menuclose
Back to Main Menu
ForexBrokers.com is committed to the highest ethical standards and reviews services independently. Learn How We Make Money

City Index vs OANDA 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of City Index vs OANDA, 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
OANDA
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 93
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 4172 info

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 OANDA are both reputable options for online trading, each with unique credentials. Founded in 1983, City Index boasts a long history and is publicly traded, which can offer added transparency. On the regulatory front, City Index holds an impressive 7 Tier-1 licenses, indicating high trust, alongside 1 Tier-2 license. This solidifies its impeccable Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, suggesting extremely high reliability in the eyes of traders and investors.

OANDA, established in 1996, while not publicly traded, maintains a strong standing with 7 Tier-1 licenses, indicating it is highly trusted. Although lacking Tier-2 licenses, OANDA still achieves a commendable Trust Score of 93 out of 99. Despite fewer licenses compared to City Index, OANDA's score reflects its focus on maintaining trust and security within the trading community.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
OANDA logoOANDA
Year Founded info 1983 1996
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 7
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

City Index and OANDA take different tacks on commissions and fees. City Index earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #16 of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while OANDA earns 4/5 stars and ranks #30 of 63. In general, City Index sits around the industry average for pricing, whereas OANDA’s default costs tend to be higher unless you opt into its core-pricing plan.

City Index’s average EUR/USD spread was 0.74 pips (July 2023), which puts its all-in cost near the market average, though not among the very lowest-cost brokers. You’ll typically get the best pricing on City Index’s own platforms or MetaTrader. High-balance and high-volume traders can lower costs through the Premium Trader account (available from deposits over £10,000) and through rebates: for U.K. professionals, rebates start at £4 per million for monthly volumes above £25M and rise to £7.5 per million above £300M; in Australia, tiers range from AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million.

OANDA’s default (commission-free) pricing is generally pricier, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.61 pips in July 2024. Its core pricing cuts the spread but adds a commission of $5 per side per $100,000 traded (about $10 per round turn) and requires a $10,000 minimum deposit; using OANDA’s example, that brings the EUR/USD all-in cost to about 1.4 pips—slightly better than the default rate. OANDA also supports tiny trade sizes (down to 1 unit) and offers Elite Trader rebates of $5–$17 per million for active traders, plus potential TradingView subscription reimbursements. It publishes trailing average spreads for transparency, though not fixed-period averages. Overall, City Index tends to be cheaper for typical spreads, while OANDA can become more competitive if you qualify for core pricing or high-volume rebates.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
OANDA logoOANDA
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $0
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.4 info 1.68 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.9 info 1.69 info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes Yes info
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

Comparing City Index vs OANDA for range of investments: City Index lists 13,500 tradeable symbols, while OANDA offers 4,172. For forex, OANDA provides 69 currency pairs and City Index has 66. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot (availability can depend on your region and account). They also both offer copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs.

For assets beyond CFDs, OANDA stands out by allowing clients to buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, and it also lets you buy actual cryptocurrency. City Index does not offer exchange-traded securities or delivered crypto. In independent ratings, City Index earns 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #8 of 63 brokers, while OANDA scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #20.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
OANDA logoOANDA
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes info
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 4172 info
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 69
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes info
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info Yes Yes info
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 vs OANDA: Both online brokers cover the key platform needs. Each offers a free paper trading demo, a proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4), Windows desktop software, and a web-based platform. Copy trading is available with both, and you can place orders directly from charts. Both also provide charting with technical indicators and watch lists.

Where they differ: OANDA supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while City Index does not. For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates City Index 4.5 out of 5 and ranks it 11th out of 63 brokers; OANDA earns 4 out of 5 and ranks 16th out of 63. If you need MT5, OANDA is the pick; if you want the higher-rated overall platform experience in this category, City Index edges ahead.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
OANDA logoOANDA
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 info
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes info
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 89
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

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

Forex trading apps

City Index and OANDA both offer iPhone and Android trading apps with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saved chart annotations. A key difference is watchlists: City Index syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while OANDA does not, which may matter if you switch devices often.

