Broker comparison · updated 2026-07-29
CMC Markets vs IG
CMC Markets favors traders wanting MT5 and TradingView connectivity, while IG offers a larger stated market range and more established platform options.
Our verdict
It depends on what you trade.
The CMC Markets vs IG decision is close because both are long-running, FCA-regulated UK brands with proprietary web and mobile platforms, MT4 access, no bank-transfer minimum, and broad CFD coverage. Choose CMC Markets if MetaTrader 5, TradingView connectivity, or FX Active’s commission-based pricing matter to your workflow. Choose IG if its stated 17,000-plus markets, broad multi-jurisdiction footprint, and additional specialist platform choices fit your needs. Neither result removes leveraged-product risk: the legal entity, account currency, available products, charges, and protections must be checked before funding.
CMC Markets vs IG at a glance
 CMC Markets |
 IG |
|
|---|---|---|
| Our comparison score | 69.5 / 100 | 67.5 / 100 |
| Founded | 1989 | 1974 |
| Minimum deposit | No minimum stated | Bank transfer: no minimum |
| EUR/USD minimum spread | 0.0 pips on FX Active | 0.6 pips on UK MT4 |
| Stated market range | 13,000+ instruments | 17,000+ markets |
| Main platforms | Next Gen, MT4, MT5 | Web, mobile, MT4 |
| Inactivity fee | £10/month after 1 year | See product/entity schedule |
| UK regulatory reference | FCA: CMC Markets UK plc | FCA: IG Markets Limited |
marks the stronger side on that row. Key numbers were re-checked on 2026-07-29. Terms differ by legal entity and country — confirm on the broker's own legal pages before funding.
Score breakdown
How CMC Markets and IG earn their comparison scores, component by component — same methodology as every review on this site.
CMC Markets vs IG fees: pricing depends on account and product
CMC Markets is the more relevant option for an active FX trader who can use its FX Active account: it lists spreads from 0.0 pips on six major pairs, including EUR/USD, with a 0.0025% commission per transaction. IG lists a 0.6-pip minimum EUR/USD spread on its UK MT4 schedule and reported an average of 0.85 pips during the stated core-hours measurement period. Those figures are not like-for-like estimates of total cost: CMC’s 0.0-pip figure is a minimum on a commission account, while IG’s schedule is for MT4 and spreads can widen. Dormancy is clearer at CMC Markets: £10 monthly after one year without trading, where funds remain. IG’s charges also vary by product, entity, and account currency, so review the applicable schedule before trading.
Platform comparison: CMC Markets adds MT5; IG adds specialist tools
CMC Markets is the stronger fit where a trader specifically needs MetaTrader 5 or wants to link a supported account to TradingView. Its available lineup includes the proprietary Next Generation platform, mobile app, MT4, MT5, and TradingView connectivity in supported regions. The broker states that Next Generation and MT5 provide access to 13,000-plus instruments, while availability still depends on the account jurisdiction. IG’s core proposition is its web platform and mobile app, with MT4 support; it also offers specialist tools such as L2 Dealer in relevant markets. IG states access to more than 17,000 markets globally, including shares, forex, indices, commodities, bonds, rates, and options. Platform choice should be tested in a demo because market lists, order types, and advanced tools are not uniform across regions.
Regulation comparison: verify the CMC Markets or IG legal entity
For a UK retail client, the starting point is the FCA-authorized company rather than the group name. CMC Markets UK plc appears on the FCA Register under reference 173730, and IG Markets Limited is also FCA regulated. Both groups operate through additional entities outside the UK, so an account opened in another country may have different leverage limits, compensation arrangements, negative-balance terms, product access, and complaint routes. IG publishes a particularly broad international footprint, including entities regulated or supervised in jurisdictions such as Australia, Germany, Singapore, Japan, South Africa, and the United States. That breadth is not automatically better protection. CMC Markets also has multiple local entities. Read the agreement and regulatory disclosures shown during onboarding, and do not assume an FCA protection framework applies merely because either brand has a UK operation.
Funding and account minimums: bank transfer is the practical common ground
Neither broker requires a universal opening balance for every client and payment route. CMC Markets says there is no minimum deposit required to open a live account, although sufficient cleared funds are needed to meet margin before a trade can be placed. IG’s UK help center says bank transfers have no minimum or maximum deposit amount, while card minimums vary by currency; its published USD card minimum is $50. CMC Markets lists card and bank transfer funding, plus payment options that may be regional, such as PayPal or PayID. IG supports bank transfers and cards, with other options available in selected jurisdictions. Processing time, card charges, currency-conversion costs, withdrawal routing, and payment limits can differ. For that reason, bank transfer is the cleanest comparable baseline, but clients should check the funding screen for their own legal entity before sending money.
Research tools: CMC Markets is more integrated; IG has wider market scope
CMC Markets has the edge for traders who want analysis embedded in a proprietary trading environment. Next Generation combines charting, an economic calendar, client sentiment, news, pattern-recognition tools, and alerts; the mobile app also supports technical indicators and drawing tools. Its broad 300-plus FX-pair list can matter to traders who look beyond major currencies. IG’s research offering is tied to a larger stated market universe, with news, charts, price alerts, market pages, education, and analysis available through its web and mobile ecosystem. The practical distinction is not simply the quantity of written commentary. CMC Markets emphasizes a tightly integrated workflow around its proprietary platform, whereas IG gives users a broader menu of markets and platform pathways. Neither set of tools substitutes for independent research, a trade plan, or suitable risk controls.
Which broker fits you
- You want MT5 alongside a proprietary platform and MT4.
- TradingView connectivity is available in your region and matters to you.
- You are comparing FX Active’s commission-plus-spread model with standard spread pricing.
- You prefer CMC Markets’ integrated charting, calendar, sentiment, and alert workflow.
- You want access to IG’s stated 17,000-plus global markets.
- You prefer IG’s web and mobile ecosystem, with MT4 and specialist tools where offered.
- Your account jurisdiction gives you the products and funding route you need.
- You value a broker with a long-established multi-country operating structure.
Common questions
Is CMC Markets cheaper than IG for EUR/USD trading?
It depends on the account and platform. CMC Markets advertises FX Active spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD but charges a 0.0025% commission per transaction. IG’s UK MT4 schedule lists a 0.6-pip EUR/USD minimum and a stated average spread of 0.85 pips for its specified measurement window. Compare total trade cost, not headline spreads alone.
Does CMC Markets or IG have the better platform range?
CMC Markets has the broader mainstream retail platform lineup because it offers Next Generation, MT4, MT5, and TradingView connectivity in supported regions. IG provides its web platform, mobile app, and MT4, plus specialist platforms or services in certain jurisdictions. Available markets and features can differ by legal entity.
Are CMC Markets and IG FCA regulated?
Both have FCA-regulated UK entities: CMC Markets UK plc and IG Markets Limited. This does not mean every customer contracts with those entities. CMC Markets and IG also serve clients through regional companies, where protections, leverage, product availability, and compensation arrangements can differ. Confirm the exact entity in the account agreement.
Do CMC Markets and IG require a minimum deposit?
CMC Markets says no minimum deposit is required to open a live account, though margin must be available before trading. IG says UK bank transfers have no minimum; card minimums vary by account currency and method. A minimum deposit rule is therefore not universal for either broker, so check the funding page displayed for your account.