This article will compare Eightcap and City Index to guide you on choosing the best online trading platform.
While both brokers are well known for trading forex and CFDs, they vary in their pricing, characteristics, tools and regulation.
To helping you choose the broker that will best accommodate your trading preferences, I will review their leverage, platforms, costs, educational resources and customer service.
What is Eightcap?
Eightcap is an online brokerage firm established in 2009 and located in Melbourne, Australia, and is traded worldwide. It offers CFD trading on Forex, indices, commodities, shares, and many cryptocurrencies.
As regulated by the ASIC and the FCA, Eightcap guarantees excellent safety measures. MetaTrader 4 and 5, and TradingView, which automates trading, are some of the advanced platforms and powerful automation that Eightcap is recognized for. Traders keep coming back to Eightcap as they provide ultra-low spread, fast execution speeds, and institutional-grade liquidity which makes it profitable.
Additional integrations such as Capitalise.ai and TradingView social tools, provide strategy automation opportunities trigger setups, and aid in the formulation of trading strategies. Company reputation as a technologically advanced brokerage is admirable, especially for Forex and crypto traders.
What is City Index?
Established in 1983 and based in London, UK, City Index is a globally recognized brokerage and one of the earliest CFD, forex, and spreadbetting service providers.
As part of the listed StoneX Group, a nework of the USA’s largest financial service providers, City Index is backed financially and has enhanced its trustworthiness. Supervised by the FCA, ASIC and MAS, City Index is a regulated broker, signalling trustworthiness and client fund segregation, with some areas providing client compensation schemes.
City Index offers a fully functional and versatile brokerage for various trading styles by covering a wide range of financial instruments comprising of forex pairs, indices, bonds, equities, commodities and some crypto.
Clients can trade through the MetaTrader 4, the advanced AT Pro, or the proprietary Web Trader platform, all of which are equipped with powerful analysis tools, fast execution, and integrated research.
Daily market insights and trading education attract numerous traders of all levels. City Index’s well-founded security and extensive broker range are highly coveted in the 2023 market.
Key Differences Table: Eightcap vs City Index (2025)
| Feature / Category | Eightcap | City Index |
|---|---|---|
| Founded Year | 2009 | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia | London, United Kingdom |
| Parent Company | Independent broker | Part of StoneX Group (NASDAQ-listed) |
| Regulations | ASIC, FCA (entity-based), CySEC | FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIMA |
| Trading Instruments | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares CFDs, Large Crypto CFD selection | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares, Bonds, Crypto (limited) |
| Crypto Offering | ✅ Wide range (250+ Crypto CFDs on some entities) | ❌ Very limited crypto selection |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingView | Web Trader, AT Pro, MT4 |
| Automation / Algo Support | Strong: MT4/MT5 EAs, TradingView, Capitalise.ai | Advanced tools but proprietary-focused |
| Spreads & Fees | Lower spreads, raw account option with commission | Competitive spreads, mostly commission-free |
| Leverage (Retail) | Up to 1:500 (depending on region) | Up to 1:30 (FCA/EU), 1:200 in some regions |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 (varies by region) |
| Social & Copy Trading | TradingView signals, 3rd-party connections | Limited social features |
| Education & Research | Good but not extensive | Strong research + analyst insights |
| Customer Support | 24/5 multilingual | 24/5 global support + local offices |
| Best For | Crypto + Forex lovers, automated traders | Beginner to advanced multi-asset traders needing strong regulation |
Leverage & Margin Requirements
Eightcap
- For certain clients and instruments like Forex, Eightcap offers max leverage up to 1:500.
- For clients under stricter regulation, for example 1:30 for major Forex pairs UK/EU via FCA/CySEC (.
- Depending on the instrument, max leverage varies. For example, equities at Eightcap, max leverage is ~1:5 .
- You can change leverage through the client portal, and select desired ratio within regulatory limits. .
City Index
- Brokers leverage is variable depending on product type and jurisdiction .
- For major Forex pairs and in the retail context UK/EU, leverage is capped at 30:1 .
- For non-retail clients, and depending on regulatory status, leverage can exceed 1:500.
- Margin requirement example, for a 30:1 leverage, ~3.33% of the full traded value was required as margin.
- If an account falls below the maintenance margin, the broker can choose to close open positions as per their policy.
