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 started in 2000 and is not publicly traded. Neither broker is a bank.
For regulation and safety, City Index holds seven Tier-1 and one Tier-2 licenses and earns a 99/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com (90–99 = highly trusted). Questrade holds one Tier-1 license, no Tier-2 licenses, and scores 85/99 (80–89 = trusted).
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2000 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
Comparing commissions and fees, City Index generally lands near the industry average while Questrade tends to be pricier for similar forex and CFD trades. City Index posts an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips (as of July 2023) and offers its most competitive pricing on its own platforms or MetaTrader. Questrade is a spread-only broker, so your costs are built into the bid-ask spread; while spreads can be as low as 0.8 pips in calm markets, typical averages on major pairs are closer to 2.1–2.5 pips, which usually means a higher all-in cost per trade.
City Index also caters to high-volume traders: U.K.-based professionals can earn rebates starting at £4 per million for monthly volumes above £25M, up to £7.5 per million above £300M; in Australia, rebates range from AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million, depending on tier. There’s a Premium Trader account for clients depositing over £10,000, adding exclusive pricing and support. Overall, City Index earns 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers in this category.
Questrade’s costs are straightforward but can add up. For forex, a typical 2-pip spread on one standard lot is roughly a $20 all-in cost per trade. For CFDs, Questrade adds a $9.95 USD trading fee per unit when you open and when you close, on top of a small spread—buying one Tesla CFD, for example, would total about $19.95 USD in trading fees plus any overnight financing, so you need a meaningful move just to break even. Questrade earns 3.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #33 out of 63.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 0.8 or higher |
| 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 and Questrade both let you trade forex either as CFDs or spot. City Index offers a far wider selection overall with 13,500 tradeable symbols compared with Questrade’s 675, while Questrade lists more forex pairs (110 vs. 66). Neither broker lets you buy U.S. or international exchange-traded stocks directly. For crypto, neither supports purchasing actual coins, but City Index does offer cryptocurrency CFDs, which Questrade does not. City Index also provides copy trading, while Questrade does not.
Both earn 5 stars for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com. In that category, City Index ranks #8 out of 63 brokers and Questrade ranks #12. If you want access to many markets plus crypto CFDs and copy trading, City Index is the stronger fit; if you value a larger list of currency pairs, Questrade has the edge.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 675 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 110 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | No |
| 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 full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and keeps your watchlists in sync with your online account, so changes you make on desktop or mobile appear everywhere. For charting, both let you draw trendlines and auto-save those drawings, which is handy when you revisit a stock or forex pair later.
The main difference is depth of chart tools. City Index includes 88 technical studies versus Questrade’s 64, giving chart-focused traders more choices. Independent ratings also tilt toward City Index: it earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, while Questrade scores 3.5 stars and ranks #28. If you want a mobile platform with more built-in indicators and a higher third-party rating, City Index is the stronger pick; if you already trade with Questrade, its app still covers the core features most traders need.
| 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 vs Questrade: For market research, City Index leans into daily insights and news, while Questrade focuses more on third‑party tools. City Index provides daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones), a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, and an economic calendar. Both brokers offer Trading Central, but only Questrade includes Autochartist and TipRanks. Neither broker offers research tools from Acuity Trading.
Based on these features, City Index earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while Questrade scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #34. Choose City Index if you want built-in news, commentary, and sentiment data; pick Questrade if Autochartist and TipRanks are your priority alongside Trading Central.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing education at City Index and Questrade, City Index is the stronger pick. It runs client webinars at least once a month and offers 10+ beginner trading videos, plus 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper. That depth is reflected in its 4.5/5 Education rating and #9 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Questrade does not host monthly webinars and has fewer than 10 beginner and advanced videos, which aligns with its 3.5/5 Education rating and #28 ranking.
Details about whether either broker provides at least 10 forex- or CFD-specific education pieces weren’t provided here. Based on what is known, beginners will find a clearer learning path at City Index thanks to frequent webinars and a larger video library, while Questrade’s educational content is more limited.
| Feature |
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|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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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In the City Index vs Questrade comparison for cryptocurrency trading, both online brokers do not offer purchasing actual (delivered) crypto, but only City Index provides cryptocurrency CFD trading while Questrade does not.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 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 | 1 | |
| 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 CMA 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 | 675 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 110 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | 0.8 or higher | |
| 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 | $0 | |
| 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 | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | City Index | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| 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 |