Updated October 13, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
CMC Invest vs Interactive Brokers
Facts checked September 26, 2026.
CMC Invest vs Interactive Brokers: the differences
| Compare |  CMC Invest |  Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, StocksCovers more |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Jisa | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate |
| Interest on cash | 3.69%Higher | 3.38% |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | SEC, FCA, SIPC |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation |
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Key differences
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Bonds, Forex, Futures.
- Account types: only CMC Invest offers Jisa.
- Account types: only Interactive Brokers offers IRA, Joint, Corporate.
- Interest on cash is higher at CMC Invest: 3.69% vs 3.38%.
- Pricing model: only Interactive Brokers offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
CMC Invest
CMC Invest trades breadth for focus, centring on long term portfolio building rather than wide speculative coverage. It is an investment platform for investors who want shares, ETFs, trusts and funds with guides and consolidated management in one place.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits investors who want a single account across ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint and corporate holdings, with stocks, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures behind it. It ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit at $0, and stock trades are charged at $0.
Score breakdown
| Area | CMC Invest | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4Higher | 9.3Stock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.8 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | CMC Invest | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | FCA 208159 |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 53615 |
If neither fits
Nexo has interest on cash at 13%, against 3.69% for CMC Invest and 3.38% for Interactive Brokers.
Nexo reviewHow they place
| Ranking | CMC Invest | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 283 of 471 | 44 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | CMC Invest | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1978 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Help centre, Community |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | CMC Invest | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | CMC Invest | Interactive Brokers | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $25 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38%below the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 3.69%highest quarter | 3.38%above the median | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
CMC Invest
Pros
- Covers shares, ETFs, investment trusts and funds in one place
- Supports transfers that consolidate existing long term holdings together
- Provides guides that explain core accounts and stock price moves
Cons
- Range stays around shares and managed allocations rather than wider speculation
- Learning guides assume basic knowledge before reading deeper detail
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, the pairing behind rank 1 of 161 on stock trade fees among the brokers tracked here.
- The account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira, so an ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint or corporate account all sit under a single provider.
- bonds, etfs and forex puts stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures on the same account, with a margin rate of 4.38% for geared positions.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community, so a phone line and live chat sit outside the offer.
- bonds, etfs and forex covers shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures but leaves out crypto and CFDs, which eToro lists in stocks, etfs and forex.
- An options contract costs $0.65 against a stock trade at $0, so options strategies pay a visible premium per contract.
Who each suits
CMC Invest
Who it suits
- Long term investors wanting consolidated holdings
- Parents planning for a child future
- Learners seeking plain investment explanations
Who should look elsewhere
- Speculators seeking broad speculative instruments
Interactive Brokers
Who it suits
- Investors holding money across several wrappers, since the account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira.
- Traders who want options, futures, forex and bonds alongside shares on a single account, per bonds, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with a small balance: the minimum deposit is $0 and fractional shares appear in the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app).
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who trades crypto or CFDs, since bonds, etfs and forex leaves both out while eToro lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want a stated entry figure as a signal of the provider's target size, since Vantage publishes $5 where this broker's minimum is $0.
Questions about each
CMC Invest
Which accounts does CMC Invest offer?+
CMC Invest offers a Cash ISA, a flexible Stocks and Shares ISA, a Junior ISA, a Self Invested Personal Pension and a general investment account. You can view those structures side by side within one platform. Transfers into the platform carry conditions that shape eligibility.
What can investors hold through CMC Invest?+
CMC Invest covers shares, ETFs, investment trusts and funds alongside managed allocation choices. The range supports individual company selection and broad exposure across markets, sectors and themes. Listed portfolios shaped around specialist strategies also feature in the choice.
Interactive Brokers
What does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade is charged at $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening an account and dealing in shares carry no charge. The money sits in derivatives and leverage instead, where an options contract costs $0.65 and the margin rate is listed at 4.38%.
Is my money protected?+
The regulatory list runs to SEC, FCA and SIPC, and investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The UK entry is the FCA under licence 208159, while the US side names the SEC and the SIPC membership SIPC member 53615. The protection figure describes the scheme stated for the account and says nothing about how a trade performs.
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