Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Eightcap, 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 Eightcap are both reputable online brokers, but they differ in history and trust ratings. Founded in 1983, City Index has established a strong presence in the trading industry. It is publicly traded, although not a bank, and holds 7 Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust. With a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, City Index stands as a highly trusted broker in the financial market.
In comparison, Eightcap, established in 2009, is privately owned and not publicly traded. Like City Index, it is not a banking institution. While Eightcap holds 3 Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a fair amount of trust, it lacks Tier-2 licenses altogether. It has a Trust Score rating of 85, which suggests it is a trusted but not top-tier option in comparison to City Index. Both brokers offer distinct advantages, but City Index leads in terms of industry trust and regulatory standing.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, City Index and Eightcap both price near the industry average, with a slight edge to City Index on EUR/USD. City Index is rated 4.5/5 stars and ranked #15 of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while Eightcap is rated 4/5 stars and ranked #27 of 63. On headline costs, City Index’s 0.74-pip average spread on EUR/USD (July 2023) is just below Eightcap’s Raw account all-in cost of about 0.76 pips, so the gap is small.
City Index pricing is generally best when you trade on its own platforms or MetaTrader. Active traders can benefit: the Premium Trader account (for deposits over £10,000) unlocks exclusive pricing and dedicated service. There are also volume-based rebates for professionals—U.K. tiers start at £4 per million and go up to £7.5 per million, while in Australia rebates range from AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million—helping frequent traders trim costs further.
Eightcap offers two account types across its global entities: the commission-based Raw account and the spread-only Standard account. The Raw account lists an average spread of 0.06 pips, and after adding the $3.50 per-side commission, the all-in cost lands around 0.76 pips—just under the 0.8-pip industry average. While the Standard account is simpler (no commission), it typically results in a higher all-in spread. Overall, Eightcap is slightly pricier than the very cheapest brokers, and City Index is marginally cheaper on EUR/USD, but both sit close to the middle of the pack on fees.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.76 |
| 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.
City Index offers a far wider range of investments than Eightcap, with 13,500 tradeable symbols versus Eightcap’s 803. If you focus on currency markets, City Index lists 66 forex pairs compared with Eightcap’s 55. Both brokers offer forex trading (CFD or spot, depending on availability), support copy trading, and let you trade cryptocurrency via CFDs. Neither broker provides access to buy actual cryptocurrencies or to purchase exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges.
Independent ratings reflect the gap in breadth: City Index earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap earns 3.5 stars and ranks #41. Choose City Index if you want maximum choice across instruments; pick Eightcap if you’re comfortable with a leaner lineup while still getting forex, crypto CFDs, and copy trading.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 803 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 55 |
| 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 vs Eightcap: both brokers cover the essentials for trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo (paper) account, a Windows desktop download, a web-based platform, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. City Index also provides a proprietary platform built in-house, while Eightcap does not. For third-party platforms, both support MetaTrader 4 (MT4); only Eightcap adds MetaTrader 5 (MT5), whereas City Index does not.
Ratings reflect these differences. For Trading Platforms and Tools, City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #39. If you want a native platform experience alongside MT4 and chart trading, City Index is a strong choice. If MT5 access is a must, Eightcap is the clear pick—both let you practice first with a free demo account.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Eightcap both check the core boxes for mobile trading. Each offers iPhone and Android apps, price alerts for stocks and forex, and watchlists that sync between mobile and your online account. On charts, both let you draw trendlines and automatically save your drawings, so your work carries over when you switch devices.
For charting depth, City Index packs in 88 technical studies, while Eightcap includes 30. That difference shows up in third‑party reviews: City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Eightcap’s 4 stars and #39 ranking. If you want more built-in studies and a higher-rated mobile experience, City Index has the edge; if you just need the essentials, Eightcap still delivers the key features.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| 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 vs Eightcap: Both brokers cover the basics for market research with daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool showing the long/short ratio across markets. Neither integrates Autochartist or TipRanks. The key differences come from news and analytics: City Index streams forex news from leading outlets such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and includes Trading Central technical analysis, while Eightcap does not include those feeds but offers research signals from Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre.
For overall research quality, City Index scores higher at 4.5/5 and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Eightcap at 3.5/5 and #40. If you want in-platform premium news and Trading Central studies, City Index is the stronger choice; if you prefer tools from Acuity Trading alongside core features like commentary, sentiment, and an economic calendar, Eightcap can fit the bill.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index vs Eightcap for beginner education: both brokers make it easy to start learning. Each offers at least ten beginner-focused trading videos and runs client webinars at least once a month. These materials help newcomers understand how markets work, navigate trading platforms, manage risk, and get acquainted with forex and CFD concepts at a comfortable pace.
The main difference shows up as you progress. City Index provides a larger next step with at least ten advanced videos for more experienced traders, while Eightcap does not meet that level of advanced content. This aligns with third-party results: City Index scores 4.5/5 stars for Education and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Eightcap’s 3.5/5 stars and #40 ranking. If you want a learning path that starts at beginner and grows into advanced topics, City Index is the stronger pick; if you only need beginner videos and regular webinars, Eightcap still fits the bill.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Eightcap. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #38.
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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Eightcap
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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Neither City Index nor Eightcap supports purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrencies; both online brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, City Index offers ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wires but not Skrill, while Eightcap 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 | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Eightcap | |
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| Regulation | City Index | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | City Index | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 803 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 55 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | City Index | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Eightcap Review |
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