Written by ForexBrokers.com
Is IG better than CMC Markets? In our analysis of 23 international regulators across 39 brokers, IG is considered low-risk, with an overall Trust Score of 99 out of 99. CMC Markets is considered low-risk, with an overall Trust Score of 99 out of 99. Learn more about Trust Score.
| Overall Rating | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ||
| Commissions & Fees | ||
| Offering of Investments | ||
| Platform & Tools | ||
| Mobile Trading | ||
| Research | ||
| Education | ||
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
| Winner | check_circle | |
| Review | IG Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Regulation | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 1989 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Authorised in European Union | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-1 Licenses (High Trust) | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| ASIC Authorised (Australia) | Yes | Yes |
| IIROC Authorised (Canada) | No | Yes |
| SFC Authorised (Hong Kong) | No | No |
| CBI Authorised (Ireland) | No | No |
| FSA Authorised (Japan) | Yes | No |
| MAS Authorised (Singapore) | Yes | Yes |
| FINMA Authorised (Switzerland) | Yes | No |
| FCA Authorised (U.K.) | Yes | Yes |
| CFTC Registered (USA) | Yes | No |
| FMA Authorised (New Zealand) | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Average Trust) | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| CBRC Authorised (China) | No | No |
| CySEC Authorised (Cyprus) | No | No |
| NSE Authorised (India) | No | No |
| ISA Authorised (Israel) | No | No |
| CBR Authorised (Russia) | No | No |
| FSCA Authorised (South Africa) | Yes | No |
| SEC Authorised (Thailand) | No | No |
| DFSA / Central Bank Authorised (UAE) | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-3 Licenses (Low Trust) | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| SCB Authorised (Bahamas) | No | No |
| IFSC Authorised (Belize) | No | No |
| CIMA Authorised (Cayman Islands) | No | No |
| BMA Authorised (Bermuda) | Yes | No |
| FSC Authorised (British Virgin Islands) | No | No |
| FSC Authorised (Mauritius) | No | No |
| VFSC Authorised (Vanuatu) | No | No |
| Investments | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Trading - Forex or CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 11927 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 100 | 158 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFD) | 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 - Standard | 0.828 (September 2021) | 0.73 (August 2021) |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.365 (May 2020) | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Initial Deposit | £250.00 | $0 |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| cTrader | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 14 | 9 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 32 | 86 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 40 |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 32 | 29 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Forex Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Has Education - Forex or CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes |
| Review | IG Review | CMC Markets Review |
Comparing forex brokers side by side is no easy task. For our 2022 annual forex broker review, we spent hundreds of hours assessing 39 forex and CFD brokerages to find the best forex broker. Let's compare IG vs CMC Markets.
Comparing the trading costs of forex and CFDs is not easy. Not every broker publishes average spreads data, and pricing structures vary. Based on our thorough annual assessment, CMC Markets offers better pricing overall for traders.
At ForexBrokers.com, we track where each forex and CFD broker is regulated across over 23 international regulator databases. Here's our findings. IG holds 7 global Tier-1 licenses, while CMC Markets holds 5. IG holds 2 global Tier-2 licenses, while CMC Markets holds 1. In our analysis of 23 international regulators across 50 brokers, IG and CMC Markets earned the same Trust Score.
To compare the trading platforms of both IG and CMC Markets, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, IG offers a better experience. With research, IG offers superior market research. Finally, we found IG to provide better mobile trading apps.
For forex and CFDs traders, copy trading and MetaTrader are both popular platform options. Both IG and CMC Markets offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4).IG and CMC Markets both offer copy trading.
CMC Markets provides traders 158 currency pairs (e.g., EUR/USD) compared to IG's 100 available pairs. Forex pairs aside, IG offers traders access to 19537 CFDs while CMC Markets has 11927 available CFDs, a difference of 7610.
IG is a publicly traded company, operates a regulated bank, and is authorised by seven tier-1 regulators (high trust), two tier-2 regulators (average trust), and one tier-3 regulator (low trust). IG is authorised by the following tier-1 regulators: Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC), Japanese Financial Services Authority (JFSA), Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Markets Authority (FMA), and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
CMC Markets is publicly traded, does not operate a bank, and is authorised by five tier-1 regulators (high trust), one tier-2 regulator (average trust), and zero tier-3 regulators (low trust). CMC Markets is authorised by the following tier-1 regulators: Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC), Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Financial Markets Authority (FMA), and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
Overall winner: IG
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