Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
City Index vs Exness
What sets them apart
| Compare | City Index ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $10 |
| Inactivity fee | £12 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Spread betting | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees | no deposit or withdrawal fee |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | FCA, CySEC, FSA Seychelles, FSCA |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 70% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal, Exness Trade App |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:Unlimited |
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Key differences
- Exness scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Minimum deposit is lower at City Index: $0 vs $10.
- Markets: only City Index offers ETFs, Spread betting.
- Markets: only Exness offers Metals.
Our verdict on each
City Index
City Index suits UK and European retail investors who want one account for shares, ETFs, forex, CFDs, crypto and spread betting without a deposit hurdle. A minimum deposit of $0 and No deposit or withdrawal fees keep entry costs low, though an inactivity fee of £12 makes long dormant accounts costly.
Exness
Exness suits beginners and day traders who want to place stock trades without a dealing charge, with a stock trade fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0. Regulators listed are the FCA, CySEC, the FSA Seychelles and the FSCA, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 stated for UK clients.
Score breakdown
| Area | City Index | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Minimum deposit of $0 and No deposit or withdrawal fees, but an inactivity fee of £12 cuts the other way. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.6 |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.5 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | City Index | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Metals | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | City Index | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| Seychelles | Not confirmed | |
| South Africa | Not confirmed | FSCA 51024 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | City Index | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 67 of 471 | 54 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 29 of 147 | 22 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 27 of 145 | 20 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 23 of 122 | 17 of 122 |
Sources behind this comparison
City Index
- fxleaders.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokerchooser.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- cityindex.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- topratedforexbrokers.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Exness
- brokerchampion.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokeranalysis.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- e-trading.cn.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- exness.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- newyorkcityservers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | City Index | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free, Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Exness (SC) Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2008 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | City Index | Exness | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $10below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 70%below the median | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
City Index
Pros
- No deposit barrier at $0, against a site median of €4.64
- No deposit or withdrawal fees keeps moving money on and off the account simple
- One account covers stocks, etfs and forex
Cons
- An inactivity fee of £12 is above the site median of €0
- The inactivity fee rank of 45 out of 56 sits well down the table
- Retail accounts that lose money stand at 70%, so the low entry cost does not reduce trading risk
Exness
Pros
- A $0 stock trade fee, with the pricing model read as commission-free and low-fee.
- An inactivity fee of $0, so a dormant balance is not billed.
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge, so moving money costs nothing.
Cons
- Retail leverage is listed at 1:Unlimited, and 70.15% of retail accounts on this site lose money.
- Regulators listed include the FSA Seychelles and the FSCA alongside the FCA and CySEC, so the entity behind an account can differ by market.
- The market list, stocks, forex and cfds, stops short of ETFs and futures, so share investors wanting those should look elsewhere.
Who each suits
City Index
Who it suits
- Retail investors who hold shares, ETFs, forex, CFDs, crypto and spread betting in one place
- UK and European readers who want no deposit or withdrawal charges
- Traders who will use the account often and avoid the inactivity fee of £12
Who should look elsewhere
- Long term savers who may leave an account dormant and pick up the inactivity fee of £12
- Readers who want a stated regulator and protection scheme, since none is listed for this brand
- eToro buyers chasing futures, which sit in stocks, etfs and forex but not in stocks, etfs and forex
Exness
Who it suits
- Beginners and day traders, the audiences the brand names.
- Traders who want a $0 stock trade fee and an inactivity fee of $0 on the same account.
- Desktop and mobile users who want to trade across MT4, MT5 and Exness Terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, where the minimum deposit is $0.
- Vantage, with a minimum deposit of $5.
- eToro, which also covers ETFs and futures beyond the markets listed here.
Questions about each
City Index
What is the minimum deposit at City Index?+
The minimum deposit is $0, which puts City Index at rank 1 of 213 brands on this measure. That sits below the site median of €4.64, so the account can be opened with a small starting balance.
Does City Index charge for deposits and withdrawals?+
Moving money in and out carries No deposit or withdrawal fees, as listed for this brand. That keeps transfer charges out of the cost picture, though currency conversion on non account currency payments is not covered here.
Exness
What does Exness charge to buy a stock?+
Share dealing runs at a stock trade fee of $0, and the pricing model is listed as commission-free and low-fee. On this site's stock trade fee ranking Exness sits at 1 of 161, so the per-trade cost sits at the cheap end of the brands compared. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either.
Does Exness charge an inactivity fee?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant account is not billed for sitting still. Exness ranks 1 of 56 on this measure, at the top of the table of brands compared. Some rivals charge for unused accounts, so this saves money for anyone who opens an account and leaves it quiet for a while.
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