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City Index vs Markets.com 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Markets.com, 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
Markets.com
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Trust Score: 93
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 2179

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 and Markets.com offer diverse trading opportunities, yet their stance on trust and regulation differs. Founded in 1983, City Index operates as a publicly traded entity and holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, firmly placing it in the highly trusted category. City Index stands out with an impressive collection of 7 Tier-1 licenses, demonstrating strong regulatory oversight. Although not a bank, its long-standing presence and thorough regulation make City Index a reliable choice for traders seeking security and trust.

Markets.com, established in 1999, is not publicly traded, yet it enjoys a strong reputation with a Trust Score of 93 from ForexBrokers.com. It holds 3 Tier-1 licenses, indicating its adherence to high regulatory standards, though not as expansive as City Index's. Both City Index and Markets.com each have 1 Tier-2 license, suggesting solid but varied regulatory support. This makes Markets.com a trusted online broker, albeit with fewer top-tier regulatory licenses compared to City Index.

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

Fees

When it comes to commissions and fees, City Index shines with a 4.5-star rating and ranks 14th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. The broker’s pricing for CFDs, forex, and spread betting sits comfortably at the industry average. City Index offers competitive trading on its proprietary platforms or MetaTrader, making it a reliable choice for traders comparing costs. The broker also provides the Premium Trader account for those depositing over £10,000, offering exclusive pricing and personalized service.

City Index keeps its average spread at about 0.74 pips on the EUR/USD as of mid-2023, aligning closely with industry standards, although it falls slightly short of top forex brokers like Tickmill and FP Markets. Active traders can benefit from rebates, with U.K. professionals earning as much as £7.5 per million for trading volumes over £300M monthly. Similar incentives are available in Australia, where rebate tiers range from AUD $4.5 to AUD $14.5 per million based on trading activity.

In comparison, Markets.com has a lower 3.5-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked 50th by ForexBrokers.com. While average spread data for Markets.com is not readily available, traders seeking detailed cost comparisons might find City Index’s transparency and structured pricing more agreeable. Both brokers cater to various trading needs, but City Index's offerings may appeal more to those focused on optimizing their trading costs and accessing specialized account benefits.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $100
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.4 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.74 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

When comparing the investment options of City Index and Markets.com, it's clear that both platforms offer an extensive array of trading opportunities, but with some differences. City Index impresses with an astounding 13,500 tradeable symbols, significantly outstripping Markets.com's offering of 2,179. Both brokers provide forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, with City Index featuring 66 forex pairs compared to Markets.com's 57 pairs. In terms of access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, neither broker offers the ability to directly purchase individual stocks, such as those of Apple or Vodafone, as exchange-traded securities (non-CFDs). Instead, they offer trading through different contract types.

For cryptocurrency traders, both City Index and Markets.com allow trading of cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Another similarity is the availability of copy trading on both platforms, catering to a potentially diverse investor base looking for new ways to engage with the market. Regarding rankings, City Index receives a top-notch five-star rating for Range of Investments and is ranked 8th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, underscoring its wide array of offerings. Markets.com, although slightly behind with a four-star rating and a 29th place ranking, still provides a competitive edge for traders seeking variety in investment options.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 2179
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 57
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) 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

City Index and Markets.com both cater to traders seeking accessible and functional trading platforms and tools. Both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts, letting traders test strategies without financial risk. They also provide proprietary platforms, Windows-based desktop trading options, and web-based platforms, making it convenient for users to trade according to their preferences. Traders might find City Index a touch more versatile with its offering of MetaTrader 4, but Markets.com edges ahead by also supporting MetaTrader 5. However, neither broker offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, which might limit some traders looking for extensive social trading functionalities.

