City Index and IG face off on trust, costs, and platforms. The matchup tests regulation strength and market breadth, creating anticipation over which edge holds.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose City Index if you want FCA regulation and FSCS protection, UK spread betting, and a 13,500+ market universe.
Choose if…
Choose IG if you want the widest range of markets and multilingual support, with 19,000+ instruments.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.8/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.6 / 5 | 5.0 / 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 | IG |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
IG rates 4.8/5 versus 4.2/5 for City Index. IG edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
City Index starts from 0.5 pips, tighter than IG's 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither City Index nor IG requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both City Index and IG 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 IG 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 IG supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, ProRealTime, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile and TradingView and MetaTrader 4. IG has exclusive access to ProRealTime.
City Index offers tighter spreads from 0.50 pips vs 0.60 pips for IG, reducing trading costs.
IG wins for safety and regulation due to its broader regulatory stack.
IG wins for active traders with more markets and advanced charting tools.
City Index is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.50 pips.
IG wins for platform choice with MT4/MT5, ProRealTime, and DMA routing.
IG wins for beginners thanks to multilingual support and broad regulation.
IG wins for instrument variety with a broader market universe.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1983 | 1974 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | 30:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $12/month (after 12 months) | £12/month (after 24 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferDebit cardPayPal |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FCA MAS | CMVM ASIC FCA DFSA KNF Finansinspektionen BaFin CBI Finanstilsynet NFA FMA Finanstilsynet |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView ProRealTime 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
LSE-listed with FCA and ASIC regulation, among the most credible regulatory stacks in retail CFDs
19,000+ markets including weekend crypto, volatility indices, and EM pairs, real breadth, not a padded count
Proprietary platform with ProRealTime charts, Reuters news, and DMA equity routing built in
Spread betting available for UK clients, tax-free gains on the same account used for CFD trading
No minimum deposit and no deposit or withdrawal fee on standard methods
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
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
Market maker on forex, not suitable for scalpers who need sub-0.1 pip raw ECN spreads
Inactivity fee of £12/month kicks in after 24 months with no trades
Onboarding verification is slower than smaller or offshore brokers
Customer support quality drops outside UK business hours
IG leads on the editorial score (4.8 vs 4.2), making IG the overall winner for credibility and breadth.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
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