City Index vs Spreadex 2025
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.
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 |
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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 offer competitive commissions and fees, but City Index comes out slightly cheaper on average for forex. City Index’s typical EUR/USD spread was 0.74 pips (July 2023), and you’ll usually get the best pricing on its proprietary platforms or MetaTrader. Spreadex averaged 0.81 pips for EUR/USD in January 2024, though it did hit its 0.6-pip minimum 60% of the time during that month. In short, City Index tends to have the lower average cost, while Spreadex frequently reaches a tighter minimum spread.
City Index adds value for active traders with its Premium Trader account (available to those depositing more than £10,000), offering access to exclusive pricing, events, content, and dedicated support. It also provides volume-based rebates: in the U.K., £4 per million for more than £25M traded per month up to £7.5 per million above £300M; in Australia, AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million depending on tier. Spreadex’s rebate details were not provided.
Ratings and rankings: City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #15 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees. Spreadex earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #28 out of 63. If you prioritize lower average spreads and potential rebates, City Index is the stronger pick, while Spreadex remains a solid alternative—especially if you often see its 0.6-pip minimum.
Feature |
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Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $0 |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.81 |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
City Index and Spreadex are online brokers that both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. Each covers thousands of markets, but City Index lists about 13,500 tradeable symbols versus 10,000 at Spreadex. If you focus on currencies, City Index offers 66 forex pairs while Spreadex has 52. Neither broker provides direct share dealing on U.S. or international exchanges; you’d access those stocks via derivatives instead.
Feature-wise, City Index supports copy trading, while Spreadex does not. Both offer cryptocurrency as derivatives (not actual coins). In ForexBrokers.com’s testing of 63 brokers, both earned 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, with City Index ranked #8 and Spreadex ranked #14.
Feature |
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 10000 |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 52 |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 offer free demo (paper) accounts and their own proprietary trading platforms. Each provides a web-based platform, but only City Index adds a Windows desktop platform. City Index also supports copy trading and MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while Spreadex does not; neither broker supports MT5, DupliTrade, or ZuluTrade. Both brokers let you place trades directly from a chart.
For charting and workflow, City Index lists 239 drawing tools versus 11 at Spreadex; indicator counts aren’t specified. Watchlists are more detailed at City Index (11 columns) than at Spreadex (8 columns). In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, City Index earned 4.5 stars and ranked #11 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Spreadex earned 4 stars and ranked #47. If you want MT4 access, copy trading, and a Windows desktop option alongside a web platform, City Index stands out; if you only need a clean web platform with a demo account, Spreadex covers the basics.
Feature |
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Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
DupliTrade | No | No |
ZuluTrade | No | No |
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 58 |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 11 |
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Spreadex both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, trendline drawing tools, and multiple chart time frames. Where they differ is in convenience and continuity: City Index syncs watchlists between the app and web platform, while Spreadex does not. City Index also auto-saves your chart drawings; Spreadex does not.
For charting depth, City Index lists 88 technical studies in its mobile app, whereas Spreadex does not specify how many are available. These strengths are reflected in third-party ratings: City Index earns 4.5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Spreadex at 4 stars and #47. If you value advanced chart tools, synced watchlists, and saved annotations, City Index is the stronger pick; Spreadex covers the basics for on-the-go trading.
Feature |
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Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | N/A |
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index and Spreadex both cover the essentials for market research: daily market commentary, real-time forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, sentiment tools that show long and short positioning, and an economic calendar. Neither broker integrates TipRanks or Acuity Trading. The standout difference is in third-party tools—City Index includes Trading Central, while Spreadex offers Autochartist.
For traders who want Trading Central’s analysis alongside in-house research, City Index is the stronger pick, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranking 10th out of 63 brokers for research at ForexBrokers.com. Spreadex is appealing if you prefer Autochartist’s pattern recognition while still getting daily commentary and premium news; it holds 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 32nd out of 63. In short, choose City Index for Trading Central and a higher-rated research experience, or Spreadex if Autochartist is your priority.
Feature |
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
Autochartist | No | Yes |
Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
TipRanks | No | No |
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and Spreadex both offer a range of educational resources to help beginners grasp the fundamentals of forex and CFDs, with more than 10 articles, videos, and archived webinars available from each broker. However, City Index stands out by hosting monthly live webinars, which Spreadex does not offer. Furthermore, City Index provides a comprehensive, searchable archive of past webinars, allowing learners to access valuable sessions at their convenience. When it comes to videos, both platforms present a solid collection tailored to beginners, though City Index goes a step further by also offering more than 10 advanced videos designed for experienced traders.
On the support side, both brokers include investor dictionaries with definitions for over 50 investing terms, aiding beginners in understanding industry jargon. However, City Index's robust educational offerings earn it a higher rating of 4.5 stars compared to Spreadex's 4 stars. In the Education category, City Index is ranked 9th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, significantly ahead of Spreadex, which is ranked 45th. For beginners looking for comprehensive educational tools and ongoing learning opportunities, City Index clearly holds the edge.
Feature |
|
|
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Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Client Webinars | Yes | No |
Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 Spreadex. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Spreadex finished with an overall rank of #39.
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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Overall Rating |
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Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Both City Index and Spreadex do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
City Index provides a more versatile range of deposit and withdrawal options than Spreadex, with support for ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal, alongside Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while Spreadex only supports Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 5Overall 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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Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
Regulation | City Index | Spreadex | |
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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 (SFC 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 | |
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Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
Investments | City Index | Spreadex | |
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 10000 | |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 52 | |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | 1.4 | 0.81 | |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A | |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
Funding | City Index | Spreadex | |
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Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $0 | |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
Trading Platforms | City Index | Spreadex | |
---|---|---|---|
Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
cTrader | No | No | |
DupliTrade | No | No | |
ZuluTrade | No | No |
Trading Tools | City Index | Spreadex | |
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Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 8 | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 58 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 11 | |
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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | N/A | |
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Research | City Index | Spreadex | |
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
Autochartist | No | Yes | |
Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
TipRanks | No | No | |
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Education | City Index | Spreadex | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Spreadex | |
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GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
Review | City Index Review | Spreadex Review |
Overall | City Index | Spreadex | |
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Mobile Trading |
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Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | City Index Review | Spreadex Review |