Written by ForexBrokers.com
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.
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 (founded 1983) and Trading 212 (founded 2004) are online brokers with different corporate profiles: City Index is publicly traded, while Trading 212 is not; neither broker is a bank.
For regulation, City Index holds 7 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 1 Tier-2 license (trusted), earning a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 (highly trusted). Trading 212 holds 3 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses, with a Trust Score of 82 (trusted). In short, City Index has broader top-tier licensing and a higher trust rating than Trading 212.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
City Index and Trading 212 both aim to keep trading costs low, but they do so in different ways. City Index’s pricing for CFDs, forex, and spread betting is generally in line with the industry average, and traders using its own platform or MetaTrader can often get the best rates. Its EUR/USD average spread was 0.74 pips in July 2023, which is competitive, though still not as low as top brokers like Tickmill and FP Markets. City Index also offers active trader rebates, plus a Premium Trader account for clients who deposit more than £10,000. City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #16 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading, but that does not mean trading is free. For CFD and forex trades, costs still come through the spread. The broker has started sharing average spread data, which helps with price transparency, but its April 2025 EUR/USD spread of 2.7 pips is well above the industry average and makes it less competitive on pricing than stronger low-cost brokers. Trading 212 is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #27 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, City Index is the better choice for traders who want more competitive all-in pricing, especially if they trade often or qualify for rebates. Trading 212 may appeal to beginners who like the idea of zero-commission marketing, but its wider spreads can make it more expensive in practice. If commissions and fees are your top priority, City Index has the edge.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| 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 and Trading 212 both give traders access to forex as a CFD or spot contract, and both support cryptocurrency CFDs. In terms of overall market choice, City Index lists 13,500 tradeable symbols, while Trading 212 offers 13,000, so City Index has a slight edge in total instruments. City Index also includes copy trading, which Trading 212 does not.
Where Trading 212 stands out is in shares investing: it lets clients buy actual U.S. and international exchange traded securities, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, while City Index does not offer direct share dealing on those exchanges. Trading 212 also allows users to buy actual cryptocurrency, not just crypto CFDs, and offers more forex pairs at 180 compared with City Index’s 66. Both brokers are rated 5 stars for range of investments, though City Index ranks higher in this category overall at #8 out of 36 brokers, versus Trading 212 at #15.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 13000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 180 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 has the edge over Trading 212 for trading platforms and tools. Both brokers offer a free demo account, a web-based platform, and the ability to trade directly from a stock chart. City Index also stands out with its own in-house platform, a Windows desktop download, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while Trading 212 does not offer these features. Neither broker supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5), so that is one area where they are even.
For platform quality, City Index 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 Trading 212’s 4-star rating and #19 ranking. In simple terms, Trading 212 covers the basics well, but City Index gives active traders more platform choice and extra tools, making it the stronger option overall in this category.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 | 102 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Trading 212 both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlists that sync between the mobile app and your online account. Both apps also let you draw trendlines on charts and automatically save your drawings, which is helpful if you want to keep track of ideas without starting over each time. For everyday mobile trading features, the two brokers are closely matched.
The main difference is in charting depth and overall app ratings. Trading 212 offers 104 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 88 at City Index, giving chart-focused traders more tools to work with. City Index, however, scores higher for mobile trading apps at 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 is rated 4 stars and ranks #17. If you want the stronger overall mobile app experience, City Index has the edge; if you value a larger set of chart studies, Trading 212 stands out.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, City Index has the edge over Trading 212. City Index offers daily market commentary, Trading Central tools, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, which can help traders follow market moves and spot possible opportunities. Trading 212 also provides forex news from major sources, sentiment tools, and an economic calendar, but it does not include daily market commentary or Trading Central research tools.
Overall, City Index is rated higher for research, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of 10th out of 36 brokers. Trading 212 scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 32nd, so if research depth is important to you, City Index is the stronger choice.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| 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.
When comparing City Index vs Trading 212 for beginner education, City Index comes out ahead overall. City Index offers forex and CFD education, runs online client webinars at least once a month, and provides plenty of beginner and advanced video content for traders at different levels. It is also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, which shows strong support for new traders who want structured learning.
Trading 212 also gives beginners access to a good number of beginner and advanced trading videos, but it falls behind City Index in a few key areas. Based on the information provided, it does not offer monthly educational webinars, and it scores 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education, with a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #20 out of 36. For traders who want more live learning and a wider education offering, City Index is the stronger choice, while Trading 212 may suit those looking for basic video-based learning.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Trading 212. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25.
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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Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 |
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City Index vs Trading 212: Trading 212 lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas City Index offers cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not support buying delivered crypto.
In a payment-methods comparison of online brokers City Index and Trading 212, both support ACH/SEPA and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, neither supports Skrill, and only City Index offers PayPal (Trading 212 does not).
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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | City Index | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | City Index | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 13000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 180 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 102 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | City Index | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Trading 212 Review |
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