City Index vs Questrade 2026
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 vs. Questrade: City Index was founded in 1983 and is publicly traded, while Questrade began in 2000 and is privately held. Both are not banks. According to ForexBrokers.com, City Index earns a Trust Score of 99/99 (highly trusted), whereas Questrade scores 85/99 (trusted).
Regulation and licenses: City Index holds seven Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license; Questrade holds two Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. ForexBrokers.com considers Tier-1 licenses highly trusted and Tier-2 licenses trusted. Its Trust Score scale is 90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted.
| 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’s commissions and fees are generally in line with the industry average across CFDs, forex, and spread betting, with the best pricing available on its proprietary platforms or MetaTrader. Its CFD account posted an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips as of July 2023, which is competitive though not as low as the very cheapest brokers (e.g., Tickmill, FP Markets). Active traders can unlock more savings: Premium Trader status (deposit over £10,000) offers exclusive pricing and dedicated service, and pro traders can access rebates that start at £4 per million (over £25M monthly volume) in the U.K., rising to £7.5 per million above £300M; in Australia, rebates range from AUD $4.5 to AUD $14.5 per million. For commissions and fees, City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #16 out of 63 by ForexBrokers.com.
Questrade’s target EUR/USD spread of 1.9 pips is on the high side versus the industry average, which can make day-to-day forex trading costs add up faster than with lower-spread brokers. For commissions and fees, Questrade is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #33 out of 63 by ForexBrokers.com.
Head-to-head on pricing, City Index typically comes out cheaper for EUR/USD (0.74 vs 1.9 pips) and further rewards higher-volume traders with tiered rebates and a Premium Trader program. Questrade may appeal if you prefer its platform and broader account setup, but for pure trading costs, City Index holds the edge in both spreads and potential discounts.
| 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 | 0.9 | 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 vs Questrade: both brokers deliver user-friendly trading platforms and tools. You’ll get a free paper trading demo account, proprietary (in‑house) platforms, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based platforms. Each also lets you trade directly from charts, making it simple to act on market moves.
Key differences: City Index offers copy trading and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while Questrade does not offer copy trading and does not support MT4. Neither broker supports MT5. According to ForexBrokers.com, City Index earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, whereas Questrade scores 4/5 stars and ranks #28. If you want MT4 or copy trading, City Index is the better pick; if you just need capable web and desktop platforms with chart trading, both fit the bill.
| 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 offer iPhone and Android trading apps. You can set stock or forex price alerts in both. Watchlists sync between the mobile app and your online account. Both let you draw trendlines on charts, and those drawings auto-save so you can pick up where you left off on any device.
Where they differ is charting depth and third-party ratings. City Index includes 88 technical studies in its mobile charts compared with Questrade’s 64. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, City Index earns 4.5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers, while Questrade earns 4 stars and ranks #28. If you want more indicators and a higher-rated app, City Index is the stronger choice; if you mainly need dependable alerts, synced watchlists, and basic drawing tools, Questrade gets the job done.
| 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.
Comparing market research at City Index vs Questrade: City Index stands out for everyday traders with daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, and streaming forex news from top-tier outlets. Both brokers provide an economic calendar and Trading Central research, but Questrade lacks daily commentary and a sentiment tool. According to ForexBrokers.com, City Index earns 4.5/5 stars for research and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers, while Questrade scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #34.
Tool-wise, Questrade shines with Autochartist and TipRanks access, which City Index doesn’t offer. Both lack Acuity Trading tools. In short, pick City Index if you want in-house commentary, live news, and sentiment insights; choose Questrade if Autochartist and TipRanks are must-haves alongside Trading Central.
| 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.
City Index vs Questrade for beginner education: both brokers offer at least 10 beginner-friendly trading videos, but City Index goes further with monthly client webinars and a library of 10+ advanced videos to grow your skills over time. That extra support aligns with City Index’s 4.5/5 education rating and #9 ranking out of 63 brokers. Questrade also covers the basics with 10+ beginner videos, yet it does not host monthly educational webinars and lacks a deep advanced video catalog, reflected in its 3.5/5 rating and #28 ranking.
Whether each broker provides a dedicated library of 10+ forex/CFD lessons isn’t confirmed in the data provided. If you want live classes and a clear path from beginner to advanced, City Index is the better fit. If you only need a set of beginner videos without live webinars, Questrade can still get you started.
| 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 #29.
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 | 85 |
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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 | 85 | |
| 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 | 85 | |
| 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 (FSA 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 | 0.9 | 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 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Questrade Review |