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 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of City Index and Admirals, both brokers offer competitive pricing for their services. City Index provides CFD, forex, and spread-betting products with pricing that aligns with the industry standard. For the most favorable rates, traders should consider using City Index’s proprietary platforms or MetaTrader. The broker charges an average spread of 0.74 pips on the EUR/USD pair, as of July 2023, which is respectable but not quite on par with the top forex brokers. In addition, City Index offers a Premium Trader account for active traders who deposit over £10,000, which includes exclusive benefits and services. Rebates are available in the U.K. and Australia for high-volume traders, offering significant discounts based on trading volume.
Admirals also presents appealing commission and fee structures, notably with typical spreads of 0.8 on its Trade account and equivalent pricing on its Zero account. Admirals competes closely with City Index in terms of value provided for commissions and fees, receiving a 4.5-star rating out of five, which is parallel to City Index's rating.
In terms of market rankings, City Index is positioned slightly higher than Admirals. According to a review by ForexBrokers.com, City Index is ranked 14th out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, whereas Admirals holds the 17th position. Despite the close ratings, both platforms provide substantial offerings for traders seeking competitive pricing and favorable trading conditions.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 City Index and Admirals for their investment offerings, both platforms provide a wide array of options for traders. City Index stands out with a remarkable 13,500 tradeable symbols, surpassing Admirals' 8,702. However, Admirals holds the upper hand in forex trading with 82 available forex pairs, compared to City Index's 66. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs and provide cryptocurrency derivatives, yet neither offers actual cryptocurrency purchases. Admirals distinguishes itself by offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, allowing investors to buy shares like Apple and Vodafone, a feature not available with City Index.
For those interested in utilizing social features, both City Index and Admirals include copy trading capabilities, allowing clients to replicate the trades of seasoned investors. When evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, City Index boasts a higher ranking in the Range of Investments category, scoring 5 stars and placing 8th out of 63 brokers, while Admirals holds a close average with 4.5 stars, ranking 19th. This makes City Index slightly more appealing for those seeking a diverse range of investments and higher ratings in the industry. Nonetheless, the choice between the two ultimately depends on individual preferences and investment needs.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 8702 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 82 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
City Index and Admirals both offer traders the opportunity to practice and hone their skills with free virtual demo accounts, a significant advantage for beginners and seasoned traders alike. Proprietary platforms developed in-house by each broker ensure tailored experiences, complemented by the availability of a Windows-based desktop download and web-based browser versions. For those seeking social trading features, both brokers provide copy trading capabilities, although only Admirals offers the MetaTrader 5 platform, while City Index includes MetaTrader 4. Unfortunately, neither platform supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade options.
When it comes to technical aspects, City Index shines with an impressive array of 239 drawing tools for charting, compared to Admirals’ 106. Both allow direct trading from stock charts, adding to the seamless user experience. City Index provides a more comprehensive watch list feature with 11 columns for monitoring various fields, as opposed to Admirals' 7 columns. These distinctions contribute to City Index's higher rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars and a ranking of 11th out of 63 brokers for trading platforms and tools, surpassing Admirals, which holds a 4-star rating and a 19th place rank.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Admirals both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, making it easy to trade on the go. While both platforms provide essential features like price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts, City Index stands out with its advanced charting capabilities supported by 88 technical studies compared to Admirals' 30. Additionally, City Index allows users to synchronize watchlists between mobile apps and online accounts, ensuring that all changes are seamlessly updated across devices. Admirals, however, does not offer this syncing feature.
In terms of user ratings and industry rankings, City Index also holds a higher position. It is rated 4.5 stars for its mobile trading experience and places 9th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Admirals receives a 4-star rating and ranks 23rd. Both apps offer the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes and support multiple time frames on charts, but City Index's additional features might appeal to users seeking more comprehensive trading tools on their mobile devices.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and Admirals both offer a wealth of educational resources tailored to beginners interested in forex and CFDs trading. Each broker provides more than 10 informative pieces, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, focusing on these topics. They also conduct regular online educational webinars, with at least one session each month, and maintain archives that are easily searchable for access to past sessions. When it comes to beginner education, both City Index and Admirals provide at least 10 videos that cover trading concepts specifically crafted for new traders. Additionally, they cater to more experienced traders with 10 advanced educational videos. Both brokers include an investor dictionary featuring over 50 financial terms, aiding beginners in mastering the language of investing.
Both City Index and Admirals offer strong resources, but City Index slightly outshines Admirals with a 4.5-star rating for education, compared to Admirals' 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, out of 63 brokers, City Index ranks 9th in the education category, while Admirals is positioned at 12th. For beginners eager to deepen their trading knowledge, both platforms deliver impressive educational content, but City Index holds a modest edge in terms of accolades and recognitions. Whether you're starting your journey with either broker, rest assured you'll have a solid educational foundation to support your trading endeavors.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 |
City Index
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Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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Both City Index and Admirals allow investors to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
Both City Index and Admirals offer versatile funding options, allowing account deposits and withdrawals through ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but while Admirals includes Skrill as an option, City Index does not.
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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Investments | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 8702 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 82 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 106 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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