City Index and EightCap face off on regulation, pricing, and platforms. Their platform breadth and instrument variety pull in different directions.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose City Index if you want a $0 minimum deposit.
Choose if…
Choose City Index if you value FCA regulation and UK certainty. Choose EightCap if you want raw spreads and multiple platforms. Choose EightCap if you need leverage up to 500:1.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.4 / 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 | EightCap |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| 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 | Fail |
| 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 |
The scores are close: City Index rates 4.2/5 and EightCap rates 4.3/5. EightCap 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.
EightCap starts from 0 pips, tighter than City Index's 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
City Index has no minimum deposit, while EightCap requires at least $100. This makes City Index more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both City Index and EightCap 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 EightCap lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
EightCap charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for City Index are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
City Index supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while EightCap supports TradingView, cTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Both provide TradingView and MetaTrader 4. City Index has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile. EightCap has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5.
EightCap offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.50 pips for City Index, reducing trading costs.
Equally matched.
EightCap wins for active traders with raw spreads and four-platform access.
EightCap is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
EightCap offers a broader platform suite including MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView.
City Index wins for instrument variety with 13,500+ markets.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1983 | 2009 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Melbourne, Australia |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $7/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 0.7 pips |
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $12/month (after 12 months) | $10/month (after 12 months)▼ lower |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FCA MAS | ASIC FCA SCB |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 | TradingView cTrader MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
|---|
| 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
MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView all available on one account
Capitalise.ai code-free automation included at no extra cost
ASIC (391441) and FCA (921296) dual regulation
Razor account: raw EUR/USD from 0.0 pips at $7 round-turn commission
No minimum deposit on Standard account
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
Advanced charting tools included
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
$100 minimum on Razor ECN account
Shorter public track record than IC Markets or Pepperstone
Research and educational content thinner than larger peers
Not available to US residents
No proprietary platform
City Index and EightCap are closely matched on regulation, pricing, and platforms. The clearest differentiator is instrument variety, with City Index offering 13,500+ markets versus EightCap's 800.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
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