City Index & Eightcap Regulation, Safety & Legal Structure
| Feature | City Index | Eightcap |
|---|---|---|
| Companies (Legal Entities) | StoneX Financial Ltd (UK), StoneX Financial Pty Ltd (AU), City Index Asia Pte Ltd (SG), StoneX Financial (ME) Ltd (UAE) | Eightcap Pty Ltd, Eightcap Global Ltd, Eightcap EU Ltd, Eightcap Group Ltd, Eightcap Limited, GC Group Ltd |
| Countries of Operation / Licensing | United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates | Australia, Bahamas, Cyprus, United Kingdom, Seychelles |
| Regulators | FCA (UK), ASIC (AU), MAS (SG), FSRA-ADGM (UAE) | ASIC (AU), SCB (Bahamas), CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK), SFSA (Seychelles) |
| Investor Protection Scheme | ✅ FSCS (UK entity only) | ⚠ Depends on regulatory entity — No direct scheme for Bahamas/Seychelles entities |
| Investor Protection Coverage | Up to £85,000 (FCA clients) | – (Segregated accounts provide some security but no compensation scheme in most regions) |
| Publicly Traded Parent Company | ✅ Yes — StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SNEX) | ❌ No — Private company |
| Segregated Client Funds | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss (GSLO) | ✅ Available (fees apply) | ❌ Not offered |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✅ Yes for retail clients | ✅ Yes for retail clients (region-dependent) |
Trading Platforms & Tools
| Feature | Eightcap | City Index |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (MT4 only) |
| cTrader | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| TradingView | ✅ Yes (Full integration) | ❌ No (Not supported) |
| Proprietary Platform | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (Web Trader + AT Pro) |
| Automated Trading | ✅ Strong support via MT4/MT5 EAs + Capitalise.ai + TradingView | ✅ Advanced tools but mainly via MT4 + built-in automation |
| Social + Copy Trading | ✅ Supports via TradingView & 3rd-party integrations | ⚠ Limited social/copy features |
| Standard Stop Loss | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss (GSLO) | ❌ Not available | ✅ Available (fees apply) |
| Demo Account | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Funding and Fees
| Feature | City Index | Eightcap |
|---|---|---|
| Base Currencies | GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, SGD, CHF, PLN | AUD, USD, EUR, GBP, NZD, CAD, SGD |
| Deposit & Withdrawal Methods | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, PayPal | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, POLi, BPAY, FasaPay, Wise, PayRetailers, Crypto (BTC, USDT) |
| Inactivity Fee | ✅ £12/month after 12 months of inactivity | ❌ No inactivity fee |
| Interest on Margin | ✅ Yes (financing charges apply on leveraged positions) | ✅ Yes (overnight swap charges apply) |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✅ Bank withdrawals may incur charges (varies by region) | ✅ Free for most methods (bank wire may incur small fees depending on location) |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | City Index | Eightcap |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Calendar | ✅ Yes (integrated in platform & website) | ✅ Yes (via platform integrations) |
| Indicators (Technical Analysis) | ✅ Strong set across platforms | ✅ Large selection via MT4/MT5 & TradingView |
| Robots (Algorithmic Trading) | ✅ Available via MT4 Expert Advisors | ✅ Full support for EAs + automation tools |
| Signals | ✅ Market signals available in platform | ✅ TradingView + MT4/MT5 signal providers |
| Autochartist | ✅ Yes (available to clients) | ✅ Yes (provided free for eligible traders) |
| Expert Analytics | ✅ Yes — premium market insights & analysis | ⚠ Limited — mostly platform-based analytics |
| News Feed | ✅ Integrated Reuters/Daily News | ✅ News via MT platforms + partner feeds |
| Education Articles | ✅ Wide learning library | ✅ Basic to moderate educational articles |
| Webinars | ✅ Regular expert-led sessions | ✅ Provided periodically |
| Seminars | ✅ Yes (especially in regulated regions like UK/AU) | ❌ No offline seminars |
Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons Eightcap
Pros:
- Low fees for trading forex and CFDs, particularly on the “Raw” account, which has competitive spreads.
- Modern trading platforms are available, such as MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4 and TradingView integration, which is strong for algorithmic trading.
- High maximum leverage available in eligible jurisdictions (up to 1:500) enabling more flexibility for experienced traders.
- Deposit and withdrawal fees are low or non-existent in many cases.
- Good regulation in multiple jurisdictions (e.g., ASIC, FCA, CySEC) for clients in those regions.
Cons:
- Product/instrument range is somewhat limited compared to some full-service brokers (especially outside core forex/CFD).
- Research and education, as well as other additional services, may be less extensive compared to top-tier brokers.
- Each regulatory entity/jurisdiction has unique and sometimes widely varying conditions (fees, leverage, protections) that can apply to you.
- Some accounts have minimum deposits that may be higher for certain regions.
Pros & Cons City Index
Pros:
- Long-standing broker with strong regulation (FCA, ASIC, MAS) and a publicly traded parent company, which supports trust and credibility.
- Offers a very wide range of markets (forex, indices, shares, commodities, etc) which is good for diversified traders.
- Strong research, analysis tools and educational materials for traders at many levels.
- Having a variety of platforms and a comprehensive trading setup to cater to different types of traders (browser and desktop options, etc).
Cons:
- For retail clients in highly regulated jurisdictions, leverage will typically be lower than that of some competitors (which may be a frustration to high-risk traders).
- Some popular new features are regionally gated, such as embedded social/copy trading in several parts of the world.
- Inactivity fees may be charged on accounts that have not been traded for a significant amount of time.
Customer Support
| Contact Method | City Index | Eightcap |
|---|---|---|
| Email Support | support@cityindex.com | global@eightcap.com |
| Phone Support | +44 207 550 8500 | +61 3 8592 2375 |
| YouTube | ✅ YouTube | ✅ YouTube |
| ❌ Not active | ||
| Twitter / X | ✅ Twitter / X | ❌ Not active |
Conclusion
If trading for cost efficiency and automated trading is your primary objective, then Eightcap is the better option for you as it offers the competitively priced spreads, crypto CFDs, and advanced automated trading tools.
Conversely, for a well-regulated broker that offers comprehensive market coverage and research, including professional-grade sophisticated analytics and education materials, City Index is the better option. This is especially the case for traders seeking a trading ecosystem that is well rounded.
FAQ
Which broker offers higher leverage?
Eightcap offers higher maximum leverage in certain jurisdictions (up to 1:500). City Index’s leverage is lower for retail clients in many regions (e.g., 1:30 in the UK/EU).
Are my funds safe with both brokers?
Yes — both brokers operate under recognized regulators and maintain segregated client accounts. City Index offers additional protection via the UK’s FSCS up to £85,000 for UK clients. Eightcap’s protection depends on the regulatory entity you open the account under.
Which broker has lower trading costs?
Generally, Eightcap tends to have lower spreads (especially on its “Raw” account) and competitive pricing for active traders. City Index offers competitive pricing too but may charge inactivity or fixed spread fees in some scenarios.
