CMC Markets vs IG

 

An overall comprehensive side-by-side comparison of CMC Markets vs IG. CMC Markets is well-respected around the world and provides an exceptional trading experience with its competitive pricing and variety of close to 12,000 products. But how does this broker compare against one of the oldest, versatile forex and CFD brokers, IG?

 

CMC Markets vs IG Review – 24 Key Point Quick Overview (2025):

1. ☑️ CMC Markets vs IG Overall Comparison
2. ☑️ CMC Markets vs IG Regulation Comparison
3. ☑️ CMC Markets vs IG Assets Comparison
4. ☑️ CMC Markets vs IG Fees Comparison
5. ☑️ CMC Markets vs IG Account Types Comparison
6. ☑️ CMC Markets vs IG Trading Conditions Comparison
7. ☑️ CMC Markets vs IG Deposit Options Comparison
8. ☑️ CMC Markets vs IG Trading Platforms Comparison
9. ☑️ CMC Markets vs IG Analytical Tools Comparison
10. ☑️ CMC Markets vs IG Educational Resources Comparison
11. CMC Markets vs IG Forex Majors Offered Compared
12. CMC Markets vs IG
13. Which offers better pricing – CMC Markets or IG
14. Which broker offers more security when trading Forex and CFDs?
15. Which broker offers the superior trading platform?
16. Do these brokers both offer MetaTrader?
17. How many Forex pairs can I expect from these brokers?
18. Is it safe to trade with CMC Markets?
19. Is it safe to trade with IG?
20. Who is CMC Markets?
21. Who is IG?
22. Is CMC Markets a good broker?
23. Is IG a good broker?
24. Who is the Overall Winner?

 

 

CMC Markets vs IG Overall Comparison

🔍 Features	🏛️ CMC Markets	🏛️ IG
🔄 General comparison	5/5	5/5
🏛️ Regulation	5/5	5/5
📊 Spreads and fees	5/5	4/5
📈 Trading Platforms	5/5	5/5
📱 Trading Apps	5/5	5/5
🛠️ Analytical Tools	4/5	5/5
🎓 Educational Resources	4/5	5/5
⭐ Trust Score	99	99
⭐ Best in class		✔️

 

CMC Markets vs IG Regulation Comparison

🔍 Features	🏛️ CMC Markets	🏛️ IG
⭐ Trust Score	99	99
📅 Year founded	1989	1974
📊 Publicly Traded	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
🇿🇦 Licensed in South Africa	❌ No	✔️ Yes
🥇 Tier-1 Regulation	5	8
🥈 Tier-2 Regulation	1	3
🥉 Tier-3 Regulation	0	1

 

CMC Markets vs IG Assets Comparison

🔍 Features	🏛️ CMC Markets	🏛️ IG
📊 Forex	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Number of Forex pairs	158	100
📊 CFDs	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Bonds	❌ No	✔️ Yes
📊 Commodities	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 ETFs	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Treasuries	✔️ Yes	❌ No
📊 Indices	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Options	❌ No	✔️ Yes
📊 Futures	❌ No	✔️ Yes
📊 Precious Metals	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Energies	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Individual Shares	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 US Stock Trading	❌ No	✔️ Yes
📊 International Stock Trading	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Cryptocurrency CFDs	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Physical Crypto	❌ No	❌ No
📊 Total Tradable Instruments	11927	19537

 

CMC Markets vs IG Fees Comparison

🔍 Features	🏛️ CMC Markets	🏛️ IG
💰 Average Spread for EUR/USD	0.7 pips	0.1 pips
💰 Commissions Charged	❌ No	✔️ Yes
💰 ECN Execution	❌ No	✔️ Yes
💰 Market Maker Execution	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💰 Inactivity Fee	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💰 Currency Conversion Fees	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💰 Deposit Fee	❌ No	❌ No
💰 Withdrawal Fee	❌ No	❌ No

