Betterment
City Index
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
Betterment was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while City Index was established in 1983 and is based in UK. Betterment holds licences including Unregulated, while City Index is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Betterment serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; City Index has 14,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Betterment and $25 at City Index.
| Feature | Betterment | City Index |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Regulation | Unregulated | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) |
| Founded | 2008 | 1983 |
| Country | USA | UK |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 14,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Betterment and City Index, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Betterment has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $25 at City Index). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. City Index applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Betterment does not. City Index charges deposit fees; Betterment does not. Overall, Betterment scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Betterment | City Index |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Betterment offers MT5, cTrader, while City Index supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. City Index edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Betterment | City Index |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Mac,iPhone,iPad,WEB,Desktop | MT4, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Betterment and City Index compare. Betterment runs regular live webinars; City Index does not. Betterment has a video library; City Index does not. Betterment publishes daily market commentary; City Index does not. Betterment integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central); City Index does not. Betterment maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Betterment scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Betterment | City Index |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | No |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | No |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Betterment accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while City Index supports 3 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal). City Index uniquely supports PayPal among the two brokers. City Index scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Betterment | City Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Betterment and City Index offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Betterment supports 2 languages and City Index supports 6, giving City Index broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Betterment | City Index |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Spanish, German, Arabic, Polish, and Chinese |