Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Swissquote, 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 and Swissquote stand out as two reputable online brokers in the financial world. Both have a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, indicating they are highly trusted establishments. Founded in 1983, City Index offers a solid track record and is publicly traded, although it is not a bank. In terms of regulatory credentials, City Index holds an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, which are highly regarded, further enhancing its credibility. Additionally, it holds one Tier-2 license, which is also trusted.
On the other hand, Swissquote, established in 1996, adds the benefit of being both a publicly traded company and a bank, potentially offering more financial stability to its clients. With five Tier-1 licenses, Swissquote also maintains a strong regulatory standing, supported by two Tier-2 licenses. Both brokers enjoy a high level of trust with their clients, but if you're seeking a company with more Tier-1 regulatory oversight, City Index might have the edge.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 1996 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | Yes |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
City Index tends to be the more wallet-friendly choice on trading costs, while Swissquote generally carries a slight premium. City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Swissquote earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #35 out of 63, reflecting that its pricing can’t match the cheapest forex brokers.
City Index pricing is in line with the industry average, with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips (July 2023). You’ll typically see the best pricing on City Index’s own platforms or MetaTrader. High-balance clients depositing over £10,000 can apply for the Premium Trader account for exclusive pricing and dedicated support. For heavy-volume traders, City Index offers rebates: in the U.K., £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.
Swissquote’s costs vary by region. The U.K. entity usually has lower costs and lighter minimums (but a narrower product list) than its Switzerland and Luxembourg units. In the U.K., the Elite account (best for active traders depositing at least $10,000) uses a commission model with a $5 round-turn and lower spreads; the Professional account is similar with a different stop-out level. The Standard account starts at 1.3 pips on EUR/USD, while the Prime account lists minimum spreads from 0.6 pips (note: minimums, not averages). Luxembourg offers Standard ($1,000), Premium ($5,000), and Prime ($50,000) accounts with minimum spreads from 1.5 to 0.8 pips. In Switzerland, forex accounts start at 1.7 pips (Standard, $1,000 deposit), drop to 1.4 pips (Premium, $10,000), and 1.1 pips (Prime, $50,000) — slightly above the industry average — with custom pricing available by negotiation.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $1000 |
| 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 | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
City Index vs Swissquote: both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, offer copy trading, and provide crypto CFDs. City Index stands out with about 13,500 tradeable symbols compared with Swissquote’s 472. That said, Swissquote lists more forex pairs (80 vs 66) and is the only one of the two that lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies.
For exchange-traded stocks, Swissquote allows direct purchases of U.S. shares like Apple and international listings such as Vodafone, while City Index does not offer exchange-traded securities. Both earn 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com, with Swissquote ranked #2 out of 63 brokers and City Index ranked #8.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 472 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 80 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes |
| 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 vs Swissquote: both brokers make it easy to get started with a free demo (paper) account and each offers an in-house trading platform alongside a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform. They both support copy trading, integrate MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and let you place trades directly from charts—useful for quick entries and exits without leaving the chart view.
The standout difference is MetaTrader 5 (MT5): Swissquote supports MT5, while City Index does not. When it comes to quality, both are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools. In ForexBrokers.com’s category rankings, City Index sits at #11 out of 63 brokers, with Swissquote close behind at #12. If you need MT5, Swissquote is the pick; if MT5 isn’t essential, City Index delivers comparable features with a slightly higher ranking.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 86 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Swissquote both offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with price alerts. Each earns a 4.5-star rating for mobile trading apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 rankings, City Index places #9 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Swissquote comes in at #12.
For charting, City Index provides 88 built-in indicators versus Swissquote’s 30. Both apps let you draw trendlines and automatically save your drawings. A notable difference is watchlists: City Index syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Swissquote does not. In short, City Index better suits traders who want more chart tools and seamless watchlist syncing, whereas Swissquote covers the essentials for on-the-go trading.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index and Swissquote both deliver daily market commentary, real-time forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and a handy economic calendar. The difference shows up in their third‑party research tools: City Index includes Trading Central and a sentiment tool that displays long/short positioning across instruments, while Swissquote integrates Autochartist for pattern recognition but does not offer Trading Central or a sentiment gauge. Neither broker features research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
For overall research quality, City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, edging out Swissquote’s 4 out of 5 stars and #15 ranking. Choose Swissquote if you want Autochartist’s automated chart patterns, or pick City Index if you value Trading Central’s insights and access to crowd sentiment data alongside top-tier news and daily analysis.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index and Swissquote both offer forex and CFD education suited for beginners. Each provides at least 10 educational pieces (such as articles, videos, and archived webinars), and both run client webinars at least once a month. You’ll find plenty of video lessons at either broker, with at least 10 beginner-focused videos and at least 10 advanced videos to help you progress.
For overall education quality, City Index has the edge. It earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 9th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Swissquote’s 4 stars and 19th-place ranking. If you’re just starting out and want a slightly richer learning path, City Index is the stronger choice, while Swissquote remains a good option for beginners who value regular webinars and a large library of videos.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 Swissquote. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11.
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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Swissquote
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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In a comparison of online brokers, City Index offers cryptocurrency exposure only via CFDs and does not support buying actual (delivered) coins, whereas Swissquote enables clients to buy delivered cryptocurrencies and trade crypto CFDs.
Online brokers City Index and Swissquote both support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, but only Swissquote offers Skrill, while 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 | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Swissquote | |
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| Regulation | City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 1996 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 472 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 80 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 86 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | City Index | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Swissquote Review |
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