City Index and FXTM square off on regulation quality, platform choice, and market reach. The tension centers on platform breadth versus instrument variety.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose City Index if you want a proprietary platform and advanced charting.
Choose if…
Choose FXTM if you value MT4/MT5, high leverage, and multilingual support.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 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 | FXTM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Fail | Pass |
City Index and FXTM share the same editorial score of 4.2/5. One concrete differentiator: City Index requires a lower minimum deposit.
City Index starts from 0.5 pips, tighter than FXTM's 1.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
City Index has no minimum deposit, while FXTM requires at least $10. This makes City Index more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both City Index and FXTM 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 FXTM lists up to 1000:1. 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 FXTM supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. City Index has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile and TradingView. FXTM has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5.
City Index offers tighter spreads from 0.50 pips vs 1.50 pips for FXTM, reducing trading costs.
Equally matched; both hold strong regulators and segregated funds.
FXTM wins for active traders with higher leverage and raw spreads.
FXTM is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available.
City Index wins for platform choice with a proprietary platform and TradingView integration.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1983 | 2011 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $10 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips▼ lower | 1.5 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1▲ higher | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $12/month (after 12 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FCA MAS | CySEC FCA FSCA FSC |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 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
Low $10 minimum deposit on Micro accounts
Strong copy trading via FXTM Invest platform
Extensive education, webinars, video courses, and market analysis
Multilingual support in 20+ languages
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
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
Standard account spreads are not ECN-competitive
Platform choice limited to MT4 and MT5
Mauritius FSC entity offers less investor protection than FCA/CySEC
No proprietary platform
Limited charting capabilities
City Index and FXTM are closely matched overall, but City Index edges FXTM on instrument variety.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
Score 4.2 / 5
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