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 vs Plus500: both are publicly traded brokers, not banks, and both earn a 99/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com. In that system, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted. City Index was founded in 1983, while Plus500 launched in 2008.
On regulation, each broker holds seven Tier-1 licenses (the highest standard in this rating). City Index also has one Tier-2 license, while Plus500 has four Tier-2 licenses, which are considered trusted. If you want long-established history, City Index is older; if you value a wider spread of Tier-2 oversight, Plus500 has more. Either way, their top-tier Trust Scores signal strong regulatory standing.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 4 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
City Index and Plus500 both offer competitive trading costs, but City Index comes out ahead for commissions and fees. City Index’s pricing for CFDs, forex, and spread betting is generally in line with the industry average, and traders can often get the best rates on its own platforms or MetaTrader. For EUR/USD, City Index reported an average spread of 0.74 pips as of July 2023, while active traders may also qualify for rebates and discounts, including the Premium Trader account for deposits above £10,000.
Plus500’s pricing is a little higher than the industry average, especially for active traders. The broker does not offer discounts to regular retail clients, although Professional clients may be eligible for cash rebates. On EUR/USD, Plus500 averaged spreads of 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is above the market average and less competitive than top forex brokers.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category, City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #16 out of 36 brokers, while Plus500 is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranked #24 out of 36 brokers.
| 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 | 0.9 | 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.
When it comes to range of investments, City Index has the edge over Plus500. City Index offers 13,500 tradeable symbols, compared with 5,500 at Plus500, and it also provides a slightly wider forex selection with 66 pairs versus 65. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs, and both let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither offers the option to buy actual delivered crypto.
The main difference is that Plus500 gives access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone. City Index does not offer these cash share deals, though it does include copy trading, which Plus500 does not. Overall, City Index is rated 5 stars and ranks #8 out of 36 for Range of Investments, while Plus500 is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #16.
| 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 and Plus500 both give traders a free demo account, a web-based platform, and their own in-house trading platform, so either broker can work well for people who want to practice first or trade from a browser. Both also earn the same 4.5 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, which points to a solid user experience overall. In addition, City Index is ranked #11 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category, while Plus500 is ranked #14, giving City Index a slight edge.
Where City Index stands out is in its extra platform choices. It offers a Windows desktop download platform, MetaTrader 4, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from a chart. Plus500 does not offer these options, which may matter to traders who want more ways to trade or more advanced chart-based tools. If you want a simpler setup, Plus500 still covers the basics well, but City Index gives more flexibility for traders who want more platform features.
| 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.
City Index and Plus500 both make mobile trading easy, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Each broker is also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so both are strong choices for traders who want to manage positions on the go. City Index stands out for automatically saving chart drawings in its app, which can be helpful if you switch between devices or return to a chart later.
When it comes to charting tools, Plus500 has the edge with 115 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 88 at City Index. Even so, City Index ranks higher overall for mobile trading apps, coming in at #9 out of 36 brokers versus Plus500 at #14. If you want more built-in chart indicators, Plus500 may appeal more; if you care more about overall mobile app standing and saved chart work, City Index has the slight advantage.
| 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.
City Index and Plus500 both offer useful market research features for traders, including daily market commentary, Trading Central tools, sentiment indicators, and an economic calendar with global events. Both brokers are also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research, showing that each provides a strong set of trading insights for beginners and more experienced users alike.
The main difference is that City Index includes forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, while Plus500 does not. City Index also ranks higher for Research on ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #10 out of 36 brokers compared with Plus500 at #16. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading research tools.
| 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 give beginners plenty of learning support, with each offering forex and CFD education, monthly educational webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. Both brokers are also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education, so on paper they each provide a strong mix of learning tools for new and more experienced traders alike.
The main difference shows up in independent rankings: City Index is placed #9 out of 36 brokers for Education by ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 sits at #26. That suggests City Index may have the edge for overall educational quality and depth, even though both brokers cover the basics well for beginners.
| 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 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 4 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA 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 CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | 0.9 | 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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