City Index vs Questrade 2025
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Questrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Questrade, 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 and Questrade each provide online brokerage services, but they vary significantly in their trust ratings and regulatory backing. Founded in 1983, City Index is publicly traded and boasts a top-tier ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, reflecting its high level of trustworthiness. It holds seven Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, endorsements that signal its extensive regulatory compliance and reputation within the financial sector. Unlike City Index, Questrade was founded more recently in 2000 and isn't publicly traded. It has a solid Trust Score of 86, which is categorized as trusted, and is backed by two Tier-1 licenses. However, Questrade lacks Tier-2 licenses, which might be a consideration for investors focused on regulatory security.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2000 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
City Index keeps commissions and fees around the industry average for CFDs, forex, and spread betting, with the best pricing available on its own platforms or MetaTrader. As of July 2023, the average EUR/USD spread is 0.74 pips. High-volume traders can cut costs further: the Premium Trader account (for deposits over £10,000) offers exclusive pricing and dedicated service, and professional traders can access rebates that start at £4 per million above £25M in monthly volume in the U.K. (up to £7.5 per million over £300M), and from AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million in Australia. City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Commissions and Fees and ranked #15 out of 63 by ForexBrokers.com.
Questrade’s pricing is less competitive for forex, with a target EUR/USD spread of 1.9 pips, which is higher than the industry average. It is rated 3 out of 5 stars for Commissions and Fees and ranked #59 out of 63 by ForexBrokers.com.
Bottom line: City Index generally offers lower spreads and meaningful rebate options for active traders, while Questrade’s higher spreads may appeal less if your priority is keeping forex trading costs down.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $250 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
City Index vs Questrade: When it comes to range of investments, City Index lists 13,500 tradeable symbols, far more than Questrade’s 641. Both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, though Questrade offers more currency pairs (110 vs 66). Each broker supports cryptocurrency trading via CFDs; neither allows you to buy and take delivery of actual crypto.
For exchange‑traded securities, Questrade lets you buy and sell U.S. and international stocks and ETFs (for example Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone in London), while City Index focuses on derivatives and does not offer direct stock dealing. City Index includes copy trading; Questrade does not. Both earn 5 stars for Range of Investments, with City Index ranked #8 of 63 brokers and Questrade #12. Choose City Index for the widest overall instrument list and copy trading, or pick Questrade if you want direct access to U.S. and global shares and a larger selection of forex pairs.
| Feature |
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| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 641 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 110 |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
City Index and Questrade both deliver flexible trading platforms with free paper trading, proprietary platforms, Windows desktop software, and web-based trading. Each lets you place orders directly from charts. City Index adds two key perks: copy trading and access to MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while Questrade does not support copy trading and neither broker offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5). If MT4 or copy trading matters to you, City Index has the edge; if you only need a solid desktop and web experience with a demo account, both fit the bill.
For trading platforms and tools, City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Questrade earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #35. Specific counts for technical indicators and watch list columns were not provided in this summary, but both brokers cover the essentials for chart trading and platform access across web and desktop.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 64 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Questrade both check the must-haves for a modern mobile trading app: each offers an iPhone app and Android app, price alerts, and watchlists that sync with your online account so changes carry across devices. On charts, both apps let you draw trendlines and automatically save your drawings, making it easy to pick up where you left off.
Where they differ is charting depth and third‑party scores. City Index includes 88 technical studies compared with Questrade’s 64, giving chart-focused traders more tools to work with. Independent ratings also favor City Index: it earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while Questrade holds 4 stars and ranks #35. If you want a broader set of indicators and higher-rated mobile experience, City Index has the edge; if you’re already in the Questrade ecosystem, its app still covers the essentials well.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 64 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index stands out for research depth: daily market commentary, streaming forex news from leading outlets (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters, Dow Jones), Trading Central analytics, a trader sentiment gauge, and an easy-to-scan economic calendar. It doesn’t include Autochartist or TipRanks, and there are no tools from Acuity Trading. Questrade, by contrast, offers Trading Central plus Autochartist and TipRanks, along with an economic calendar, but it lacks daily commentary, a sentiment tool, and comparable in-platform top-tier forex news feeds.
For most traders who want timely news flow and sentiment data inside the platform, City Index has the edge. If you prefer pattern-recognition and equity-focused ideas, Questrade’s Autochartist and TipRanks integrations may appeal. According to ForexBrokers.com, City Index earns 4.5/5 stars for Research and ranks #10 of 63 brokers, while Questrade scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #52.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing education, City Index stands out for ongoing live learning: it runs client webinars at least once a month, while Questrade does not host regular educational webinars. Both brokers provide a solid starter library with at least 10 beginner trading videos, but City Index goes further with at least 10 advanced videos to keep you learning as you gain experience. If you like a mix of videos and live sessions to build skills step by step, City Index offers a more complete path; if you only need basic video lessons, Questrade can still cover the essentials.
These differences show up in third‑party ratings. City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Questrade scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #36 out of 63. In short, beginners who want frequent webinars and room to advance may prefer City Index, while those seeking a simpler set of beginner videos may find Questrade adequate.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 Questrade. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Questrade finished with an overall rank of #32.
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.
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 |
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City Index vs Questrade: neither broker supports buying actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both allow trading cryptocurrency through CFDs.
City Index vs Questrade: For deposits and withdrawals, City Index supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wires (no Skrill), while Questrade supports bank wires only (no ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill); 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 | Questrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Questrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| Regulation | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2000 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC 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 | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 641 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 110 | |
| 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). |
| Cost | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 64 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 64 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | ||
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Questrade Review |
| Overall | City Index | Questrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Questrade Review |