Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
City Index vs FBS
What sets them apart
| Compare | City Index ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $5 |
| Inactivity fee | £12 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Spread betting | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 70% | 66.43% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees | Free |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- City Index scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Minimum deposit is lower at City Index: $0 vs $5.
- Markets: only City Index offers Crypto, Spread betting.
- Markets: only FBS 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.
FBS
Fbs Partners suits readers who want a plain, low cost picture from a firm regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: the account fee is $0 and the stock trade fee is $0. The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% and the retail loss rate of 66.43% are the figures to weigh before funding.
Score breakdown
| Area | City Index | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 9.3 |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.8 |
How they place
| Ranking | City Index | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 67 of 471 | 110 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 29 of 147 | 47 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 27 of 145 | 45 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 23 of 122 | 37 of 122 |
What each covers
| Markets | City Index | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | City Index | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | City Index | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Tradestone Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2009 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | City Index | FBS | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $5below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 70%below the median | 66.43%below the median | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 0.5%below the median | 0.65% |
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
FBS
Pros
- An account regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses Tradestone Limited under 331/17, so the contract has a named entity behind it.
- The stock trade fee is $0 on a commission free model, so dealing in the shares and ETFs inside stocks, etfs and forex carries no ticket charge.
- The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant balance is not quietly drained by account charges.
Cons
- The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% is the charge that lands on every forex and CFD trade, so currency traders feel it more than the flat fees suggest.
- The minimum deposit of $5 sits above CFI's $0, so readers who want the smallest opening balance have a lower floor elsewhere.
- The market list stocks, etfs and forex leaves out crypto and futures, which eToro covers in stocks, etfs and forex.
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
FBS
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a new trading account: the minimum deposit is $5 and the account fee is $0.
- Readers who hold shares and ETFs alongside forex: stocks, etfs and forex covers that mix on the same account.
- European readers who want a Cyprus regulated firm: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses the entity behind the brand.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want the smallest possible opening balance: CFI takes $0.
- Readers who need crypto or futures in the same account: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, and those lines sit outside stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want crypto added to a forex, CFD, stock, ETF and metals mix: Vantage covers forex, cfds and stocks.
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.
FBS
What does it cost to run an account at Fbs Partners?+
The account fee is $0, the stock trade fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so nothing is charged for holding the account, dealing in shares or leaving a balance idle. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either. What remains on a forex or CFD trade is the spread, quoted at 0.5% on EUR/USD.
How much does the EUR/USD spread cost in practice?+
The EUR/USD spread is 0.5%. On a currency pair that spread is the dealer's charge for opening and closing, so it lands on every position rather than on a ticket line. The stock trade fee of $0 and the account fee of $0 sit alongside it, which makes the spread the number to size positions around.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- City Index vs IC Markets
- City Index vs Spreadex
- City Index vs Deriv
- City Index vs Exness
- City Index vs Axi
- City Index vs Markets.com
- City Index vs Vantage
- City Index vs Saxo
- City Index vs LiteFinance
- City Index vs Scope Markets
- FBS vs VT Markets
- FBS vs XM
- FBS vs Trading 212
- City Index vs XTB
- FBS vs NAGA
- City Index vs Mintos
- FBS vs Bitpanda
- FBS vs Robinhood
- FBS vs Kraken
- FBS vs moomoo
- FBS vs EBC Financial Group
- City Index vs CapTrader
- FBS vs Lightyear