City Index

4.1(800)

FCA

CMC Markets

4.3(1400)

BaFin/FCA

City Index vs CMC Markets

Head-to-Head Comparison 2026

Our Verdict

CMC Markets has a higher rating of 4.3/5 compared to City Index (4.1/5). The minimum deposit is lower at CMC Markets with 0 €. CMC Markets is BaFin-regulated, while City Index is supervised by FCA. City Index has been in the market since 1983, making it the more experienced provider.

Comparison Table

Criteria	City Index	CMC Markets
Rating	4.1/5 (800 reviews)	4.3/5 (1400 reviews)✓
Regulation	FCA	BaFin/FCA
Fees	Spreads from 0.5 pip on forex, no commission on standard account	Spreads from 0.7 pip on forex, no commission on standard account
Min. Deposit	150 €	0 €
Instruments	CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks CFDs, Crypto	CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks CFDs, Treasuries
Platforms	City Index Web Trader, MT4, City Index App	Next Generation, MT4, CMC Mobile
Options Trading	No, CFDs and spread betting	No, CFDs and spread betting
Founded	1983	1989
Headquarters	London	London

Detailed Comparison

Fee Comparison

City Index: Spreads from 0.5 pip on forex, no commission on standard account. Minimum deposit: 150 €.

CMC Markets: Spreads from 0.7 pip on forex, no commission on standard account. Minimum deposit: 0 €.

Product Range

City Index (6 categories)

CFDsForexIndicesCommoditiesStocks CFDsCrypto

CMC Markets (6 categories)

CFDsForexIndicesCommoditiesStocks CFDsTreasuries

Trading Platforms

City Index

City Index Web Trader
MT4
City Index App

CMC Markets

Next Generation
MT4
CMC Mobile

Regulation & Security

City Index is regulated by FCA (HQ: London).

CMC Markets is regulated by BaFin/FCA (HQ: London).

Who Is It For?

City Index

Established CFD broker with over 40 years of market presence

✓ Long-standing experience since 1983

✓ Tight spreads from 0.5 pip

✓ FCA-regulated

✗ No BaFin regulation

✗ Minimum deposit €150

CMC Markets

Award-winning Next Generation platform with over 12,000 products

✓ Award-winning Next Generation platform

✓ Over 12,000 CFD products

✓ BaFin-regulated

✗ Only CFD trading, no real stocks

✗ Inactivity fee after 12 months

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City Index or CMC Markets cheaper?

City Index charges Spreads from 0.5 pip on forex, no commission on standard account. CMC Markets charges Spreads from 0.7 pip on forex, no commission on standard account. The minimum deposit is 150 € at City Index and 0 € at CMC Markets.

Which broker offers more products: City Index or CMC Markets?

City Index offers CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks CFDs, Crypto. CMC Markets offers CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks CFDs, Treasuries.

Which broker is better regulated?

City Index is regulated by FCA. CMC Markets is regulated by BaFin/FCA. CMC Markets has BaFin regulation, which is particularly advantageous for German investors.

Is City Index or CMC Markets better for beginners?

City Index has a minimum deposit of 150 € and offers City Index Web Trader, MT4, City Index App as platforms. CMC Markets has a minimum deposit of 0 € and offers Next Generation, MT4, CMC Mobile. CMC Markets has the lower entry barrier.

City Index vs CMC Markets: Which broker is better overall?

The choice between City Index (4.1/5, 800 reviews) and CMC Markets (4.3/5, 1400 reviews) depends on your needs. City Index: Established CFD broker with over 40 years of market presence. CMC Markets: Award-winning Next Generation platform with over 12,000 products.

City Index

Established CFD broker with over 40 years of market presence

Open Account →

From 150 € min. deposit

CMC Markets

Award-winning Next Generation platform with over 12,000 products

Open Account →

From 0 € min. deposit

City Index read review →CMC Markets read review →