City Index vs ATFX 2025
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs ATFX, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs ATFX, 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 and ATFX offer solid options for online trading, but they differ in experience and regulatory standing. Established in 1983, City Index is publicly traded and boasts an impressive Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This reflects its strong regulatory framework, with 7 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 licenses, underscoring its highly trusted status. Despite not being a bank, City Index's longstanding presence and regulatory compliance make it an appealing choice for traders.
On the other hand, ATFX was founded in 2017 and is not publicly traded. It holds 4 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses, contributing to its respectable Trust Score of 85, indicating a trusted status. While newer to the market compared to City Index, ATFX provides a competitive and reliable trading environment for those who value robust regulation, without being a bank itself. Both brokers ensure a secure platform for trading, with City Index offering a longer track record and higher trust rating.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, City Index offers pricing for CFDs, forex, and spread betting that sits around the industry average, while ATFX does not publish average spread data, making direct cost comparisons harder. City Index tends to deliver its best pricing on its own platforms and on MetaTrader.
City Indexโs CFD account showed an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips as of July 2023. Active traders may qualify for the Premium Trader account (deposit over ยฃ10,000) for access to exclusive pricing and dedicated support. Volume-based rebates are available for professionals: in the U.K., ยฃ4 per million above ยฃ25M monthly, up to ยฃ7.5 per million above ยฃ300M; in Australia, AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million across tiers. City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #15 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
ATFX does not provide average spread figures, which limits fee transparency compared to peers that disclose this data. For commissions and fees, ATFX holds a 3 out of 5 star rating and ranks #61 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ยฃ100.00 | $500 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
City Index vs ATFX: when it comes to the range of investments, City Index offers far more choice. You get 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs at City Index, compared with 150 symbols and 44 forex pairs at ATFX. Both brokers support forex trading (either as CFDs or spot), offer copy trading, and let you speculate on cryptocurrency via CFDs. Neither broker provides access to exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges, and neither lets you buy delivered crypto.
Independent ratings reflect the gap in variety: City Index earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ATFX scores 3.5 stars and ranks #58. If you want the widest selection of markets, City Index is the stronger pick. If you prefer a simpler lineup focused on core CFDs and forex, ATFX can still fit the bill.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 44 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| 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 ATFX both offer free demo (paper) trading, web platforms, Windows desktop software, copy trading, and chart trading from within the platform. The biggest platform difference is that City Index provides its own proprietary platform in addition to MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while ATFX does not have an in-house platform but supports both MT4 and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). If you value a broker-built platform alongside MT4, City Index stands out; if you specifically want MT5, ATFX is the pick.
For trading platforms and tools, City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 11th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, signaling a stronger overall platform experience. ATFX scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 63rd out of 63, reflecting a more basic toolset despite MT5 access. In short, choose City Index for a higher-rated platform experience with an in-house option, or choose ATFX if MT5 support is a must-have.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 ATFX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, plus price alerts to help you stay on top of market moves. City Index adds watchlist syncing between mobile and web, while ATFX does not. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, City Index earned 4.5/5 stars and ranked 9th for Mobile Trading Apps, while ATFX received 3.5/5 stars and ranked 64th.
Charting tools are another key difference. City Index includes 88 technical studies in its app, compared with 7 on ATFX. Both let you draw trendlines and auto-save your annotations. Traders who want a wider range of indicators and seamless watchlist syncing may lean toward City Index, while ATFX can suit simpler charting and basic alert needs.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 7 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index vs ATFX: For market research, City Index earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ATFX scores 3/5 stars and ranks #55. Both cover the essentials, but City Index offers a stronger overall research experience that can help everyday traders find and act on ideas with more confidence.
Both brokers provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar. City Index adds forex news from top-tier sources (such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), a client sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning, and research from Trading Central; it does not include Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. ATFX offers commentary, an economic calendar, Trading Central, and Autochartist, but it lacks top-tier news and a sentiment tool; TipRanks and Acuity Trading were not specified.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing education at City Index versus ATFX, both brokers offer at least 10 beginner-focused videos to help you learn the basics. City Index stands out by hosting monthly client webinars and providing at least 10 advanced videos, giving you a clearer path from beginner to more experienced topics. ATFX does not run monthly educational webinars and does not meet the same threshold for advanced video content, making it more suited to self-paced beginners who prefer a simpler video library.
Independent ratings echo this gap: City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ATFX scores 3 stars and ranks #28. If you value live sessions and a deeper curriculum that grows with you, City Index is the stronger pick; if you just want straightforward beginner videos, ATFX can still fit the bill.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 ATFX. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
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.
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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In the City Index vs ATFX comparison, neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
City Index vs ATFX funding methods: City Index supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals (not Skrill), while ATFX does not support ACH/SEPA and its availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard and bank wires is not specified.
Please note:
We review each brokerโs overall global offering โ a โYesโ 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 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | ATFX | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Regulation | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2017 | |
| 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 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | ยฃ100.00 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | City Index | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review |