City Index and ThinkMarkets face off in a regulation and platform showdown. The tension lies between cost structures and execution options across multiple platforms.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose City Index if you want no inactivity fees and FCA regulation.
Choose if…
Choose ThinkMarkets if you want multilingual support and raw spreads.
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▲ | 4.3 / 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 | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 |
City Index and ThinkMarkets share the same editorial score of 4.2/5. One concrete differentiator: ThinkMarkets has tighter spreads from 0.4 pips.
ThinkMarkets starts from 0.4 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.
Neither City Index nor ThinkMarkets requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both City Index and ThinkMarkets 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 ThinkMarkets 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.
ThinkMarkets 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 ThinkMarkets supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile and TradingView and MetaTrader 4. ThinkMarkets has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5.
ThinkMarkets offers tighter spreads from 0.40 pips vs 0.50 pips for City Index, reducing trading costs.
ThinkMarkets has broader regulation across FCA, ASIC, FSCA, and JFSA, enhancing cross-region safety.
ThinkMarkets offers higher leverage at 500:1, supporting more active trading.
ThinkMarkets is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.40 pips.
ThinkMarkets wins with MT4, MT5, and ThinkTrader alongside TradingView.
ThinkMarkets offers multilingual support and a no-minimum-deposit option, lowering entry barriers.
City Index provides 13,500+ instruments, far more than ThinkMarkets.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.1 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1983 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0.4 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $7/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 1.1 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 cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FCA MAS | ASIC JFSA FCA FSCA |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView 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
No minimum deposit on standard ThinkForex account
ThinkTrader proprietary app is well-reviewed for mobile trading
JFSA regulation for Japanese clients
Strong multi-region regulatory coverage
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
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
ThinkZero account requires $500 minimum deposit
Standard account is spread-only and not competitive for scalpers
Not available to US residents
City Index and ThinkMarkets are closely matched overall. The clearest differentiator is inactivity fees: City Index has none, ThinkMarkets charges.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
Score 4.2 / 5
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