City Indexvs
CMC MarketsForex Broker Comparison
In this side-by-side, City Index and CMC Markets square off on regulation, costs, and platforms. The axis centers on instrument breadth versus platform depth.
Who should choose City Index vs CMC Markets?
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose City Index for a broad instrument universe of 13,500+ markets, including UK spread betting.
Choose if…
Choose CMC Markets if you want multilingual support and a strong proprietary platform.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
City Index vs CMC Markets: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.5/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.6 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
City Index vs CMC Markets Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
FCA-regulated since 1983, backed by Nasdaq-listed StoneX Group
13,500+ markets including UK spread betting
TradingView integration for chart-based order execution
EUR/USD from 0.5 pips, competitive for a spread-only desk
FSCS protection up to GBP 85,000 for UK clients
City Index vs CMC Markets: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
0
City Index
criteria wins
1
CMC Markets
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | City Index | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Fail | Pass |
City Index vs CMC Markets: Frequently Asked Questions
The scores are close: City Index rates 4.2/5 and CMC Markets rates 4.5/5. CMC Markets has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
City Index starts from 0.5 pips, tighter than CMC Markets's 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither City Index nor CMC Markets requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both City Index and CMC Markets hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
City Index lists maximum leverage of 30:1, while CMC Markets lists up to 30:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
City Index supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while CMC Markets supports ProRealTime, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile and MetaTrader 4. City Index has exclusive access to TradingView. CMC Markets has exclusive access to ProRealTime.
