City Index vs eToro

City Index or eToro – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare City Index and eToro in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

City Index vs eToro Comparison Table 2025
City Index eToro
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4.4
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3.5
City Index is ranked #18 among CFD brokers. eToro is ranked #12 among CFD brokers.
Founded in 1983, City Index is a prestigious broker, now under the Nasdaq-listed StoneX Group. It excels in forex, CFDs, and spread betting. With access to over 13,500 instruments, City Index provides a dynamic Web Trader platform, exceptional educational materials, and round-the-clock support five days a week, ensuring a thorough trading experience. eToro is a leading platform providing trading in numerous CFDs, stocks, and cryptoassets. Established in 2007, it serves millions of traders worldwide, regulated by top-tier authorities like the FCA and CySEC. It's well-known for its extensive social trading features. Investing in cryptoassets is highly volatile and unregulated in the UK and parts of the EU, with no consumer protection. Profits may be taxable. 51% of retail CFD accounts incur losses.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading with this provider. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.
Pros
  • City Index is under the regulation of leading authorities, such as the FCA in the UK, ASIC in Australia, and MAS in Singapore. Its parent company, StoneX Group Inc., is publicly listed, which enhances its credibility.
  • City Index has significantly improved the trading experience. In 2024, they introduced Performance Analytics, providing insights into trades and discipline. The revamped mobile app now includes integrated market research and swipe-access news.
  • City Index offers access to over 13,500 markets, including forex, indices, shares, commodities, bonds, ETFs, and interest rates. The platform's inclusion of niche markets such as interest rates provides traders with unique opportunities not commonly available on other platforms.
  • City Index offers adaptable trading platforms suited to every expertise level. For newcomers, the Web Trader platform is straightforward and user-friendly. For more in-depth analysis and automated features, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and TradingView are supported, providing a comprehensive trading experience for all traders.
  • The trading app offers an exceptional social platform, featuring an interactive feed and community chat.
  • eToro has launched EUR and GBP accounts, reducing conversion fees and offering a trading experience better suited to local requirements.
  • In 2025, eToro enhanced its trading experience by incorporating insights from over 10 million Stocktwits users, enabling better assessment of market sentiment.
  • The broker offers excellent services for beginners, featuring commission-free stock trading, a low minimum deposit, and an unlimited demo account.
  • eToro has launched automated crypto staking, offering a pathway to passive income. However, Ethereum requires users to opt in.
  • Utilising TradingView, the charts provide robust tools for technical analysis, featuring nine chart types and more than 100 indicators.
  • eToro secured second place in DayTrading.com's 'Best Crypto Broker' for 2025, offering a vast selection of tokens, dependable service, and competitive fees.
  • There is an extensive online training academy offering a range of accessible resources, from concise articles to detailed courses.
  • eToro has enhanced its investment portfolio by frequently introducing new crypto assets. It currently offers a selection of over 100 digital currencies.
  • The web platform and mobile app receive higher user reviews and app rankings compared to leading competitors like AvaTrade.
  • Leading traders participating in the broker's Popular Investor Programme can earn yearly compensation of up to 1.5% of the copied assets.
  • Diverse investment portfolios are accessible, encompassing traditional markets, technology, cryptocurrency, and beyond for traders.
  • eToro is a globally recognised brand, operating under top-tier international regulations. It boasts a community of over 25 million users.
Cons
  • Although many brokers, such as eToro, have broadened their crypto offerings, City Index restricts its clients to crypto CFDs. This limited selection may not meet the needs of traders seeking a wider variety of altcoins.
  • Unlike brokers like AvaTrade and BlackBull, City Index lacks options for passive trading, such as social copy trading or real ownership of stocks and ETFs. This limitation may reduce its appeal to traders seeking a more hands-off approach.
  • City Index does not offer an Islamic account with swap-free conditions, making it less attractive to Muslim traders than brokers such as Eightcap and Pepperstone.
  • The absence of extra charting platforms such as MT4 may deter experienced traders who rely on external software.
  • There are no assured stop-loss orders, which could be a valuable risk management tool for novice traders.
  • The minimum withdrawal is set at $30, accompanied by a $5 fee. This may impact traders with limited funds, particularly those just starting out.
  • The only significant contact option, besides the in-platform live chat, is limited.
