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 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.…
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…
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.
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
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).
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.