Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs AvaTrade, 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 AvaTrade are both well-known online brokers, but City Index stands out on trust and company background. City Index was founded in 1983, is publicly traded, and is not a bank. It holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, earning a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, which places it in the highly trusted range.
AvaTrade was founded later, in 2006, and is not publicly traded and not a bank. It holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, and has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96 out of 99, which also puts it in the highly trusted category. In short, both brokers are considered very safe choices, but City Index has the edge for regulatory strength and overall trust score.
| Feature |
City Index
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 4 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
City Index and AvaTrade both score 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but AvaTrade ranks slightly higher overall in this category. On ForexBrokers.com, City Index is ranked #16 out of 36 brokers, while AvaTrade sits at #14 out of 36. In plain terms, both brokers offer pricing that is generally close to the market average, with some better deals available for active or professional traders.
At City Index, trading costs for CFDs, forex, and spread betting are around the industry average, especially when using its own platform or MetaTrader. Its EUR/USD spread was 0.74 pips as of July 2023, which is fair but not the cheapest in the market. Active traders may qualify for the Premium Trader account with deposits over £10,000, and larger-volume clients can also access rebates, with U.K. professional trader discounts starting at £4 per million and rising to £7.5 per million for very high volumes.
AvaTrade also keeps costs near the middle of the pack, with spreads of about 0.9 pips as of June 2024, which is slightly higher than some low-cost entry-level brokers. However, elected professional traders may get tighter pricing, with spreads around 0.6 pips on the Professional account. Overall, City Index may appeal more to active traders seeking rebates, while AvaTrade offers competitive pricing for professional clients and edges ahead in the rankings.
| Feature |
City Index
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.61 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, City Index offers a wider selection than AvaTrade. City Index gives traders access to 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, while AvaTrade offers 1,260 tradeable symbols and 53 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both also offer copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. However, neither broker lets clients buy actual shares on U.S. or international exchanges, and neither offers delivered cryptocurrency purchases.
Overall, City Index has the edge for investment variety, backed by a 5-star rating for Range of Investments and an #8 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade is still a solid option, but it trails City Index in this category with a 4-star rating and a #26 ranking. For traders looking for more market choice, City Index is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
City Index
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 53 |
| 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 AvaTrade both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including a free demo account, a web-based platform, a Windows desktop download, a proprietary platform, MetaTrader 4, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. This makes either broker a solid fit for traders who want flexibility and the option to test strategies before using real money.
The main difference is that AvaTrade also offers MetaTrader 5, while City Index does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both brokers earn 4.5 out of 5 stars, but City Index ranks slightly higher overall at #11 out of 36 brokers, compared with AvaTrade at #13. For traders who want a broad tool set with either broker, both are strong choices, though AvaTrade has the edge for MT5 users.
| Feature |
City Index
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and AvaTrade both make mobile trading easy for iPhone and Android users, and each app includes stock or forex price alerts plus watchlist syncing with the online account. Both also let users draw trendlines on charts, so traders can review market moves on the go without missing key features found on desktop platforms.
Where City Index stands out is charting depth and convenience. Its mobile app offers 88 technical studies, compared with 73 at AvaTrade, and it also auto-saves chart drawings, which AvaTrade does not. Even so, both brokers receive the same 4.5-star rating for mobile trading apps, though City Index ranks higher overall with ForexBrokers.com at #9 out of 36 brokers, versus AvaTrade at #13.
| Feature |
City Index
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 73 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index has a stronger edge for market research than AvaTrade, mainly because it offers daily market commentary in addition to forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Both brokers provide Trading Central tools, sentiment data showing long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with global events, so traders can still access useful market information on either platform. Neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
Overall, City Index is rated higher for research, with 4.5 stars and a #10 ranking out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with AvaTrade’s 4 stars and #28 rank. If market insights and regular commentary matter to you, City Index may be the better fit, while AvaTrade still offers a solid set of basic research features.
| Feature |
City Index
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and AvaTrade both give beginners plenty of learning material, with forex and CFD education that meets the mark, plus online webinars each month. Both brokers also provide at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, so new traders and more experienced users can find content that fits their level. City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and is ranked #9 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
AvaTrade also offers a wide range of educational resources, including forex and CFD lessons, monthly webinars, and plenty of videos for both beginners and advanced traders. While AvaTrade is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education, it stands out with a higher ForexBrokers.com ranking of #2 out of 36 brokers. In short, both brokers are well suited for learning, but AvaTrade edges ahead in overall education ranking, while City Index holds a slight lead in star rating.
| Feature |
City Index
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 AvaTrade. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15.
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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AvaTrade
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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In the City Index vs AvaTrade comparison for cryptocurrency trading, neither broker offers actual (delivered) crypto purchases, but both provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, City Index supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers but not Skrill, while AvaTrade offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | AvaTrade | |
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| Regulation | City Index | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2006 | |
| 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 | 4 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | City Index | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 53 | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.61 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 80 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 73 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | City Index | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | AvaTrade Review |
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