City Index
ThinkMarkets
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Overview
City Index was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in UK, while ThinkMarkets was established in 2010 and is based in Australia & United Kingdom. City Index holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while ThinkMarkets is regulated by the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA) with license no. 0250 among others. City Index serves 14,000+ clients worldwide; ThinkMarkets has 475,000+. The minimum deposit is $25 at City Index and $0 at ThinkMarkets.
| Feature | City Index | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $0 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA) with license no. 0250, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with license no. 215/13, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 629628) in the UK, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC 424700), the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa and the Financial Services Authority (FSA SD060) Seychelles. TF Global Markets (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 629628. TF GLobal Markets (Aust) Limited is the holder of Australian Financial Services Licence number 424700. TF GLobal Markets (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider (FSP No 49835). TF Global Markets Int Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, Firm Reference Number SD060 Seychelles |
| Founded | 1983 | 2010 |
| Country | UK | Australia & United Kingdom |
| Clients | 14,000+ | 475,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between City Index and ThinkMarkets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ThinkMarkets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $25 at City Index). City Index charges withdrawal fees while ThinkMarkets does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. City Index charges deposit fees; ThinkMarkets does not. Overall, ThinkMarkets scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | City Index | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $25 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | Yes |
Platforms
City Index offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while ThinkMarkets supports MT4, MT5, a proprietary platform. City Index offers a mobile trading app; mobile availability for ThinkMarkets is limited. 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 | City Index | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Windows App | Yes | No |
| iOS App | Yes | No |
| Android App | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5 and ThinkTrader |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how City Index and ThinkMarkets compare. ThinkMarkets runs regular live webinars; City Index does not. ThinkMarkets has a video library; City Index does not. ThinkMarkets publishes daily market commentary; City Index does not. ThinkMarkets integrates third-party research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist); City Index does not. ThinkMarkets maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. ThinkMarkets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | City Index | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. City Index accepts 3 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal), while ThinkMarkets supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). ThinkMarkets uniquely supports Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. ThinkMarkets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | City Index | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both City Index and ThinkMarkets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. City Index supports 6 languages and ThinkMarkets supports 13, giving ThinkMarkets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | City Index | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Spanish, German, Arabic, Polish, and Chinese | English, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Czech, Greek, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Italian, Arabic, German, Spanish and Japanese |