City Index vs ThinkMarkets (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

ThinkMarkets

Trust rank #20 · Founded 2010

ThinkMarkets is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering broad market access via MetaTrader and its proprietary ThinkTrader platform. It provides research, education, and risk management tools to support analysis and platform…

Read the ThinkMarkets 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. ThinkMarkets (Australia, founded 2010) holds 4 regulatory licences (ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA), 2 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 199 countries; City Index is available in 31 countries where ThinkMarkets is not, and ThinkMarkets in 0 where City Index is not.

Verdict at a glance

  • City Index leads on trust rank, track record and country coverage.
  • ThinkMarkets leads on regulatory coverage, platform choice and instrument range.
  • Level on 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 ThinkMarkets: side-by-side data

CriteriaCity IndexThinkMarkets
Trust rank#16#20
Founded19832010
HeadquartersUnited KingdomAustralia
RegulatorsASIC, FCAASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA
Broker typeMarket MakerECN, STP
PlatformsMT4, ProprietaryMT4, MT5, Proprietary
InstrumentsCommodities, Forex, Indices, MetalsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals
Countries accepted230 countries199 countries
Fee levelLowLow
Trading typesCFD Trading, Spot TradingCFD Trading, Spot Trading
Best-for use casesRetail TradingCopy 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)

ThinkMarkets

  • FCA & ASIC regulation
  • MT4/MT5 and ThinkTrader platforms
  • Raw-spread ThinkZero; commission-free Standard
  • Negative balance protection; segregated funds
  • Hedging, scalping, EAs allowed; high leverage options

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

ThinkMarkets

  • - Offshore entity for many clients with weaker investor protections
  • - No guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLO)
  • - Not available to U.S. residents
  • - No cTrader platform support
  • - CFDs only (no physical shares/ETFs)

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

ThinkMarkets

  • Multi Asset CFD Trading Forex Indices Commodities Shares
  • MT4 MT5 and ThinkTrader Platforms
  • Multi Jurisdiction Regulation ASIC FCA FSCA FSA and Segregated Client Funds
  • Negative Balance Protection
  • Standard and ThinkZero Raw Spread Accounts
  • VPS Hosting and Algorithmic EA Support

Country availability: City Index vs ThinkMarkets

Available at both (199): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros and 159 more.

Only City Index (31): Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and 6 more.

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 ThinkMarkets: common questions

Which broker is more regulated, City Index or ThinkMarkets?

ThinkMarkets holds more regulatory licences: City Index (ASIC, FCA) versus ThinkMarkets (ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA). Tier-1 licences: City Index 2, ThinkMarkets 2.

Which trading platforms do City Index and ThinkMarkets offer?

City Index offers MT4, Proprietary; ThinkMarkets offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary.

Which has lower fees, City Index or ThinkMarkets?

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 ThinkMarkets?

City Index is the older of the two, founded in 1983; ThinkMarkets was founded in 2010.

Are City Index and ThinkMarkets available in the same countries?

They overlap in 199 countries. City Index is additionally available in 31 countries (Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and 25 more) and ThinkMarkets in 0 countries ().

Keep comparing

City Index

ThinkMarkets

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.