Written by

Fact-checked by

Alia Mehmood

Updated October 2026Country New Zealand

Data verified

Complete Head-to-Head Comparison · 2026

Cmc Markets Vs Hargreaves Lansdown For New Zealand Traders

Q: Can New Zealand residents open accounts with CMC Markets or Hargreaves Lansdown?

Yes, New Zealand residents can open accounts with both brokers. CMC Markets accepts NZ clients under its Australian entity, while Hargreaves Lansdown accepts international clients, but both operate offshore without a local NZ license.

Q: Which broker has lower fees for New Zealand traders?

CMC Markets generally has lower trading costs for active CFD traders due to tight spreads and no platform fees. Hargreaves Lansdown charges higher dealing commissions and a platform fee as a percentage of assets, making it more expensive for frequent trading.

Q: Are my funds protected if I trade with these brokers from New Zealand?

CMC Markets provides client money protection under ASIC’s rules, but no specific NZ compensation scheme applies. Hargreaves Lansdown offers FSCS protection only to UK residents, so NZ traders may not be covered. Always check the broker’s terms for international clients.

Which broker is better for New Zealand traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.

CMC Markets

FCA · ASIC · MAS · Founded 1989

Open Account

Hargreaves Lansdown

FCA · Founded 1981

Open Account

Winner: CMC Markets

Categories: 12 compared

For: New Zealand traders

Updated: October 2026

Compare any two brokers

Full CMC Markets Review Full Hargreaves Lansdown Review

Compare All Brokers in New Zealand

Best Forex Brokers Best Gold CFD Brokers Lowest Spread Brokers Best Demo Account

Quick Verdict — New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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

→ Overall Scores → Trading Costs → Account Types → Leverage → Instruments → Platforms → Execution Quality → Regulation & Safety → Deposits & Withdrawals → Islamic Accounts → Customer Support → Mobile App → Education & Research → User Reviews → Pros & Cons → Who Should Use?→ FAQ → Final Verdict

Head-to-head comparison

For New Zealand traders, choosing between CMC Markets and Hargreaves Lansdown depends on your primary investment style—active trading versus long-term investing. CMC Markets is a global CFD and spread betting broker with strong forex and index offerings, while Hargreaves Lansdown is a UK-based investment platform focused on shares, funds, and ISAs. This comparison breaks down their key differences for NZ residents.

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Overall Scores Comparison

CMC Markets

FCA · ASIC · MAS

4.2

CompareBroker score

Winner

Hargreaves Lansdown

FCA

3.9

CompareBroker score

Trading Costs

Spreads, commissions

4.3

WIN

4.0

Platforms

MT4, MT5, cTrader, TV

3.9

WIN

3.6

Regulation

Safety, oversight

4.5

WIN

4.2

Deposits

Local payments

4.3

WIN

3.9

Customer Support

24/5, chat, phone

4.0

WIN

3.7

Education

Webinars, guides

4.3

WIN

4.0

Execution

Speed, slippage

4.0

WIN

3.7

Mobile App

iOS, Android

4.2

WIN

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 - New Zealand Traders

Entity / Asset	CMC Markets	Hargreaves Lansdown
New Zealand (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 New Zealand Traders

Traders in New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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 New Zealand traders may differ by entity.

💳

Deposits & Withdrawals for New Zealand

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 New Zealand 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

CMC Markets

☆☆☆☆☆

—

3,509 verified reviews

View on Trustpilot

Hargreaves Lansdown

☆☆☆☆☆

—

21,354 verified reviews

View on 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? - New Zealand Guide

Choose CMC Markets if you...

Are a beginner trader in New Zealand

Want TradingView integration

Have less than $200 to start

Want FCA regulation

Choose Hargreaves Lansdown if you...

Are a beginner trader in New Zealand

Are a scalper or EA trader

Need PAMM/MAM accounts

Want True ECN regulation

❓

FAQ - CMC Markets vs Hargreaves Lansdown in New Zealand

Can New Zealand residents open accounts with CMC Markets or Hargreaves Lansdown?

Which broker has lower fees for New Zealand traders?

Are my funds protected if I trade with these brokers from New Zealand?

Final Verdict - New Zealand 2026

CMC Markets wins overall

After comparing 12 categories, CMC Markets comes out ahead for most New Zealand traders.

Open CMC Markets Open Hargreaves Lansdown

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.

Find Your Best Broker

Compare all brokers for New Zealand traders based on your trading style.

Compare All Brokers

Score Summary

CMC Markets Winner4.2/5

Hargreaves Lansdown 3.9/5

Full Reviews

Full CMC Markets Review →Full Hargreaves Lansdown Review →

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Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments. 74-89% of retail accounts lose money. CMC Markets: 69% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Cmc Markets Vs Hargreaves Lansdown For New Zealand Traders

Quick Verdict — New Zealand Traders

Head-to-head comparison

Overall Scores Comparison

Trading Costs - Spreads & Commissions

Account Types Comparison

Leverage Comparison - New Zealand Traders

Trading Instruments - Assets Available

Platforms Comparison

Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage

Regulation & Safety for New Zealand Traders

Deposits & Withdrawals for New Zealand

Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for New Zealand Muslims

Customer Support Comparison

Mobile App Comparison

Education & Research Tools

Real User Reviews - Trustpilot

Pros & Cons of Each Broker

CMC Markets

Hargreaves Lansdown

Who Should Use Which Broker? - New Zealand Guide

Choose CMC Markets if you...

Choose Hargreaves Lansdown if you...

FAQ - CMC Markets vs Hargreaves Lansdown in New Zealand

Can New Zealand residents open accounts with CMC Markets or Hargreaves Lansdown?

Which broker has lower fees for New Zealand traders?

Are my funds protected if I trade with these brokers from New Zealand?

Final Verdict - New Zealand 2026

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