Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB vs City Index, 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.
When comparing the regulatory strengths of XTB and City Index, both online brokers bring credible trustworthiness to the table. XTB, founded in 2002, is a publicly traded company that secures 2 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, reflecting a high level of trustworthiness. It holds an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96 out of 99, suggesting it is highly trusted in the industry. While it is not a bank, its public listing reinforces its accountability.
City Index, established in 1983, also operates as a publicly traded entity. This broker shines particularly in regulatory compliance, possessing 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, showcasing its commitment to maintaining high trust standards. With a top-tier ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, City Index is considered highly trusted by international standards, despite not being a bank. This comparison highlights City Index’s edge in regulatory coverage through its extensive Tier-1 licensing, making it a formidable choice for traders focusing on trust.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 1983 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, both XTB and City Index sit around the industry average, each earning 4.5 out of 5 stars. On EUR/USD, XTB’s average spread was 1.0 pip (Q4 2023), while City Index averaged 0.74 pips (July 2023), giving City Index a slight edge on that pair. In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees rankings, XTB places #12 out of 63 brokers and City Index ranks #15.
XTB offers a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account; however, the Pro option is being phased out and is generally unavailable to new clients in most regions. For smaller trade sizes, the Standard account tends to be cheaper, with a minimum deposit of 250 in your base currency. Active traders can join XTB’s Lower Spread Group to earn 5%–30% spread rebates once monthly volume hits 20 to 1000 lots. City Index pricing is also in line with the market, with its best rates typically found on its own platforms or MetaTrader. High-volume clients may qualify for the Premium Trader account (deposit over £10,000) and for professional rebates: in the U.K., £4–£7.5 per million depending on monthly volume (£25M–£300M+), and in Australia, AUD $4.5–$14.5 per million across tiers.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | £100.00 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.4 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | 0.74 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB and City Index both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts. City Index lists more total markets (13,500 tradeable symbols) than XTB (7,184), while XTB edges ahead on currency choice with 71 forex pairs versus 66 at City Index. Both brokers support cryptocurrency trading through CFDs but do not offer direct, delivered crypto purchases.
For share dealing, XTB stands out by offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas City Index does not. City Index, however, offers copy trading; XTB does not. Each broker earns 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com, with City Index ranked #8 of 63 and XTB ranked #15. In short: choose City Index if you want a bigger overall market list and copy trading, or pick XTB if you want to buy actual shares across U.S. and global exchanges along with a slightly wider set of forex pairs.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 13500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 66 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| 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.
XTB vs City Index: both brokers deliver user-friendly trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, an in-house (proprietary) platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Both also let you place trades directly from charts and provide a range of charting tools and technical indicators. For third‑party platforms, City Index supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) while XTB does not; neither broker supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5). City Index includes copy trading, whereas XTB does not.
When it comes to quality scores, both are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools by ForexBrokers.com. In the same category, XTB ranks #9 out of 63 brokers, and City Index ranks #11. If you need MT4 or copy trading, City Index has the advantage; if you want an in-house platform experience across web and desktop with a free demo, both brokers fit the bill.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 88 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and City Index both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each supports price alerts, drawing tools like trendlines on stock and forex charts, and automatic saving of your chart annotations—handy when you switch between screens. Both are easy to pick up and use for day-to-day trading and charting on the go.
Key differences show up in syncing and study depth. City Index syncs your watchlists between mobile and the web platform, while XTB does not. For technical analysis, City Index offers 88 built-in studies versus 39 on XTB, giving indicator-heavy traders more choice. Despite these differences, both earned 4.5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and rank near the top with ForexBrokers.com: XTB at #8 and City Index at #9 out of 63 brokers. If you want deeper indicator libraries and seamless watchlist syncing, City Index has an edge; if you’re comfortable with fewer studies and don’t need syncing, XTB remains a strong pick.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 88 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing XTB and City Index for market research, both brokers excel in delivering essential insights and tools for traders. XTB and City Index equally provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders are well-informed. Additionally, both offer sentiment-based trading tools that reveal long or short position ratios across various instruments, alongside comprehensive economic calendars that highlight global news events. However, a key distinction arises with City Index offering tools from Trading Central, enhancing technical analysis resources, a feature absent in XTB's suite.
Both platforms share some research tool limitations, as neither provides resources from companies like Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Despite these similarities, XTB is distinguished with a slightly higher research rating of 5 stars compared to City Index's 4.5 stars, according to ForexBrokers.com. Additionally, XTB is ranked #7 out of 63 brokers for the Research category, surpassing City Index, which is ranked #10. This showcases XTB's competitive edge in delivering quality research materials that could benefit traders seeking comprehensive market insights.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
New to trading? XTB and City Index both give beginners a clear learning path for forex and CFDs. Each broker runs client webinars at least once a month and offers a sizable video library, including 10+ beginner lessons to help you get started. As you progress, both also provide 10+ advanced videos to build on your skills.
How do they stack up? XTB earns a 5-star Education score, while City Index comes in at 4.5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s Education rankings across 63 brokers, City Index is #9 and XTB is #11. If highest star ratings are your priority, XTB has the edge; if you care more about overall industry ranking, City Index edges ahead. Either way, both deliver ongoing webinars and plenty of forex/CFD lessons that can take you from beginner basics to more advanced strategies.
| Feature |
XTB
|
City Index
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 XTB is better than City Index. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while City Index finished with an overall rank of #8.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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City Index
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 |
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In the XTB vs City Index comparison, neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
In the XTB vs City Index comparison for deposit and withdrawal methods, City Index supports ACH/SEPA and bank wires plus PayPal (no Skrill), while XTB lacks ACH/SEPA but offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires; 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 | XTB | City Index | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | City Index Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | City Index | |
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| Regulation | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 1983 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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) | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 13500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| 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 | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.4 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | 0.74 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | £100.00 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 88 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 88 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review | City Index Review |
| Overall | XTB | City Index | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | City Index Review |
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