be a great way to get started. CMC Markets offers an unlimited demo account with virtual funds of $10,000. You can open multiple CMC Markets demo accounts with the same email, which is a great feature if you want to test out different strategies. Interactive Brokers also offers an unlimited demo account with virtual funds of $1,000,000. However, if you want to restore your virtual funds, you’ll need to contact customer support.

Minimum Deposit

When it comes to minimum deposits, CMC Markets has the edge. The broker requires no minimum deposit to open an account, which makes it accessible to traders of all levels. Interactive Brokers, on the other hand, doesn’t have a minimum deposit requirement, but it does require at least $2,000 to trade with margin.

Social Trading and Copy Trading

If you’re interested in social trading or copy trading, CMC Markets is the better option. The broker offers copy-social trading directly on their CFD proprietary platform called Next Generation. Interactive Brokers, on the other hand, doesn’t offer social or copy trading.

CFD and Forex Trading

Both CMC Markets and Interactive Brokers offer a wide range of CFD and forex trading options. CMC Markets has 338 forex pairs, 110+ commodities, 82 indices, 124 crypto assets, and 55 bonds. The broker also offers 12,500+ CFD shares and ETFs and 35,000+ real stocks, making it a good choice for both short-term and long-term investments. Interactive Brokers, on the other hand, has 100+ forex pairs, 10 commodities, 0 indices, 23 crypto assets, 5,000+ stocks, and 50+ ETFs. While Interactive Brokers doesn’t offer as many trading options as CMC Markets, it’s still a good choice for traders who want to invest in a wide range of assets.

Stock Market

If you’re primarily interested in trading stocks, both CMC Markets and Interactive Brokers offer a range of options. CMC Markets offers both CFD and real stocks, with $0 brokerage commission on US, UK, Canada, and Japan markets. The broker also offers $0 commission on Aussie shares up to $1,000 per stock per trading day. Interactive Brokers, on the other hand, offers very low fees with financing rates from 0.75% and no commissions on stocks and ETFs with the IBKR Lite Plan. With the IBKR Pro Plan, commissions start from $0.0005 per share or ETF.

Cryptocurrency Trading

If you’re interested in trading cryptocurrencies, both CMC Markets and Interactive Brokers offer a range of options. CMC Markets has 124 crypto assets available for trading, while Interactive Brokers has 23. While CMC Markets offers more options, both brokers offer a good range of cryptocurrencies for traders to choose from.

Platforms

Both CMC Markets and Interactive Brokers offer proprietary trading platforms, as well as other options. CMC Markets’ proprietary platform is available for both CFD and real stocks trading and is available via web and mobile. The broker also offers MT4, which is available via desktop and mobile. Interactive Brokers offers a proprietary trading platform available as desktop, webtrader, and mobile. All the platforms offered by Interactive Brokers allow traders to engage in algo trading. Interactive Brokers also offers VPS services, FIX API, and TWS API integration.

Education

Both CMC Markets and Interactive Brokers offer a range of educational resources for traders. CMC Markets provides clients access to webinars, ebooks, podcasts, video trading, and trading guides. Interactive Brokers offers a wide range of material for both beginners and advanced traders, including tutorial videos, IBKR blog, trader’s academy, and much more.

In conclusion, both CMC Markets and Interactive Brokers offer a range of features and benefits for traders. CMC Markets is a good choice for traders who want to trade a wide range of assets, including CFD and real stocks, and who are interested in social and copy trading. Interactive Brokers is a good choice for traders who want to invest in a wide range of assets, including stocks, ETFs, and futures, and who are interested in algo trading. Ultimately, the choice between the two brokers will depend on your individual needs and preferences.