Comparison of AvaTrade and City Index
| Feature | AvaTrade | City Index |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2006 | 1983 |
| Broker Type | MM | MM |
| Dealing | B-book | B‑book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | Central Bank of Ireland, KNF, FCA, BVIFSC, ASIC, FSCA, JFSA, JFFA, FSRA, ISA, CIRO | FCA, ASIC, MAS, FSRA‑ADGM |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), AvaTradeGO | WebTrader, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), TradingView |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⬊ Low |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:400 | 1:400 |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF | GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, SGD, CHF, PLN |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money, PayPal | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, PayPal |
| Inactivity Fee | $50 per month after 3 months | £12/month after 12 months of inactivity |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), The Investor Compensation Company DAC (ICCL) | FSCS |
| Protection Size | £85 000 / €20 000 | £85000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✖ | ✔ |
| Copy Trading | ✔ | ✖ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✔ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✔ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✔ | ✖ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities | Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies |
| Review | AvaTrade Review | City Index Review |
About AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a well-established Forex and CFD broker recognized for its comprehensive trading platforms, diverse range of financial instruments, and robust regulatory framework. Founded in 2006, AvaTrade serves clients worldwide, offering access to major and minor currency pairs, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and more. The broker supports multiple trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader 4 and 5, as well as its proprietary AvaTradeGo app, catering to both desktop and mobile traders. AvaTrade is regulated by several reputable authorities, ensuring a high level of security and trust for its clients. Additionally, the broker provides a variety of account types to suit different trading styles and experience levels, along with extensive educational resources and customer support to assist traders in making informed decisions. With competitive spreads, flexible leverage options, and efficient withdrawal processes, AvaTrade stands out as a reliable choice for both novice and experienced Forex traders.
Pros
- Regulated by multiple top-tier financial authorities
- Offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and AvaTradeGo app
- Provides access to Forex, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies
- Extensive tutorials, webinars, and market analysis available
- Offers tight spreads across numerous trading instruments
- Free demo accounts available for practice trading
- Multilingual support available through various channels
Cons
- Maximum leverage may be lower than what some traders desire
- AvaTradeGo app offers fewer customization options
About City Index
City Index is a broker owned by StoneX, founded in 1983. The company offers more than 13,000 markets, ranging from currency pairs and global indices to spread betting in the UK. Trading is available on web, desktop, and mobile platforms: MT4 and TradingView. Regulated by the FCA, ASIC, MAS, and ADGM, the broker offers low floating spreads from 0.7 pips, guaranteed stop losses, negative balance protection, and VIP rebates for active traders.
Pros
- Low minimum deposit and fast onboarding
- 80+ FX pairs plus 13000 CFDs & spread bets
- Tier‑1 regulation (FCA, ASIC, MAS) and FSCS cover
- Choice of WebTrader, MT4 and TradingView
- Guaranteed stop‑loss orders & negative‑balance protection
Cons
- Retail leverage capped at 1:30 in UK/EU
- No crypto deposits and no deposit bonuses
AvaTrade & City Index Regulation
| Feature | AvaTrade | City Index |
|---|---|---|
Companies | Ava Trade EU Ltd, Ava Trade Markets Ltd, Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd, Ava Capital Markets Pty, Ava Trade Japan K.K., AVA Trade Middle East Ltd, ATrade Ltd, Friedberg Mercantile Group Ltd. | StoneX Financial Ltd (UK), StoneX Financial Pty Ltd (AU), City Index Asia Pte Ltd (SG), StoneX Financial (ME) Ltd (UAE) |
Countries | Ireland, British Virgin Islands, Australia, South Africa, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Canada | United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates |
Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, KNF, FCA, BVIFSC, ASIC, FSCA, JFSA, JFFA, FSRA, ISA, CIRO | FCA, ASIC, MAS, FSRA‑ADGM |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), The Investor Compensation Company DAC (ICCL) | FSCS |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 / €20 000 | £85000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | AvaTrade | City Index |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Standard | Standard |
| Min Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Min Spread | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:400 |
| Stop Out | 50% | 50% |
| Margin Call | 100% | 100% |
Fix Spread Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Fixed Spread |
| Min Deposit | — | $0 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Fixed |
| Execution | — | Instant |
| Min Spread | — | 1 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:400 |
| Stop Out | — | 50% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | AvaTrade | City Index |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF | GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, SGD, CHF, PLN |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money, PayPal | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, PayPal |
Inactivity fee | $50 per month after 3 months | £12/month after 12 months of inactivity |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | AvaTrade | City Index |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), AvaTradeGO | WebTrader, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), TradingView |
Execution Speed | 0 ms | 20 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | low |
Trading Assets
| Asset | AvaTrade | City Index |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 53 | 84 |
Indices | 46 | 21 |
Stocks | 614 | 4500 |
Cryptocurrencies | 20 | 25 |
Bonds | 2 | 0 |
Metals | 7 | 8 |
Energies | 5 | 4 |
Soft Commodities | 7 | 9 |
ETFs | 61 | 100 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | AvaTrade | City Index |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | AvaTrade | City Index |
|---|---|---|
Email | customer@avatrade.com | support@cityindex.com |
Phone | +3228080310 | +442075508500 |
Telegram | Telegram | — |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | ||
Twitter |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing AvaTrade and City Index, AvaTrade comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
More Comparisons
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Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.