CMC Markets vs IG Index
CMC Markets or IG Index – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare CMC Markets and IG Index in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
CMC Markets | IG Index |
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CMC Markets is ranked #3 among CFD brokers. | IG Index is ranked #7 among CFD brokers. |
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is a reputable broker publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange. It holds authorisation from top-tier regulators such as the FCA, ASIC, and CIRO. The brokerage, which has received multiple awards, boasts a global membership exceeding one million traders. | Founded in 1974, IG is a part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly listed brokerage (LSE: IGG). The company provides spread betting, CFD, and forex trading, offering access to over 17,000 markets. Its platforms and investing apps are notably user-friendly. Over the past 50 years, IG has consistently been an industry leader, excelling in all essential areas for traders. |
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. | Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. |
Pros | |
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Cons | |
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Awards | |
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FCA Regulated | |
Yes | Yes |
Instruments | |
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting |
Demo Account | |
Yes | Yes |
Minimum Deposit | |
$0 | $0 |
Payment Methods | |
Minimum Trade | |
0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots |
Regulator | |
FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA | FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM |
Mobile Apps | |
iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
Trading App | |
The award-winning app from CMC Markets has transformed mobile trading. The app’s modern and customizable interface offers a unique user experience, distinct from competitors. Moreover, with its comprehensive charting capabilities featuring 25 technical indicators and 15 drawing tools, as well as its fast and stable trading environment, it’s an exceptional choice for traders. |
IG offers a superb all-round trading app. One of the pioneers of mobile trading, the application has been developed and refined over many years, meaning it is now among the best trading apps. Quick response, user-friendly layout, access to full charting and a stable and reliable application. It also offers guaranteed stops – an important risk management tool not available on many apps we’ve tested. |
iOS App Rating | |
Android App Rating | |
Margin Trading | |
Yes | Yes |
Margin Rate | |
1% | 2.5% |
MetaTrader 4 | |
Yes | Yes |
MetaTrader 5 | |
No | No |
cTrader | |
No | No |
AlgoTrader | |
No | No |
OmniTrader | |
No | No |
TradingView | |
Yes | Yes |
Autochartist | |
No | Yes |
eSignal | |
No | No |
Trading Central | |
No | Yes |
STP Account | |
No | No |
ECN Account | |
No | No |
DMA Account | |
No | Yes |
MAM Account | |
No | No |
PAMM Account | |
No | No |
LAMM Account | |
No | No |
Demat Account | |
No | No |
AI / Machine Learning | |
No | No |
Robo Advisor | |
No | Yes |
Negative Balance Protection | |
Yes | Yes |
Market Maker | |
Yes | Yes |
P2P Trading | |
No | No |
Spot Trading | |
Yes | Yes |
Auto Trading | |
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime |
Copy Trading | |
No | No |
Social Trading | |
Yes | No |
Trade Signals | |
Yes | Yes |
VPS Hosting | |
Yes | Yes |
Tournaments | |
No | No |
Demo Competitions | |
Yes | No |
Ethical Investing | |
No | Yes |
Custodial Account | |
No | No |
Guaranteed Stop Loss | |
Yes | Yes |
Inactivity Fee | |
$10 | $12 |
Islamic Account | |
Yes | No |
Account Currencies | |
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Commodities | |
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CFD | |
CMC enables trading of CFDs on over 12,000 assets, including currencies, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, and treasuries. In 2025, new equities will feature sectors like quantum computing, AI learning, and digital car sales. Enjoy competitive spreads without hidden fees, and leverage the renowned MetaTrader 4 platform. Consistently, CMC stands out as a leading CFD broker. | IG provides over 17,000 CFDs, giving traders more opportunities than most brokers. Investors can trade long or short on key markets such as equities, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, customised price alerts and the IG Academy enrich the trading experience. |
Leverage | |
1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) |
FTSE Spread | |
1 pt | 1.0 |
GBPUSD Spread< | |
0.9 | 0.9 |
Oil Spread | |
3.5 | 2.8 |
Stocks Spread | |
0.02 | 0.02 |
Forex | |
CMC offers a broad selection of over 300 forex pairs, featuring tight spreads and quick execution. This exceeds many competitors in currency variety. Their forex indices provide a distinctive and comprehensive method to speculate on major currencies such as USD, EUR, and GBP. | IG provides an extensive selection of over 80 currency pairs through its own web platform, mobile app, or MetaTrader 4. For advanced charting and forex analysis, the ProRealTime software is available. Testing shows forex spreads are competitive, beginning at 0.1 pips on major pairs such as EUR/USD. |
Assets | |
300+ | 80+ |
GBPUSD Spread | |
0.9 | 0.9 |
EURUSD Spread | |
0.7 | 0.8 |
EURGBP Spread | |
1.1 | 0.9 |
Currency Indices | |
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CMC Markets | IG Index |
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. | Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. |
More Comparisons | |
CMC Markets vs |
IG Index vs |