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 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.…
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…
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.
Copy 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 ().
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.