For charting depth, City Index provides 88 technical studies compared with OANDA’s 30. In independent testing, OANDA earned 5 stars and ranked #7 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while City Index scored 4.5 stars and ranked #9. In short, OANDA shines for overall app quality, whereas City Index stands out if you want more built-in indicators plus watchlist syncing.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
OANDA logoOANDA
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes No
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 and OANDA both cover the essentials for market research. Each broker publishes daily market commentary, streams forex news from leading providers such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and includes a sentiment tool that shows the long/short split across instruments. An economic calendar is also standard at both, helping traders track upcoming events and data releases.

Where they differ is in the research toolkits. City Index features Trading Central analytics, while OANDA offers Autochartist for pattern recognition and trade ideas; neither provides TipRanks or Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). According to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA holds a slight edge for Research with a 5-star rating and a #4 rank out of 63 brokers, compared with City Index at 4.5 stars and #10. If you prefer Autochartist, OANDA may fit better; if you want Trading Central, City Index is the pick—both are strong choices for timely news and insights.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
OANDA logoOANDA
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
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

City Index and OANDA both make it simple for beginners to learn forex and CFDs. Each broker provides at least 10 beginner-focused trading videos, runs monthly client webinars, and also offers 10 or more advanced videos for when you’re ready to progress. That mix gives new traders clear starting points and room to grow.

For education quality, OANDA holds a 5-star rating, while City Index is close behind at 4.5 stars. Interestingly, ForexBrokers.com ranks City Index higher in its Education category (#9 of 63) than OANDA (#18 of 63). If a perfect star score is your priority, OANDA has the edge; if a higher category ranking matters more, City Index stands out. Either way, both online brokers deliver beginner-friendly education with videos and live webinars to help you build skills.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
OANDA logoOANDA
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 City Index is better than OANDA. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while OANDA finished with an overall rank of #13.

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
OANDA logoOANDA
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with City Index or OANDA?

In the City Index vs OANDA comparison for cryptocurrency trading, City Index provides crypto exposure via CFDs only and does not offer delivered coins, while OANDA supports buying actual cryptocurrencies and trading crypto CFDs.

What funding options does each broker offer?

City Index vs OANDA: both brokers support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire funding, but only OANDA offers Skrill, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.

More Comparisons

City Index vs IUX City Index vs IFC Markets City Index vs Capital.com City Index vs FxPro City Index vs Octa City Index vs Exness OANDA vs Octa OANDA vs City Index OANDA vs Spreadex OANDA vs Swissquote OANDA vs ActivTrades OANDA vs Trading 212

Show all



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.

Select Brokers

↓×
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxActivTrades
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAvaTrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxBlackBull Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCapital.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCity Index
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCMC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxEightcap
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxExness
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFOREX.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFP Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFXCM
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFxPro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxHFM
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxHYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIFC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIG
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIUX
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxOANDA
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxOcta
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxPepperstone
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxPlus500
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxQuestrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSaxo
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSpreadex
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSwissquote
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTickmill
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTrading 212
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVantage
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxXM Group
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxXTB

Compare

0 of 5
× City Index
× OANDA
Sponsored

+ Add Broker

Close Menu ×

navigate_before navigate_next
Overall Rating City Index OANDA
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review OANDA Review
Broker Screenshots City Index OANDA
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.
OANDA fxTrade mobile trading app charting OANDA Trade web platform. OANDA's website features research in the form of its MarketPulse blog, which includes news, analysis, and articles. The OANDA website's educational hub features webinars and videos covering current events and financial analysis.
Regulation City Index OANDA
Trust Score info 99 93
Year Founded info 1983 1996
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 7
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) City Index OANDA
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes Yes
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info No Yes
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes Yes
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No Yes
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 OANDA
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No No
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments City Index OANDA
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes info
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 4172 info
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 69
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes info
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info Yes Yes info
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 OANDA
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.4 info 1.68 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.9 info 1.69 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes Yes
Order execution: Agency info No No
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding City Index OANDA
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $0
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes Yes info
Trading Platforms City Index OANDA
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes info
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes info
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools City Index OANDA
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 89
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading City Index OANDA
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 No
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 OANDA
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education City Index OANDA
Webinars info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs City Index OANDA
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 OANDA Review
Overall City Index OANDA
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review OANDA Review
arrow_upward

close
navigate_before navigate_next