Comparison of City Index and IG
| Feature | City Index | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 1983 | 1974 |
| Broker Type | MM | MM, DMA |
| Dealing | B‑book | B-book, A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | FCA, ASIC, MAS, FSRA‑ADGM | FCA, BMA, BaFin, FSAN, AFM, CONSOB, CNMV, ACPR, FI, FINMA, NFA, CFTC, ASIC, NZ FMA, JFSA, JFFA, MAS, FSCA, DFSA |
| Platforms | WebTrader, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⮕ Average |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:400 | 1:200 |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $1 |
| Base Currencies | GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, SGD, CHF, PLN | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, AUD, NZD, JPY, NOK, SEK, SGD, HKD |
| Funding Methods | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, PayPal | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal |
| Inactivity Fee | £12/month after 12 months of inactivity | $18 per month after 24 months |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | FSCS | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org |
| Protection Size | £85000 | £85 000 / €20 000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✔ | ✔ |
| Copy Trading | ✖ | ✖ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✖ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✔ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✖ | ✔ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities |
| Review | City Index Review | IG Review |
About City Index
City Index is a broker owned by StoneX, founded in 1983. The company offers more than 13,000 markets, ranging from currency pairs and global indices to spread betting in the UK. Trading is available on web, desktop, and mobile platforms: MT4 and TradingView. Regulated by the FCA, ASIC, MAS, and ADGM, the broker offers low floating spreads from 0.7 pips, guaranteed stop losses, negative balance protection, and VIP rebates for active traders.
Pros
- Low minimum deposit and fast onboarding
- 80+ FX pairs plus 13000 CFDs & spread bets
- Tier‑1 regulation (FCA, ASIC, MAS) and FSCS cover
- Choice of WebTrader, MT4 and TradingView
- Guaranteed stop‑loss orders & negative‑balance protection
Cons
- Retail leverage capped at 1:30 in UK/EU
- No crypto deposits and no deposit bonuses
About IG
IG is one of the most established and reputable brokers in the forex and CFD trading industry, having been founded in 1974. Regulated by top-tier financial authorities, including the FCA (UK) and ASIC (Australia), IG offers a wide range of trading instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and shares. The broker is well-suited for both beginner and professional traders, providing access to an advanced trading platform, competitive spreads, and a comprehensive suite of educational resources. IG's long-standing presence in the market and robust regulatory compliance make it a trusted choice for traders worldwide. In addition to its proprietary platform, IG supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), which is ideal for traders who prefer algorithmic strategies or a familiar interface. The broker also excels in market research and analysis, providing clients with detailed insights, trading signals, and technical tools. However, while IG offers extensive features, its services might not be ideal for smaller retail traders due to higher minimum deposit requirements in some regions. Furthermore, the absence of certain features like cent accounts or high leverage options may deter specific trading styles.
Pros
- Highly regulated by top-tier financial authorities (FCA, ASIC, etc.)
- Wide range of tradable assets, including over 99 forex pairs
- Advanced proprietary platform and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
- Comprehensive market research and educational resources
- Long-standing reputation with nearly five decades of experience
- Competitive spreads and reliable trade execution
Cons
- Limited high-leverage options compared to some competitors
- No support for cent accounts, which may not suit small-scale traders
- Inactivity fees for dormant accounts
- Customer support may not be available 24/7 for all regions
City Index & IG Regulation
| Feature | City Index | IG |
|---|---|---|
Companies | StoneX Financial Ltd (UK), StoneX Financial Pty Ltd (AU), City Index Asia Pte Ltd (SG), StoneX Financial (ME) Ltd (UAE) | IG Markets Ltd, IG International Limited, IG Europe GmbH, IG Bank SA, IG US LLC, IG Australia Pty Ltd., IG Securities Limited, IG Asia Pte Ltd, IG Markets South Africa Limited, IG Limited |
Countries | United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates | United Kingdom, Bermuda, Germany, Switzerland, United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates |
Regulators | FCA, ASIC, MAS, FSRA‑ADGM | FCA, BMA, BaFin, FSAN, AFM, CONSOB, CNMV, ACPR, FI, FINMA, NFA, CFTC, ASIC, NZ FMA, JFSA, JFFA, MAS, FSCA, DFSA |
Investor Protection | FSCS | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org |
Investor Protection Size | £85000 | £85 000 / €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | City Index | IG |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Standard | CFD |
| Min Deposit | $1 | $1 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Min Spread | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:200 |
| Stop Out | 50% | 50% |
| Margin Call | 100% | 100% |
Fix Spread Account | ||
| Account Name | Fixed Spread | — |
| Min Deposit | $0 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Fixed | — |
| Execution | Instant | — |
| Min Spread | 1 | — |
| Fee | No | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | — |
| Stop Out | 50% | — |
| Margin Call | 100% | — |
DMA Account | ||
| Account Name | — | DMA |
| Min Deposit | — | $1000 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0.16 |
| Fee | — | $12 per 1 lot |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:200 |
| Stop Out | — | 20% |
| Margin Call | — | 50% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | City Index | IG |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, SGD, CHF, PLN | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, AUD, NZD, JPY, NOK, SEK, SGD, HKD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, PayPal | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal |
Inactivity fee | £12/month after 12 months of inactivity | $18 per month after 24 months |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | City Index | IG |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | WebTrader, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer |
Execution Speed | 20 ms | - |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | average |
Trading Assets
| Asset | City Index | IG |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 84 | 99 |
Indices | 21 | 46 |
Stocks | 4500 | 13000 |
Cryptocurrencies | 25 | 15 |
Bonds | 0 | 19 |
Metals | 8 | 11 |
Energies | 4 | 9 |
Soft Commodities | 9 | 20 |
ETFs | 100 | 5400 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | City Index | IG |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | City Index | IG |
|---|---|---|
Email | support@cityindex.com | newaccounts.uk@ig.com |
Phone | +442075508500 | +442076335430 |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing City Index and IG, City Index comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
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Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.