Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs BDSwiss, 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, established in 1983, stands as a leading online broker widely recognized for its highly trusted standing. It boasts a remarkable ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, reflecting its strong reputation. As a publicly traded company, City Index offers clients the confidence that comes with its seven Tier-1 licenses, adhering to top regulatory standards. Additionally, its single Tier-2 license further supports its trusted operational practices, underscoring its commitment to client safety and transparency.
In contrast, BDSwiss, founded in 2012, offers a more moderate level of trust in the online trading landscape. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 73, it is categorized within the average risk range. Although BDSwiss is not publicly traded, it holds one Tier-1 license, maintaining a basic level of compliance with recognized authorities. However, lacking any Tier-2 licenses may impact perceptions of trust, making it crucial for potential investors to consider these factors when choosing between the two brokers.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
City Index offers competitive pricing for trading CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products, aligning with industry standards. Customers using City Index's proprietary platforms or MetaTrader can expect some of the best pricing options available. For active traders depositing over £10,000, the Premium Trader account provides exclusive features, including special pricing and dedicated customer service. The average spread on the EUR/USD pair in their CFD account stands at 0.74 pips as of July 2023, which matches industry averages but falls short compared to top forex brokers like Tickmill and FP Markets. Additionally, City Index provides rebate options for professional traders in the UK, with rates starting at £4 per million for monthly trades above £25 million and increasing to £7.5 per million for volumes over £300 million. In Australia, rebates range from AUD $4.5 to AUD $14.5 per million, depending on the trading volume.
In comparison, BDSwiss is recognized for solid order execution statistics, although it does come with higher spreads than some industry leaders. For its Classic account, traders face a spread of 1.5 pips on the EUR/USD pair, which is considered pricey. The Raw account has a slightly more favorable cost with a 0.3 pip spread plus a $5 commission per side, leading to an effective spread of 1.3 pips. Meanwhile, the VIP account offers a spread of 1.2 pips.
When evaluating the brokers based on commissions and fees, City Index has earned a 4.5-star rating and is ranked #14 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. BDSwiss, on the other hand, holds a 4-star rating and ranks #29. These rankings reflect City Index's slightly better pricing structure and advantages for active traders compared to BDSwiss's offerings.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
When evaluating the range of investments available at City Index and BDSwiss, both platforms offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, catering to those who wish to dabble in currency trading. However, City Index edges ahead with an impressive array of 13,500 tradeable symbols compared to BDSwiss's 1,081 offerings. Furthermore, City Index provides 66 tradeable forex pairs, surpassing BDSwiss's 53 pairs. It's important to note that neither broker offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, meaning clients cannot buy individual company shares like Apple or Vodafone directly through these platforms.
For investors interested in cryptocurrency, both City Index and BDSwiss allow trading of cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither facilitates the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Additionally, both brokers support copy trading, allowing users to replicate the trades of experienced investors. Despite these similarities, City Index claims a higher rating and ranking for its range of investments, earning 5 stars and an eighth-place position among 62 brokers, while BDSwiss receives a 4-star rating and ranks 34th in the same category. This differentiation in ratings highlights City Index's broader investment choices and potential appeal for more diverse trading strategies.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| 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.
Both City Index and BDSwiss provide excellent trading options for those looking to explore the world of online trading. Each offers a free virtual demo account, allowing users to familiarize themselves with their platforms risk-free. Both brokers have developed their own proprietary platforms, available for download on Windows and accessible via web browsers, ensuring flexibility and convenience for their users. Additionally, both City Index and BDSwiss support popular trading programs like MetaTrader 4 and even offer copy trading features, though only BDSwiss extends its offerings to MetaTrader 5. Neither broker currently supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
When it comes to charting tools, City Index takes the lead with a substantial selection of 239 drawing tools compared to BDSwiss's 15. Both platforms, however, allow trades directly from a stock chart, facilitating faster trading decisions. City Index also provides a more comprehensive watch list feature with 11 available columns against BDSwiss's 7. Ultimately, City Index receives higher accolades with a rating of 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools and secures the 10th spot out of 62 brokers ranked by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, BDSwiss earns a commendable 4 stars and holds 24th place in the same ranking, highlighting both as strong contenders in the trading arena.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and BDSwiss both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, along with the ability to receive stock or forex price alerts directly through their apps. City Index stands out with features like watchlist symbol syncing, allowing seamless updates between your mobile app and online account. The app also provides an impressive 88 technical studies for charting, compared to BDSwiss's offering of 30 studies. Both apps let you draw trendlines and view different time frames on stock or forex charts, as well as auto-save your drawings. Additionally, you can create watchlists with real-time quotes on both platforms.
When comparing user satisfaction, City Index earns a slightly higher rating of 4.5 stars, while BDSwiss receives a 4-star rating for their mobile trading apps. According to ForexBrokers.com, City Index is ranked 9th among 62 brokers for its mobile app category, showcasing its stronger overall performance and user approval. Meanwhile, BDSwiss holds the 23rd spot, offering a reliable, yet somewhat less feature-rich, experience compared to City Index.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 market research features between City Index and BDSwiss, both provide daily market commentary and have an economic calendar to track global events. However, City Index stands out by offering forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, while BDSwiss does not. City Index also provides a sentiment-based trading tool that assesses the ratios of long and short positions across currency pairs, a feature not available with BDSwiss.
Both brokers offer tools from Trading Central, but BDSwiss sets itself apart by including technical analysis tools from Autochartist. When it comes to overall research ratings, City Index scores a higher 4.5 stars compared to BDSwiss’s 4 stars, and ranks 10th among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, with BDSwiss ranked at 23rd. Despite some differences, each broker has its strength in catering to traders looking for specific market research tools.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners between City Index and BDSwiss, both online brokers present a comprehensive range of materials. City Index and BDSwiss each offer more than ten educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars. For dynamic learning experiences, both brokers also provide online educational webinars at least once a month and maintain a searchable archive of these sessions for future learning. Beginners seeking video content are well-catered for, as both City Index and BDSwiss have a collection of at least ten videos aimed specifically at new traders. Additionally, they both offer a dictionary comprising definitions of over 50 investing terms, aiding in building foundational knowledge. However, City Index edges slightly ahead with a higher rating of 4.5 stars for education compared to BDSwiss's 4 stars.
Looking at the rankings, City Index is placed higher at number 9 out of 62 brokers in the Education category as per ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss holds the 19th position. This ranking difference suggests that City Index might offer a more refined or diverse educational set-up, potentially making it slightly more appealing to beginners determined to build their trading skills. Nevertheless, both brokers demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting beginner traders through a rich variety of educational tools and resources.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 BDSwiss. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
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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BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Both City Index and BDSwiss do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
City Index and BDSwiss both support ACH, SEPA transfers, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but City Index uniquely offers PayPal, whereas BDSwiss provides Skrill as an alternative option.
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 | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | BDSwiss Review |
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| Regulation | City Index | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | City Index | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | City Index | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $10-$5000 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | City Index | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | BDSwiss Review |
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