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 Index’s 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 £10,000) for access to exclusive pricing and dedicated support. Volume-based rebates are available for professionals: in the U.K., £4 per million above £25M monthly, up to £7.5 per million above £300M; 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 | £100.00 | $500 |
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.
City Index vs ATFX: both brokers support forex trading either via CFDs or spot. City Index lists a far wider selection of markets, with 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 currency pairs, compared with ATFX’s 150 symbols and 44 pairs. Both brokers offer copy trading. For crypto, neither lets you buy actual coins, but each provides access to cryptocurrency derivatives.
Neither City Index nor ATFX offers direct share dealing on U.S. or international stock exchanges. For the Range of Investments category, City Index earns 5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ATFX is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #58. If having more markets matters, City Index clearly has the broader lineup; ATFX may suit traders who only need a tighter selection.
Feature |
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 150 |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 44 |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
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 ATFX both make it easy to get started with a free demo account and give you the choice of web and Windows desktop platforms. Both support copy trading and MetaTrader 4 (MT4). City Index also offers its own in-house platform, while ATFX does not. If you want MetaTrader 5 (MT5), only ATFX provides it; City Index does not.
For charting and workflow, City Index stands out with 239 drawing tools versus 15 at ATFX, and both brokers let you place trades straight from charts. Watchlists are more detailed at City Index (11 columns) than ATFX (7). Neither broker offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. In independent ratings for Trading Platforms and Tools, City Index earns 4.5 stars and ranks 11th out of 63 brokers, while ATFX scores 3.5 stars and ranks 63rd.
Feature |
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Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
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 | 15 |
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index vs. ATFX: both brokers offer iPhone and Android trading apps with real-time watchlists and price alerts. Each app lets you draw trendlines, switch among intraday, daily, and weekly time frames, and auto-save chart drawings. The key differences are charting depth and syncing. City Index includes 88 built-in technical indicators and syncs watchlists between mobile and web. ATFX has 7 indicators and does not sync watchlists, so you’ll manage lists separately on phone and desktop.
For overall mobile experience, City Index earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category. ATFX scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #64. If you want advanced charting, seamless watchlist syncing, and a higher-rated mobile trading app, City Index is the stronger choice. If you only need the basics—alerts, drawing tools, and multi–time frame charts—ATFX’s app can still get the job done.
Feature |
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Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 7 |
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 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 |
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
Autochartist | No | Yes |
Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
TipRanks | No | |
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When evaluating online brokers for beginner-friendly educational resources, City Index and ATFX both provide a solid foundation in forex and CFDs education. Each offers at least 10 educational materials such as articles, videos, and archived webinars focused primarily on these topics. However, when it comes to online educational webinars, City Index takes the lead by offering sessions at least once a month, whereas ATFX falls short in this area. Additionally, both brokers have a searchable archive of recorded webinars, allowing users to learn at their own pace.
In terms of video content, City Index and ATFX provide more than 10 beginner-focused educational videos, ensuring new traders have access to essential trading knowledge. However, for those looking to advance their skills, City Index stands out with a wider array of more than 10 advanced educational videos, compared to ATFX’s offerings. Both brokers supply an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, aiding in the understanding of complex financial jargon. Overall, these aspects contribute to City Index's higher educational rating of 4.5 stars and a rank of #9 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared to ATFX's rating of 3 stars and a rank of #28.
Feature |
|
|
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Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Client Webinars | Yes | No |
Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 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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Overall Rating |
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Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
Range of Investments |
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Commissions & Fees |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Research |
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Mobile Trading |
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Education |
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Both City Index and ATFX do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
City Index supports ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal for depositing and withdrawing funds, while ATFX does not offer these options but provides Skrill, and both brokers allow transactions via Visa or Mastercard and bank wires.
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 5Overall Rating | City Index | ATFX | |
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Overall Rating |
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Range of Investments |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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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 | |
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Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
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 |
Investments | City Index | ATFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 150 | |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 44 | |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
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 | ATFX | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | ATFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $500 | |
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 | ATFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
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 | ATFX | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | 15 | |
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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 7 | |
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 | ATFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
Autochartist | No | Yes | |
Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
TipRanks | No | ||
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Education | City Index | ATFX | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Major Forex Pairs | City Index | ATFX | |
---|---|---|---|
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 |
Overall | City Index | ATFX | |
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Overall Rating |
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Commissions & Fees |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | City Index Review |