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City Index vs XM Group 2026

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025
  Fact Checked

In this head to head comparison of City Index vs XM Group, 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
XM Group
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $5
  • Trust Score: 93
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 1429

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

City Index, founded in 1983, and XM Group, founded in 2009, are online brokers with high safety marks. City Index is publicly traded and not a bank; XM Group is privately held and not a bank. On ForexBrokers.com’s 99-point Trust Score, City Index scores 99 and XM Group scores 93. For context, ForexBrokers.com classifies 90–99 as highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted.

Looking at regulation, City Index holds seven Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and one Tier-2 license (trusted). XM Group holds four Tier-1 and three Tier-2 licenses. Both sit in the highly trusted bracket by score, with City Index at the very top and XM Group close behind.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
XM Group logoXM Group
Year Founded info 1983 2009
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 4
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 3
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

When comparing commissions and fees, City Index comes out ahead of XM Group. City Index’s pricing for CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products is generally in line with the industry average, and traders can often get the best pricing by using City Index’s own platforms or MetaTrader. It also offers a Premium Trader account for active traders who deposit more than £10,000, plus rebate programs for higher-volume traders in the U.K. and Australia. City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #16 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.

XM Group, by contrast, is weaker in this category. Its standard account spreads are considered expensive, and it does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account, which makes pricing less transparent for shoppers comparing trading costs. XM Group is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #34 out of 36 brokers.

In plain terms, City Index is the better pick for traders who care about lower, more competitive trading costs and clearer value at higher volumes. XM Group may still suit some traders, but based on commissions and fees alone, City Index offers the stronger overall package.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
XM Group logoXM Group
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $5
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.4 info 2 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.9 info N/A info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

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Range of investments

When it comes to range of investments, City Index has the edge over XM Group for most traders. City Index offers 13,500 tradable symbols and 66 forex pairs, compared with XM Group’s 1,429 symbols and 55 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency.

The key difference is in share investing: XM Group lets clients buy real, exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international markets, while City Index does not offer these non-CFD stock purchases. Still, City Index is rated higher overall for investment range, with 5 stars and an #8 ranking out of 36 brokers, versus XM Group’s 4.5 stars and #19 ranking.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
XM Group logoXM Group
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 1429
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 55
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
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 XM Group both give traders a wide choice of platform options, including a free demo account, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. Both also let users place trades directly from charts. One key difference is that City Index offers its own in-house platform, while XM Group does not. XM Group does, however, support MetaTrader 5, which City Index does not.

For trading platforms and tools, City Index has the edge overall. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers in this category at ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #27. If you want a broker with a proprietary platform plus strong platform choice, City Index stands out, while XM Group may appeal more to traders who specifically want MT5 alongside the other main platform types.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
XM Group logoXM Group
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

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

Forex trading apps

City Index and XM Group both make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts and watchlist syncing between mobile and online accounts. Both apps also let you draw trendlines on charts, which can help with simple technical analysis. For traders who want a smoother mobile experience, City Index stands out with a higher user rating of 4.5 stars and a stronger ForexBrokers.com mobile apps ranking of #9 out of 36 brokers, compared with XM Group’s 4 stars and #26 ranking.

The biggest difference is in charting tools. City Index offers 88 technical studies in its mobile app, while XM Group offers 30, giving City Index a much wider range for mobile chart analysis. Another key point is that City Index automatically saves chart drawings, while XM Group does not. If mobile charting depth and convenience matter most, City Index has the edge, while XM Group still covers the basics well for traders who want a straightforward app.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
XM Group logoXM Group
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 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

City Index and XM Group both give traders a strong set of market research tools. Each offers daily market commentary, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, Trading Central tools, sentiment data that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking key global events. Neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading research tools, so the overall research lineup is quite similar.

That said, XM Group has a slight edge in this category. It is rated 5 stars for research and ranked #8 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while City Index is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #10. For traders who want a broker with easy-to-use research features and frequent market updates, both are solid choices, with XM Group coming out just ahead.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
XM Group logoXM Group
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes Yes
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

When it comes to learning support for beginners, both City Index and XM Group give traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, plus online educational webinars held at least once a month. They also both provide 10 or more beginner videos and 10 or more advanced videos, so new traders and more experienced users can find useful material at different stages of their journey.

That said, XM Group has the edge overall in education. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while City Index is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #9. For beginners who want a wider and more highly rated learning library, XM Group appears to be the stronger choice, although City Index still offers a solid range of educational content.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
XM Group logoXM Group
Webinars info Yes Yes
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 XM Group. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16.

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
XM Group logoXM Group
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with City Index or XM Group?

City Index vs. XM Group: neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.

What funding options does each broker offer?

Comparing online brokers City Index vs. XM Group for deposit and withdrawal methods: City Index supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers (but not Skrill), while XM Group supports Skrill and bank wire transfers (but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal).

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Overall Rating City Index XM Group
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review XM Group Review
Broker Screenshots City Index XM Group
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.
XM MetaTrader 5 mobile trading app XM MetaTrader 5 desktop trading platform. XM research articles market news and analysis XM educational content forex course chapters.
Regulation City Index XM Group
Trust Score info 99 93
Year Founded info 1983 2009
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 4
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 3
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) City Index XM Group
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes Yes
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 No
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
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) City Index XM Group
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info Yes
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) info Yes Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments City Index XM Group
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 1429
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 55
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
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 XM Group
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.4 info 2 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.9 info N/A info
Inactivity Fee info Yes Yes
Order execution: Agency info No No
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding City Index XM Group
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $5
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
Trading Platforms City Index XM Group
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools City Index XM Group
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading City Index XM Group
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 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research City Index XM Group
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education City Index XM Group
Webinars info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs City Index XM Group
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 XM Group Review
Overall City Index XM Group
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review XM Group Review
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