Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Markets.com, 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 Markets.com offer diverse trading opportunities, yet their stance on trust and regulation differs. Founded in 1983, City Index operates as a publicly traded entity and holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, firmly placing it in the highly trusted category. City Index stands out with an impressive collection of 7 Tier-1 licenses, demonstrating strong regulatory oversight. Although not a bank, its long-standing presence and thorough regulation make City Index a reliable choice for traders seeking security and trust.
Markets.com, established in 1999, is not publicly traded, yet it enjoys a strong reputation with a Trust Score of 93 from ForexBrokers.com. It holds 3 Tier-1 licenses, indicating its adherence to high regulatory standards, though not as expansive as City Index's. Both City Index and Markets.com each have 1 Tier-2 license, suggesting solid but varied regulatory support. This makes Markets.com a trusted online broker, albeit with fewer top-tier regulatory licenses compared to City Index.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of City Index and Markets.com, City Index stands out with a competitive edge. City Index offers pricing for CFDs, forex, and spread-betting that aligns with industry averages. Utilizing City Index’s own platforms or MetaTrader ensures optimal pricing. Their Premium Trader account provides additional benefits for active traders who deposit over £10,000, including exclusive pricing and dedicated customer service. City Index has an average spread of 0.74 pips on the EUR/USD, although it trails the leading forex brokers like Tickmill and FP Markets.
For active traders, City Index offers rebates starting at £4 per million traded per month in the UK, climbing to £7.5 as trading volumes increase. Australian traders also benefit from rebates ranging from AUD $4.5 to AUD $14.5 per million based on tiers. In contrast, Markets.com has not provided average spread data, making direct comparison challenging. This lack of data may contribute to Markets.com’s lower star rating and ranking in this category.
City Index receives a high rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 for its commissions and fees, earning a respectable 14th rank among 62 brokers, as per ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Markets.com holds a lower rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 49th in the same category, indicating a lesser competitive standing in terms of fee structures.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
City Index and Markets.com are both seasoned online brokers that allow traders to explore forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts. In terms of sheer variety, City Index offers a significantly broader selection with 13,500 tradable symbols, dwarfing Markets.com's 2,179. This extensive array is reflected in the number of tradable forex pairs as well, with City Index providing access to 66 pairs compared to Markets.com's 57. However, neither broker offers options for clients to buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, such as Apple or Vodafone shares.
Both platforms facilitate copy trading and provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives, but not to actual cryptocurrency purchases. While City Index boasts a top-tier rating of 5 stars for its range of investments, Markets.com receives 4 stars. This disparity is mirrored in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com; City Index stands at #8 out of 62 brokers for investment range, while Markets.com finds itself further down the list at #29. This makes City Index a strong contender for those seeking a diverse spectrum of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 2179 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 57 |
| 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 Markets.com each offer an array of trading platforms and tools, catering to varying trader needs. Both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, giving new traders a risk-free environment to practice. They also deliver proprietary platforms alongside industry-standard MetaTrader 4 (MT4) for a comprehensive trading experience. However, City Index has yet to introduce MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which is available at Markets.com, offering a wider range of trading capabilities to its users.
Both City Index and Markets.com provide several charting features, but there are some differences. While City Index excels with 239 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from stock charts, Markets.com falls short with only 4 drawing tools and lacks chart-based trading functionality. When it comes to watch lists, City Index offers more detailed views with 11 available columns compared to the 6 provided by Markets.com. These differences are reflected in their ratings from ForexBrokers.com, where City Index scores 4.5 stars and a ranking of #10 out of 62 brokers, whereas Markets.com holds a 4-star rating and is ranked at #26.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 89 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 4 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Markets.com both deliver effective mobile trading app experiences for iPhone and Android users. Each platform allows stock and forex price alerts along with the ability to sync watchlist symbols across devices, ensuring a cohesive trading experience. While both apps enable users to draw trendlines on charts, City Index stands out with its offering of 88 technical studies for charting compared to Markets.com, which provides default options on MT4 but none on its native app.
When it comes to time frame views, City Index is superior as it accommodates daily, weekly, and intraday views, a feature not supported by Markets.com. Additionally, City Index automatically saves chart drawings, something Markets.com lacks. Both platforms offer real-time quotes for watchlists. Overall, City Index enjoys a higher rating of 4.5 stars and ranks as the 9th best mobile trading app out of 62 brokers, while Markets.com receives 4 stars and ranks 33rd, highlighting City Index's lead in functionality and user satisfaction.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index and Markets.com both provide daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources, ensuring that traders have access to timely and reliable information. However, when considering technical analysis tools, City Index stands out by offering resources such as Trading Central's Technical Analytics, which are not available with Markets.com. Both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools that show trader positioning for various instruments, catering to those who base their strategies on market sentiment. Unfortunately, neither City Index nor Markets.com integrates research tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, but both incorporate an economic calendar to alert users of important global events.
In terms of ranking, City Index fares better with a research rating of 4.5 stars and a position as the 10th best broker out of 62 by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Markets.com's 4-star rating and 17th place standing. This suggests that while both brokers provide substantial market research features, City Index offers a more comprehensive suite suited to traders looking for advanced technical analysis tools alongside the basic essentials.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners in the world of online trading, City Index stands out prominently compared to Markets.com. City Index provides a wealth of learning materials tailored to those new to forex and CFDs, offering over 10 educational pieces in the form of articles, videos, and webinars focused on trading basics. Conversely, Markets.com falls short in this area, lacking the same level of foundational content specifically targeting forex and CFDs education. Additionally, while both platforms host monthly online educational webinars, only City Index has a searchable archive of previously recorded sessions, enhancing accessibility for learners at their own pace.
City Index also shines with its investor dictionary, offering definitions for more than 50 investing terms, a resource not provided by Markets.com. Both platforms supply educational videos for beginners and advanced learners, but the overall educational experience on City Index is more highly rated, with 4.5 stars compared to Markets.com's 4-star rating. Furthermore, City Index ranks 9th out of 62 brokers in the Education category, significantly higher than Markets.com, which holds the 34th spot. All these factors make City Index a more comprehensive choice for beginners eager to build their trading knowledge.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Markets.com. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23.
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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Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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Both City Index and Markets.com do not offer the option to buy actual cryptocurrency for delivery, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers City Index and Markets.com, City Index provides more flexible deposit and withdrawal options with support for ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Markets.com supports Visa, Mastercard, bank wires, and Skrill but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options.
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 | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Markets.com | |
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| Regulation | City Index | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 2179 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 57 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 89 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 4 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | City Index | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | No | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | City Index Review |
| Overall | City Index | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review |
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