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.
Regulation
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 | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded info | 1974 | 1989 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) info | Yes | Yes |
| Bank info | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses info | 8 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses info | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses info | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses info | 1 | 0 |
Fees
IG and CMC Markets both earn 5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. However, in ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 rankings, CMC Markets places higher at #4 of 63 brokers, while IG ranks #7 of 63. The big picture: CMC’s low pricing is broadly available across account types, whereas IG’s most competitive costs are unlocked through its DMA (Forex Direct) account or very high monthly trading volumes.
IG’s standard CFD account delivered typical EUR/USD spreads of about 0.69 pips during main trading hours in July 2023 and 0.98 pips across all sessions (IG US averaged 1.18 pips). Active trader rebates for EU‑qualified professionals can trim spreads by 10% to 20% for monthly forex volumes above £50M and £300M, respectively—pushing effective costs toward roughly 0.60 pips in some cases. IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) account requires a £1,000 minimum and uses tiered commissions; its average raw spread on EUR/USD was 0.62 pips in July 2023, with an all‑in cost around 0.82 pips at common tiers, and lower for ultra‑high volume.
CMC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread was about 0.61 pips in August 2023. Its FX Active pricing charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0.0, producing an all‑in cost near 0.5 pip on EUR/USD (and several other majors) based on August 2023 data; for example, NZD/USD can drop from a 1.5‑pip standard spread to roughly 0.5 pip after commission. The Price Plus Scheme adds volume‑based discounts via Trading Points, with a 20% spread reduction available at higher tiers. Thanks to these consistently low, widely accessible costs, CMC Markets (#4/63) typically undercuts IG (#7/63) for most traders, while IG remains attractive for DMA users and very large‑order or high‑volume strategies.
Range of investments
IG and CMC Markets both cover a wide range of investments, including forex trading via CFDs and spot contracts, plus access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (so you can buy shares like Apple or Vodafone). IG lists more total markets, with 19,537 tradeable symbols versus CMC Markets’ 12,029. If your priority is forex variety, CMC Markets offers more currency pairs (141) than IG (97).
For crypto, IG lets you buy actual coins as well as crypto CFDs, while CMC Markets offers crypto only as CFDs. CMC Markets also supports copy trading, which IG does not. Both brokers earn 5 stars for Range of Investments; in ForexBrokers.com’s category rankings, IG is #4 out of 63 brokers and CMC Markets is #9. In short, pick IG for sheer market count and delivered crypto, or choose CMC Markets for the largest selection of forex pairs and copy trading.
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Trading platforms and tools
IG vs CMC Markets: both brokers deliver top-tier trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary in-house platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Both also support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), plus the ability to trade directly from charts. In independent testing, both earn 5 stars for Platforms and Tools; IG ranks #1 out of 63 brokers with ForexBrokers.com, while CMC Markets ranks #6.
The key difference is copy trading: CMC Markets offers it, and IG does not. If you want social-style strategies alongside a wide platform lineup, CMC Markets is a strong fit. If you prioritize the top-rated overall platform experience in this category, IG edges ahead thanks to its #1 ranking. Either way, you get a flexible choice of desktop and web platforms, popular third-party options like MT4/MT5, and a free demo to practice before going live.
| Feature | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) info | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) info | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform info | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading info | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info | Yes | Yes |
| Charting – Indicators / Studies (Total) info | 33 | 73 |
| Charting – Trade From Chart info | Yes | Yes |
Forex trading apps
IG and CMC Markets both deliver polished mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app offers stock and forex price alerts, watchlists that sync with your online account, and capable charting with trendline tools that auto-save your drawings. Whether you check markets on your phone or switch to desktop, your symbols and settings stay in sync.
If you care about the depth of charting studies, IG provides 33 technical indicators compared with CMC Markets’ 29. Both apps earn a 5-star rating for Mobile Trading Apps, but independent rankings from ForexBrokers.com place IG at #1 out of 63 brokers, while CMC Markets sits at #5. In short, both are excellent choices, with IG edging ahead for indicator variety and overall ranking.
Market research
Both IG and CMC Markets provide daily market commentary and offer forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. They also integrate research tools from Autochartist, ensuring users have access to technical and fundamental analysis resources. However, neither platform offers analytical tools from Trading Central. Both brokers excel in delivering sentiment-based trading tools, making it easier for traders to gauge market sentiment across various currency pairs. Additionally, IG and CMC Markets equip traders with comprehensive economic calendars to track global news events.
In terms of standout features, IG boasts market research with TipRanks and utilizes research tools from Acuity Trading, giving them an edge in broader analytical support. CMC Markets, on the other hand, does not offer these specific tools. Despite these differences, both IG and CMC Markets earn the same top-tier rating of 5 stars for research. However, IG holds a superior ranking, coming in at #2 among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while CMC Markets follows at #6, emphasizing their both top-tier yet slightly differentiated research capabilities.
| Feature | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist info | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central info | No | No |
| Client sentiment data info | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks info | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading info | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar info | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Beginners and education
IG and CMC Markets both offer forex and CFD education that meets the 10-piece threshold, with sizable libraries of articles, videos, and archived webinars. Each earns 5 stars for Education, and both provide at least 10 beginner videos plus 10+ advanced videos, giving newcomers a clear path from basics to more advanced topics.
There are two notable differences: IG runs monthly online educational webinars, while CMC Markets does not, and IG ranks #7 for Education versus CMC Markets at #10 out of 63 brokers (ForexBrokers.com). If you want live classes alongside a top-rated learning hub, IG is the better fit; if you prefer self-paced study with extensive videos and guides, CMC Markets remains a strong choice.
| Feature | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|
| Webinars info | Yes | No |
| Videos – Beginner Trading Videos info | Yes | Yes |
| Videos – Advanced Trading Videos info | Yes | Yes |
Winner
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.