Comparison of City Index and Plus500
| Feature | City Index | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2008 |
| Broker Type | MM | MM |
| Dealing | B‑book | B-book |
| Execution | Market | Instant |
| Regulation | FCA, ASIC, MAS, FSRA‑ADGM | CySEC, FCA, ASIC, NZ FMA, FSCA, SFSA, EFSA, MAS, CFTC, NFA |
| Platforms | WebTrader, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), TradingView | Plus500 |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⮕ Average |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:400 | 1:30 |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $100 |
| Base Currencies | GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, SGD, CHF, PLN | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CHF, JPY, SEK, NOK, CZK, PLN, HUF, TRY, SGD |
| Funding Methods | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, PayPal | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill |
| Inactivity Fee | £12/month after 12 months of inactivity | $10 per month after 3 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, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities |
| Review | City Index Review | Plus500 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 Plus500
Plus500 is a leading CFD broker known for its simple and intuitive trading platform. Founded in 2008 and regulated by top-tier authorities such as the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and ASIC (Australia), Plus500 provides a secure trading environment with access to a wide range of instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, shares, and ETFs. The broker is particularly praised for its user-friendly web and mobile platforms, which offer a streamlined trading experience without unnecessary complexity. While Plus500 excels in providing competitive spreads and no commission fees, it does not support third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, which may deter traders who rely on advanced charting and automated trading tools. Additionally, educational resources are somewhat limited compared to competitors, making it less ideal for traders seeking in-depth learning materials. Despite these drawbacks, Plus500 remains a popular choice for traders who prioritize ease of use and access to diverse trading instruments.
Pros
- Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, CySEC, ASIC)
- Simple and intuitive proprietary trading platform
- Wide range of tradable instruments, including forex, stocks, and commodities
- Competitive spreads and no commission on trades
- User-friendly mobile app with real-time notifications
- Free and unlimited demo account for practice
Cons
- No support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
- Limited educational resources for beginner traders
- Inactivity fees for dormant accounts
- No phone-based customer support; only live chat and email
City Index & Plus500 Regulation
| Feature | City Index | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Companies | StoneX Financial Ltd (UK), StoneX Financial Pty Ltd (AU), City Index Asia Pte Ltd (SG), StoneX Financial (ME) Ltd (UAE) | Plus500CY Ltd, Plus500UK Ltd, Plus500AU Pty Ltd, Plus500SEY Ltd, Plus500EE, Plus500SG Pte Ltd, Plus500US Ltd |
Countries | United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates | Cyprus, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Seychelles, Estonia, Singapore, United States |
Regulators | FCA, ASIC, MAS, FSRA‑ADGM | CySEC, FCA, ASIC, NZ FMA, FSCA, SFSA, EFSA, MAS, CFTC, NFA |
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 | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Standard | CFD |
| Min Deposit | $1 | $100 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Instant |
| Min Spread | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:30 |
| Stop Out | 50% | 100% |
| 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% | — |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | City Index | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, SGD, CHF, PLN | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CHF, JPY, SEK, NOK, CZK, PLN, HUF, TRY, SGD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, PayPal | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill |
Inactivity fee | £12/month after 12 months of inactivity | $10 per month after 3 months |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | City Index | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | WebTrader, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), TradingView | Plus500 |
Execution Speed | 20 ms | 0 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | average |
Trading Assets
| Asset | City Index | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 84 | 65 |
Indices | 21 | 36 |
Stocks | 4500 | 1550 |
Cryptocurrencies | 25 | 0 |
Bonds | 0 | 0 |
Metals | 8 | 5 |
Energies | 4 | 7 |
Soft Commodities | 9 | 10 |
ETFs | 100 | 96 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | City Index | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | City Index | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Email | support@cityindex.com | support@plus500.com |
Phone | +442075508500 | — |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | — | |
YouTube | YouTube | — |
Instagram | ||
Twitter |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing City Index and Plus500, Plus500 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.