Awards
  • Best CFD Provider 2024 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
  • Best Trading Platform 2022 - Online Money Awards
  • Best Crypto Broker Runner Up 2025 - DayTrading.com
  • Best Cryptocurrency Trading Platform 2022 - Finder
  • Education Materials/Program 2022 - Investment Trends
  • Best Copy Trading Platform 2021 - Ultimate Fintech Awards
  • Best Multi-Asset Trading Platform 2021 - Ultimate Fintech Awards
  • Best Stockbroker 2021 - Ultimate Fintech Awards
  • Best Social Trading Platform 2019 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
FCA Regulated
Yes Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Futures, Options, Bonds, Interest Rates,ETFs,Spread Betting CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0 $50
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots $10
Regulator
FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMF
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App
The City Index app delivers an accessible mobile trading experience with customised features such as one-swipe trading. Impressively, it includes full-screen TradingView charts with over 60 technical indicators for strategy planning, complemented by real-time price alerts. In 2024, Performance Analytics tools were launched, offering insights into trading metrics to enhance your strategies. eToro offers a mobile social trading platform, allowing users to replicate trades, manage accounts, and invest using Android or iOS. Trade major forex pairs conveniently from your mobile device.
iOS App Rating
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3.8
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4.8
Android App Rating
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3.1
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4
Margin Trading
No Yes
Margin Rate
2.5% 1%
MetaTrader 4
Yes No
MetaTrader 5
No No
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
Yes No
Autochartist
No No
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
Yes Yes
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No No
MAM Account
No No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
Yes Yes
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
Yes Yes
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader Automate your trades via CopyTrader - follow profitable traders. Open and close trades automatically when they do.
Copy Trading
No Yes
Copy Trading Platform
eToro consistently provides an outstanding proprietary trading platform for clients, free of charge. The web-based system is both intuitive and engaging, complemented by a community chat that appeals to novice traders. The recent 'Live Trades' feature grants immediate access to real-time insights on securities purchased by top investors on the platform.
Social Trading
No Yes
Trade Signals
SMART Signals Yes
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
Yes Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Yes No
Inactivity Fee
£12 $10
Islamic Account
No Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • AUD
  • PLN
  • CZK
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Oil
  • Silver
  • Copper
  • Livestock
  • Platinum
  • Natural Gas
  • Soybeans
  • Nickel
  • Iron
  • Orange Juice
  • Cannabis
  • Palladium
  • Coffee
  • Cotton
  • Lean Hogs
  • Sugar
  • Wheat
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Oil
  • Copper
  • Cotton
  • Coffee
  • Livestock
  • Wheat
  • Precious Metals
  • Platinum
  • Gasoline
  • Cocoa
  • Sugar
  • Palladium
  • Corn
  • Aluminium
  • Soybeans
  • Nickel
  • Lead
  • Iron
  • Lithium
  • Cannabis
  • Natural Gas
  • Orange Juice
  • Zinc
  • Cattle
  • Lean Hogs
CFD
City Index offers a comprehensive range of CFDs, enabling traders to seize short-term opportunities across various assets, sectors, and regions. Its 'Trade Ideas' platform is particularly beneficial for active traders seeking data-driven insights. Additionally, the Web Trader platform features advanced charting tools with over 90 technical indicators. Trade CFDs across more than 3,000 assets with access to detailed market data through integrated TradingView charts. The eToro Academy provides extensive free learning resources for beginners, featuring specific courses and guides on CFD trading. In 2025, eToro enhanced flexibility for UK clients by enabling direct CFD trading on US assets with GBP.
Leverage
1:30 1:30
FTSE Spread
1.0 1.5
GBPUSD Spread<
1.1 1.9
Oil Spread
1.5 0.05
Stocks Spread
Variable 0.57 (Apple)
Forex
City Index is a highly respected forex broker, offering traders access to over 80 currency pairs. With tight spreads starting at 0.7 pips, it provides valuable trading alerts and excellent FX market insights. Moreover, 99.99% of trades are executed successfully. A broad range of 55 currencies is offered, with competitive spreads averaging 0.9 pips on EUR/USD during peak trading hours. Traders can refine their forex strategies by seamlessly transitioning between demo and live accounts, retaining full access to over 100 technical indicators provided by the broker.
Assets
84 55
GBPUSD Spread
1.1 1.9
EURUSD Spread
0.8 0.9
EURGBP Spread
1.0 1.3
Currency Indices
  • USD
  • USD
City Index eToro
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading with this provider. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.
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