Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs ATFX, 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 and ATFX are online brokers that cater to traders seeking reliable platforms. Established in 1983, City Index boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, indicating an exceptionally high level of trust. This broker is publicly traded and holds an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, reinforcing its strong regulatory standing. Additionally, City Index has one Tier-2 license, showcasing its adherence to trusted regulatory standards.
In contrast, ATFX, which was founded in 2017, has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85 out of 99, categorizing it as a trusted broker. Although it is not publicly traded, ATFX still demonstrates a solid regulatory framework with four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses. While younger in comparison to City Index, ATFX maintains a credible presence within the trading industry with a focus on trust and regulatory compliance.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | |
| Bank | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to trading costs and fees, City Index and ATFX present different offerings for traders to consider. City Index maintains a pricing structure for CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products that aligns with the industry average. They offer a Premium Trader account for those making deposits over £10,000, providing benefits like exclusive pricing and dedicated customer service. City Index's average spread on the EUR/USD is 0.74 pips as of July 2023, situating their costs with industry standards, though not topping the list of forex brokers. Additionally, City Index provides rebates for professional traders in the UK and Australia, offering potential discounts based on trading volume.
In contrast, ATFX lacks readily available average spread data, making it more challenging to directly compare their fees to industry benchmarks. While ATFX offers its own range of services, the absence of detailed cost information can be a drawback for traders seeking transparency in pricing.
From a ratings perspective, City Index garners a commendable 4.5 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees, securing the #14 spot out of 63 brokers as ranked by ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, ATFX receives a rating of 3 stars and is ranked #60, placing City Index as a stronger contender in terms of pricing competitiveness in the trading brokerage landscape.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 ATFX for their range of investments, City Index clearly stands out with a vast selection of 13,500 tradeable symbols, including 66 forex pairs. In contrast, ATFX offers a more limited portfolio with 150 tradeable symbols and 44 forex pairs. Yet, both brokers provide forex trading either through CFDs or spot contracts and facilitate copy trading, which can appeal to investors who favor flexibility and social trading strategies.
While neither broker directly offers exchange-traded securities or delivered cryptocurrencies, they both enable trading of cryptocurrency derivatives. This flexibility in trading options contributes to City Index's higher Range of Investments ranking, scoring an impressive 5 stars and placing 8th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ATFX garners a respectable 3.5-star rating but ranks lower at 57th in the same category. Overall, City Index offers a more expansive selection for those seeking diverse investment opportunities.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 44 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | ||
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | ||
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | ||
| 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 ATFX, both brokers provide traders with robust selections. City Index stands out with its in-house developed proprietary platform and offers both a downloadable desktop platform and a web-based option. ATFX, however, lacks a proprietary platform but compensates with the availability of popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both brokers excel in offering simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, and support copy trading capabilities as well. While neither broker includes ZuluTrade or DupliTrade, each facilitates trading directly from stock charts.
In terms of trading enhancements, City Index offers a significantly higher number of drawing tools for charting—239 compared to ATFX's 15—along with 11 fields for watchlist customization versus ATFX's 7. These features contribute to City Index receiving a 4.5-star rating from ForexBrokers.com for its trading platforms and tools, ranking it 11th out of 63 brokers. Meanwhile, ATFX carries a 3.5-star rating and positions itself at 62nd in the same category. These differences underscore City Index's superior utility for traders seeking comprehensive platform functionality.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | ||
| ZuluTrade | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and ATFX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, providing accessibility for traders across different devices. Users of either app can enjoy stock and forex price alerts, as well as the ability to create watchlists that feature real-time quotes. Additionally, both apps offer functionalities like drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts, with auto-save features keeping your chart drawings intact. However, City Index stands out by offering a more comprehensive charting experience with 88 technical studies compared to ATFX's 7. Another advantage of City Index is watchlist symbol syncing, which ensures changes made on a watchlist are updated across both mobile and online platforms.
In terms of user experience and industry reputation, City Index is rated higher for its mobile trading app with a rating of 4.5 stars, compared to ATFX's 3.5 stars. This is reflected in their rankings on ForexBrokers.com; City Index ranks as the 9th best among 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, while ATFX is positioned at 63rd. These distinctions highlight that while both brokers provide essential mobile trading features, City Index offers a more advanced and favored experience among traders.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 7 |
| 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.
City Index and ATFX both provide daily market commentary, keeping traders informed with up-to-date insights. However, City Index edges out in terms of market news, offering forex updates from leading news outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters, whereas ATFX does not. Technical analysis is covered by both brokers through Trading Central, but only ATFX utilizes Autochartist for additional research tools. City Index enhances its trading experience with a sentiment-based tool, providing users with a valuable perspective on market positions, a feature not available with ATFX.
Both platforms offer economic calendars that highlight current and upcoming global news events, essential for monitoring market-impacting events. Nonetheless, City Index leads in overall research offerings, reflected in its rating of 4.5 stars compared to ATFX's 3 stars. This higher rating is further emphasized by City Index's rank as the 10th broker in the research category by ForexBrokers.com, while ATFX stands at 54th out of 63. This comparison underscores City Index's superior capability in supporting traders with comprehensive market research tools and resources.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | |
| TipRanks | ||
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and ATFX both provide a range of educational resources for those new to forex and CFDs trading, yet there are some differences in their offerings. Both brokers ensure access to over 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, and both present a searchable archive of webinars. However, City Index stands out by offering regular monthly webinars and a collection of advanced educational videos for experienced traders. ATFX, on the other hand, does not guarantee monthly webinars or advanced-level video content. Importantly, both brokers support learning with investor dictionaries containing over 50 terms necessary for trading.
When comparing their educational support, City Index scores higher, with a 4.5-star rating, whereas ATFX holds a 3-star rating. This difference is echoed in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com; City Index is placed at a notable #9 among 63 brokers in the education category, while ATFX is positioned at #28. For beginners keen on comprehensive resources and regular learning opportunities, City Index clearly offers a more complete educational experience.
| Feature |
City Index
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that City Index is better than ATFX. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
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
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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City Index and ATFX both do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
City Index and ATFX both support Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers for depositing and withdrawing funds, but City Index further stands out by offering PayPal and ACH or SEPA transfers, whereas ATFX extends its services with Skrill as an option instead.
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 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | ATFX | |
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| Regulation | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | ||
| Bank | |||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | |||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | |||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | |||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | |||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | |||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | |||
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | |||
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | |||
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | ||
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | ||
| Execution: Agency Broker | |||
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | ||
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | ||
| cTrader | |||
| DupliTrade | |||
| ZuluTrade |
| Trading Tools | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | ||
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 7 | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | ||
| Autochartist | Yes | ||
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | |||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | ||
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | City Index | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review |
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