Complete Head-to-Head Comparison · 2026
Cmc Markets Vs Hargreaves Lansdown: A Detailed Comparison For Maltese Traders
Which broker is better for Malta traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
CMC Markets
FCA · ASIC · MAS · Founded 1989
VS
Hargreaves Lansdown
FCA · Founded 1981
Quick Verdict — Malta Traders
Best Overall
CMC Markets
Higher overall score & more features
Best Spreads
Hargreaves Lansdown
Lower trading costs for scalpers
Islamic Accounts
Check broker
Swap-free for Malta Muslims
Best for Beginners
CMC Markets
Better education & support
$0 vs $0
Min deposit
1:1 vs 1:1
Max leverage
FCA vs FCA
Top regulator
4.2 vs 3.9
Our scores
Table of Contents
Head-to-head comparison
Choosing the right broker is critical for traders in Malta, whether you are trading CFDs, forex, or traditional investments like stocks and funds. This comparison pits CMC Markets, a global CFD and spread betting giant, against Hargreaves Lansdown (HL), the UK’s largest investment platform, to help you decide which aligns with your trading goals.
Both brokers are highly reputable and regulated, but they serve different primary functions. CMC Markets focuses on leveraged trading with tight spreads and advanced charting, while Hargreaves Lansdown excels in long-term investing with a vast range of funds, shares, and ISAs. We’ll break down their offerings specifically for Malta-based traders.
🏆
Overall Scores Comparison
CMC Markets
FCA · ASIC · MAS
4.2
CompareBroker score
Winner
VS
Hargreaves Lansdown
FCA
3.9
CompareBroker score
Trading Costs
Spreads, commissions
4.3
4.0
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TV
3.9
3.6
Regulation
Safety, oversight
4.5
4.2
Deposits
Local payments
4.3
3.9
Customer Support
24/5, chat, phone
4.0
3.7
Education
Webinars, guides
4.3
4.0
Execution
Speed, slippage
4.0
3.7
Mobile App
iOS, Android
4.2
3.9
💹
Trading Costs - Spreads & Commissions
| Instrument | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Hargreaves Lansdown |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Hargreaves Lansdown |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Hargreaves Lansdown |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Hargreaves Lansdown |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $0 | $0 | Tie |
📂
Account Types Comparison
| Account Type | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $0 | $0 |
⚖️
Leverage Comparison - Malta Traders
| Entity / Asset | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown |
|---|---|---|
| Malta (offshore) | Up to 1:1 | Up to 1:1 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:1 | 1:1 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
Leverage Warning for Malta Traders
Traders in Malta typically open accounts under offshore entities with up to 1:500 leverage. High leverage significantly increases risk.
📈
Trading Instruments - Assets Available
| Asset Class | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | CMC Markets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | CMC Markets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | ✗ | CMC Markets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | 1,000+ | 1,700+ | Hargreaves Lansdown |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
🖥️
Platforms Comparison
| Platform | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
⚡
Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage
| Factor | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Hargreaves Lansdown |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | CMC Markets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
🛡️
Regulation & Safety for Malta Traders
| Safety Factor | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Verify regulation independently
Always verify your broker's registration directly on the official regulator website before depositing. Regulation details for Malta traders may differ by entity.
💳
Deposits & Withdrawals for Malta
| Payment Method | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✗ |
| Neteller | ✗ | ✗ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | 5 business days | Average of 2 working days |
☪️
Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for Malta Muslims
| Islamic Account Feature | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✗ | ✗ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Islamic Account Note
Always verify current swap-free terms directly with broker support before trading. Admin fees or holding period restrictions may apply.
💬
Customer Support Comparison
| Support Feature | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | CMC Markets |
📱
Mobile App Comparison
| Mobile Feature | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | CMC Markets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | CMC Markets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
📚
Education & Research Tools
| Resource | CMC Markets | Hargreaves Lansdown | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | CMC Markets |
⭐
Real User Reviews - Trustpilot
⚖️
Pros & Cons of Each Broker
CMC Markets
Pros
+Top-tier regulated
Cons
-No TradingView
-No 24/7 support
Hargreaves Lansdown
Pros
+Top-tier regulated
Cons
-No TradingView
-No 24/7 support
👤
Who Should Use Which Broker? - Malta Guide
Choose CMC Markets if you...
Are a beginner trader in Malta
Want TradingView integration
Have less than $200 to start
Want FCA regulation
Choose Hargreaves Lansdown if you...
Are a beginner trader in Malta
Are a scalper or EA trader
Need PAMM/MAM accounts
Want True ECN regulation
❓
FAQ - CMC Markets vs Hargreaves Lansdown in Malta
Is CMC Markets or Hargreaves Lansdown better for a beginner trader in Malta?
+Can I trade US stocks on both CMC Markets and Hargreaves Lansdown from Malta?
+Which broker has lower fees for a Maltese trader who trades frequently?
+Final Verdict - Malta 2026
CMC Markets wins overall
After comparing 12 categories, CMC Markets comes out ahead for most Malta traders.
Risk Disclaimer: CFDs and forex trading involve significant risk of loss. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. CMC Markets: 69% of retail CFD accounts lose money. All data verified as of October 2026.
