AvaTrade vs City Index (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared
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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan
AvaTrade is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering multiple trading platforms, broad market access, and educational resources. It provides market research and risk management tools with an emphasis on platform reliability…
City Index is a well-regarded, regulated forex broker offering forex and CFD trading across a broad range of markets via web and mobile platforms, supported by research, charting, and risk management tools.…
AvaTrade (Ireland, founded 2006) holds 8 regulatory licences (ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ…), 3 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. City Index (United Kingdom, founded 1983) holds 2 regulatory licences (ASIC, FCA), 2 of them tier-1, offers MT4, Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 215 countries; AvaTrade is available in 1 countries where City Index is not, and City Index in 15 where AvaTrade is not.
Verdict at a glance
AvaTrade leads on trust rank, regulatory coverage, platform choice, instrument range and tier-1 licences.
City Index leads on track record and country coverage.
Level on fee level.
Scored on 8 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.
AvaTrade vs City Index: side-by-side data
Criteria
AvaTrade
City Index
Trust rank
#12
#16
Founded
2006
1983
Headquarters
Ireland
United Kingdom
Regulators
ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ, FSCA, ISA, JFSA
Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.
Pros
AvaTrade
Multi-jurisdiction regulation
MT4/MT5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader, AvaOptions support
Fixed-spread account option
ZuluTrade and DupliTrade copy trading
AvaProtect trade-loss protection
City Index
Tier-1 regulation (FCA/ASIC/MAS)
Competitive FX spreads
Fast execution and deep liquidity
Proprietary web/mobile platforms + MT4 support
Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders (GSLO)
Cons
AvaTrade
Market-maker model (no ECN/DMA)
Higher spreads than ECN brokers
Inactivity and administration fees
Not available to U.S. residents
Not FCA-regulated (UK)
City Index
Inactivity fee applies
No MetaTrader 5 or cTrader support
Spread-only pricing; no raw ECN account
Average FX spreads vs low-cost peers
Not available to U.S. residents
Key features
AvaTrade
Multi jurisdiction regulation client fund segregation and negative balance protection
MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 AvaTradeGO and WebTrader platforms
Forex and CFD trading on indices commodities metals equities and cryptocurrencies
Vanilla FX options trading with AvaOptions
Copy trading with ZuluTrade DupliTrade and AvaSocial
AvaProtect risk management for loss protection
City Index
Multi asset trading Forex CFDs and Spread Betting
Tier one regulation FCA ASIC MAS and client fund protection
Advanced platforms Web Trader Mobile and MetaTrader 4
Smart Signals performance analytics and advanced charting tools
Guaranteed Stop Loss Orders and negative balance protection
Fast execution competitive spreads and deep liquidity
Country availability: AvaTrade vs City Index
Available at both (215): Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia and 175 more.
Only AvaTrade (1): Canada.
Only City Index (15): Afghanistan, Algeria, Belgium, Guernsey, India, Iraq, Isle of Man, Jersey, Lebanon, Libya, New Zealand, Somalia, South Sudan, United Kingdom, Yemen.
Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.
AvaTrade vs City Index: common questions
Which broker is more regulated, AvaTrade or City Index?
AvaTrade holds more regulatory licences: AvaTrade (ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ, FSCA, ISA, JFSA) versus City Index (ASIC, FCA). Tier-1 licences: AvaTrade 3, City Index 2.
Which trading platforms do AvaTrade and City Index offer?
AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary; City Index offers MT4, Proprietary.
Which has lower fees, AvaTrade or City Index?
Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.
Which is older, AvaTrade or City Index?
City Index is the older of the two, founded in 1983; AvaTrade was founded in 2006.
Are AvaTrade and City Index available in the same countries?
They overlap in 215 countries. AvaTrade is additionally available in 1 countries (Canada) and City Index in 15 countries (Afghanistan, Algeria, Belgium, Guernsey, India, Iraq and 9 more).
Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.