IG Group vs CMC Markets

Detailed Analysis

Two of the UK's longest-established spread betting and CFD providers, both publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange. IG Group was founded in 1974 and CMC Markets in 1989 — collectively representing over 80 years of retail trading infrastructure. Both are FCA-regulated, both offer proprietary platforms alongside MetaTrader, and both target a similar demographic of informed retail traders.

Spreads & Trading Costs

IG Group offers spreads from 0.6 pips on major forex pairs, while CMC Markets starts from 0.7 pips. The 0.1-pip difference is minimal for most trading styles but compounds for very active traders. Where the cost comparison becomes more nuanced is in non-forex instruments — CMC Markets often offers tighter spreads on indices and commodities, while IG Group's pricing tends to be more competitive on individual shares and options. Both brokers operate primarily on spread-based pricing without commissions for standard accounts, making cost comparison straightforward. Active trader programs at both brokers can reduce costs further, but qualification thresholds differ — IG's program typically requires higher monthly volumes.

Regulation & Safety

IG Group holds a broader regulatory portfolio: FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS (Singapore), and CFTC (US). CMC Markets is regulated by the FCA, ASIC, and BaFin. IG's CFTC registration makes it one of the few brokers accepting US clients — a significant differentiator for traders based in or connected to the American market. Both brokers' FCA regulation provides FSCS coverage, and both segregate client funds under equivalent standards. For most UK and European traders, regulatory protection is comparable. The distinction matters primarily for traders who need US market access or Singapore-based protection.

Trading Platforms

IG Group offers its proprietary IG platform alongside MetaTrader 4 and ProRealTime — a professional-grade charting and analysis platform favoured by technical traders. CMC Markets' proprietary Next Generation platform is consistently praised for its clean interface, extensive charting tools, and integration of research directly into the trading workflow. Both proprietary platforms are strong, but they serve slightly different preferences — IG's platform is more modular and customisable, while CMC's is more intuitive out of the box. CMC Markets also offers over 12,000 instruments compared to IG's 17,000+, with CMC notably offering the largest range of forex pairs in the industry at 300+.

Minimum Deposit

Both brokers have no minimum deposit requirement, removing any barrier to entry. This parity means the decision comes down to platform preference, instrument range, and trading conditions rather than account accessibility.

Our Verdict