Capital.com vs City Index (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared
Advertiser disclosure: some links on this page may be affiliate links, meaning BrokerCatalogue may earn a commission if you open an account. This never affects the data shown here, which is drawn from our catalogue and compared mechanically. How we make money.
Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan
Capital.com is a well-regarded forex broker offering access to a broad range of currency pairs on web and mobile platforms, with built-in education, research, and risk management tools. It operates under regulatory…
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.…
Capital.com (United Kingdom, founded 2016) holds 3 regulatory licences (ASIC, CySEC, FCA), 2 of them tier-1, offers MT4, Proprietary, TradingView 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 185 countries; Capital.com is available in 0 countries where City Index is not, and City Index in 45 where Capital.com is not.
Verdict at a glance
Capital.com leads on regulatory coverage and platform choice.
City Index leads on trust rank, track record and country coverage.
Level on instrument range, fee level and tier-1 licences.
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.
Capital.com vs City Index: side-by-side data
Criteria
Capital.com
City Index
Editorial rating
8.8 / 10
Not verified
Trust rank
#28
#16
Founded
2016
1983
Headquarters
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Regulators
ASIC, CySEC, FCA
ASIC, FCA
Broker type
Market Maker
Market Maker
Platforms
MT4, Proprietary, TradingView
MT4, Proprietary
Instruments
Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices
Commodities, Forex, Indices, Metals
Countries accepted
185 countries
230 countries
Fee level
Low
Low
Trading types
CFD Trading
CFD Trading, Spot Trading
Best-for use cases
Retail Trading
Retail Trading
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
Capital.com
Multi-regulated broker
Spread-only FX pricing
MT4, TradingView, and proprietary platforms
Wide range of currency pairs
No deposit or withdrawal fees
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
Capital.com
- Not available to U.S. clients
- No MetaTrader 5 or cTrader support
- No guaranteed stop-loss orders
- Only CFD-based forex (no ECN/DMA)
- Retail leverage capped to 1:30 in EU/UK/AU
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
Capital.com
Multi asset CFD and spread betting on forex indices commodities shares and crypto
Tier one regulation FCA CySEC ASIC with segregated client funds and negative balance protection
Proprietary web and mobile platforms with advanced charting and over 70 indicators
TradingView and MetaTrader 4 integration and REST API for algorithmic trading
Commission free spread only pricing with fast market execution
AI powered insights education and risk management tools including Investmate
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: Capital.com vs City Index
Available at both (185): Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curaçao and 145 more.
Only City Index (45): Afghanistan, American Samoa, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Congo, Eritrea, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guam, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mayotte and 20 more.
Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.
Capital.com vs City Index: common questions
Which broker is more regulated, Capital.com or City Index?
Capital.com holds more regulatory licences: Capital.com (ASIC, CySEC, FCA) versus City Index (ASIC, FCA). Tier-1 licences: Capital.com 2, City Index 2.
Which trading platforms do Capital.com and City Index offer?
Capital.com offers MT4, Proprietary, TradingView; City Index offers MT4, Proprietary.
Which has lower fees, Capital.com 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, Capital.com or City Index?
City Index is the older of the two, founded in 1983; Capital.com was founded in 2016.
Are Capital.com and City Index available in the same countries?
They overlap in 185 countries. Capital.com is additionally available in 0 countries () and City Index in 45 countries (Afghanistan, American Samoa, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Burkina Faso and 39 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.