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City Index vs IFC Markets 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

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

City Index
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £100.00
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 13500
IFC Markets
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $1
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 630

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

City Index, established in 1983, stands as a highly trusted online broker, boasting a perfect Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded entity, City Index holds an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, reinforcing its commitment to stringent regulatory standards and client protection. Additionally, it possesses one Tier-2 license, marking it as a strong contender in the trading world, offering a secure and reliable platform for its users.

In contrast, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, operates with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 73, placing it in the average risk category. Unlike City Index, IFC Markets is not publicly traded and holds no Tier-1 licenses, which are critical for establishing high trust. While IFC Markets does possess one Tier-2 license, it stands on different footing compared to City Index when it comes to regulatory assurance and trustworthiness in the online trading arena.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 1983 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

Comparing commissions and fees, City Index generally edges out IFC Markets for most forex traders. City Index holds 4.5/5 stars and ranks #15 of 63 in the Commissions and Fees category, while IFC Markets is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #40. On EUR/USD, City Index averages 0.74 pips (about in line with the industry), versus IFC Markets’ standard 1.44 pips (above the 1.08 industry average). IFC’s ECN account narrows the gap to an effective 1.1 pips once you include the 0.005% commission charged on both sides of a trade.

City Index pricing covers CFDs, forex, and spread bets, and you’ll usually get the best rates using its own platforms or MetaTrader. Active traders can qualify for the Premium Trader account with a £10,000+ deposit to unlock exclusive pricing, events, and dedicated support. For high-volume traders, U.K.-based professionals can earn rebates from £4 per million over £25M in monthly volume up to £7.5 per million above £300M, while Australian tiers range from AUD $4.5 to AUD $14.5 per million. Note: while competitive, some specialist brokers still post tighter raw spreads.

IFC Markets’ standard pricing is less competitive, with a typical 1.44-pip EUR/USD spread, but its ECN account offers better value for active traders at roughly 1.1 pips effective after commission. The lack of inactivity fees and the presence of active-trader discounts help offset costs, yet its overall standing for commissions and fees—4/5 stars and #40 of 63—trails City Index.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $1
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.4 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.74 info 1.1 info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

City Index and IFC Markets both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, offer copy trading, and support cryptocurrency via CFDs (neither offers direct, delivered crypto). Where they differ most is breadth: City Index lists about 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers around 630 symbols and 49 pairs. Reflecting this wider selection, City Index holds a 5-star Range of Investments rating and ranks #8 of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5-star rating and #44 ranking.

For exchange-traded securities (not CFDs), neither broker provides access to U.S. stocks, but IFC Markets does offer some international shares you can buy outright, whereas City Index does not. If you want the biggest menu of markets through CFDs and forex, City Index is the stronger pick; if accessing certain international exchange-traded shares matters more and you’re comfortable with a smaller lineup, IFC Markets could fit.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes 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).

Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.

Trading platforms and tools

City Index and IFC Markets both check the key platform boxes for most traders: each offers a free demo (paper) account, an in-house proprietary platform, a Windows-based desktop download, and a web-based trading platform. Copy trading is available at both brokers, and you can place orders directly from charts. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4); the main difference is MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which IFC Markets offers and City Index does not.

When it comes to third-party ratings of trading platforms and tools, City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 4 stars and ranks #37. If you want a higher-rated overall platform experience, City Index has the edge. If MT5 is important for your strategy or you want both MT4 and MT5 under one roof, IFC Markets is the better fit.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
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 Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

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

Forex trading apps

Both City Index and IFC Markets offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and watchlist syncing with your online account, so changes carry over across devices. You can draw trendlines on charts, and your drawings auto-save, making it easy to pick up where you left off.

The key difference is charting depth and overall ratings. City Index includes 88 technical studies in its app, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, giving traders more ways to analyze price action. City Index also holds a higher Mobile Trading Apps rating (4.5 stars vs. 4 stars) and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets ranks #53. If you want more built-in indicators and a higher-rated mobile experience, City Index has the edge; IFC Markets still covers the essentials for everyday trading.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
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 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

City Index vs IFC Markets for market research: both brokers publish daily market commentary, provide sentiment tools that show long/short positioning, and include an economic calendar. City Index stands out by adding premium forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and it offers Trading Central tools for deeper technical and fundamental insights. IFC Markets does not provide top-tier news or Trading Central. Neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.

These differences show up in the scores. City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #41. If top-tier news and Trading Central matter to you, City Index is the stronger pick; if you only need basics like commentary, sentiment, and a calendar, both will cover that.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
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 looking to learn forex and CFDs, both City Index and IFC Markets provide a library of educational content. Each broker offers 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos covering trading basics and more complex topics. A key difference is live support: City Index runs client webinars at least once a month, giving newcomers a chance to ask questions in real time, while IFC Markets does not currently host monthly educational webinars.

City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 for Education and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, reflecting strong overall learning support. IFC Markets holds a 3.5 out of 5 rating and ranks #30 out of 63. If you value live classes alongside videos, City Index is the better fit. If webinars aren’t essential, IFC Markets still offers plenty of video-based education to get started.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
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 City Index is better than IFC Markets. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.

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 logoCity Index
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with City Index or IFC Markets?

Comparing City Index vs IFC Markets for crypto trading: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.

What funding options does each broker offer?

Among online brokers, City Index supports ACH/SEPA and PayPal plus bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals (no Skrill), while IFC Markets offers bank wire transfers only and does not support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill.

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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 City Index IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review
Broker Screenshots City Index IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
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 City Index IFC Markets
Trust Score info 99 73
Year Founded info 1983 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 0
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) City Index IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) City Index IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments City Index IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes 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).
Cost City Index IFC Markets
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.4 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.74 info 1.1 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info No Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding City Index IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
Trading Platforms City Index IFC Markets
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools City Index IFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading City Index IFC Markets
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 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research City Index IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education City Index IFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs City Index IFC Markets
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 City Index Review
Overall City Index IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review
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