In this matchup, City Index and Global Prime contrast on regulation, costs, and platforms. The tension centers on instrument breadth versus raw-spread access.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose City Index if you want broad market access and a proprietary platform alongside a long FCA-regulated history. You also benefit from FCA regulation since 1983, 24/5 live chat, phone support, and no deposit fees.
Choose if…
Choose Global Prime if you want raw spreads from 0.0 pips and a $7 round-turn commission on true NDD execution. You also gain access to MT4 and cTrader, inclusive of segregated funds and strong transparency in execution reports.
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▲ | 4.5 / 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 | Global Prime |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| 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 | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Fail | Fail |
City Index and Global Prime share the same editorial score of 4.2/5. One concrete differentiator: City Index requires a lower minimum deposit.
Global Prime 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 Global Prime requires at least $200. This makes City Index more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both City Index and Global Prime 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 Global Prime 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.
Global Prime 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 Global Prime supports cTrader, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. City Index has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile and TradingView. Global Prime has exclusive access to cTrader.
Global Prime offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.50 pips for City Index, reducing trading costs.
City Index wins for safety and regulation due to FCA oversight and segregated client funds.
Global Prime wins for active traders thanks to raw spreads and true NDD execution.
Global Prime is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
City Index wins for platform choice with a proprietary platform and TradingView integration.
City Index is better for beginners with zero minimum deposit and FCA-regulated credibility.
City Index offers the widest instrument variety with 13,500 markets.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1983 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Sydney, Australia |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $200 |
|---|
| 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) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FCA MAS | ASIC VFSC |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 | cTrader 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
ASIC regulated with published quarterly execution quality reports
Raw spreads from 0.0 pips with $7 round-turn commission
True NDD execution, no internal position matching
MT4 and cTrader available
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
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
$200 minimum deposit
Limited product range, forex and major CFD classes only
No proprietary platform or copy trading
No investor compensation scheme
No 24/5 live chat
No phone support
Support available in limited languages
City Index and Global Prime are closely matched overall. The clearest differentiator is instrument variety, with City Index offering 13,500 markets versus Global Prime's 150.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
Score 4.2 / 5
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