Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Plus500, 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 in 1983, and Plus500, established in 2008, are both prominent online brokers publicly traded on stock exchanges, offering various financial services without being classified as banks. Both brokers boast a perfect Trust Score of 99 on ForexBrokers.com, highlighting their credibility and reliability in the financial market. In terms of regulatory strength, City Index holds seven Tier-1 licenses, a benchmark for high trust, and one Tier-2 license, indicating solid trust levels. Meanwhile, Plus500 also maintains a strong presence with six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, ensuring a trustworthy trading environment for its clients.
Despite the difference in the number of licenses, both City Index and Plus500 demonstrate a commitment to maintaining high standards of regulation and trust for their users. This makes them equally appealing for traders prioritizing regulatory assurance. Whether one chooses City Index or Plus500, both offer a secured platform backed by their respective regulatory standings, making them favorable options in the competitive world of online trading.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
City Index edges out Plus500 on commissions and fees for most traders. City Index earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #15 out of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while Plus500 scores 4.0/5 stars and ranks #24. City Index’s pricing is generally in line with the industry average, and you’ll usually get its best rates on the City Index platforms or MetaTrader. By contrast, Plus500’s pricing sits slightly above the industry average and trails leaders on active-trader pricing.
On core forex pairs, the gap is clear: City Index averaged a 0.74-pip spread on EUR/USD (July 2023), whereas Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips (April 2024). That makes City Index the more cost-effective choice for frequent EUR/USD trading, though neither matches the very lowest-cost brokers in the market.
For discounts, City Index offers more paths to lower costs. Its Premium Trader account (for deposits over £10,000) unlocks exclusive pricing and dedicated support. Professional clients can also earn volume rebates: in the U.K., £4–£7.5 per million depending on monthly volume, and in Australia, AUD $4.5–$14.5 per million across tiers. Plus500 does not discount pricing for retail clients and only offers cash rebates if you qualify as a Professional client.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
City Index vs Plus500: When it comes to the range of investments, City Index offers far more choice by count, with about 13,500 tradeable symbols compared with Plus500’s 5,500. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and their currency selection is similar: City Index lists 66 forex pairs, while Plus500 lists 65.
There are key differences in what you can buy. Plus500 lets you purchase real exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international markets, whereas City Index does not offer real share dealing and focuses on CFDs. City Index supports copy trading; Plus500 does not. Neither broker lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFDs. Reflecting this mix, ForexBrokers.com rates City Index 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks it #8 of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #22. In short, City Index brings more markets and copy trading, while Plus500 adds access to real stocks.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| 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). | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
City Index vs Plus500: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts and easy-to-use proprietary platforms you can access in your browser. City Index adds a Windows desktop platform, while Plus500 does not. City Index also supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), copy trading, and placing trades directly from charts; Plus500 does not offer MT4, copy trading, or trade-from-chart features. Neither broker supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Both provide charting and watchlists, though the exact number of indicators and watchlist columns was not specified.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, both City Index and Plus500 are rated 4.5 stars. In category rankings from ForexBrokers.com, City Index is #11 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 is #14. In short, choose City Index if you want MT4, a downloadable desktop platform, copy trading, and trade-from-chart capability; pick Plus500 if you prefer a straightforward, proprietary web platform with a free demo to practice.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing City Index vs Plus500 for mobile trading apps, both offer iPhone and Android support, price alerts, synced watchlists between mobile and web, and tools like drawing trendlines on charts. Each earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading, yet ForexBrokers.com ranks City Index higher (#9 of 63) than Plus500 (#14), hinting at a slight overall edge for City Index in mobile experience.
Charting is where their differences show. Plus500 includes more built-in technical indicators (115 vs 88 for City Index), which will appeal to traders who like extensive indicator choices. City Index, however, auto-saves your chart drawings, while Plus500 does not—handy if you revisit stock or forex charts across sessions or devices. If you prefer a larger indicator set, Plus500 fits; if you value saved annotations and a higher category ranking, City Index may be the better pick.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both City Index and Plus500 provide daily market commentary, offering traders insightful perspectives to guide their decisions. However, when it comes to forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, City Index takes a clear lead by offering this feature, while Plus500 does not. Both platforms excel in providing advanced technical analytics through Trading Central tools, which greatly aid in market analysis. They each offer sentiment-based trading tools that reveal long and short positions across various instruments. However, neither platform includes market research from TipRanks or tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre.
Traders seeking comprehensive market analysis will find City Index's offerings slightly more attractive, bolstered by its superior access to top-tier news agencies and its wider range of research tools. This advantage is reflected in City Index's impressive rating of 4.5 stars for research and its #10 rank in ForexBrokers.com's research category, compared to Plus500's commendable but slightly lower 4.0-star rating and #19 rank. Additionally, both platforms feature economic calendars to keep traders informed of global news events that could impact the markets. Ultimately, City Index presents a slightly more enriched research environment for traders looking for diverse and in-depth market insights.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and Plus500 both provide forex and CFD education with an ample library of content for beginners, including at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, plus monthly client webinars. New traders can expect a mix of articles, videos, and archived webinars that explain core concepts and platform basics, making it easy to follow along and build skills over time.
For educational quality, City Index has the edge: it earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers for Education on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 scores 4.0 stars and ranks #31. If you want a more in-depth learning path and higher-rated teaching, City Index is the stronger pick. If you’re after accessible, self-paced materials that cover the essentials, Plus500 also fits the bill.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
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 Plus500. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
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
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Plus500
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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City Index vs Plus500: neither online broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
For deposits and withdrawals, City Index supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wires (but not Skrill), while Plus500 supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires (but not ACH/SEPA); Visa/Mastercard availability is unspecified for both.
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 | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| 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). | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
| Cost | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | City Index | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Plus500 Review |
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