Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Earn, 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 Earn are two online brokers that stand distinct in terms of their trust and regulatory credentials. Founded in 1983, City Index is a publicly traded company, making it subject to enhanced scrutiny and transparency requirements. It boasts an impressive Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, thanks in large part to holding seven Tier-1 licenses, which indicates a high level of trust. In contrast, Earn was established in 1994 and is not publicly traded. While Earn is not listed on a stock exchange, it maintains a Trust Score of 71, placing it at an average risk level, with just one Tier-1 license in its portfolio. Neither broker is a bank.
City Index further enhances its trust profile with an additional Tier-2 license, which is also considered reliable. On the other hand, Earn holds no Tier-2 licenses, which may be a consideration for those seeking greater assurance. Whether you prioritize a history of stringent regulation and a higher trust rating with City Index, or you're evaluating other factors that might make Earn appealing, understanding these key differences can guide you in selecting a broker that aligns with your financial priorities.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 1994 |
| 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 | 0 |
City Index offers pricing for trading CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products that aligns with the industry average. The best deals can be found using City Index's proprietary platforms or MetaTrader. For those trading large volumes, City Index's Premium Trader account is an option if you deposit over £10,000. This account offers exclusive pricing, access to special events, and dedicated customer service. The average spread for a CFD account on the EUR/USD is 0.74 pips, which also matches the industry average, however, it trails behind top choices like Tickmill and FP Markets. Rebate opportunities exist for active traders, starting from £4 per million traded, with higher rebates available for larger volumes.
On the other hand, Earn does not provide average spread data, making a direct cost comparison more challenging. However, for traders concerned with overall value, City Index holds a slight edge, earning a 4.5 out of 5-star rating for commissions and fees. In contrast, Earn is rated 4 stars. This suggests City Index might offer a more cost-effective experience for traders looking for minimized fees.
When ranked by ForexBrokers.com, City Index stands out at position #14 out of 62 brokers for its competitive commission and fee structure. Meanwhile, Earn is positioned at #46, indicating that City Index tends to offer more favorable terms for traders focused on reducing costs and accessing premium trading opportunities.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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.
When it comes to the variety of investments traders can access, City Index and Earn both offer forex trading either as CFDs or spot contracts. However, City Index provides access to an impressive 13,500 tradeable symbols, far surpassing Earn, which offers 500 symbols. For forex pairs, City Index again edges ahead with 66 available options compared to Earn's 61. Both platforms allow traders to engage in copy trading and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither enables the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, nor do they support trading in exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges.
City Index clearly excels in the range of investments offered, meriting a 5-star rating compared to Earn's 3.5 stars. This disparity is further echoed in ForexBrokers.com's rankings, where City Index holds an impressive 8th place out of 62 brokers for its investment range, while Earn ranks 45th. Despite both platforms sharing some common features, such as forex trading methods and cryptocurrency derivatives, City Index's substantial array of tradeable symbols provides traders with a broader spectrum of opportunities.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 61 |
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by City Index and Earn, several distinctions stand out that could influence a trader's decision. Both brokers provide simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice without financial risk. City Index offers both a proprietary platform developed in-house and a Windows-based desktop download platform, while Earn lacks a proprietary platform but still provides a Windows-based desktop option. Both brokers support web-based trading platforms, enabling accessibility directly from a browser. For those interested in copy trading, both platforms support this feature, yet they differ in third-party integrations with City Index offering MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and Earn extending support to both MT4 and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), in addition to ZuluTrade.
City Index impresses with its tools, offering a substantial 239 drawing tools for charting compared to Earn's 15. Both allow trading directly from charts, enhancing the user experience for active traders. For those who value customization, City Index provides more robust watch list customization with 11 columns compared to Earn's 7. According to ForexBrokers.com, City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 62 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Earn holds a 4-star rating and ranks 51st. These ratings and rankings reflect a comprehensive evaluation of their offerings, helping traders make informed choices tailored to their trading needs.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 35 |
| 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 Earn both excel in providing mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users. Both apps offer features like stock and forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines or view different time frames on charts. They also support creating watchlists with real-time quotes and ensuring your drawings are auto-saved on charts. Where the two diverge significantly is in watchlist symbol syncing. City Index allows users to sync watchlists between its mobile app and online account, ensuring any updates are mirrored seamlessly across platforms. Earn, however, lacks this feature, which might be a consideration for traders who require coherent integration between their devices.
In terms of charting capabilities, City Index stands out with 88 technical studies available in its mobile app, compared to Earn's 35. This comprehensive selection might be particularly appealing to those relying heavily on technical analysis. Ratings reflect these differences, as City Index scores 4.5 stars for its mobile trading experience, ranking 9th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Earn, with a respectable 4-star rating, sits at 26th place. Both apps deliver solid trading platforms, but City Index offers a bit more in terms of advanced features and convenience for active traders.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 35 |
| 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 City Index and Earn for their market research offerings, both brokers provide key resources like daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. However, City Index takes the lead by offering valuable tools like Trading Central’s technical analytics, and a sentiment-based trading tool that outlines long and short positions across various instruments. In contrast, Earn does not offer these particular features, potentially limiting their research depth for users who rely heavily on advanced analysis tools.
In terms of supporting traders with broader market insights, both City Index and Earn provide economic calendars that track global events. Despite some similarities, City Index's research tools score higher with a 4.5-star rating compared to Earn's 3.5 stars. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where City Index is rated as the 10th broker in research capability, far ahead of Earn's position at 38th out of 62 brokers. For traders who value robust market research resources, City Index offers a more comprehensive suite of tools.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 available to beginners from City Index and Earn, it's clear that City Index stands out as a more comprehensive provider. City Index offers ample support with over ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, ensuring a solid foundation for newcomers. They also host monthly online webinars and provide a searchable archive of past webinars for easy access to expert knowledge. For those looking for video content, City Index offers a wide range of beginner and advanced videos, catering to different levels of expertise. Additionally, their investor dictionary demystifies over 50 key investing terms, which is a helpful tool for beginners. With a 4.5-star rating for education and a strong ranking at #9 out of 62 brokers, City Index is a preferred choice for education-focused traders.
In contrast, Earn falls short in several educational aspects. They do not meet the minimum of ten educational pieces focusing on forex or CFDs, nor do they conduct regular monthly webinars. Further, there isn't a repository of past webinars for clients to refer back to. Beginning traders might also find the lack of beginner-focused video content challenging, and experienced traders won’t benefit from advanced videos since these resources are sparse. Without an investor dictionary with essential definitions and a lower rating of 3.5 stars for education, Earn ranks much lower at #61 out of 62 brokers. This suggests limited educational offerings compared to City Index, making Earn less appealing for traders who prioritize learning and development.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Earn. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Earn finished with an overall rank of #50.
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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Earn
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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When comparing online brokers City Index and Earn, neither offers the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both provide the capability to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives.
City Index excels in offering diverse fund transfer options such as ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Earn provides Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wires, but lacks PayPal, ACH, and SEPA support.
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 | Earn | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Earn | |
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| Regulation | City Index | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 1994 | |
| 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 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 61 | |
| 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 | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 | |
| 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 | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Tools | City Index | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 35 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 35 | |
| 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 | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Earn | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review |
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