Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs eToro, 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, established in 1983, is a publicly traded online broker with a distinguished Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. Known for its reliability, City Index boasts an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust in its regulatory compliance. Although it is not a bank, its public listing and strong regulatory standing make it a reliable platform for traders seeking security.
eToro, founded in 2007, also presents itself as a trusted online broker, with a commendable Trust Score of 93. Though not publicly traded, eToro operates under three Tier-1 licenses, aligning it closely with industry standards for trustworthiness. Like City Index, eToro is not a bank but offers a steady option for trading with its solid regulatory foundation.
| Feature |
City Index
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
City Index and eToro are both well-regarded in the world of online brokerage, yet they offer different experiences when it comes to commissions and fees. City Index presents competitive pricing for trading CFDs, forex, and spread-betting, aligning with industry norms. The broker offers a Premium Trader account that entices active traders with significant deposits, promising exclusive pricing and perks. The EUR/USD spread averages at 0.74 pips as of July 2023, which is standard but not quite as low as some market leaders. For professional traders in the UK and Australia, City Index offers rebates starting at £4 and AUD $4.5 per million, respectively, with potential bonuses for higher volumes. City Index earns a solid 4.5-star rating and is ranked #14 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, eToro operates with slightly higher fees, featuring a typical spread of 1 pip on the EUR/USD, slightly above the norm. Retail traders are drawn more to its dynamic social copy trading platform rather than its cost-effectiveness in fees. eToro's VIP Club, offering five membership tiers from Silver to Diamond, provides benefits based on account balances ranging from $5,000 to $250,000. Perks include access to Trading Central, reduced transaction fees, and a dedicated account manager. Despite the higher-than-average spreads, eToro also garners a 4.5-star rating, although it ranks #22 in the ForexBrokers.com listing.
| Feature |
City Index
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $50-$10,000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A |
| 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 eToro for their range of investments, it's clear that both platforms offer a variety of opportunities, but they cater to slightly different needs. City Index provides an impressive 13,500 tradeable symbols, which include 66 forex pairs and a wide range of CFDs (contracts for difference). While this broker does not allow for direct investment in U.S. or international exchange-traded securities, it does have a strong focus on derivatives, including options for cryptocurrency. City Index also features copy trading, which makes it an appealing platform for those interested in leveraging the expertise of others while trading CFDs.
eToro, on the other hand, offers 5,461 tradeable symbols with options for 55 forex pairs and stands out by allowing clients to directly purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets. Additionally, eToro supports buying actual cryptocurrencies, marking a notable difference from City Index's focus on derivatives. Like City Index, eToro also includes the feature of copy trading, enhancing its appeal to traders who want to mirror successful strategies. Both platforms are rated five stars by ForexBrokers.com for their range of investments, placing City Index at the 8th spot and eToro at 10th out of 62 brokers.
| Feature |
City Index
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 5461 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 55 |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 eToro both offer user-friendly trading platforms equipped with free virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to practice without financial risk. Both brokers have developed their own proprietary platforms for online trading, although City Index provides a Windows-based desktop download option, which eToro does not. Additionally, both brokers offer web-based trading platforms, enabling traders to access the markets from any browser. For those interested in copy trading, both City Index and eToro support this feature, giving users the ability to mimic the trades of successful investors.
While City Index includes MetaTrader 4 (MT4) within its suite of trading tools, eToro does not support this platform. Neither broker offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5), DupliTrade, or ZuluTrade. When it comes to technical capabilities, City Index offers a significant advantage with 239 drawing tools compared to eToro's 161. Additionally, City Index allows trading directly from a stock chart, a feature not available with eToro. For watch lists, City Index provides more customization with 11 columns, whereas eToro offers 6. Despite these differences, both platforms are highly rated for their trading tools, with City Index and eToro each earning 4.5 stars. City Index ranks at #10 and eToro at #8 in the Trading Platforms and Tools category according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
City Index
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 104 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 161 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both City Index and eToro provide fully functional mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices, enabling users to trade on the go with ease. Each app offers features like stock or forex price alerts and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, ensuring users stay informed about market movements. While both platforms excel in providing synchronized watchlists between mobile apps and online accounts, City Index pulls ahead in charting capabilities with 88 technical studies and the handy feature of drawing trendlines. In contrast, eToro offers more technical studies at 104 but lacks the ability to draw trendlines or auto-save chart annotations.
Users can view multiple time frames on both mobile apps, like daily or weekly charts, increasing the analytical flexibility for both City Index and eToro traders. Despite eToro's higher number of technical studies, City Index ranks higher in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, taking the 9th spot out of 62 brokers, while eToro follows closely at 10th. Both apps share a commendable user rating of 4.5 stars for their performance, illustrating their overall satisfaction among traders. These similarities and differences make both platforms noteworthy contenders in the mobile trading space, catering to varied trading styles and needs.
| Feature |
City Index
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of City Index and eToro, both platforms provide daily market commentary, keeping traders informed of the latest developments. City Index stands out by furnishing forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a feature eToro lacks. Both brokers offer technical analysis tools from Trading Central and sentiment-based trading tools that display the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments. However, only eToro provides market research tools from TipRanks, adding a layer of unique insight for its users.
Both City Index and eToro include an economic calendar to track upcoming global news events. Neither broker integrates tools from Autochartist or Acuity Trading. Both platforms receive a solid 4.5-star rating for Research, yet City Index ranks slightly higher at #10 compared to eToro's #13 among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. This comparison highlights City Index’s edge in providing comprehensive news coverage and its marginally superior research ranking.
| Feature |
City Index
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and eToro both excel in providing a wealth of educational resources that cater to beginners in forex and CFDs trading. Both platforms have over 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, focusing on forex and CFDs, ensuring novices have plenty of learning material at their disposal. Online client webinars are offered monthly by both brokers, complemented by a searchable archive of past webinars. Beginners looking for video tutorials will find no shortage on either platform as both offer more than ten tailored videos for new traders. For those ready to advance, both City Index and eToro provide a further suite of advanced videos to deepen trading insights. Additionally, each platform features an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, which is invaluable for beginners navigating the complex world of trading.
Both City Index and eToro receive a commendable 4.5-star rating for their educational offerings. However, in terms of ranking by ForexBrokers.com, eToro edges out with a rank of #5 compared to City Index's rank of #9 among 62 brokers. This suggests that while both brokers offer excellent educational resources, eToro has a slight edge in how its educational materials are perceived or structured for beginner traders. As a new trader, either City Index or eToro provides a comprehensive array of learning tools designed to bolster your trading knowledge and skills.
| Feature |
City Index
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that City Index is better than eToro. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while eToro finished with an overall rank of #9.
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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eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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While City Index provides the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but not actual cryptocurrencies, eToro offers both the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies and trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both City Index and eToro provide versatile funding options, supporting ACH and SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals; however, eToro has the additional option of Skrill, which City Index does not offer.
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 | eToro | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | eToro Review |
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| Regulation | City Index | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2007 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 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 | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | City Index | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 5461 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 55 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $50-$10,000 | |
| 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 | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 104 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 161 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | City Index | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | eToro Review |
| Overall | City Index | eToro | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | eToro Review |
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