 

CMC Markets vs IG Account Types Comparison

🔍 Features	🏛️ CMC Markets	🏛️ IG
📒 Standard Account	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📒 Cent Account	❌ No	❌ No
📒 Commission-Free Account	✔️ Yes	❌ No
📒 ECN Account	❌ No	❌ No
📒 Demo Account	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
☪️ Islamic/Swap-Free Account	❌ No	✔️ Yes
📒 Managed Accounts	❌ No	✔️ Yes
📒 Share Dealing Account	❌ No	✔️ Yes

 

CMC Markets vs IG Trading Conditions Comparison

🔍 Features	🏛️ CMC Markets	🏛️ IG
📊 Hedging	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Scalping	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Dynamic Leverage	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Beginner Trading	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Professional Trading	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📊 Copy/Social Trading	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes

 

CMC Markets vs IG Deposit Options Comparison

🔍 Features	🏛️ CMC Markets	🏛️ IG
💳 Bank wire	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💳 MasterCard	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💳 PayPal	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💳 Skrill	❌ No	✔️ Yes
💳 Neteller	❌ No	✔️ Yes
💳 Minimum Deposit	R0 ZAR / $0	R4000 ZAR / $250

 

CMC Markets vs IG Trading Platforms Comparison

🔍 Features	🏛️ CMC Markets	🏛️ IG
💻 Desktop Platform	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📱 Mobile App	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💻 Social Trading	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💻 MetaTrader 4	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💻 MetaTrader 5	❌ No	❌ No
💻 cTrader	❌ No	❌ No
💻 DupliTrade	❌ No	❌ No
💻 ZuluTrade	❌ No	❌ No
💻 Proprietary Platform	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes

 

CMC Markets vs IG Analytical Tools Comparison

🔍 Features	🏛️ CMC Markets	🏛️ IG
📅 Economic Calendar	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📈 Social Sentiment	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📈 Trading Central	✔️ Yes	❌ No
📈 AutoChartist	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📈 Forex News Sources	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📈 Daily Market Commentary	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📈 Virtual Private Server (VPS)	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
📈 Trading View	❌ No	❌ No
📈 Blog	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes

 

CMC Markets vs IG Educational Resources Comparison

🔍 Features	🏛️ CMC Markets	🏛️ IG
🎓 Offers education	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
ℹ️ Webinars	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
ℹ️ Beginner training videos	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
ℹ️ Advanced training videos	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
ℹ️ Tutorials	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
ℹ️ eBooks	❌ No	❌ No
ℹ️ Glossary	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes

 

CMC Markets vs IG Forex Majors Offered Compared

🔍 Features	🏛️ CMC Markets	🏛️ IG
💱 GBP/USD	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💱 USD/JPY	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💱 EUR/USD	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💱 USD/CHF	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💱 USD/CAD	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💱 NZD/USD	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes
💱 AUD/USD	✔️ Yes	✔️ Yes

 

CMC Markets vs IG

 

We spent many hours thoroughly examining the best-in-class Forex brokers for 2025. Here, we take a closer look at CMC Markets vs IG.

 

Which offers better pricing – CMC Markets or IG

 

When comparing the trading and non-trading fees, CMC Markets performs better than IG. CMC Markets charges a typical spread from 0.7 pips as opposed to IG’s 0.1 on the DMA Account, but CMC Markets does not charge commissions on trades while IG does.

In addition, CMC Markets does not have a minimum deposit requirement while IG requires $250 / 4,100 ZAR.

In addition, IG charges an inactivity fee while CMC Markets does not apply such fees. IG also has additional fees such as Live Price Data Fees, ProRealTime chart Fees, and account documentation fees.

Both CMC Markets and IG apply deposit and withdrawal fees on some payment methods.

 

Which broker offers more security when trading Forex and CFDs?

 

Both CMC Markets and IG have the same trust score, which means that they both offer significant security when South Africans trade forex and CFDs.

