Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs IUX, 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 (founded 1983) and IUX (founded 2016) are online brokers with different regulatory footprints. City Index is publicly traded, while IUX is not; neither is a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, City Index holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, compared with IUX’s 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license—indicating broader oversight for City Index by top-tier regulators.
Trust ratings echo this gap: City Index scores 99/99 on the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score (highly trusted: 90–99), while IUX scores 76/99 (average risk: 70–79). For context, 80–89 is trusted, 60–69 is high risk, and below 59 is not trusted. If safety and regulation are priorities, City Index offers higher third-party trust and wider regulatory coverage than IUX.
| Feature |
City Index
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
City Index and IUX are both rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but City Index ranks a little higher overall, coming in at #16 out of 36 brokers compared with IUX at #19 out of 36. In simple terms, both brokers offer pricing that can work well for many traders, but their fee structures are built a bit differently.
City Index keeps CFD, forex, and spread-betting pricing close to the industry average, with the best rates usually available on its own platforms or MetaTrader. Its EUR/USD average spread was 0.74 pips as of July 2023, and active traders may also qualify for rebates, discounts, or a Premium Trader account with extra perks after depositing more than £10,000. This makes City Index a solid choice for traders who want fair pricing and added benefits as trading volume grows.
IUX uses a more account-based pricing model, with standard accounts starting at a $10 minimum deposit and active-trader accounts like Raw and Pro requiring $500. The Standard and Standard+ accounts are spread-only, while the Raw account adds a $6 commission per 100,000 units and the Pro account offers lower spreads without commission. IUX can be cost-effective, especially on its Pro account, but it is more about choosing the right account type than getting the lowest market-wide pricing.
| Feature |
City Index
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 0.86 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.6 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
City Index offers a much wider range of investments than IUX, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more market variety. City Index lists 13,500 tradable symbols and 66 forex pairs, compared with IUX’s 152 symbols and 34 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as a CFD or spot contract, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows you to buy actual cryptocurrency. City Index also stands out with copy trading, which IUX does not provide.
One key difference is that IUX offers access to exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, while City Index does not offer this type of stock trading on either U.S. or international exchanges. Even so, City Index is rated 5 stars for range of investments and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers in this category, while IUX is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #35. For traders who want a broader selection of instruments, City Index has the clear edge.
| Feature |
City Index
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 152 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 34 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
City Index and IUX both give traders a good mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, and the ability to trade directly from charts. That means either broker can work well for traders who want to test ideas first, use a browser or desktop app, and keep their trading setup simple. However, City Index stands out for adding copy trading and MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while IUX does not offer either of those tools.
There is also a clear difference in platform choice between the two when it comes to MetaTrader 5 (MT5): IUX offers MT5, while City Index does not. On overall platform quality, City Index scores higher, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #11 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with IUX at 3.5 stars and #35. In short, City Index looks stronger for trading tools and platform features overall, while IUX may appeal more to traders who specifically want MT5.
| Feature |
City Index
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and IUX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, so traders can place and manage trades on the go with either broker. City Index stands out for its extra mobile features, including stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing with the online account, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Its app also auto-saves drawings, and it offers 88 technical studies for chart analysis. These features help make the app easier to use for traders who want more control and a smoother experience across devices.
IUX also provides iPhone and Android apps, and it offers more technical studies in its mobile charts, with 106 compared with City Index’s 88. However, it does not offer price alerts, watchlist syncing, or trendline drawing in the app. Both apps auto-save drawings, but City Index is rated higher overall for mobile trading apps, at 4.5 stars versus 3.5 stars for IUX. It also ranks much better with ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #9 out of 36 brokers, while IUX ranks #35.
| Feature |
City Index
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 106 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index clearly has the edge over IUX for market research. It offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Trading Central tools, and a sentiment tool that helps traders see whether others are mostly buying or selling. It also includes an economic calendar for tracking major global events. In contrast, IUX only provides an economic calendar and does not offer daily commentary, top-tier forex news, Trading Central, Autochartist, or sentiment tools.
This difference is reflected in third-party ratings and rankings. City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 for Research and is ranked #10 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IUX is rated 3 out of 5 and ranked #35. For traders who want more built-in market insight and research tools, City Index is the stronger choice.
| Feature |
City Index
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners who want to learn the basics of trading, City Index offers a wider range of educational support than IUX. City Index provides forex and CFD education, holds online client webinars at least once a month, and has 10 or more beginner videos plus 10 or more advanced videos for traders who want to keep learning. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks 9th out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, which points to a strong learning setup for new and more experienced traders alike.
IUX also offers at least 10 beginner trading videos, so there is some useful material for first-time traders. However, it does not meet the same level of forex or CFD education, does not offer monthly educational webinars, and does not provide 10 or more advanced videos. Its Education rating is 3 out of 5 stars, and it ranks 35th out of 36 brokers, making City Index the better choice overall for beginner-friendly learning resources.
| Feature |
City Index
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 IUX. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while IUX finished with an overall rank of #35.
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 |
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IUX
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 76 |
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City Index vs IUX: neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
City Index vs IUX: For deposits and withdrawals, City Index supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers (not Skrill), while IUX supports Skrill and bank wire transfers (not ACH/SEPA or PayPal); 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 | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 76 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | IUX Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | IUX | |
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| Regulation | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 76 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 152 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 34 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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). |
| Cost | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 0.86 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.6 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 106 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IUX Review |
| Overall | City Index | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 76 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | IUX Review |
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