City Index vs FXCM (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared
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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan
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.…
FXCM is a well-regarded forex broker that provides access to currency pairs on proprietary and third-party trading platforms, with market research, education, and risk management tools. It operates through regulated entities.
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. FXCM (United Kingdom, founded 1999) holds 4 regulatory licences (ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA), 2 of them tier-1, offers MT4, Proprietary, TradingView and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 226 countries; City Index is available in 4 countries where FXCM is not, and FXCM in 0 where City Index is not.
Verdict at a glance
City Index leads on track record and country coverage.
FXCM leads on trust rank, regulatory coverage and platform choice.
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.
City Index vs FXCM: side-by-side data
Criteria
City Index
FXCM
Trust rank
#16
#9
Founded
1983
1999
Headquarters
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Regulators
ASIC, FCA
ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA
Broker type
Market Maker
STP
Platforms
MT4, Proprietary
MT4, Proprietary, TradingView
Instruments
Commodities, Forex, Indices, Metals
Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices
Countries accepted
230 countries
226 countries
Fee level
Low
Low
Trading types
CFD Trading, Spot Trading
CFD Trading, Spot Trading
Best-for use cases
Retail Trading
Professional 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
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)
FXCM
FCA- and ASIC-regulated; segregated client funds
NDD/STP agency execution; deep liquidity
Trading Station and MT4; advanced charting and order types
REST/FIX APIs and Python SDK; VPS support for algos
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.