CMC Markets vs IG
Since 1 Dec 2001, CMC Markets UK plc has been authorised by the FCA, FRN 173730, and it holds client money. Since 1 Dec 2001, IG INDEX LIMITED has been authorised by the FCA, FRN 114059, and it holds client money.
CMC Markets and IG side by side
Every figure comes from the broker itself, along with the date we read it. The order shown follows what people search for, not any preference.
| Fact | CMC Markets | IG |
|---|---|---|
| UK firm | CMC Markets UK plc | IG INDEX LIMITED |
| FRN | 173730 | 114059 |
| Regulatory status | Authorised | Authorised |
| Authorised since | 1 Dec 2001 | 1 Dec 2001 |
| Clone firms on the register | 2 | 0 |
| Retail CFD accounts that lose money | 69%, read 2 Nov 2026 | 70%, read 2 Nov 2026 |
| EUR/USD spread as stated | 0.5 pips (minimum, Spread bet / CFD (standard)) | 0.6 points (minimum, Spread betting) |
| Smallest deposit | Not stated | £250 |
| Inactivity fee | £Dormant accounts pay £10 each month (no positions open, with no trading, for one year)) | Free (as stated on spread betting/CFD charges tab) |
| Withdrawal fee | There's no charge for a card or standard bank transfer, while international bank transfers may be charged. | free |
| Withdrawal time | For a card, withdrawal takes from within an hour to five working days, depending on the issuer. A UK bank takes one to two working days, while an international bank takes three to five. | Not stated |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | Yes |
| Share dealing | Yes | Yes |
| Retail leverage | Not stated | up to 30x leverage on selected markets |
| Platforms | MT4, TradingView, CMC Markets web platform and the CMC mobile app ('CMC Platform')') | Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView, IG's online trading platform, the mobile app, plus L2 Dealer, ProRealTime and the tastytrade platform for US options and futures) |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | Not stated | Yes |
| iPhone app rating, UK App Store | 4.21 of 5 (411 ratings) | 4.58 of 5 (34,180 ratings) |
For both brokers, the FCA status, the date authorised, CFDs, spread betting, share dealing plus the demo account are the same.
Source: read 2 Nov 2026 for cmcmarkets.com/en-gb/account-comparison; read 2 Nov 2026 for ig.com/uk; read 2 Nov 2026 for cmcmarkets.com/en-gb/forex; read 2 Nov 2026 for cmcmarkets.com/en-gb/trading-costs; read 2 Nov 2026 for ig.com/uk/charges; read 2 Nov 2026 for ig.com/uk/about-us/international-offering; read 2 Nov 2026 for ig.com/uk/spread-betting.
How the two loss rates stand against the wider field
The full risk warning from each broker
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Among retail investor accounts that spread bet and/or trade CFDs with this provider, 69% lose money. Think about whether you understand how spread bets work, as well as CFDs, OTC options and any of our other products. You should also think about whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money.
On cmcmarkets.com, CMC Markets's own wording, read 2 Nov 2026.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. For retail investor accounts trading with this provider, 70% lose money when using spread bets and CFDs. Money is at stake: you should consider whether you can afford the high risk of losing it. You should also consider whether you know how spread bets and CFDs work.
On ig.com, IG's own wording, read 2 Nov 2026.