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FOREX.com vs City Index 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com vs City Index, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

FOREX.com
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 5500 info
City Index
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £100.00
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 13500

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.

Regulation

FOREX.com and City Index are both esteemed online brokers with long-standing market presence, established in 1999 and 1983 respectively. Both are publicly traded and not banks, enhancing transparency for traders. Each broker holds seven Tier-1 licenses, a reflection of their strong regulatory standing and adherence to high trust standards as per ForexBrokers.com. Moreover, each holds one Tier-2 license, contributing further to their trusted status.

In terms of overall trust, FOREX.com and City Index both achieve the maximum ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, indicating a highly trusted reputation in the online trading industry. Their equivalent trust ratings and regulatory credentials make them reliable choices for traders seeking secure and reputable platforms.

Feature FOREX.com logoFOREX.com
City Index logoCity Index
Year Founded info 1999 1983
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes Yes
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 7
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

FOREX.com and City Index both score 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, FOREX.com places #14 out of 63 brokers, while City Index is close behind at #15. City Index’s pricing generally sits at the industry average, whereas FOREX.com can be slightly pricier for U.S. traders unless you use its commission-based RAW pricing or qualify for higher-volume rebates.

FOREX.com’s Standard account shows typical EUR/USD spreads of 1.4 pips in the U.S. (July 2023). Outside the U.S., its time-weighted EUR/USD spread averaged 0.74 pips (July 2023). The RAW Spread account targets active traders with typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.13 pips (Feb 2024) plus a $7 per standard lot round-turn commission at the base tier. Volume rebates range from $2 to $9 per million, but unless you trade more than $50 million per month, the all-in cost for the Commission/RAW setup tends to resemble the Standard account for U.S. residents.

City Index posts an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips (July 2023), aligning with the industry average; you’ll usually get the best pricing on its proprietary platforms or MetaTrader. The Premium Trader account (typically for deposits over £10,000) offers exclusive pricing and service. For frequent traders, rebates start at £4 per million and reach £7.5 per million in the U.K., and range from AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million in Australia. In short: City Index delivers straightforward, average-cost spread pricing, while FOREX.com can be more cost-effective for high-volume traders using RAW pricing and eligible rebates.

Feature FOREX.com logoFOREX.com
City Index logoCity Index
Minimum Deposit info $100 £100.00
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.00 info 1.4 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.13 info 0.9 info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes Yes
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

FOREX.com vs City Index: both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts. City Index lists more total markets, offering 13,500 tradeable symbols compared with 5,500 at FOREX.com. If currencies are your priority, FOREX.com provides more forex pairs (80 vs 66). Both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither supports buying actual crypto. Likewise, neither broker offers direct, exchange-traded stock purchases on U.S. or international exchanges.

Feature-wise, City Index includes copy trading, while FOREX.com does not. Both earned 5-star ratings from ForexBrokers.com for Range of Investments, with FOREX.com ranked #7 out of 63 brokers and City Index at #8. Choose City Index if you want the broadest overall selection of instruments, or pick FOREX.com if access to more forex pairs is most important.

Feature FOREX.com logoFOREX.com
City Index logoCity Index
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 5500 info 13500
Forex Pairs (Total) info 80 66
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No No
Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

FOREX.com and City Index both check the big boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo account, an in-house proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. You can place trades directly from charts at both brokers, and MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is available on each. The key differences: FOREX.com also supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while City Index does not; meanwhile, City Index offers copy trading, and FOREX.com does not.

For platform quality and features, ForexBrokers.com rates FOREX.com at 5 stars and ranks it #7 out of 63 brokers, while City Index earns 4.5 stars and ranks #11. In short, choose FOREX.com if MT5 matters to you, and consider City Index if copy trading is important. Both deliver capable web and desktop platforms with chart trading and practical watchlists for day-to-day use.

Feature FOREX.com logoFOREX.com
City Index logoCity Index
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 88
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

FOREX.com and City Index both offer polished mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, synced watchlists that mirror your online account, and powerful charting with 88 technical studies. You can draw trendlines and your chart drawings auto-save, making it easy to switch devices without losing your work.

