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City Index vs ActivTrades 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of City Index vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

City Index
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £100.00
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 13500
ActivTrades
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 81
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 1267

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.

Regulation

When comparing City Index and ActivTrades, both offer online trading services but differ significantly in their regulatory backing and level of trust. Founded in 1983, City Index is a publicly traded company known for its highly secure offerings, boasting an outstanding Trust Score of 99 as rated by ForexBrokers.com. This high rating is supported by City Index's possession of an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, which are considered the gold standard in regulatory oversight, alongside one Tier-2 license.

On the other hand, ActivTrades, established in 2001, is not publicly traded and holds a respectable Trust Score of 81. Though not as high as City Index, this score denotes a trusted status with its two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. While neither broker operates as a bank, City Index's edge in regulatory endorsements could provide added peace of mind for traders seeking a more secure platform. Both brokers, however, offer dependable choices for online trading within their respective regulatory frameworks.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Year Founded info 1983 2001
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 2
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 2

Fees

City Index and ActivTrades both price near the industry average, but their fee structures differ in ways that may matter to you. City Index earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #15 of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while ActivTrades earns 4/5 stars and ranks #29 of 63. Based on recent data, City Index posted a tighter average EUR/USD spread (0.74 pips, July 2023) than ActivTrades (0.98 pips, May 2024). City Index’s pricing is generally in line with peers, and ActivTrades is slightly better than average overall, though neither matches the cheapest specialists.

City Index supports CFDs, forex, and spread betting, and you’ll typically get the best pricing on its proprietary platforms or MetaTrader. Active traders may qualify for the Premium Trader account (deposit over £10,000) for exclusive pricing and dedicated service. For high-volume professionals, City Index offers cash rebates: in the U.K., £4 per million from £25M monthly volume up to £7.5 per million above £300M; in Australia, AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million across tiers. On EUR/USD, the 0.74-pip average spread keeps costs competitive, though still behind ultra-low-cost brokers like Tickmill and FP Markets.

ActivTrades keeps things simple with one main Individual Account, plus Professional and Islamic options (spreads are the same across account types). There’s no separate pricing for high-volume or “active” traders, and fees can vary by asset and platform. The broker lists target spreads, but actual spreads move with market conditions and can widen at rollover; the average EUR/USD spread reported for May 2024 was 0.98 pips. Overall, ActivTrades is straightforward and slightly cheaper than average, but it lacks the volume-based discounts City Index offers.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $0
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.4 info 0.98 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.74 info N/A
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

City Index vs ActivTrades: when it comes to range of investments, City Index offers far more markets overall. City Index lists about 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, compared with ActivTrades’ 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, both offer copy trading, and both provide cryptocurrency exposure through derivatives rather than actual coins. According to ForexBrokers.com, City Index earns 5 stars and ranks 8th out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while ActivTrades earns 4 stars and ranks 32nd.

Neither broker offers access to U.S. exchange-traded shares like Apple. For international exchanges, ActivTrades does let clients buy exchange-traded securities, while City Index does not. If you want the widest selection of markets and currency pairs, City Index has the larger catalog; if you need the option to buy real shares outside the U.S., ActivTrades offers that alongside its CFD lineup.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 1267
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 49
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

City Index and ActivTrades both offer free demo (paper) accounts, in-house platforms, Windows desktop and web platforms, and copy trading. Each supports MetaTrader 4, while only ActivTrades also offers MetaTrader 5. Neither integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. You can place trades directly from charts with both brokers, and each watchlist supports up to 11 columns.

Charting is where they differ most: City Index provides 239 drawing tools versus 15 at ActivTrades (indicator counts not specified). For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates City Index 4.5/5 and ranks it 11th of 63 brokers, while ActivTrades is rated 4/5 and ranked 32nd. Choose City Index if you want more drawing tools; pick ActivTrades if MT5 access matters to you alongside an in-house platform.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 239 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 11 11

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

City Index and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading apps that are compatible with iPhone and Android devices, and they each provide access to stock or forex price alerts. While both platforms allow traders to draw trendlines and view various time frames on charts, City Index takes the lead with a more comprehensive charting package, offering 88 technical studies compared to ActivTrades' 30. Additionally, City Index supports watchlist symbol syncing, ensuring seamless updates between the mobile app and the online account, a feature not available with ActivTrades. Both apps auto-save chart drawings and let users create watchlists with real-time quotes.

In terms of ratings and rankings, City Index is rated higher with 4.5 stars for its mobile trading app, compared to ActivTrades, which holds a 4-star rating. City Index also ranks 9th out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category on ForexBrokers.com, whereas ActivTrades is ranked 19th. These distinctions highlight City Index’s strength in mobile trading capabilities, making it a slightly more appealing choice for users focused on comprehensive app features and seamless integration.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

City Index and ActivTrades both deliver daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each broker offers a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions and an economic calendar covering upcoming events. On the downside, neither platform includes research from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.

City Index stands out by adding Trading Central tools for technical and fundamental analysis, while ActivTrades does not offer Trading Central. That gap aligns with the ForexBrokers.com scores: City Index earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers, versus ActivTrades at 4/5 stars and #31. If you want deeper built-in research features, City Index has the edge; if you mainly need daily commentary, quality news, sentiment data, and a calendar, both brokers fit the bill.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both City Index and ActivTrades offer a comprehensive range of materials designed to enhance your trading knowledge. Each broker provides a minimum of 10 educational pieces focusing on forex or CFDs, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars. If you enjoy learning through interactive sessions, you'll appreciate that both brokers host at least one online educational client webinar every month, with the added advantage of having access to a searchable archive of these sessions.

City Index stands out with its investor dictionary, featuring definitions of over 50 investing terms, which is an offering that ActivTrades lacks. Moreover, City Index provides an extensive selection of educational videos tailored to both beginners and advanced traders, matching ActivTrades' efforts in these areas. Based on user ratings, City Index scores 4.5 stars for education, edging out ActivTrades' 4-star rating. This difference is reflected in their rankings among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, with City Index securing the #9 spot while ActivTrades is placed at #38. For beginners keen on thorough educational resources, City Index appears to have a slight edge over ActivTrades.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that City Index is better than ActivTrades. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.

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 logoCity Index
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 81
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with City Index or ActivTrades?

Both City Index and ActivTrades do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency but do provide options to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.

What funding options does each broker offer?

City Index offers ACH, SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing funds, while ActivTrades supports Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires but does not offer ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal.

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Overall Rating City Index ActivTrades
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 81
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review ActivTrades Review
Broker Screenshots City Index ActivTrades
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
City Index MetaTrader 4 mobile trading app City Index web platform trading. City Index web platform research Trading Central City Index educational course advanced.
ActivTrades ActivTrader mobile app watchlist light mode. ActivTrader platform web. ActivTrader research weekly outlook articles. ActivTrades educational articles macro analysis.
Regulation City Index ActivTrades
Trust Score info 99 81
Year Founded info 1983 2001
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 2
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 2
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) City Index ActivTrades
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) City Index ActivTrades
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments City Index ActivTrades
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 1267
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 49
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 ActivTrades
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.4 info 0.98 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.74 info N/A
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
Inactivity Fee info Yes Yes
Execution: Agency Broker info No No
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding City Index ActivTrades
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $0
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms City Index ActivTrades
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools City Index ActivTrades
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 11 11
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 239 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading City Index ActivTrades
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research City Index ActivTrades
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education City Index ActivTrades
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No
Major Forex Pairs City Index ActivTrades
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review City Index Review ActivTrades Review
Overall City Index ActivTrades
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 81
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review ActivTrades Review
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