 

Which broker offers the superior trading platform?

 

IG offers a choice between MetaTrader 4, IG Platform, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, and FIX API while CMC only offers a proprietary platform and MetaTrader 4. IG has more versatility, and its trading apps are sophisticated, offering a better experience than CMC Markets. Therefore, IG offers a superior trading platform between these two brokers.

 

Do these brokers both offer MetaTrader?

 

Yes, both CMC Markets and IG offer MetaTrader 4.

 

How many Forex pairs can I expect from these brokers?

 

CMC Markets is one of the brokers with the most variety in forex trading pairs. CMC Markets offers 158 forex pairs while IG only offers 100. In addition, CMC Markets offers over 11,900 instruments while IG offers 19,537.

 

Is it safe to trade with CMC Markets?

 

Yes, it is safe to trade with CMC Markets. CMC Markets is regulated by five Tier-1 regulators (high trust) and one Tier-2 regulator (average trust). The Tier-1 regulators that oversee and license CMC Markets are:

 

• Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)
• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC)
• Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
• Financial Markets Authority (FMA)
• Investment Industry Regulatory Organisation of Canada (IIROC)

 

Client funds are held in a separate bank account from our own. The money is held in several reputable European financial institutions, including NatWest, Barclays & Lloyds, Ulster Bank & Deutsche Bank in Ireland, Germany & Germany, and Barclays & Lloyds in France.

Financial data at CMC Markets is routinely verified by in-house auditors. PricewaterhouseCoopers conducts an annual audit and submits the results to the appropriate authorities.

Customers in the UK and Europe who trade with CMC Markets have the protection of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Those who qualify for compensation under the plan may get up to £85,000 if their broker goes bankrupt.

The Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) provides insurance coverage for Canadian customers of up to one million Canadian dollars. Insurance coverage of up to SGD 50,000 is provided to MAS-regulated countries.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryptions are used to secure CMC’s trading platforms and websites from identity thieves and cyber hackers.

 

Is it safe to trade with IG?

 

Yes, it is safe to trade with IG. IG is low-risk forex and CFD broker, with an overall Trust Score of 99 out of 100. IG is licensed by eight Tier-1 Regulators (high trust), three Tier-2 Regulators (average trust), and one Tier-3 Regulator (low trust).

 

IG Is well-regulated by these Tier-1 regulators:

 

• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
• Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
• Japanese Financial Services Authority (JFSA)
• Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
• Financial Markets Authority (FMA)
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
• Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)
• Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)

 

You need not be concerned about the security of your money when you put it into an IG account since it is stored in separate accounts at banks that are governed by regulations and are under trustee arrangements’ supervision.

This ensures that the money remains in your control and does not pass to IG. The fact that the money can be easily recognized as coming from the client further suggests that IG and its creditors do not have any claims to it in the form of a charge, lien, set-off, or detention.

IG has several distinct bank accounts with numerous reputable high street financial institutions, including Barclays and Lloyds, among others.

Subsequently, IG is not allowed to hold all client cash in one place, therefore they purposefully disperse them around many institutions. Additionally, IG is protected from its creditors by a ring-fencing arrangement.

This prevents IG from using your funds for things like hedging agreements with other counterparties (or as margin for our own hedging trades), operating costs, or anything else associated with their own business operations.

Only professional customers, which include other financial institutions, and qualifying counterparties who have agreed to a written agreement outlining how their cash and assets are kept separately are exempt from this rule (also known as “title transfer”).

All clients would get their proportional share of the funds or assets that had been put aside if IG went into liquidation, minus any costs assessed by the administrators for handling and allocating these funds.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which serves as the last-resort compensation fund for customers of approved financial services organizations, will make up any funding shortfall of up to 85,000 pounds.

It is designed to act as a “safety net” by the government of the United Kingdom (UK), and it often defends small businesses as well as individual investors (sometimes known as “retail consumers”) who have previously been clients of bankrupt financial services organizations.

