Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Vantage, 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 Vantage are both online brokers with strong regulatory footprints, but City Index carries more top-tier oversight. City Index holds seven Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, compared with Vantage’s two Tier-1 and one Tier-2. On ForexBrokers.com’s 99-point Trust Score, City Index scores 99 and Vantage 91; on that scale, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 should not be trusted.
City Index was founded in 1983 and is publicly traded, while Vantage was founded in 2009 and is not publicly traded. Neither is a bank. Both sit in the highly trusted range, with City Index pairing a top Trust Score with more Tier-1 licenses, and Vantage also earning a high-trust rating with fewer top-tier licenses.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2009 |
| 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 | 3 |
City Index and Vantage both earn strong marks for commissions and fees, with each broker rated 4.5 out of 5 stars. On ForexBrokers.com, City Index ranks #16 out of 36 brokers in this category, while Vantage places slightly higher at #12 out of 36. In simple terms, both brokers are priced around the industry average, but Vantage has a slight edge overall for cost-conscious traders.
City Index offers average pricing for CFDs, forex, and spread betting, with the best rates usually available on its own platforms or MetaTrader. Its EUR/USD spread was 0.74 pips as of July 2023, which is decent but not among the very cheapest in the market. Active traders may also qualify for rebates, and U.K. professionals can start at £4 per million in volume, rising to £7.5 per million for very high monthly trading levels. Traders depositing more than £10,000 may also access the Premium Trader account, which comes with special pricing and support.
Vantage’s fees depend on the account type, with the Standard STP account using spread-only pricing and the RAW ECN and PRO ECN accounts adding commissions. Its Standard account had a typical EUR/USD spread of 1.30 pips, while the Raw account worked out to about 0.75 pips all-in after commission. The PRO account is Vantage’s best-priced option, with a $2 commission per side, but it has stricter eligibility rules. Vantage also runs an active trader rebate program, though it is only available on the Standard account, which has the widest spreads.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 1.32 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.72 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
City Index offers a wider range of investments than Vantage, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more market choice. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, offer copy trading, and let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs rather than actual crypto. Neither broker offers direct share dealing on U.S. or international exchanges, so you cannot buy real stocks like Apple or Vodafone through either platform.
Where City Index pulls ahead is in selection. It offers about 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, compared with Vantage’s 1,000 symbols and 61 forex pairs. This broader lineup helps explain why City Index earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Vantage is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #32.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
City Index and Vantage both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, web and Windows desktop access, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. Each also lets users place trades directly from a chart, which can make it easier to act on price moves without switching screens. In short, both brokers cover the basics well for new and active traders who want flexible ways to trade online.
The main difference is that Vantage also supports MetaTrader 5, while City Index does not. That extra platform may appeal to traders who want more charting and order tools in one place. Still, City Index comes out slightly ahead overall in Trading Platforms and Tools, with a 4.5-star rating and an #11 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Vantage’s 4-star rating and #20 ranking.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Vantage both give traders mobile access on iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings. That means both apps cover the basics well for traders who want to stay on top of the market from a phone or tablet.
Where City Index stands out is in the details. Its mobile app syncs watchlists with the online account, so updates appear across devices, while Vantage does not offer this feature. City Index also gives users 88 technical studies in its app charting, compared with 30 at Vantage. These differences help explain why City Index is rated higher for mobile trading apps, with 4.5 stars and a #9 ranking out of 36 brokers, while Vantage holds a 4-star rating and ranks #24.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index and Vantage both give traders useful market research tools, including daily market commentary, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, sentiment data, and an economic calendar with key global events. Each also offers Trading Central research tools, which can help users spot possible trade ideas and better understand market moves. In this area, the two brokers are quite similar for everyday research needs.
The main difference is that Vantage also includes Autochartist, while City Index does not. Even so, City Index comes out ahead overall in research, with a 4.5-star rating and a ForexBrokers.com rank of #10 out of 36, compared with Vantage’s 4-star rating and #20 ranking. For traders who want slightly stronger market research support, City Index has the edge.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| 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, both City Index and Vantage give new traders plenty of help. Each broker offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, plus monthly educational webinars and a large selection of videos for both beginners and more experienced traders. That means either platform can give a new trader a solid starting point for understanding the basics of trading, along with more advanced topics as skills grow.
That said, City Index has the edge on education overall. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category, while Vantage is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #23. So although both brokers offer a similar range of learning tools, City Index appears to provide the stronger educational experience for beginners.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 City Index is better than Vantage. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Vantage finished with an overall rank of #24.
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
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 91 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
City Index vs Vantage: neither online broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
City Index vs Vantage: For deposits and withdrawals, City Index supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers (no Skrill), while Vantage offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA; Visa/Mastercard availability is unspecified for both brokers.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 91 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Vantage Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 91 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 1.32 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.72 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | City Index Review | Vantage Review |
| Overall | City Index | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 91 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Vantage Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill