City Index and Saxo Bank face off in a multi-asset trading comparison, weighing regulation, costs, and platform depth. The axis of tension centers on platform capability versus regulatory breadth.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose City Index if you value MT4/MT5 access and 24/5 live chat.
Choose if…
Choose Saxo Bank if you want multilingual support and a deep multi-asset platform.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.6 / 5 | 4.9 / 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 | Saxo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Fail | Pass |
Saxo Bank rates 4.7/5 versus 4.2/5 for City Index. Saxo Bank 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 Saxo Bank's 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither City Index nor Saxo Bank requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both City Index and Saxo Bank 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 Saxo Bank 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 Saxo Bank supports SaxoTraderGO, Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. City Index has exclusive access to TradingView and MetaTrader 4. Saxo Bank has exclusive access to SaxoTraderGO.
City Index offers tighter spreads from 0.50 pips vs 0.60 pips for Saxo Bank, reducing trading costs.
Saxo Bank wins for safety & regulation due to multiple regulators including FCA, ASIC, MAS and funds segregation.
City Index is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.50 pips.
Saxo Bank wins for platform choice with SaxoTraderGO/PRO and a deeper multi-asset suite.
City Index wins for beginners thanks to lower spreads and a $0 minimum deposit.
Saxo Bank wins for instrument variety with 71,000 markets.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1983 | 1992 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Copenhagen, Denmark |
|---|
| 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)▼ lower | $100/quarter (low-balance accounts) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FCA MAS | ASIC JFSA CNMV KNF FCA DFSA MFSA ACPR Finansinspektionen CBI CMA SFC Finanstilsynet FINMA MAS Finanstilsynet FSC |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 | SaxoTraderGO Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| 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
Licensed bank (Denmark)
Best-in-class multi-asset platform
Tiered active-trader pricing
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
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
Higher minimums on classic accounts than ECN brokers
No MT4 / MT5
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Saxo Bank edges City Index with the higher editorial score of 4.7 to 4.2, and offers a deeper multi-asset platform.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
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