Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs RoboForex, 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, established in 1983, is a prominent online broker that operates with a high level of trust. With a Trust Score of 99 out of 99 as rated by ForexBrokers.com, City Index is considered highly trusted in the industry. It is publicly traded and holds 7 Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its reputable standing. Although not a bank, City Index also holds 1 Tier-2 license, further emphasizing its reliability and assurance to its clients.
In contrast, RoboForex, which has been in operation since 2009, presents an average risk profile with a Trust Score of 73. RoboForex is not publicly traded and possesses 1 Tier-1 license, indicating a moderate level of trust. While it does not hold any Tier-2 licenses, RoboForex continues to serve its clients without banking capabilities, distinguishing its approach from its counterpart, City Index.
| Feature |
City Index
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2009 |
| 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 | 2 |
City Index and RoboForex offer different pricing structures for traders, primarily focusing on CFDs and forex trading. City Index provides competitive rates, with its pricing model aligning closely with the industry average. However, City Index offers additional value for active traders through its Premium Trader account, which requires a deposit of over £10,000 and unlocks exclusive pricing, events, and enhanced customer service. City Index's spreads average 0.74 pips on the EUR/USD, positioning them well within the industry norms. Active traders, especially those in the U.K. and Australia, benefit from rebate programs that scale with higher trading volumes. The broker is highly regarded, earning a 4.5-star rating and a #14 ranking in the commissions and fees category among 62 brokers.
In comparison, RoboForex has a more straightforward fee structure, primarily with higher average spreads of 1.3 pips for the EUR/USD on the Procent and Pro accounts. While RoboForex's spreads might be slightly higher, making them less attractive to cost-sensitive traders, they may still appeal to those looking for basic trading services. In terms of recognition, RoboForex holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #54 out of 62 brokers in the same category, reflecting its pricing position in relation to its peers.
| Feature |
City Index
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 considering online trading platforms, City Index and RoboForex stand out for their range of available investments, catering to both novice and seasoned traders. City Index offers an impressive selection of 13,500 tradable symbols and 66 forex pairs, ideal for those looking to explore diverse markets. RoboForex, while offering fewer options with 8,400 symbols and 28 forex pairs, still provides a substantial array of trading opportunities. Both platforms facilitate forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, ensuring flexibility for traders seeking to engage in foreign exchange markets without the complexities of owning the underlying asset directly.
Despite neither platform allowing direct purchase of exchange-traded securities or delivered cryptocurrencies, both City Index and RoboForex compensate by offering cryptocurrency derivatives and copy trading features. This allows users to mimic successful trading strategies. City Index holds a slight edge with a 5-star rating for its range of investments, ranked 8th out of 62 brokers, indicating its strength in offering diverse trading options. Meanwhile, RoboForex follows closely with a 4.5-star rating and a rank of 20th, showcasing its competence in providing varied investment avenues, albeit with a narrower focus than City Index.
| Feature |
City Index
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 8400 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 28 |
| 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 online brokers City Index and RoboForex for their trading platforms and tools, both offer simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, making them accessible for beginners looking to practice before committing real funds. City Index stands out with its proprietary platform developed in-house, while RoboForex does not have this feature. Both brokers provide Windows-based desktop download and web-based (browser) trading platforms, allowing users flexible access to their trades.
City Index includes both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and unique features such as trading directly from a chart, boasting 239 drawing tools and comprehensive watch lists with 11 columns. Although RoboForex also offers MT4 and has its strengths in supporting MetaTrader 5 (MT5), it provides fewer drawing tools and watch list columns. While both brokers support copy trading, neither offer platforms like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. In the Trading Platforms and Tools category, City Index is rated higher with 4.5 stars and ranks #10, whereas RoboForex earns 4 stars, ranking #43 out of 62 brokers.
| Feature |
City Index
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| 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.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both City Index and RoboForex provide options for iPhone and Android users. Both platforms offer stock and forex price alerts, along with the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts. However, a significant differentiator is City Index's watchlist symbol syncing feature, which RoboForex lacks. This means that any changes you make to your watchlist on the City Index app will automatically sync with your online account, whereas RoboForex does not offer this convenience.
In terms of technical studies available on their apps, City Index provides an impressive 88 options, compared to just 30 from RoboForex. This makes City Index a stronger candidate for users who rely heavily on technical analysis. Both platforms permit users to create a watchlist with real-time quotes and automatically save chart drawings. For overall mobile app experience, City Index holds a better user rating of 4.5 stars and ranks #9 in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, while RoboForex has 4 stars and is ranked #43. This data underscores City Index as the preferred choice for a comprehensive and seamless mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
City Index
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 |
| 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.
City Index and RoboForex both offer daily market commentary and access to prestigious forex news sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, providing traders with up-to-date insights. While neither broker includes Autochartist tools, they both offer resources from Trading Central, a respected name in technical and fundamental analysis. City Index stands out by providing a sentiment-based trading tool that displays the ratio of long and short positions across currency pairs, whereas RoboForex does not. Additionally, both brokers feature a comprehensive economic calendar to help traders track global news events.
When it comes to the inclusion of advanced research tools from companies like Acuity Trading, RoboForex possesses an advantage with offerings such as Signal Centre, a feature absent in City Index's lineup. Despite this, City Index still achieves a higher research rating with 4.5 stars compared to RoboForex at 3.5 stars, ranking it #10 out of 62 on ForexBrokers.com's research category. RoboForex, meanwhile, finds itself at #37, highlighting City Index's stronger research capabilities overall.
| Feature |
City Index
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, City Index clearly stands out compared to RoboForex. City Index excels by offering over ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars. They provide monthly online educational webinars and even have a searchable archive for those who want to revisit past sessions. Beginners can also benefit from more than ten beginner-focused trading videos. In addition, City Index offers an investor dictionary with over 50 key investing terms, making it easier for newcomers to grasp the basics.
On the other hand, RoboForex doesn't quite match up in terms of educational offerings for beginners. They don't meet the threshold for educational resources focused on forex and CFDs, lack monthly client webinars, and do not provide a searchable archive of webinars. Beginner and advanced educational videos are also not part of their offering, and they do not have an extensive investor dictionary. Given these differences, City Index has been rated 4.5 stars for education and is ranked #9 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, RoboForex holds a 3.5-star rating and is ranked #56, illustrating their gap in providing quality educational content for those just starting out in online trading.
| Feature |
City Index
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 RoboForex. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while RoboForex finished with an overall rank of #46.
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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RoboForex
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Both City Index and RoboForex provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither platform offers the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrency.
City Index and RoboForex both provide a range of funding options including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for account deposits and withdrawals, with the additional advantage of RoboForex offering Skrill as an option, which City Index does not.
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 | RoboForex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | RoboForex Review |
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| Regulation | City Index | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2009 | |
| 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 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 8400 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 28 | |
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex Review |
| Overall | City Index | RoboForex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | RoboForex Review |
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