Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
When comparing City Index and ActivTrades, both offer online trading services but differ significantly in their regulatory backing and level of trust. Founded in 1983, City Index is a publicly traded company known for its highly secure offerings, boasting an outstanding Trust Score of 99 as rated by ForexBrokers.com. This high rating is supported by City Index's possession of an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, which are considered the gold standard in regulatory oversight, alongside one Tier-2 license.
On the other hand, ActivTrades, established in 2001, is not publicly traded and holds a respectable Trust Score of 81. Though not as high as City Index, this score denotes a trusted status with its two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. While neither broker operates as a bank, City Index's edge in regulatory endorsements could provide added peace of mind for traders seeking a more secure platform. Both brokers, however, offer dependable choices for online trading within their respective regulatory frameworks.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, both City Index and ActivTrades offer competitive structures, but they differ in specific areas. City Index aligns with the industry average for trading CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products. Traders can benefit from exclusive pricing and dedicated customer service if they open a Premium Trader account with deposits over £10,000. The average spread for the EUR/USD pair is 0.74 pips, which is standard yet not the lowest available in the market. UK and Australian active traders may avail themselves of rebates based on their trading volumes. Overall, City Index earns a high rating of 4.5 stars and is ranked #14 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees.
On the other hand, ActivTrades provides slightly above-average spreads across its accounts, with no special pricing for high-volume traders. All spreads remain consistent regardless of the account type, whether it is the Individual, Professional, or Islamic account. For those focusing on forex trading, the EUR/USD pair had an average spread of 0.98 pips as of May 2024. While offering a demo account for practice, it does not have an active trader rebate program. ActivTrades is rated 4 stars in commissions and fees, and holds the #27 rank among 62 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com.
In conclusion, City Index might be more appealing for individuals looking for rebates and additional perks when trading large volumes, while ActivTrades caters to traders who prefer straightforward pricing across various account types, despite its higher spreads. Whether you prioritize rebates or predictable costs, both brokers deliver solid services with distinguished offerings in the market.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
City Index and ActivTrades are both reputable online brokers offering a range of investment opportunities, yet they have distinct differences in their offerings. City Index provides a wide array of 13,500 tradeable symbols, including 66 forex pairs, allowing traders extensive options. It offers forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts and supports copy trading along with cryptocurrency derivatives. However, it does not provide access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges. In contrast, ActivTrades offers 1,267 tradeable symbols, including 49 forex pairs. While it also supports forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts and includes copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives, ActivTrades stands out by allowing the purchase of exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, though not on the U.S. exchanges.
Despite these differences, both brokers are well-regarded, with City Index earning a five-star rating for its range of investments compared to ActivTrades' four-star rating. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, City Index is positioned at #8 out of 62 brokers for its investment range, while ActivTrades is placed at #31. These rankings reflect City Index's broader selection of tradeable symbols and forex pairs, making it a strong contender for traders seeking variety. Meanwhile, ActivTrades may appeal to those interested in international exchange-traded securities, despite its comparatively narrower range of tradable assets.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of City Index and ActivTrades, both brokers provide a comprehensive range of features, making them appealing options for various types of traders. Each broker offers a proprietary platform built in-house, ensuring a tailored experience for their users. Additionally, both platforms are available on Windows-based desktops and accessible through web browsers, delivering flexibility in how and where traders choose to engage with the markets. Both City Index and ActivTrades also support MetaTrader 4, a popular platform among traders, but only ActivTrades extends its offering to include the more advanced MetaTrader 5. Additionally, trading practice with a free virtual demo account is available from both brokers, allowing users to hone their strategies before committing real funds.
While both brokers have similar features such as enabling trades directly from charts and providing copy trading capabilities, City Index takes the lead when it comes to tools for analysis. For instance, City Index provides an exceptional 239 drawing tools for charting, compared to ActivTrades’ 15 tools. Despite both brokers offering the same number of columns for watch lists, City Index achieves a slightly higher rating of 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, compared to ActivTrades’ 4 stars. Moreover, City Index has an impressive rank of 10 out of 62 in the Trading Platforms and Tools category by ForexBrokers.com, whereas ActivTrades ranks at 29. These distinctions highlight City Index as a more robust option for traders prioritizing an extensive array of tools and higher-rated platforms.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of City Index and ActivTrades, both platforms provide essential features for users. They each offer iPhone and Android apps, ensuring access across popular devices. Traders can receive stock and forex price alerts through both apps. While each app allows users to draw trendlines and view charts across multiple time frames, City Index stands out with 88 technical studies for charting versus ActivTrades' 30, which may be appealing for users who rely heavily on technical analysis. Both apps save drawings on charts and enable the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes; however, City Index offers the added benefit of watchlist symbol syncing. This feature keeps your watchlists up-to-date by syncing changes made between the mobile app and online account, providing more seamless portfolio management than ActivTrades.
City Index holds a higher user rating with 4.5 stars for its Mobile Trading App compared to ActivTrades' 4 stars. Additionally, City Index is ranked higher in ForexBrokers.com's Mobile Trading Apps category, securing the 9th position out of 62 brokers, while ActivTrades is ranked 19th. These distinctions highlight City Index as a more preferred choice based on user reviews and industry rankings. Whether you are a seasoned trader or new to trading, both mobile apps offer useful tools to enhance your trading experience, but City Index may provide an edge with its broader charting tools and synchronization features.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of City Index and ActivTrades, both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, City Index stands out with its inclusion of tools from Trading Central, offering additional technical analytics that ActivTrades does not provide. Both platforms also feature sentiment-based trading tools, allowing traders to gauge the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments, as well as offering economic calendars to keep track of global economic events.
Despite similarities, City Index's research capabilities are highly regarded with a 4.5-star rating, ranking 10th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas ActivTrades has a slightly lower rating of 4 stars and is ranked 30th. Neither broker includes tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading's Signal Centre, highlighting a few gaps in their research tool offerings.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
If you're just starting your trading journey and looking for educational resources on forex and CFDs, both City Index and ActivTrades provide a solid foundation. Each broker offers at least 10 educational articles, videos, and webinars focused on forex and CFDs, ensuring a wealth of information right at your fingertips. Regular monthly webinars are hosted by both brokers, complete with an archive of past sessions you can browse whenever you want. Beginners will find resources tailored to their level, including at least 10 educational videos specifically designed to build foundational trading skills.
Beyond beginner content, both City Index and ActivTrades deliver for advanced traders, with an array of videos tackling more complex trading topics. However, City Index goes a step further with an expansive investor dictionary featuring over 50 investing terms, a resource not provided by ActivTrades. When evaluated for educational resources, City Index scores 4.5 out of 5 stars, securing the 9th spot among 62 brokers ranked by ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades, on the other hand, earns a solid 4-star rating and is ranked 38th. This makes City Index slightly more favorable if you're seeking comprehensive educational support in your trading journey.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that City Index is better than ActivTrades. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
Backed by StoneX Group, City Index is a trusted brand known for its versatile trading platforms, excellent mobile app, diverse market research, and extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
City Index
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 |
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Both City Index and ActivTrades do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency but do provide options to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
City Index offers ACH, SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing funds, while ActivTrades supports Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires but does not offer ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | City Index | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | 0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Review | City Index Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | City Index | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | ActivTrades Review |
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