This comparison pits City Index against easyMarkets across trust, costs and platforms, highlighting how regulation, instrument count and pricing differ.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose City Index if you prioritise top-tier regulation and broad market access. It is regulated by FCA, ASIC and MAS and offers 13,500+ markets with segregated client funds, FSCS protection for UK clients, negative balance protection and investor compensation coverage.
Choose if…
Choose easyMarkets if you value fixed spreads and a low minimum deposit. It is regulated by CySEC, ASIC, HCMC, MNB and CNV and offers a 200-instrument universe, with a $25 minimum deposit, multilingual support, no inactivity fee, and client funds in segregated accounts.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | City Index | easyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Fail | Pass |
The scores are close: City Index rates 4.2/5 and easyMarkets rates 3.9/5. City Index 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 easyMarkets's 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
City Index has no minimum deposit, while easyMarkets requires at least $25. This makes City Index more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both City Index and easyMarkets 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, two factors stand out: City Index has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
City Index lists maximum leverage of 30:1, while easyMarkets lists up to 400:1. 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 easyMarkets supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile and MetaTrader 4. City Index has exclusive access to TradingView. easyMarkets has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5.
City Index offers tighter spreads from 0.50 pips vs 0.70 pips for easyMarkets, reducing trading costs.
City Index wins for safety & regulation with FCA/ASIC/MAS oversight and segregated funds protections.
City Index is best for active traders due to 13,500+ markets and advanced charting tools.
City Index is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.50 pips.
City Index excels in platform choice with MT4, TradingView integration and a proprietary platform.
easyMarkets wins for beginners thanks to a very low $25 minimum deposit and no-deposit-fee policy.
City Index wins instrument variety with 13,500+ markets.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.1 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1983 | 2001 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $25 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips▼ lower | 0.7 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | 400:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $12/month (after 12 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FCA MAS | ASIC CySEC HCMC MNB CNV |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Pros
Fixed spreads with no-slippage guarantee on web platform
Unique dealCancellation feature to undo losing trades
Very low $25 minimum deposit
CySEC, ASIC regulated
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Inactivity fee after 12 months of no trading
Not available to US residents
Proprietary platform visual design lags behind IG and Saxo
Research depth weaker than IG's Reuters/Morningstar environment
No raw spread account option
Support available in limited languages
Cons
Fixed spreads are wider than ECN variable spread accounts
Proprietary platform feels dated compared to MT4/MT5
Limited research tools
Limited charting capabilities
City Index edges easyMarkets on the editorial score, backed by FCA/ASIC/MAS regulation and a broader 13,500+ markets.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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