CMC Markets vs Interactive Brokers Stock Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of CMC Markets and Interactive Brokers across regulation, commissions, platforms, and editorial scoring.
CMC Markets offers a broad range of share CFDs on 10,000+ stocks across major global exchanges via its Next Generation platform - an FCA-regulated CFD route to equity exposure without real share ownership.
Interactive Brokers offers unrivalled market access and the lowest commissions in the industry for active stock traders. The TWS platform is extremely powerful but has a steep learning curve for beginners.
Interactive Brokers comes out ahead with an editorial score of 4.8/5 compared to CMC Markets's 4/5.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Interactive Brokers offers commission-free trading while CMC Markets does not, making Interactive Brokers the more cost-effective choice for frequent stock traders.
CMC Markets has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Interactive Brokers is better suited for long-term investing: fractional shares, dividend reinvestment, IPO access.
Interactive Brokers has the edge for active traders: commission-free trading, advanced charting.
Interactive Brokers edges out CMC Markets with a higher editorial score (4.8/5 vs 4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new stock investors.
CMC Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Side-by-Side Stock Broker Comparison
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.8/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Commission-free | No | Yes |
| Fractional shares | No | Yes |
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
| Extended hours | No | Yes |
| IPO access | No | Yes |
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA BaFin FMA | SEC FCA CMF ASIC JFSA SEBI AMF SFC FINRA DFSA CMVM NFA IIROC CNV FSC CBI CNB MFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile | Proprietary Web/Mobile Trader Workstation (TWS) |
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
| Visit broker | Visit CMC Markets | Visit Interactive Brokers |
CMC Markets vs Interactive Brokers Stock Broker Pros & Cons
- 10,000+ share CFDs across UK, US, European, Asian, and Australian exchanges
- Next Generation platform with stock screener, pattern recognition, and Reuters news
- LSE-listed company - strong financial transparency and FCA/ASIC regulation
- Short selling on shares available - go long or short on 10,000+ equities
- CFDs only - no real share ownership, ISA wrapper, or dividend reinvestment
- Commission structure on shares (UK: £9 min, US: $10 min) adds up for small trades
- 5:1–20:1 leverage cap on retail share CFDs under FCA rules
- Inactivity fee of £10/month after 12 months without a trade
- Access to 150+ global markets across 33+ countries
- Industry-leading low commissions for active traders
- IBKR Lite tier offers commission-free US stock trading
- Powerful TWS platform with DMA, options, and API access
- Regulated by SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC and other Tier 1 bodies
- IPO access available through IBKR IPO platform
- TWS platform has a very steep learning curve
- IBKR Pro's tiered commission structure is complex
- Customer service can be slow for account-level queries
- Minimum activity fees may apply on smaller accounts
CMC Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | CMC Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Pass |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Pass |
| IPO access | Fail | Pass |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Pass | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
CMC Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Interactive Brokers ranks higher with a score of 4.8/5 vs 4/5 for CMC Markets. The best choice still depends on your needs — commissions, features like fractional shares, and regulatory coverage all matter.
Interactive Brokers offers commission-free stock trading while CMC Markets does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can significantly reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
CMC Markets scores higher on our regulatory safety criteria, with top-tier regulatory oversight, segregated client funds, compensation scheme coverage. For stock investors, regulatory safety is critical — always confirm a broker's specific licences and investor protections before depositing funds.
Both CMC Markets and Interactive Brokers require a minimum deposit of no minimum to open a live trading account.
CMC Markets supports MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile and Interactive Brokers offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, Trader Workstation (TWS). Platform availability affects the tools, charting, and order types available to you. If you rely on a specific platform like MetaTrader or a proprietary web app, confirm compatibility before opening an account.
For beginners: CMC Markets offers negative balance protection; Interactive Brokers has a higher overall editorial score. Also compare educational resources, customer support quality, and the simplicity of each broker's platform before deciding.
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