Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
When comparing the regulatory strengths of XTB and City Index, both online brokers bring credible trustworthiness to the table. XTB, founded in 2002, is a publicly traded company that secures 2 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, reflecting a high level of trustworthiness. It holds an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96 out of 99, suggesting it is highly trusted in the industry. While it is not a bank, its public listing reinforces its accountability.
City Index, established in 1983, also operates as a publicly traded entity. This broker shines particularly in regulatory compliance, possessing 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, showcasing its commitment to maintaining high trust standards. With a top-tier ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, City Index is considered highly trusted by international standards, despite not being a bank. This comparison highlights City Index’s edge in regulatory coverage through its extensive Tier-1 licensing, making it a formidable choice for traders focusing on trust.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 1983 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
XTB and City Index both offer commissions and fees that are generally in line with the industry average, and each earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for this category. On ForexBrokers.com, XTB ranks #13 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees, while City Index ranks #16 out of 36. For most retail traders, the biggest difference comes down to account type, trading volume, and which platform you use.
XTB offers a spread-only Standard account plus a commission-based Professional account for eligible clients in the U.K. and Europe, although the Pro option is being phased out and is no longer promoted in many regions. Its EUR/USD average spread was 1 pip in Q4 2023, and minimum deposits start at 250 in the base currency. For smaller trades, the Standard account is usually the cheaper choice, while active traders may qualify for XTB’s Lower Spread Group, which rebates 5% to 30% of the spread based on monthly volume.
City Index also keeps pricing close to the market average for CFDs, forex, and spread betting, with its best pricing usually available on its own platforms or MetaTrader. Its CFD account showed an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips in July 2023, which is still not quite at the level of the very cheapest brokers. Active traders can access rebates through the Premium Trader account with a deposit above £10,000, and professional clients may receive tiered rebates depending on monthly trading volume.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | £100.00 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.4 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 0.9 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB and City Index both give traders access to forex as CFDs, and each also offers cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual delivered crypto. When it comes to market choice, City Index lists more tradeable symbols overall, with 13,500 compared with XTB’s 10,900. XTB, however, offers more forex pairs, with 71 versus City Index’s 66, which may appeal to traders looking for a wider selection in the currency market.
The bigger difference is in share trading and extra features. XTB lets clients buy real shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, while City Index does not offer exchange traded securities outside CFDs. City Index does have copy trading, which XTB lacks. Both brokers are rated 5 out of 5 for range of investments, but ForexBrokers.com ranks City Index higher overall in this category at #8, compared with XTB at #14.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 13500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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.
XTB and City Index both give traders a choice of free demo accounts, proprietary platforms, desktop downloads for Windows, and web-based platforms, so either broker works well for people who want flexibility across devices. Both also let you trade directly from a chart. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, each broker earns 4.5 out of 5 stars, with XTB ranked #9 out of 36 and City Index ranked #11 out of 36.
The main difference is in platform extras. City Index supports copy trading and MetaTrader 4, while XTB does not offer either one. Neither broker offers MetaTrader 5. If you want more third-party platform support, City Index has the edge; if you are happy using a broker’s own platform and want a strong overall setup, XTB is still a solid choice.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 88 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and City Index both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each provides stock or forex price alerts. Both apps also let you draw trendlines on charts and automatically save those drawings, making it easier to track your ideas across sessions. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, both brokers are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars, with XTB ranked #8 out of 36 brokers and City Index close behind at #9.
The biggest difference is charting depth and watchlist syncing. City Index offers watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made in the mobile app and online account stay matched, while XTB does not. City Index also gives mobile traders more technical studies, with 88 compared with XTB’s 39, which may appeal to users who want more chart tools on the go.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 88 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and City Index both give traders a strong set of market research features. Each one offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, sentiment tools that show the balance of long and short positions, and an economic calendar for tracking global events. Neither broker includes research from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, so the core setup is quite similar for everyday market tracking.
The main difference is that City Index includes Trading Central tools, while XTB does not. Even so, XTB edges ahead overall in research, with a 5-star rating and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #9 out of 36 brokers, compared with City Index’s 4.5-star rating and #10 ranking. In simple terms, both brokers are well equipped for market research, but XTB has a slight lead on paper, while City Index stands out for adding Trading Central.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners who want to learn before they trade, both XTB and City Index offer plenty of useful education. Each broker provides forex and CFDs learning material, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos, plus 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders. That means either platform gives new traders a solid place to start, with lessons and video content covering a wide range of trading topics.
Looking at the overall education ratings, XTB comes in slightly ahead with a 5-star score, while City Index earns 4.5 stars. On ForexBrokers.com, City Index is ranked #9 out of 36 brokers for Education, compared with #11 for XTB. So while both are strong choices for learning, City Index has a small edge in ranking, while XTB holds the higher star rating.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than City Index. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while City Index finished with an overall rank of #8.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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City Index
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 |
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In the XTB vs City Index comparison, neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
In the XTB vs City Index comparison for deposit and withdrawal methods, City Index supports ACH/SEPA and bank wires plus PayPal (no Skrill), while XTB lacks ACH/SEPA but offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | XTB | City Index | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | City Index Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | City Index | |
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| Regulation | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 1983 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 13500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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 | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.4 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 0.9 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | £100.00 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 88 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 88 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | 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 | XTB Review | City Index Review |
| Overall | XTB | City Index | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | City Index Review |
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