City Index vs Xtrade 2025
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Xtrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of City Index vs Xtrade, 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 online brokers, City Index stands out with its strong reputation and trustworthiness. Founded in 1983, City Index boasts a Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, indicating it is highly trusted. The broker is publicly traded, which adds to its credibility, and it holds seven Tier-1 licenses, the highest level of trustworthiness. City Index also maintains a Tier-2 license, further establishing its trusted status in the financial industry.
Xtrade, established in 2003, presents a more moderate risk profile with a Trust Score of 74. Unlike City Index, Xtrade is not publicly traded. It holds one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, reflecting an average level of trust. Although both brokers are non-banks and regulated, City Index's extensive regulatory framework and higher Trust Score may appeal to traders seeking a more established and secure trading environment.
| Feature |
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
City Index’s commissions and fees are generally in line with the industry average across CFDs, forex, and spread betting. The broker says you’ll see its best pricing on its own platforms or MetaTrader. As of July 2023, the EUR/USD average spread was 0.74 pips—competitive, though not as low as price leaders like Tickmill and FP Markets. City Index offers a Premium Trader account for deposits over £10,000, with access to exclusive pricing and dedicated support. High-volume traders can also qualify for rebates: in the U.K., £4 per million traded above £25M monthly, rising to £7.5 per million above £300M; in Australia, AUD $4.5 to $14.5 per million depending on tier. City Index earns 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #15 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
Xtrade does not provide average spread data, which makes direct cost comparisons difficult. Without transparent pricing details, assessing day-to-day trading costs—such as typical spreads on major forex pairs—is challenging. Reflecting this, Xtrade holds a 2.5/5 star rating for commissions and fees and ranks #64 out of 63 brokers in the same category at ForexBrokers.com.
Bottom line on costs: City Index discloses typical spreads, offers volume-based rebates, and includes a premium account option for larger deposits, making its pricing easier to evaluate. Xtrade’s lack of published average spreads leaves its total trading costs less clear by comparison. For traders focused on fees, City Index’s 4.5/5 rating and #15 ranking signal stronger value than Xtrade’s 2.5/5 rating and #64 ranking.
| Feature |
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $250 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
City Index offers a far wider range of markets than Xtrade. You’ll find 13,500 tradeable symbols at City Index versus 482 at Xtrade, including 66 forex pairs compared with Xtrade’s 56. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts and offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. If you want to buy real, exchange-traded shares (like Apple on U.S. markets or Vodafone in London), neither broker provides that—both focus on derivatives instead.
Feature-wise, City Index includes copy trading, while Xtrade does not. Reflecting the broader selection, City Index earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Xtrade scores 3.5 stars and ranks #50. In short, City Index suits traders seeking more markets and copy trading options, while Xtrade covers the basics with a smaller lineup.
| Feature |
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 56 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
City Index vs Xtrade: both brokers offer a free demo account and their own in-house platforms, plus browser-based trading you can use without downloads. City Index also provides a Windows desktop platform, while Xtrade does not. If you want copy trading or MetaTrader 4 (MT4), City Index has both; Xtrade does not support copy trading or MT4. Neither broker offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Both let you place trades directly from charts.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, City Index is rated 4.5/5 and ranked #11 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade is rated 3.5/5 and ranked #59. That makes City Index the stronger pick for traders seeking more platform choice—including MT4 and a desktop app—while Xtrade suits those who prefer a simple web platform. In either case, you can test-drive features first with a demo account.
| Feature |
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | N/A |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Xtrade both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. City Index stands out for everyday use: it supports price alerts and watchlists that sync with your online account, so updates on your phone or web carry over automatically. Its charting is more complete, with 88 technical indicators, the ability to draw trendlines, and autosaving of drawings. Xtrade provides core mobile trading but does not include price alerts or synced watchlists, and it lacks trendline tools and autosave; the number of technical studies in its app is not specified.
For ratings, City Index scores 4.5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Xtrade earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #54 out of 63. If you want stronger charting and a seamless experience between phone and web, City Index is the better pick. If you only need basic trading on the go, Xtrade can work.
| Feature |
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both City Index and Xtrade provide daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Where they differ is in advanced market research: City Index adds Trading Central tools and a sentiment gauge that shows the long/short split across markets—features Xtrade does not offer.
These extras help explain the gap in third-party ratings: City Index earns 4.5/5 stars for Research and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade scores 3.5/5 and ranks #53. If you want deeper technical analysis and sentiment insights built into your platform, City Index is the stronger pick; if you only need the essentials—news, commentary, and a calendar—Xtrade can get the job done.
| Feature |
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing City Index vs Xtrade on education, City Index is the clearer choice. City Index offers a dedicated forex and CFD education library that meets the 10+ piece threshold (covering articles, videos, and archived webinars). It also runs client webinars at least once a month and supplies 10+ beginner videos plus 10+ advanced videos to grow with you as your skills improve. That depth shows in the scores: City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
Xtrade’s education is more limited for new traders. It doesn’t provide monthly educational webinars and has fewer than 10 beginner videos as well as fewer than 10 advanced videos, which makes it harder to build a step-by-step learning plan. Reflecting that, Xtrade is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #46 out of 63. If you want structured learning with regular live sessions and a sizeable forex/CFD library, City Index is the stronger pick; Xtrade may suit those who only need a light introduction.
| Feature |
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 Xtrade. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #60.
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 |
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Xtrade
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 |
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In a City Index vs Xtrade comparison, neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both support cryptocurrency trading via CFDs.
Compared to Xtrade, which does not support ACH or SEPA (and whose support for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires isn’t specified in the provided data), City Index supports deposits and withdrawals via ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire, does not support Skrill, and has unspecified Visa/Mastercard support.
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 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Xtrade | |
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| Regulation | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | N/A | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | City Index | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Xtrade Review |