Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs City Index, 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 online brokers CMC Markets and City Index, both companies exhibit a strong reputation in the world of trading. Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is a veteran next to City Index, which was established in 1983. Both brokers enjoy a high level of trust, each achieving a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This score reflects their reputations for reliability and security. Importantly, both are publicly traded entities, adding to their transparency and credibility, and neither operates as a bank.
In terms of regulatory backing, CMC Markets and City Index both hold several licenses that establish their credibility. CMC Markets is supported by 6 Tier-1 licenses, which are considered highly trusted, along with 1 Tier-2 license classified as trusted. Meanwhile, City Index holds the edge with 7 Tier-1 licenses, also paired with a single Tier-2 license. These licenses further cement their positions as secure options for online trading. Whether traders choose CMC Markets or City Index, they can be assured of a stable and trusted trading environment.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1983 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
In ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 Annual Awards, CMC Markets comes out ahead of City Index for commissions and fees. CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers, thanks to its consistently low spreads across account types and its pricing options for active traders. Its standard EUR/USD spread averaged 0.61 pips, and its FX Active plan can bring the all-in cost down to 0.5 pips on major pairs after commission.
City Index is still priced fairly well, but it lands behind CMC Markets in this category, with a 4.5-star rating and a #16 ranking out of 36 brokers. Its CFD and forex pricing is generally in line with the industry average, with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips. Active traders may lower costs through rebates and the Premium Trader account, but its overall pricing does not match CMC Markets’ lower-cost setup.
In simple terms, CMC Markets is the better pick if keeping trading costs as low as possible is your main goal, while City Index offers reasonable pricing with some perks for higher-volume traders. Both brokers have active trader programs, but CMC Markets has the stronger edge on average spreads and overall fee value.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | £100.00 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.4 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.9 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing CMC Markets vs City Index for range of investments, both brokers give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, copy trading, and crypto CFDs. Each also earns a 5-star rating for Range of Investments, showing that both platforms offer a wide choice of markets for different types of traders. If you’re looking for variety, City Index lists slightly more tradeable symbols overall, with 13,500 compared with CMC Markets’ 12,029.
CMC Markets stands out for forex-focused traders, offering 141 tradeable forex pairs versus 66 at City Index. It also goes further in share dealing, with access to actual U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, while City Index does not offer these non-CFD stock investments. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments rankings, City Index places just ahead at #8 out of 36 brokers, with CMC Markets close behind at #9.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 13500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 66 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
CMC Markets and City Index both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including a free demo account, a web-based platform, a Windows desktop download, a proprietary platform, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. Each broker also lets you place trades directly from charts, which makes it easier to react quickly while reviewing price action. For traders who want the newest MetaTrader version, CMC Markets has the edge because it also offers MetaTrader 5, while City Index does not.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, CMC Markets has the stronger overall showing. It earns 5 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers, compared with City Index’s 4.5-star rating and #11 ranking. In plain terms, both brokers offer a solid trading experience, but CMC Markets stands out a bit more for platform choice and overall tools.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 88 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and City Index both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock or forex price alerts and watchlist syncing between the app and online account. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves those drawings, making it easy to keep track of analysis across devices. In short, both brokers cover the core mobile trading features most traders look for.
The main difference is in charting and ratings. City Index offers 88 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 29 at CMC Markets, giving chart-focused traders more tools to work with. However, CMC Markets comes out ahead in overall mobile app reviews, earning 5 stars and ranking #5 out of 36 brokers, while City Index is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #9. For traders who want the better-rated mobile experience, CMC Markets has the edge; for those who want more chart indicators, City Index stands out.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 88 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and City Index both give traders a strong set of market research tools. Each broker provides daily market commentary, forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a sentiment tool showing long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with current and upcoming global events. For general research coverage, the two brokers are closely matched and both make it easy for beginners and active traders to stay informed.
The main difference is in the extra research tools they offer. CMC Markets includes Autochartist, which can help with technical and fundamental analysis, while City Index offers Trading Central instead. In independent ratings, CMC Markets scores higher for research at 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while City Index earns 4.5 stars and ranks #10. If you want a slightly stronger overall research package, CMC Markets has the edge, though City Index still offers a very useful selection of market insights.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, both CMC Markets and City Index offer a wide range of learning materials, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders. CMC Markets also provides forex and CFD education with plenty of subject-focused content, while City Index does the same and has the edge in live learning support, since it offers online educational webinars at least once a month and CMC Markets does not. This makes City Index a slightly better fit for traders who want regular live guidance alongside self-paced learning.
In terms of overall education quality, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers for the Education category, while City Index is rated 4.5 stars and ranks just ahead at #9. For new traders, the difference is small, but City Index stands out for its webinar schedule, while CMC Markets still offers a strong library of beginner-friendly and advanced learning content. If your priority is flexible, on-demand education, both are solid choices, but City Index has a modest lead for hands-on learning support.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that CMC Markets is better than City Index. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while City Index finished with an overall rank of #8.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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CMC Markets vs City Index: neither broker offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency via CFDs.
CMC Markets vs City Index: both online brokers support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, neither supports Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | CMC Markets | City Index | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | City Index Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | City Index | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1983 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 13500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.4 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.9 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | £100.00 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 88 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 88 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | City Index Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | City Index | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | City Index Review |
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