 

 

Who is CMC Markets?

 

The firm was established in 1989 and trades under the ticker name CMCX on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

CMC Markets is a British foreign exchange (Forex) and contract for difference (CFD) broker that is regulated by national agencies from across the globe, including Germany, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and Singapore, making it one of the safest brokers in the world.

CMC Markets is headquartered in the United Kingdom. It has one of the biggest CFD portfolios in the business, allowing customers to trade on more than 10,000 financial assets such as 330+ Forex pairs, indices, shares, commodities, treasuries, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, 8000+ equities, and share baskets.

Spreads on the EUR/USD start at 0.7 pips, and there is no minimum deposit required at CMC Markets, making it a competitive CFD broker. However, CMC Markets only offers one live account without a fee.

All MT4’s features, as well as those of CMC Markets’ award-winning proprietary platform, Next Generation, are supported there. Next Generation also includes a news feed from Reuters and a wide variety of sophisticated order management and technical analysis tools.

The market analysis department of CMC Markets is also among the finest in the business, and the teaching tools it offers to new traders are also top-notch. CMC Markets has won several accolades for its excellence as a broker serving traders throughout the world.

In every significant category, CMC Markets is at or near the top. CMC Markets excels in providing a comprehensive trading environment for foreign exchange and CFDs online.

It has unrivaled fees, platforms, usability, education, mobile applications, research, market depth, and trading tools.

Traders who utilize CMC Markets’ desktop software have access to a comprehensive set of high-priced advanced order tools. Users may see and interact with charts in real-time, making this online platform ideal for chart-based trading.

 

Who is IG?

 

Founded in 1974, IG is a low-risk broker for FX and CFDs trading thanks to being publicly listed (LON: IGG) and licensed in six tier-1 countries.

Trading platforms offered by IG are among the most user-friendly in the industry, making market research, trade execution, and account management a breeze.

It is no surprise that IG is a world leader in online trading and the number one CFD provider in the world, given its 178,000 customers spread across five continents, broad product catalogue, affordable fees, long-standing company operations, and great reputation.

Because of regulatory constraints, most established online forex brokers avoid the U.S. market. IG’s decision to re-enter this sector in 2019 demonstrates the company’s dedication to creating a genuinely global presence.

Since IG draws its liquidity from a wide range of leading liquidity sources, the broker can provide narrow spreads, low fee rates, and rapid trade execution times.

For those who anticipate engaging in regular trading and want to minimize transaction costs without sacrificing quality, this is a viable option. Great trading tools and learning materials are provided to help you succeed.

If security is your priority and you want access to the widest range of trading tools and services, go no further than IG. By providing extensive liquidity and innovative trading tools, IG is committed to providing you with the best possible pricing and spreads.

When it comes to serving their customers, they are dedicated to doing all it takes to ensure a smooth and successful transaction. When placing limit or at-quote orders with this broker, you can be certain that you will always get the price you want or better.

IG does not keep any of the profit from the positive slippage but provides guaranteed stops to assist you to prevent the losses from the negative slippage.

 

Is CMC Markets a good broker?

 

Yes, CMC Markets is a good broker with an award-winning trading platform and some of the cheapest trading and non-trading fees when compared to IG.

CMC Markets is well-regulated and publicly listed, making it a safe option for South African traders.

 

Is IG a good broker?

 

Yes, IG is one of the best brokers with a long history of excellence. IG is one of the safest brokers and while its fees are higher than CMC Markets, the service and features that traders can receive make it worth the hefty price tag to join IG.

 

Who is the Overall Winner?

 

Based on its broad offering, competitive trading conditions, and range of trading solutions, IG is the overall winner in this comparison. IG has a long-standing reputation as one of the best forex and CFD brokers despite its expensive trading fees and high minimum deposit requirement.

 

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