Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com 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.
FOREX.com (founded 1999) and City Index (founded 1983) are online brokers that are publicly traded and not banks. Each earns a 99/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com, placing both in the highly trusted 90–99 range on that scale (80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 not trusted).
Regulation is a key strength for both: FOREX.com and City Index each hold seven Tier-1 licenses (viewed as highly trusted), while FOREX.com holds two Tier-2 licenses and City Index holds one Tier-2 license (both considered trusted by ForexBrokers.com). These credentials signal strict oversight and may appeal to traders who prioritize safety and compliance.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1983 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
FOREX.com and City Index are very close when it comes to commissions and fees, and both are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars in this category. FOREX.com is ranked #15 out of 36 brokers, while City Index is just behind at #16 out of 36. In simple terms, both brokers offer pricing that is generally competitive, but the details depend on the account type and how actively you trade.
FOREX.com can be a bit more expensive for casual traders, especially on its Standard account, where EUR/USD spreads in the U.S. averaged 1.4 pips. Its RAW account is cheaper, with typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.13 pips, but it adds a commission of $7 per standard lot on the lowest tier. FOREX.com also offers volume-based rebates for active traders, which can help lower costs for very high-volume clients. For traders outside the U.S., pricing can look better, with EUR/USD spreads averaging 0.74 pips in July 2023.
City Index keeps its pricing closer to the industry average, with EUR/USD spreads also averaging 0.74 pips as of July 2023. Active traders may get rebates, especially in the U.K. and Australia, and pricing is best when using City Index’s own platform or MetaTrader. Overall, FOREX.com may be better for traders who want lower raw spreads and rebate options, while City Index is a solid pick for straightforward average-cost pricing.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | £100.00 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.4 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 0.9 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FOREX.com and City Index both give traders access to forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and each offers crypto CFDs rather than actual, delivered cryptocurrency. Both brokers also earn top marks for range of investments, with 5 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com. In the same rankings, FOREX.com places slightly ahead at #6 out of 36 brokers, while City Index comes in at #8.
For overall product choice, City Index lists more tradeable symbols, with 13,500 compared with FOREX.com’s 5,500. However, FOREX.com offers more forex pairs, with 80 available versus City Index’s 66. FOREX.com also stands out for offering exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, letting clients buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone, while City Index does not offer these share dealing options. On the other hand, City Index includes copy trading, which FOREX.com does not.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 13500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 66 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
FOREX.com and City Index both give traders a wide choice of platform options, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, and support for MetaTrader 4. Both also let you trade directly from a chart, which can make placing orders faster and easier. On the tools side, each broker offers charting and watch lists, though the exact number of indicators and watch list fields was not provided here.
The main difference is that City Index includes copy trading, while FOREX.com does not. FOREX.com also supports MetaTrader 5, which City Index does not. In ratings, FOREX.com comes out ahead with 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and a #5 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with City Index at 4.5 stars and #11 out of 36. For traders who want MT5 and slightly higher platform scores, FOREX.com has the edge, while City Index may appeal to those interested in copy trading.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 88 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FOREX.com and City Index both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts and watchlist symbol syncing so changes stay aligned between the app and your online account. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves those drawings, making it easier to follow your trading ideas on the go. In short, both brokers provide the key mobile features most traders look for.
Where FOREX.com stands out is in charting depth and overall app performance. Its mobile app includes 90 technical studies, compared with 88 for City Index, and it earns a 5-star rating for Mobile Trading Apps versus 4.5 stars for City Index. FOREX.com is also ranked #2 out of 36 brokers in this category by ForexBrokers.com, while City Index is ranked #9, giving FOREX.com the edge for traders who want a slightly stronger mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
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 | 90 | 88 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both FOREX.com and City Index give traders a strong set of tools. Each one offers daily market commentary, news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar to track upcoming events around the world. They also both include Trading Central research tools and a sentiment-based trading feature that shows the balance of long and short positions, which can help traders spot market direction at a glance.
That said, there are no major differences in the research features listed here, as neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. The main distinction is in third-party ratings: FOREX.com scores 5 stars for Research and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while City Index holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks #10. For traders comparing online brokers for market research, FOREX.com has a slight edge overall.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning tools, both FOREX.com and City Index give new traders a lot to work with. Each broker offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 related learning pieces, plus online educational webinars held at least once a month. They also both provide at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, making it easier for people at different skill levels to keep learning as they go.
That said, FOREX.com has the edge for education overall. It earns a 5-star Education rating and is ranked #4 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while City Index holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks #9. For beginners comparing online brokers, both are strong choices, but FOREX.com stands out slightly more for the depth and quality of its educational content.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | 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 FOREX.com is better than City Index. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #4, while City Index finished with an overall rank of #8.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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Comparing online brokers FOREX.com vs City Index for crypto trading: neither platform supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for speculative trading.
FOREX.com vs City Index: both brokers support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, but only FOREX.com offers Skrill (City Index does not), with Visa/Mastercard availability not specified.
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 | FOREX.com | City Index | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | City Index Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | City Index | |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1983 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| 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) | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 13500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | FOREX.com | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.4 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 0.9 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | £100.00 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 88 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | 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 | 90 | 88 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FOREX.com | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FOREX.com | 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 | FOREX.com Review | City Index Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | City Index | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | City Index Review |
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