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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 account info 1.4 info 2.7 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.9 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 vs Trading 212: When it comes to range of investments, City Index lists about 13,500 tradeable symbols, while Trading 212 offers around 7,868. Both support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, but their pair counts differ—City Index has 66 currency pairs, and Trading 212 offers 146. Both provide access to cryptocurrency via CFDs, but neither allows buying actual crypto. City Index also includes copy trading, which Trading 212 does not.

For exchange-traded securities (not CFDs), Trading 212 stands out by letting you buy U.S. and international stocks like Apple and Vodafone, while City Index does not offer real shares. Both are rated 5 stars for Range of Investments by ForexBrokers.com; however, City Index ranks higher at #8 out of 63 brokers, compared with Trading 212 at #16. Pick City Index if you want a larger overall menu and copy trading, or Trading 212 if owning real shares across U.S. and global markets matters most.

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

Compare City Index vs Trading 212 for trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, proprietary platforms, and web-based trading, plus the convenience of placing trades directly from charts. Key differences: City Index also provides a downloadable Windows desktop platform, supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and includes copy trading. Trading 212 does not offer a Windows download, MT4, or copy trading. Neither broker supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5).

In independent testing, City Index earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranked #11 of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 earned 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #20 of 63. In short, City Index is a stronger choice if you want MT4, a desktop platform, and copy trading alongside a web platform, while Trading 212 suits traders who are comfortable on a web platform with an in-house experience and a free demo account.

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 price alerts, watchlist syncing with your web account, trendline drawing, and auto-saving of chart annotations. For charting depth, Trading 212 offers 104 technical studies, while City Index includes 88—so Trading 212 has a slight edge on indicator count, though both provide ample tools for everyday analysis.

When it comes to quality scores, City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #17. In short: choose City Index if you value a higher overall app rating and industry ranking, or pick Trading 212 if a larger library of built-in indicators matters most to your workflow.

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

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

City Index and Trading 212 both give beginners plenty to learn from, with each offering at least 10 video lessons aimed at newcomers and another 10+ for advanced topics as you progress. A key difference is live learning: City Index hosts client webinars at least once a month, while Trading 212 does not. If you value real-time Q&A and guided sessions, City Index has the edge; if you prefer self-paced, on-demand videos, both brokers deliver solid libraries for getting started with trading, including forex and CFDs.

Independent ratings underscore the gap. City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks 9th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 21st. For beginners who want a stronger mix of live webinars and video lessons, City Index is the more complete pick, while Trading 212 suits learners who are comfortable relying mainly on video content.

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?

City Index and Trading 212 do not allow buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFD trading to speculate on price movements.

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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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 (FSA 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 account info 1.4 info 2.7 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.9 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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