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 vs Spreadex: these online brokers have different histories and trust profiles. City Index was founded in 1983, is publicly traded, and is not a bank; Spreadex was founded in 1999, is not publicly traded, and is not a bank. On ForexBrokers.com’s 99-point Trust Score, City Index scores 99 (highly trusted, 90–99), while Spreadex scores 70 (average risk, 70–79). For context, 80–89 is trusted, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 should not be trusted.
Regulation also sets them apart. City Index holds seven Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and one Tier-2 license (trusted), signaling wider top-tier oversight. Spreadex holds one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. If regulatory coverage matters to you, City Index’s footprint is larger than Spreadex’s.
| 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 offer pricing that sits around the industry average, but City Index has a slight edge on overall value for active traders. City Index’s commissions and fees are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #16 out of 36 brokers for this category by ForexBrokers.com. Its CFD and forex pricing is competitive, with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips as of July 2023, and the best pricing is generally available on City Index’s own platforms or MetaTrader. For high-volume traders, the Premium Trader account may also unlock better pricing, exclusive content, events, and dedicated support.
Spreadex is also priced in a competitive range, but it trails City Index on both rating and ranking. Spreadex earns 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #25 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In January 2024, its average EUR/USD spread was 0.81 pips, with a minimum spread of 0.6 pips available 60% of the time during the month. That makes it a decent choice for traders who want straightforward pricing, though not quite as strong as City Index for overall cost.
In short, both brokers are reasonably priced, but City Index comes out ahead for commissions and fees thanks to its lower average forex spread, stronger star rating, and better category ranking. Spreadex remains a solid alternative, especially for traders who are comfortable with slightly higher average spreads.
| 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.
When it comes to range of investments, City Index and Spreadex both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, plus cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker lets clients buy actual shares on U.S. or international exchanges, and neither offers delivered cryptocurrency. Both are also rated 5 stars for Range of Investments, so each provides a strong selection overall.
That said, City Index has the edge on choice. It offers 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, compared with Spreadex’s 10,000 symbols and 52 forex pairs. City Index also supports copy trading, while Spreadex does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings for Range of Investments, City Index places #8 out of 36 brokers, ahead of Spreadex at #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 has the edge over Spreadex when it comes to trading platforms and tools. Both brokers offer a free demo account, a web-based platform, and the ability to trade directly from a chart. Each also provides its own in-house platform, giving traders a built-in experience without needing to rely only on third-party software. That said, City Index adds more choice with a Windows desktop platform, MetaTrader 4, and copy trading, while Spreadex does not offer these extras.
For traders who want more platform options and tools, City Index is the stronger pick overall. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Spreadex at 4 stars and #34 out of 36. Spreadex still covers the basics well, especially for web trading and chart-based trading, but City Index offers a wider range of features for both beginner and active traders.
| 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, and each includes stock or forex price alerts plus the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Where City Index pulls ahead is in app syncing and charting: its watchlists sync with the client’s online account, so changes carry over between devices, and it offers 88 technical studies in the mobile app. City Index also auto-saves chart drawings, which makes it easier to pick up where you left off.
Spreadex covers the basics well, but it does not offer watchlist syncing between mobile and web accounts, and its charting tools are more limited in the information available here. In overall mobile trading app ratings, City Index scores 4.5 out of 5 and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex scores 4 out of 5 and ranks #33. For traders who want a smoother mobile experience with better chart tools and syncing, City Index has the edge.
| 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.
City Index and Spreadex both give traders a solid set of market research tools. Each offers daily market commentary, forex news from major providers like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool that shows how many traders are long or short, and an economic calendar for tracking key global events. Neither broker includes TipRanks or Acuity Trading research, so in those areas they are on equal footing.
The main difference is in specialist research tools. City Index includes Trading Central, which can help with technical analysis, while Spreadex offers Autochartist instead. For overall research quality, City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 and ranks 10th out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Spreadex’s 4 out of 5 rating and 27th-place ranking. That makes City Index the stronger choice for traders who want a wider research offering.
| 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 who want to learn trading, City Index has the edge over Spreadex in education. City Index offers forex and CFDs learning content, runs online client webinars at least once a month, and provides 10 or more beginner videos as well as 10 or more advanced videos. That fuller mix of lessons and live sessions helps new traders build skills step by step. City Index is also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers in the category.
Spreadex still gives beginners useful video-based learning, including 10 or more beginner trading videos, but it falls behind City Index in several important areas. It does not offer monthly educational webinars, and it does not meet the same level of forex or CFDs education or advanced video coverage. Spreadex is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #33 out of 36, making City Index the stronger choice for traders who want more guidance and a wider range of learning tools.
| 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 | 70 |
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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 | 70 | |
| 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 | 70 | |
| 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 CMA 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 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Spreadex Review |
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