Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Admirals, 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, founded in 1983, is a publicly traded online broker renowned for its high trustworthiness, reflected by its top-tier ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99. While it isn't a bank, City Index holds an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, the highest level of regulatory trust. Additionally, it holds one Tier-2 license, which further enhances its reliability. This combination of factors establishes City Index as a highly trusted choice for online trading.
Established in 2001, Admirals is an online broker that, while not publicly traded, has built a solid reputation with a commendable ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93. Though it isn't a bank, Admirals boasts four Tier-1 licenses, marking it as a highly trusted entity. Admirals also holds three Tier-2 licenses, adding to its credibility in the financial markets. Overall, both brokers demonstrate a significant degree of trustworthiness, but City Index slightly edges out Admirals with its higher score and additional Tier-1 licenses.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
City Index and Admirals both deliver competitive commissions and fees, each earning 4.5 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees rankings, City Index places #15 of 63 brokers, while Admirals ranks #18 of 63. For EUR/USD spreads, City Index averaged 0.74 pips (July 2023), versus Admirals’ typical 0.8 pips on its Trade account.
City Index pricing aligns with the industry average across CFDs, forex, and spread betting. You’ll generally see the best rates on its proprietary platforms or MetaTrader. Active traders can qualify for the Premium Trader account with a £10,000+ deposit, unlocking exclusive pricing, events, content, and dedicated support. Professional traders may also access rebates: in the U.K., £4 per million when trading over £25M per month, scaling up to £7.5 per million above £300M; in Australia, AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million depending on tier.
Admirals offers competitive pricing, with typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.8 pips on the Trade account and similar pricing on the Zero account. While both brokers are cost-conscious choices, City Index’s rebates and premium account perks may appeal to high-volume traders seeking extra savings, whereas Admirals’ straightforward spread structure suits those who prefer simple pricing.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
City Index vs Admirals: both let you trade forex as CFDs and as spot, support copy trading, and offer crypto through CFDs (neither sells actual coins). City Index lists about 13,500 tradeable symbols, while Admirals offers about 8,702. When it comes to currency choice, Admirals has more with 82 forex pairs versus 66 at City Index.
If you want to buy real stocks, Admirals stands out by offering exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international markets. City Index does not offer actual shares on those exchanges. For Range of Investments, City Index earns 5 stars and ranks 8th out of 63 brokers, while Admirals earns 4.5 stars and ranks 20th. Pick City Index for the widest overall lineup, or Admirals if owning real shares alongside CFDs matters to you.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 8702 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 82 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| 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 Admirals both cover the essentials for traders who want choice and ease. Each broker provides a free demo (paper) account, an in-house proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Popular options like copy trading and MetaTrader 4 (MT4) are available at both, and you can place orders directly from a price chart on either broker’s platform lineup.
The key difference is MetaTrader 5 (MT5): Admirals supports MT5, while City Index does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools ratings, City Index scores 4.5 out of 5 and ranks #11 of 63 brokers, while Admirals scores 4 out of 5 and ranks #19 of 63. If you want MT5 alongside MT4, Admirals stands out; if MT5 isn’t essential and you prefer a higher-rated platform suite, City Index may be the better fit.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Admirals both deliver mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saved chart drawings. That means you can analyze markets and keep your annotations intact across sessions on either app.
The key differences show up in charting and syncing. City Index packs in 88 technical studies compared with Admirals’ 30, and City Index syncs watchlists with your online account, while Admirals does not. In our ratings, City Index scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Admirals earns 4 stars and ranks #23. If you want deeper chart tools and seamless watchlist syncing, City Index is the stronger pick; if you need the basics on both iPhone and Android, Admirals still gets the job done.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Admirals both excel in providing comprehensive market research to traders. Both brokers offer daily market commentary and access to top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders are well-informed of global financial events. They also offer tools from Trading Central, helping traders with technical analysis. Additionally, both platforms provide sentiment-based trading tools and maintain economic calendars to track important news events around the world. However, neither broker provides tools from Autochartist. City Index notably lacks market research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, whereas Admirals fill these gaps by offering resources from both companies, giving their users an extra layer of market insight.
When comparing their overall research, City Index is highly rated with 4.5 stars and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers, as per ForexBrokers.com. This reflects a slightly superior standing in research quality compared to Admirals, which boasts a solid 4-star rating and ranks #15. Both brokers present strong research options, catering to traders seeking in-depth analysis and market information. Yet, City Index's higher rating and ranking might appeal to those who prioritize top-notch research services, while Admirals could attract traders valuing additional insights from TipRanks and Acuity Trading.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and Admirals both provide beginner-friendly forex and CFD education with at least 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Each broker runs live client webinars at least once a month and offers a deep video library, with 10+ beginner lessons to help you learn the basics and 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. If you want structured learning with regular webinars and plenty of on-demand content, either broker fits the bill.
For overall quality, City Index has a slight edge: it’s rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers for Education on ForexBrokers.com. Admirals is close behind with 4 out of 5 stars and a #12 ranking. In short, beginners can confidently start with either platform; choose City Index for a touch more polish and higher scores, or pick Admirals if its style and course lineup match your learning preferences.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Admirals. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18.
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 |
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Admirals
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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In this online broker comparison, City Index and Admirals do not let you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both brokers offer trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.
City Index vs Admirals: Both brokers support ACH/SEPA transfers for deposits and withdrawals; City Index also offers PayPal and bank wires but not Skrill, while support for Visa/Mastercard at City Index and for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires at Admirals is not specified.
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 | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Admirals Review |
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| Regulation | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 8702 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 82 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Admirals Review |
| Overall | City Index | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Admirals Review |
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