City Index vs Plus500 (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared

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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan

City Index

Trust rank #16 · Founded 1983

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.…

Read the City Index review

Plus500

Trust rank #3 · Editorial rating 10 / 10 · Founded 2008

Plus500 is a regulated forex and CFD broker offering broad access to currency pairs and other markets on a proprietary web and mobile platform. It provides built-in charting, order types, and risk…

Read the Plus500 review

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. Plus500 (Israel, founded 2008) holds 11 regulatory licences (ASIC, CFTC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA…), 6 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 229 countries; City Index is available in 1 countries where Plus500 is not, and Plus500 in 2 where City Index is not.

Verdict at a glance

  • City Index leads on track record and platform choice.
  • Plus500 leads on trust rank, regulatory coverage, instrument range, country coverage and tier-1 licences.
  • 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.

City Index vs Plus500: side-by-side data

CriteriaCity IndexPlus500
Editorial ratingNot verified10 / 10
Trust rank#16#3
Founded19832008
HeadquartersUnited KingdomIsrael
RegulatorsASIC, FCAASIC, CFTC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FMA, FSA Seychelles, FSCA, ISA, MAS, NFA
Broker typeMarket MakerMarket Maker
PlatformsMT4, ProprietaryProprietary
InstrumentsCommodities, Forex, Indices, MetalsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals
Countries accepted230 countries231 countries
Fee levelLowLow
Trading typesCFD Trading, Spot TradingCFD Trading, Spot Trading
Best-for use casesRetail TradingProfessional 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)

Plus500

  • Multi-jurisdiction regulation and segregated client funds
  • Commission-free FX trading with competitive spreads
  • Negative balance protection and advanced risk tools
  • Intuitive WebTrader and mobile apps
  • Broad FX pair selection

Cons

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

Plus500

  • Market-maker execution (no ECN/STP/DMA)
  • Proprietary platform only (no MetaTrader/cTrader)
  • No algorithmic/API trading support
  • No commission-based raw-spread accounts
  • Inactivity fee after inactivity

Key features

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

Plus500

  • Multi asset CFD trading Forex Indices Commodities Shares ETFs Options and Crypto
  • Proprietary WebTrader platform on web and mobile advanced charting alerts and sentiment
  • Top tier regulation segregated client funds and FTSE 250 listed parent company
  • Risk management Guaranteed Stop Orders Trailing Stops and Negative Balance Protection
  • Commission free spread only pricing with overnight funding and conversion fees
  • Free unlimited demo account and 24 7 multilingual support

Country availability: City Index vs Plus500

Available at both (229): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, 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 and 189 more.

Only City Index (1): Belgium.

Only Plus500 (2): Canada, United States of America.

Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.

City Index vs Plus500: common questions

Which broker is more regulated, City Index or Plus500?

Plus500 holds more regulatory licences: City Index (ASIC, FCA) versus Plus500 (ASIC, CFTC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FMA, FSA Seychelles, FSCA, ISA, MAS, NFA). Tier-1 licences: City Index 2, Plus500 6.

Which trading platforms do City Index and Plus500 offer?

City Index offers MT4, Proprietary; Plus500 offers Proprietary.

Which has lower fees, City Index or Plus500?

Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.

Which is older, City Index or Plus500?

City Index is the older of the two, founded in 1983; Plus500 was founded in 2008.

Are City Index and Plus500 available in the same countries?

They overlap in 229 countries. City Index is additionally available in 1 countries (Belgium) and Plus500 in 2 countries (Canada, United States of America).

Keep comparing

City Index

Plus500

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.