Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Xtrade, 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 online brokers, City Index stands out with its strong reputation and trustworthiness. Founded in 1983, City Index boasts a Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, indicating it is highly trusted. The broker is publicly traded, which adds to its credibility, and it holds seven Tier-1 licenses, the highest level of trustworthiness. City Index also maintains a Tier-2 license, further establishing its trusted status in the financial industry.
Xtrade, established in 2003, presents a more moderate risk profile with a Trust Score of 74. Unlike City Index, Xtrade is not publicly traded. It holds one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, reflecting an average level of trust. Although both brokers are non-banks and regulated, City Index's extensive regulatory framework and higher Trust Score may appeal to traders seeking a more established and secure trading environment.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
City Index offers competitive pricing for trading CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products. Their pricing aligns with the industry average, and the best rates are available when using City Index's proprietary platforms or MetaTrader. The Premium Trader account provides benefits such as exclusive pricing and dedicated customer service for active traders who deposit over £10,000. City Index’s average spread for the EUR/USD sits at 0.74 pips, matching the overall industry standard but not quite reaching the competitive levels of brokers like Tickmill and FP Markets.
City Index provides attractive rebates and discounts for active traders, with U.K.-based professional traders receiving rebates starting at £4 per million for trading volumes over £25 million per month. These rebates can increase to £7.5 per million for monthly volumes surpassing £300 million. Australian traders also benefit from rebates, ranging from AUD $4.5 per million for tier one up to AUD $14.5 per million for tier-3. City Index is highly-rated for its commissions and fees, receiving a 4.5-star rating and ranking 14th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, Xtrade does not provide average spread data, leaving customers in the dark about their competitive stance in the marketplace. With a 2.5-star rating and ranking last at 62nd out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, Xtrade falls short in delivering the transparency and competitiveness that many traders seek. City Index clearly emerges as a more favorable choice for traders looking for cost-effective options.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $250 |
| 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 | No |
| 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.
When comparing the investment offerings of online brokers City Index and Xtrade, several differences emerge, particularly in terms of the range and variety of tradeable symbols. City Index stands out with an impressive array of 13,500 tradeable symbols, overshadowing Xtrade's offering of 482 symbols. In the realm of forex trading, both brokers provide CFDs or spot contracts, with City Index offering 66 forex pairs compared to Xtrade's 56. However, neither platform provides the option to trade exchange-listed securities, whether from U.S. or international markets.
For those interested in cryptocurrency, both City Index and Xtrade offer cryptocurrency derivatives but do not facilitate the actual purchase of cryptocurrencies. City Index also has the edge when it comes to copy trading, a feature not available with Xtrade. These distinctions contribute to City Index's higher rating of 5 stars for its range of investments, ranked 8th by ForexBrokers.com among 62 brokers, while Xtrade holds a 3.5-star rating, positioned at 49th. Overall, City Index provides a more expansive and flexible platform for diverse trading opportunities.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 examining the trading platforms and tools offered by City Index and Xtrade, several distinctions become apparent. Both brokers provide a simulated trading experience through free virtual demo accounts and offer proprietary trading platforms crafted in-house. City Index extends its offerings with a Windows-based desktop platform, which is not available through Xtrade. Although both brokers facilitate trading through web-based platforms, City Index enhances its appeal with copy trading capabilities, something that Xtrade does not offer. City Index also accommodates traders using MetaTrader 4 (MT4), a popular third-party platform, which is lacking in Xtrade's lineup.
City Index offers a significantly richer selection of charting tools, with 239 drawing tools compared to Xtrade's 100. Both brokers enable trading directly from stock charts, but City Index provides a more comprehensive watch list functionality with 11 fields compared to Xtrade's 9. These factors contribute to City Index's higher rating and ranking by ForexBrokers.com, receiving 4.5 stars and a #10 ranking out of 62 brokers for trading platforms and tools, whereas Xtrade is rated at 3.5 stars and ranks at #58. These differences highlight City Index as a more versatile option for traders seeking a comprehensive trading experience.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Xtrade both cater to mobile traders with their iPhone and Android apps, designed to offer on-the-go access to financial markets. However, City Index clearly stands out with a variety of features that enhance the mobile trading experience. Traders using City Index can receive stock and forex price alerts, while Xtrade users miss out on this functionality. Furthermore, City Index excels with features such as synchronized watchlists and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, all integrating seamlessly between mobile and online platforms—capabilities not available with Xtrade.
For those interested in charting tools, City Index offers a significant advantage by allowing users to draw trendlines, view multiple time frames, and access 88 technical studies on their charts, unlike Xtrade, which lacks these options. The auto-save feature for drawings further adds to the convenience of using City Index's app. With a superior rating of 4.5 stars and a high ranking of 9th out of 62 brokers for mobile trading apps, City Index provides a compelling choice for mobile traders, overshadowing Xtrade's 4-star rating and 53rd ranking.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both City Index and Xtrade offer daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. However, City Index stands out by providing tools from Trading Central, including Technical Analytics, which Xtrade does not offer. City Index also has a sentiment-based trading tool that shows a ratio of long or short positions, giving traders a clearer view of market trends, a feature that Xtrade lacks.
Both brokers provide an economic calendar that highlights key global news events, but neither offers research or tools from companies like Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. City Index is rated 4.5 stars for research, significantly higher than Xtrade's 3.5-star rating. In the arena of research, City Index is ranked 10th among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Xtrade trails at 52nd, making City Index the preferred choice for traders who rely on detailed market insights.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and Xtrade both provide a range of educational resources aimed at helping beginners learn about forex and CFDs. City Index stands out with its comprehensive collection, offering more than 10 educational materials such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. Additionally, City Index hosts online educational webinars monthly and maintains a searchable archive of recorded sessions. This platform caters to various experience levels, featuring over 10 beginner-focused videos and an equal number dedicated to advanced traders. Furthermore, City Index includes an investor dictionary with definitions for more than 50 investing terms.
In comparison, Xtrade also provides over 10 educational materials primarily focused on forex and CFDs. However, it does not offer monthly educational webinars or a searchable archive of past sessions. Additionally, Xtrade lacks in providing a sufficient number of beginner-focused and advanced educational videos. Despite offering an investor dictionary, similar to City Index, the overall educational offerings of Xtrade have resulted in a lower rating of 3.5 stars out of 5, compared to City Index’s 4.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, City Index ranks 9th out of 62 brokers for education, while Xtrade ranks 46th, indicating a more favorable position for City Index when considering educational support for beginners.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
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 Xtrade. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #59.
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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Xtrade
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 |
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Both City Index and Xtrade do not offer the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers City Index and Xtrade, City Index offers more diverse options for depositing or withdrawing account funds, including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Xtrade supports bank wires, Visa, Mastercard, and Skrill, but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal capabilities.
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 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Xtrade | |
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| Regulation | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2003 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $250 | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Xtrade Review |
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