Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Admirals, 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.
City Index, founded in 1983, is a publicly traded online broker renowned for its high trustworthiness, reflected by its top-tier ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99. While it isn't a bank, City Index holds an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, the highest level of regulatory trust. Additionally, it holds one Tier-2 license, which further enhances its reliability. This combination of factors establishes City Index as a highly trusted choice for online trading.
Established in 2001, Admirals is an online broker that, while not publicly traded, has built a solid reputation with a commendable ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93. Though it isn't a bank, Admirals boasts four Tier-1 licenses, marking it as a highly trusted entity. Admirals also holds three Tier-2 licenses, adding to its credibility in the financial markets. Overall, both brokers demonstrate a significant degree of trustworthiness, but City Index slightly edges out Admirals with its higher score and additional Tier-1 licenses.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, both City Index and Admirals offer competitive options for traders looking to invest in CFDs, forex, and other financial products. City Index aligns with the industry average for trading costs and provides premium services for active traders who deposit over £10,000. These Premium Traders gain benefits like exclusive pricing and dedicated customer service. Admirals also offers competitive pricing with typical spreads of 0.8 in their Trade account, ensuring affordability for customers.
City Index, with an average spread of 0.74 pips on the EUR/USD, offers reasonable pricing though not as low as leading forex brokers like Tickmill or FP Markets. Meanwhile, Admirals maintains competitive rates across its account types. City Index further incentivizes high-volume traders, particularly in the UK and Australia, with rebate schemes that start at £4 per million traded and can go up to £7.5 in the UK, and AUD $4.5 to AUD $14.5 in Australia based on trading volumes.
In terms of industry acknowledgment, City Index and Admirals both received a commendable 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees. However, City Index ranks slightly higher, coming in at #14 compared to Admiral's #17 out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, as evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. This slight edge provides City Index a marginal advantage for traders prioritizing cost-effectiveness.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing City Index and Admirals in terms of their range of investments, both brokers offer a wide spectrum of opportunities for traders. City Index stands out with an impressive 13,500 tradeable symbols, including 66 forex pairs available as both CFD and spot contracts, gaining a high rating of five stars. Admirals, while offering fewer symbols at 8,702, provides a larger selection of 82 tradeable forex pairs. Admirals also excels in offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, which City Index does not. Both platforms support copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives, although neither allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
While City Index achieves an eighth-place ranking in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com, Admirals comes in at 19th. Admirals holds a solid rating of 4.5 stars, indicating quality in their offerings, but City Index’s broader scope of investment options pushes it slightly ahead in this comparison. For traders seeking an extensive array of investment choices, City Index might be the preferred option; however, Admirals could be the better choice for those looking for access to exchange-traded securities.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 8702 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 82 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| 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 it comes to trading platforms and tools, both City Index and Admirals offer several compelling features for traders. They both provide simulated trading options with free virtual demo accounts, allowing you to hone your skills in a risk-free environment. Each broker also boasts a proprietary platform developed in-house, alongside popular platforms like MetaTrader 4. However, Admirals takes a slight edge by also offering MetaTrader 5, while City Index does not. Both brokers cater to different trading preferences with web-based and Windows-based desktop platforms, and they support copy trading functionalities.
Charting tools are essential for informed trading decisions, and City Index impresses with 239 drawing tools compared to Admirals’ 106. Both brokers enable trading directly from stock charts, providing seamless user experiences. For watch lists, City Index offers more customizability with 11 columns compared to Admirals' 7. In terms of ratings, City Index scores 4.5 stars out of 5 for its trading platforms and tools, ranking 10th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Admirals is not far behind, with a 4-star rating and a ranking of 20th in the same category.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of City Index and Admirals, both platforms offer apps for iPhone and Android, complete with stock and forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. However, City Index provides enhanced features that could appeal to users seeking more comprehensive functionality. With 88 technical studies available for charting compared to Admirals' 30, City Index gives traders a wider range of analytical tools. Additionally, City Index supports watchlist symbol syncing between its mobile app and online account, ensuring seamless management across devices, a feature Admirals doesn't include.
Both brokers allow users to view multiple time frames on charts, auto-save drawings, and create watchlists with real-time quotes, but City Index edges out with its user ratings and rankings. Rated 4.5 stars for its mobile trading app, City Index ranks 9th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while Admirals, rated 4 stars, holds the 28th position. These distinctions suggest that traders may find City Index's mobile app better suited for a more dynamic and synchronized trading experience.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 it comes to market research, both City Index and Admirals provide daily market commentary and access to top-tier forex news outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters. They share similar offerings with Trading Central tools that enhance technical analysis, and both also deliver sentiment-based trading tools for insight into market positions. However, if you’re looking for integration with Autochartist, neither broker supports these tools.
One notable difference is Admirals’ collaboration with TipRanks and Acuity Trading for additional research tools, which is not available with City Index. Both brokers offer comprehensive economic calendars to track global events, catering to traders keen on staying informed about worldwide economic changes. In the realm of research, City Index is rated slightly higher with 4.5 stars compared to Admirals' 4 stars, occupying the 10th and 15th positions, respectively, out of 62 brokers as ranked by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and Admirals both offer comprehensive educational resources tailored to beginners interested in forex and CFDs trading. Both brokers provide a variety of over 10 educational materials, including articles, videos, and recorded webinars. Beginners can enjoy monthly client webinars and access to a searchable archive of past webinars with both platforms. City Index and Admirals each provide more than 10 beginner-focused educational videos, along with advanced content for more experienced traders. Additionally, they both offer an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms.
In terms of education quality, City Index is slightly ahead, receiving a 4.5-star rating compared to Admirals' 4-star rating. Furthermore, City Index is ranked 9th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for education, whereas Admirals is ranked 12th. This suggests that while both platforms are equipped to support newcomers in trading, City Index has a slight edge in educational offerings and user satisfaction. Nonetheless, either broker can serve as a solid starting point for those keen on learning forex and CFDs trading.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
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 Admirals. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18.
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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Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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Both City Index and Admirals allow investors to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
Both City Index and Admirals offer versatile funding options, allowing account deposits and withdrawals through ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but while Admirals includes Skrill as an option, City Index does not.
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 | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Admirals Review |
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| Regulation | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Investments | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 8702 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 82 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Admirals Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Admirals Review |
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