Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs CMC Markets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
IG and CMC Markets are both well-established online brokers with impressive trust profiles. Founded in 1974, IG is not only publicly traded but also operates as a bank, providing an additional level of security and trust for its clients. With a perfect Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, IG demonstrates a high level of reliability, backed by 8 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses, indicating its strong regulatory standing across various jurisdictions.
Similarly, CMC Markets, founded in 1989, is a publicly traded entity known for its strong regulatory credentials. While CMC Markets does not operate as a bank, it matches IG with a commendable ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99. This broker holds 6 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, showcasing its commitment to adhering to stringent regulatory standards. Both brokers are aligned in terms of trustworthiness, offering traders secure trading environments bolstered by stringent oversight.
| Feature |
IG
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1989 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
IG and CMC Markets both earn 5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but they take different paths on pricing. IG is the stronger choice for active forex traders who want lower all-in costs through its Forex Direct DMA account, where EUR/USD pricing can land around 0.82 pips all-in based on July 2023 data. Its standard CFD pricing is also competitive, with average spreads of 0.69 pips during the main trading session, though costs can rise during quieter market hours. IG is ranked #7 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in the Commissions and Fees category.
CMC Markets is also highly rated, but its standard spread-only account is not as cheap as IG’s main forex pricing. On the standard account, the average EUR/USD spread came in at 1.3 pips versus an advertised 0.8 pip minimum, which is higher than many competitors. Traders can lower costs by opting into FX Active, where EUR/USD averages about 0.65 pips plus commission, coming out to roughly 1.15 pips all-in. CMC Markets is ranked #4 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees.
In simple terms, IG looks better for traders focused on low-cost active trading and large-order execution, while CMC Markets stands out for its pricing consistency and its optional commission-based account. Both brokers offer volume-based rebates for high-frequency or professional clients, but IG has the edge if you want lower direct trading costs, especially on forex. CMC is still a strong pick, but its standard account is pricier than IG’s comparable offering.
| Feature |
IG
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 1.15 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, both IG and CMC Markets give traders access to forex, CFDs, and exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges. Each broker also offers cryptocurrency CFDs, and both earn a top 5-star rating for range of investments. In the broader market, IG is ranked #4 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for this category, while CMC Markets is ranked #9, which gives IG a slight edge overall.
CMC Markets offers a larger total list of tradeable symbols, with 21,710 compared with IG’s 19,537, and it also has a much wider selection of forex pairs, offering 303 versus IG’s 97. That said, IG stands out by letting clients buy actual cryptocurrency, not just crypto CFDs, which CMC Markets does not support. Neither broker offers copy trading, so if you are focused on asset variety, CMC Markets leads on forex and total symbols, while IG offers the added option of buying real crypto.
| Feature |
IG
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 21710 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 303 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IG and CMC Markets both give traders a wide choice of platform options, including a free demo account, a web-based platform, a Windows desktop download, and access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also offers its own in-house trading platform, and both let you place trades directly from charts. One key difference is that neither broker offers copy trading, so this area is a draw as well.
When it comes to trading tools, IG and CMC Markets are closely matched in many ways, with both earning 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. However, IG holds the top spot out of 36 brokers in this category, while CMC Markets ranks #6. That makes IG the stronger pick if platform quality and tools are your main focus, although CMC Markets still offers a very competitive setup for everyday traders.
| Feature |
IG
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 65 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and CMC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with key features that most active traders look for. Each app includes stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing between mobile and the online account, trendline drawing on charts, and automatic saving of chart drawings. Both brokers also receive a perfect 5-star rating for mobile trading apps.
The biggest difference is in chart tools and overall ranking. IG offers 33 technical studies in its mobile app, slightly more than CMC Markets’ 30. That extra edge helps IG secure the top spot in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, where it ranks #1 out of 36 brokers, while CMC Markets ranks #5 out of 36. For traders who want a slightly wider set of charting tools and the highest-rated mobile experience, IG has the advantage, though CMC Markets still delivers a strong app overall.
| Feature |
IG
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and CMC Markets both give traders a strong set of market research tools. Each platform offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar to track upcoming global events. They also both include Autochartist and sentiment tools that show how traders are positioned across different markets. In independent ratings, both brokers earn 5 out of 5 stars for research.
Where IG stands out is in the extra research depth it offers. IG includes TipRanks and Acuity Trading tools, while CMC Markets does not. Both brokers are useful for traders who want regular market updates and chart-based ideas, but IG has the edge overall in research, ranking #2 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com research category, compared with CMC Markets at #6.
| Feature |
IG
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing IG and CMC Markets for beginner-friendly learning, both brokers stand out with plenty of forex and CFD education. Each offers at least 10 educational pieces on these topics, plus at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, so new traders and more experienced users can both find useful material. They also both run online educational client webinars at least once a month, which adds another easy way to learn from home.
In terms of education quality, IG and CMC Markets are both rated 5 stars. IG has a slight edge in the broader rankings, coming in at #7 out of 36 brokers for Education, while CMC Markets ranks #10. For beginners, the takeaway is simple: both brokers provide strong learning support, but IG is ranked a little higher overall.
| Feature |
IG
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than CMC Markets. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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Comparing online brokers IG and CMC Markets for cryptocurrency, IG supports buying actual (delivered) crypto and trading crypto CFDs, whereas CMC Markets offers crypto CFDs only and does not allow purchasing real cryptocurrency.
IG and CMC Markets both support ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires, do not support Skrill, and do not specify whether Visa or Mastercard deposits or withdrawals are available.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | CMC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | CMC Markets | |
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| Regulation | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1989 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 21710 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 303 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 1.15 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 65 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Overall | IG | CMC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | CMC Markets Review |
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