Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Spreadex, 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, established in 1983, has cemented its reputation as a highly trusted online broker, largely due to its impressive collection of 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license. These licenses indicate a high level of regulatory safety and credibility. As a publicly traded company, City Index achieves a stunning Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, making it a top choice for traders seeking assurance and reliability.
Conversely, Spreadex, founded in 1999, operates privately and holds 1 Tier-1 license without any Tier-2 licenses, which suggests a moderate level of regulatory trust. With a Trust Score of 71, it falls within the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. Both City Index and Spreadex are not banks, offering specialized financial services to their clientele. While Spreadex provides a competitive option, particularly for those comfortable with a moderate risk level, City Index stands out for those prioritizing maximum trust and security in their online trading experiences.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 1999 |
| 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 |
City Index and Spreadex both deliver commissions and fees that sit around the industry average, but City Index edges out Spreadex on headline EUR/USD pricing. City Index averaged 0.74 pips on EUR/USD (July 2023), compared with Spreadex at 0.81 pips (January 2024), while Spreadex hit a 0.6-pip minimum 60% of the time that month. For the Commissions and Fees category, City Index is rated 4.5/5 stars and ranked #16 of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com; Spreadex is rated 4/5 stars and ranked #25 of 63.
City Index supports CFDs, forex, and spread betting with pricing that is in line with peers, and it typically offers its best rates on the City Index platforms or MetaTrader. The CFD account’s average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips places it close to the market average, though not among the very cheapest providers. Active traders may qualify for the Premium Trader account by depositing more than £10,000, unlocking exclusive pricing, events, content, and a dedicated service team. Professional traders can also access rebates: in the U.K., £4 per million for monthly volumes above £25M, rising to £7.5 per million above £300M; in Australia, AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million depending on tier.
Spreadex’s fees are likewise competitive, with average EUR/USD spreads of 0.81 pips in January 2024 and a 0.6-pip minimum reached the majority of the time that month. That pattern can make costs attractive during liquid hours, though City Index’s average was slightly lower overall. In short, City Index offers a small pricing advantage plus potential rebates for high-volume traders, while Spreadex remains a solid, straightforward option for day-to-day trading costs.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 0.81 |
| 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 Spreadex: both support forex trading and give you access to a wide range of markets. City Index offers about 13,500 tradable symbols compared with Spreadex’s 10,000, and 66 forex pairs versus Spreadex’s 52. Both brokers provide cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows you to buy actual crypto. Likewise, neither broker lets you buy exchange-traded shares in the U.S. or internationally; share exposure is via derivatives instead.
For extra features, City Index includes copy trading while Spreadex does not. Despite these differences, both earn 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, City Index places #8 of 63 brokers, while Spreadex ranks #13.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 52 |
| 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 | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
City Index and Spreadex both provide free demo accounts and in-house trading platforms. City Index offers more platform choice, with a downloadable Windows desktop platform plus a web platform, while Spreadex focuses on web-based trading and does not offer a Windows download. City Index supports copy trading and MetaTrader 4 (MT4), but not MetaTrader 5 (MT5); Spreadex does not support copy trading, MT4, or MT5. Both brokers let you place trades directly from charts. The number of built-in technical indicators and watch list columns is not specified in the provided details.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates City Index at 4.5 stars (ranked 11th out of 63 brokers) and Spreadex at 4 stars (ranked 34th out of 63). In short, City Index suits traders who want desktop software, MT4, and copy trading alongside a web platform, while Spreadex is a fit if you’re comfortable trading on its proprietary web platform and want straightforward chart trading without third-party platforms.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 58 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Spreadex both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. City Index earns a higher Mobile Trading Apps rating (4.5 stars) and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex holds 4 stars and ranks #33.
For charting, City Index lists 88 technical studies and automatically saves your drawings, making it easier to pick up where you left off. It also syncs watchlists between the app and web platform. Spreadex does not list the number of studies, does not auto-save drawings, and does not sync watchlists, though it covers the core needs for on-the-go trading. If you value deeper chart tools and seamless device switching, City Index has the edge; if you want the essentials, Spreadex will do the job.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both City Index and Spreadex cover the essentials for market research. Each provides daily market commentary, forex news from big-name wire services, a sentiment tool to see how other traders are positioned, and an easy-to-browse economic calendar. Neither offers TipRanks or Acuity Trading integrations.
Where they differ is in third-party research add-ons: City Index includes Trading Central, while Spreadex offers Autochartist. If you want analyst-backed technical and fundamental insights, City Index is the better fit; if you prefer automatic chart pattern and breakout alerts, Spreadex stands out. Reflecting this, City Index is rated 4.5/5 and ranks #10 of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Spreadex scores 4/5 and ranks #27.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing education at City Index and Spreadex, City Index offers a more complete learning path. It runs client webinars at least monthly and provides 10+ beginner videos plus 10+ advanced videos, helping you progress from basics to more complex trading topics. That depth shows in its Education score: 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #9 ranking out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Spreadex covers the essentials with 10+ beginner videos, but it does not host monthly educational webinars and lacks 10+ advanced videos. It earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #33 out of 63 for Education. If you want live guidance and room to grow, City Index is the stronger pick; if you only need core video lessons to get started, Spreadex can be enough.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Spreadex. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Spreadex 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.
| Feature |
City Index
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Spreadex
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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In this comparison of online brokers, City Index and Spreadex do not offer buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide access to cryptocurrency CFD trading.
City Index vs Spreadex: For deposits and withdrawals, City Index supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers and does not support Skrill, while Spreadex supports bank wire transfers and does not support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill; Visa/Mastercard availability is not disclosed for either.
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 | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Spreadex | |
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| Regulation | City Index | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 1999 | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | City Index | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 52 | |
| 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 | 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). |
| Cost | City Index | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 0.81 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 58 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | City Index | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Spreadex Review |
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