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City Index vs Trading 212 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Trading 212, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

City Index
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £100.00
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 13500
Trading 212
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: €1
  • Trust Score: 80
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 7868

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.

Regulation

When considering online brokers, City Index and Trading 212 are two notable platforms worth comparing, especially in terms of trust and regulatory backing. City Index, established in 1983, is publicly traded and stands out with an impressive Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. It boasts 7 Tier-1 licenses, which are highly regarded within the industry, and 1 Tier-2 license. On the other hand, Trading 212, founded in 2004, is not publicly traded. It holds a Trust Score of 80, reflecting a trusted status, and possesses 3 Tier-1 licenses.

Neither City Index nor Trading 212 operate as banks, but their regulatory approvals make a significant difference. City Index's exemplary Trust Score and greater number of Tier-1 licenses highlight its strong regulatory compliance, offering peace of mind to its users. Meanwhile, Trading 212, while still trusted, may appeal to those seeking a straightforward platform with basic regulatory assurance. Both brokers aim to provide secure trading experiences, though City Index's longstanding presence and extensive regulation may be preferable for those prioritizing trust and transparency.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Year Founded info 1983 2004
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 3
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 0

Fees

Comparing commissions and fees, City Index generally offers lower trading costs than Trading 212 for CFDs and forex. City Index’s pricing is around the industry average and can be sharper if you use its own platforms or MetaTrader. Trading 212 promotes zero-commission trading, but you still pay the spread—and its typical spreads are higher, which can make trades more expensive overall.

City Index posted an average EUR/USD spread of 0.74 pips (July 2023) on its CFD account, aligning with industry norms. High-volume and professional clients can lower costs further: the Premium Trader account (for deposits above £10,000) unlocks exclusive pricing and support, while active trader rebates start at £4 per million for U.K. professionals trading over £25M per month (up to £7.5 per million above £300M), and in Australia range from AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million. City Index commissions and fees rating: 4.5/5 stars; ranking: #15 out of 63.

Trading 212’s CFD pricing relies on the spread. Its published average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips in April 2025, which is much higher than the industry average and less competitive than City Index for forex and CFD trades. While the Invest account advertises zero-commission share dealing, CFD traders should focus on spread costs. Trading 212 commissions and fees rating: 4/5 stars; ranking: #50 out of 63.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 €1
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.4 info 2.7 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.74 info 2.7 info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes Yes
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

City Index and Trading 212 both support forex trading as CFDs or spot, and both offer crypto derivatives (but not actual coins). City Index stands out on breadth with 13,500 tradeable symbols, while Trading 212 lists 7,868. For currency traders, Trading 212 offers more forex pairs (146 vs 66). City Index includes copy trading, whereas Trading 212 does not.

When it comes to real shares, Trading 212 lets you buy and sell exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets; City Index does not offer real stock dealing. Both earn 5 stars for Range of Investments, yet ForexBrokers.com ranks City Index higher (#8 of 63) than Trading 212 (#16 of 63). In short, choose City Index for overall variety and copy trading, or pick Trading 212 for more forex pairs and access to U.S. and global stocks.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 7868
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 146
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

City Index and Trading 212 both make it easy to try before you trade with free demo (paper) accounts and each offers a proprietary trading platform. You can trade in your browser on both, and place orders directly from charts. A key difference is desktop access: City Index provides a Windows download platform, while Trading 212 is web-only. Platform integrations also differ: City Index supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), whereas Trading 212 does not; neither broker offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5).

For strategy tools, City Index also stands out by offering copy trading, which Trading 212 does not. In independent ratings for trading platforms and tools, City Index scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #20. In short, City Index is better suited if you want a desktop app, MT4, and copy trading options, while Trading 212 is a good pick if you prefer a streamlined web platform with a free demo to get started.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 54
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

City Index and Trading 212 both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, synced watchlists between mobile and web, trendline drawing on charts, and auto-saving of your chart annotations—handy for reviewing levels on the go without losing your work.

When it comes to charting depth, Trading 212 offers 104 technical studies, edging out City Index with 88. However, City Index holds the stronger third-party scores for mobile trading apps, earning 4.5/5 stars and ranking #9 out of 63 brokers, compared with Trading 212’s 4/5 stars and #17 ranking (per ForexBrokers.com). Choose Trading 212 if you want more built-in indicators, or City Index if higher mobile app ratings and category rank matter most.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 104
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

Comparing market research, City Index has an edge over Trading 212. City Index delivers daily market commentary, while Trading 212 does not. Both brokers stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. City Index adds Trading Central tools for technical and fundamental insights, which Trading 212 lacks. Each broker includes a sentiment tool showing long/short ratios and offers an economic calendar. Neither supports Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.

For depth and variety, City Index stands out with a 4.5 out of 5 research rating and a #10 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 is solid for basic news and calendars but trails with a 3.5 out of 5 rating and a #45 ranking. Choose City Index if you want stronger built-in analysis; pick Trading 212 if you only need essential news and scheduling features.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes No
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

Comparing City Index vs Trading 212 for beginner education: both brokers provide at least 10 beginner-friendly trading videos, and each also offers 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. City Index hosts client education webinars at least once a month, while Trading 212 does not offer monthly webinars. It’s not specified whether either broker meets the threshold for a full forex/CFDs education library (10+ articles, videos, or archived webinars focused on forex/CFDs), provides a searchable archive of past webinars, or maintains an investor dictionary with 50+ terms.

For overall education quality, City Index earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #21/63. If you value live learning and a more structured path, City Index stands out; if you’re focused on self-paced video learning, both platforms can help you get started.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that City Index is better than Trading 212. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.

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 logoCity Index
Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 80
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with City Index or Trading 212?

Both City Index and Trading 212 do not provide the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.

What funding options does each broker offer?

In a quick funding-methods comparison, online brokers City Index and Trading 212 both allow ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, do not support Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.

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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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Overall Rating City Index Trading 212
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 80
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review Trading 212 Review
Broker Screenshots City Index Trading 212
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
City Index MetaTrader 4 mobile trading app City Index web platform trading. City Index web platform research Trading Central City Index educational course advanced.
Trading 212 mobile trading app sentiment Trading 212 web platform Trading 212 mobile trading app economic calendar Trading212 community forum.
Regulation City Index Trading 212
Trust Score info 99 80
Year Founded info 1983 2004
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 3
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) City Index Trading 212
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) City Index Trading 212
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No No
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments City Index Trading 212
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 7868
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 146
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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 Trading 212
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.4 info 2.7 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.74 info 2.7 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info No Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding City Index Trading 212
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 €1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes Yes
Trading Platforms City Index Trading 212
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools City Index Trading 212
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 54
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading City Index Trading 212
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 104
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research City Index Trading 212
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes No
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education City Index Trading 212
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs City Index Trading 212
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review City Index Review Trading 212 Review
Overall City Index Trading 212
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 80
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review Trading 212 Review
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