When it comes to ratings, FOREX.com has a slight edge: ForexBrokers.com rates it 5 stars and ranks it #3 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps. City Index earns 4.5 stars and ranks #10. If you want the higher-rated mobile experience, choose FOREX.com; if you prefer City Index, you’ll still get nearly identical features for trading on the go.

Feature FOREX.com logoFOREX.com
City Index logoCity Index
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 88
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

When looking into daily market commentary and forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, both FOREX.com and City Index provide solid offerings. They cater to traders who appreciate a sentimental trading tool, as both platforms supply this feature, which showcases the ratio of long or short positions across various currency pairs. In terms of research tools, both brokers integrate services from Trading Central, enhancing their technical analytics capabilities, although neither employs tools from Autochartist or market research from TipRanks. Despite the lack of Acuity Trading resources, each broker delivers an economic calendar to keep traders aware of significant global events.

In terms of market research, FOREX.com and City Index earn matching research ratings, both receiving 4.5 stars. Their close proximity in rankings, with FOREX.com at 9th place and City Index at 10th among 63 brokers surveyed by ForexBrokers.com, highlights their competitive standing in this arena. This comparison underscores the strong research offerings both brokers bring to the table, equipping traders with vital insights to make informed decisions.

Feature FOREX.com logoFOREX.com
City Index logoCity Index
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes Yes
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

For beginners, both FOREX.com and City Index provide forex and CFD education that meets the 10+ piece standard, mixing articles, videos, and archived webinars. New traders can join online client webinars at least once a month, and each broker offers 10 or more beginner-friendly videos to explain basics like order types, charting, and risk management.

As skills develop, both platforms include 10+ advanced videos for experienced topics. Education quality is strong across the board, with each broker earning a 4.5/5 rating. In ForexBrokers.com’s Education rankings, FOREX.com places #4 out of 63 brokers, while City Index ranks #9, giving FOREX.com a slight edge for overall education.

Feature FOREX.com logoFOREX.com
City Index logoCity Index
Webinars info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FOREX.com is better than City Index. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5, while City Index finished with an overall rank of #8.

FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.

Feature FOREX.com logoFOREX.com
City Index logoCity Index
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 99
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with FOREX.com or City Index?

Comparing online brokers FOREX.com vs City Index for crypto trading: neither platform supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for speculative trading.

What funding options does each broker offer?

FOREX.com vs City Index: both brokers support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, but only FOREX.com offers Skrill (City Index does not), with Visa/Mastercard availability not specified.

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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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Overall Rating FOREX.com City Index
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 99
Winner check_circle
Review FOREX.com Review City Index Review
Broker Screenshots FOREX.com City Index
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
FOREX.com mobile app trading from charts. FOREX.com web platform charts. FOREX.com market news analysis. FOREX.com education beginner courses
City Index MetaTrader 4 mobile trading app City Index web platform trading. City Index web platform research Trading Central City Index educational course advanced.
Regulation FOREX.com City Index
Trust Score info 99 99
Year Founded info 1999 1983
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes Yes
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 7
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) FOREX.com City Index
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes Yes
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info Yes No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes Yes
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) FOREX.com City Index
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No No
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No
Investments FOREX.com City Index
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 5500 info 13500
Forex Pairs (Total) info 80 66
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No No
Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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 FOREX.com City Index
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.00 info 1.4 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.13 info 0.9 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes Yes
Order execution: Agency info No No
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding FOREX.com City Index
Minimum Deposit info $100 £100.00
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes Yes
Trading Platforms FOREX.com City Index
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes No
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools FOREX.com City Index
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 88
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading FOREX.com City Index
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 88
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research FOREX.com City Index
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education FOREX.com City Index
Webinars info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs FOREX.com City Index
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review FOREX.com Review City Index Review
Overall FOREX.com City Index
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 99
Winner check_circle
Review FOREX.com Review City Index Review
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