City Index provides a more comprehensive suite for charting, boasting 239 drawing tools compared to Markets.com's 4, and it allows traders to execute trades directly from stock charts, unlike Markets.com. When comparing watch list functionalities, City Index allows for 11 fields versus Markets.com's 6. In terms of user feedback and rankings, City Index outshines with a trading platforms and tools rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared to Markets.com's 4 stars, and ranks 11th among 63 brokers, while Markets.com stands at 27th. These differences underscore City Index’s slight edge in platform versatility and user satisfaction in this domain.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 89
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 239 4
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields info 11 6

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

Forex trading apps

When comparing the mobile trading apps of City Index and Markets.com, both offerings cater to iPhone and Android users, ensuring broad device compatibility. Essential features like stock or forex price alerts and the syncing of watchlists between mobile apps and online accounts are present in both platforms. However, City Index sets itself apart with a more extensive charting experience, boasting 88 technical studies and offering users the ability to switch between multiple time frames such as daily, weekly, or intraday. Furthermore, City Index's app automatically saves chart drawings and supports trendline drawing, while Markets.com provides no options to auto-save drawings.

In terms of customization, both apps allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes to keep users up-to-date. City Index’s comprehensive features have earned it a higher rating of 4.5 stars for mobile trading apps, compared to Markets.com's 4 stars. Moreover, in the rankings by ForexBrokers.com, City Index stands at #9 out of 63 brokers, showcasing its competitive edge, while Markets.com holds the #33 spot. For traders seeking a highly functional and dynamic mobile trading experience, City Index demonstrates a slightly more advanced offering.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 (default on MT4, none on Markets app)
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

City Index and Markets.com both provide a comprehensive suite of tools for those interested in market research. They each offer daily market commentary and forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, as well as sentiment-based trading tools that reflect the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments. Additionally, both brokers feature an economic calendar to keep clients informed of global news events, ensuring traders stay well-prepared for market changes and opportunities.

However, there are notable differences between the two. City Index provides access to research tools from Trading Central, such as Technical Analytics, which enhances the depth of market analysis available to its users. Markets.com, on the other hand, does not offer these specific tools. Consequently, City Index receives a higher research rating at 4.5 out of 5 stars compared to Markets.com's 4-star rating. In the broader context, City Index ranks as the 10th out of 63 brokers for research, whereas Markets.com holds the 17th spot, highlighting City Index's superior research offerings.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

When it comes to educational resources, City Index offers a variety of learning tools aimed at beginners. They provide more than ten educational pieces on forex and CFDs, catering to those new to these markets. City Index also hosts educational webinars monthly and maintains a searchable archive of these sessions for those who need to revisit them later. Additionally, they offer a comprehensive set of beginner and advanced educational videos, making it easier for newcomers and seasoned traders alike to enhance their knowledge. They also feature an extensive investor dictionary, covering over 50 investing terms to help beginners grasp trading concepts more easily. This array of resources has earned City Index a 4.5-star rating in Education and a commendable rank of #9 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.

On the other hand, Markets.com provides a slightly less extensive educational offering. While they match City Index in hosting monthly educational webinars and have a solid lineup of beginner and advanced educational videos, they fall short by not offering a searchable archive of previous webinars or an investor dictionary. Furthermore, they offer fewer than ten educational pieces related to forex and CFDs, which may limit learning opportunities for beginners. Consequently, Markets.com earns a solid but slightly lower education rating of 4 stars and is ranked #34 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes No
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No

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 Markets.com. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23.

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
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

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

Both City Index and Markets.com do not offer the option to buy actual cryptocurrency for delivery, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.

What funding options does each broker offer?

When comparing online brokers City Index and Markets.com, City Index provides more flexible deposit and withdrawal options with support for ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Markets.com supports Visa, Mastercard, bank wires, and Skrill but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating City Index Markets.com
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review
Broker Screenshots City Index Markets.com
Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) info
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) info
Research Gallery (click to expand) info
Education Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation City Index Markets.com
Trust Score info 99 93
Year Founded info 1983 1999
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 3
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 Markets.com
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info No No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No 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) City Index Markets.com
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No Yes
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info Yes No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No No
Investments City Index Markets.com
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 2179
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 57
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) 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 City Index Markets.com
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.4 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.74 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Execution: Agency Broker info No No
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding City Index Markets.com
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $100
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms City Index Markets.com
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools City Index Markets.com
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields info 11 6
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 89
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 239 4
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes No
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading City Index Markets.com
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 (default on MT4, none on Markets app)
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes No
Research City Index Markets.com
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education City Index Markets.com
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes No
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No
Major Forex Pairs City Index Markets.com
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes No
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review City Index Review
Overall City Index Markets.com
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review
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