Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs easyMarkets, 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 easyMarkets are both notable players in the world of online brokerage, but they differ significantly when it comes to trust and regulatory oversight. Founded in 1983, City Index stands out with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, indicating a high level of trust. The company is publicly traded and holds an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, known for their stringent regulatory standards. Additionally, City Index has one Tier-2 license, reinforcing its commitment to providing a secure trading environment.
On the other hand, easyMarkets, founded in 2001, holds a lower ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 84, placing it in the "trusted" category but not at the high level of City Index. Unlike its competitor, easyMarkets is not publicly traded yet maintains regulatory credibility with two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. While both brokers are not banks, their differing regulatory track records and business structures might influence traders seeking confidence in their financial activities.
| Feature |
City Index
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
City Index offers competitive pricing that aligns with the industry average for trading CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products. By utilizing City Index’s proprietary platforms or MetaTrader, traders can access their best rates. City Index's Premium Trader account, available for those depositing over £10,000, provides exclusive pricing and dedicated customer service. Their CFD account features an average spread of 0.74 pips on the EUR/USD, which is average compared to leading forex brokers. Additionally, active trader rebates are available for UK-based and Australian professional traders, offering reductions based on traded volumes, with UK rebates starting at £4 per million for trades over £25 million, and reaching up to £7.5 per million for trades above £300 million. City Index has earned a 4.5-star rating for its commissions and fees, placing it 14th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
easyMarkets provides a slightly different pricing strategy with fixed spreads of 0.8 pips on the EUR/USD via its own platform and TradingView. When trading through MT4, the Standard account has a higher cost with spreads of 1.7 pips, though this decreases to 0.7 pips for VIP accounts. For those using MT5, a variable spread begins from 0.7 pips. easyMarkets has a 3.5-star rating for its commissions and fees and is ranked 51st out of 62 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com assessment.
In summary, both City Index and easyMarkets have their unique offerings when it comes to commissions and fees. City Index shines with its competitive rebates for active traders and a higher star rating, making it a preferred choice for many. Meanwhile, easyMarkets presents a straightforward pricing model with fixed spreads but ranks lower due to its cost structure when using some of its platforms.
| Feature |
City Index
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $25 |
| 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 | 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.
City Index and easyMarkets both provide options for trading forex as CFDs or spot contracts, appealing to those keen on the forex market. City Index, however, offers a broader spectrum with an impressive 13,500 tradeable symbols compared to easyMarkets’ 230. If focusing on forex pairs, City Index slightly leads with 66 pairs against easyMarkets' 63. Despite these figures, neither platform offers the option to directly purchase exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, so investors looking to purchase stocks like Apple or Vodafone directly will need to look elsewhere.
Both City Index and easyMarkets provide copy trading options, allowing users to replicate other traders' strategies. While neither broker allows clients to buy actual cryptocurrencies outright, both do offer cryptocurrency derivatives for those interested in trading digital assets. In terms of range of investments, City Index scores higher with a five-star rating, ranking 8th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, easyMarkets holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 54th in the same category, indicating that for those seeking a wider variety of trading options, City Index may be the more attractive choice.
| Feature |
City Index
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 230 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 63 |
| 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.
City Index and easyMarkets both provide impressive trading platforms with a variety of features designed to enhance the trading experience. Both brokers offer a free virtual demo account, enabling traders to simulate trading without financial risk. Each has developed its own proprietary platform and supports Windows-based desktop downloads as well as web-based trading platforms. Notably, both brokers also cater to traders who use the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4), but only easyMarkets extends support for MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Though neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, traders seeking copy trading options will find them available on both platforms.
In terms of charting capabilities, City Index provides an impressive 239 drawing tools compared to easyMarkets' 30, and both allow for trading directly from stock charts. City Index leads in customization with 11 fields for watch lists against easyMarkets' 8 fields. These extensive features contribute to City Index's higher rating of 4.5 stars out of five for Trading Platforms and Tools, surpassing easyMarkets' 4-star rating. Reflecting its strengths, City Index ranks #10 among 62 brokers, while easyMarkets stands at #35, affirming City Index’s position as a top choice for traders prioritizing advanced tools and features.
| Feature |
City Index
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, City Index and easyMarkets both offer solutions for iPhone and Android users, ensuring access to trading on the go. City Index takes the lead in several key areas, offering stock and forex price alerts, a feature that easyMarkets lacks. Both platforms excel in watchlist symbol syncing, allowing traders to easily update their lists across both mobile and online accounts. City Index also stands out with 88 technical studies for charting, surpassing easyMarkets' offering of 81. Both apps provide the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts, but City Index's app also auto-saves your drawings, which easyMarkets' does not.
Both apps allow you to create watchlists with real-time quotes, a crucial feature for active traders. In terms of overall performance, City Index scores higher with 4.5 stars compared to easyMarkets' 4-star rating for their mobile trading apps. According to ForexBrokers.com, City Index is ranked #9 out of 62 brokers, while easyMarkets is placed at #29. These ratings and rankings highlight City Index's stronger feature set and user experience, making it a preferred choice for those prioritizing advanced features and higher usability in mobile trading.
| Feature |
City Index
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 81 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index and easyMarkets both provide daily market commentary and offer forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. While neither broker features technical analysis tools from Autochartist, they both utilize Trading Central for comprehensive market insights. This includes sentiment tools that track trading positions across various instruments. However, neither broker partners with TipRanks or Acuity Trading for additional market research tools.
In terms of extra resources, each broker offers an economic calendar to keep traders informed about global economic events. Despite these similarities, City Index scores higher with a 4.5-star rating for research, ranking #10 out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, easyMarkets holds a 3.5-star rating, placing it at #43, pointing to City Index's stronger overall research offerings.
| Feature |
City Index
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and easyMarkets both provide valuable educational resources for individuals new to trading. They each offer a wide range of materials related to forex and CFDs, including over ten educational pieces designed to help beginners and those looking to deepen their trading knowledge. These educational offerings encompass a mix of written articles, videos, and archived webinars. Additionally, both platforms ensure ongoing learning opportunities by hosting at least one online educational webinar for their clients per month. Users can further benefit from sizable collections of recorded webinars available in searchable archives on each platform, making it easy to catch up on any missed sessions or revisit specific topics.
When it comes to content specifically tailored to different experience levels, City Index and easyMarkets shine with at least ten beginner-focused and ten advanced educational videos each, covering various trading topics. Both brokers also support traders with a dictionary of over 50 investing terms, aiding in the understanding of financial language. Despite these similarities, City Index edges out with a higher educational rating of 4.5 stars compared to easyMarkets' 3.5 stars. Furthermore, City Index ranks 9th among 62 brokers for education according to ForexBrokers.com, while easyMarkets occupies the 39th spot. These distinctions highlight City Index as a slightly better choice for those prioritizing educational resources in their trading journey.
| Feature |
City Index
|
easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 easyMarkets. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while easyMarkets finished with an overall rank of #43.
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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easyMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 |
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Both City Index and easyMarkets do not offer the ability to buy actual cryptocurrencies, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
City Index and easyMarkets both support ACH or SEPA transfers, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for account transactions, but differ as City Index additionally offers PayPal, whereas easyMarkets includes Skrill for depositing or withdrawing funds.
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 | easyMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | easyMarkets Review |
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| Regulation | City Index | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| 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 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | City Index | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 230 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 63 | |
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $25 | |
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 81 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | easyMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | easyMarkets Review |
| Overall | City Index | easyMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | easyMarkets Review |
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