Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
City Index vs XTB
What sets them apart
| Compare | City Index ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | £12 | €10 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Spread bettingCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 70% | 77% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees | Free deposits; free withdrawals above 100 EUR/USD |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | XStation 5, XStation Mobile |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 |
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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.
XTB
XTB suits retail traders who want to hold stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto under one Cyprus-based account without a monthly charge. The account fee is €0, deposits cost nothing, and CySEC, FCA and KNF authorisations sit behind a legal entity founded in 2002.
Score breakdown
| Area | City Index | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Minimum deposit of $0 and No deposit or withdrawal fees, but an inactivity fee of £12 cuts the other way. | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.3 |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.6 |
How they place
| Ranking | City Index | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 67 of 471 | 3 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 29 of 147 | 2 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 27 of 145 | 2 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 23 of 122 | 2 of 122 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | City Index | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 259400HM2TR4U3LF5D43 |
| Poland | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
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
XTB
- xtb.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- hello-brokers.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- linkedin.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | City Index | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free, Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | XTB Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2002 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | City Index | XTB | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 70%below the median | 77%highest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5%above the median | 0.45% |
Median across 52 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
XTB
Pros
- Account fee of €0 on the standard account, and stock trades cost €0.
- Minimum deposit of €0, so the account opens without a funding floor.
- Regulated by CySEC, the FCA and KNF across Cyprus, the UK and Poland.
Cons
- An inactivity fee of €10 applies, unlike eToro, which has no such charge.
- Forex and CFD trading is not cost free: fx trading costs 0.5%.
- CFDs carry a high proportion of losing retail accounts, and XTB's own figure is 77%.
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
XTB
Who it suits
- Retail traders in the UK and Europe who want stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto in one account
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before committing money
- Cost conscious traders who will not hold a balance large enough to trigger the inactivity fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage, if a small minimum deposit of $5 suits a smaller starting balance better
- CFI, for traders who want forex and CFDs without paying an fx charge of 0.5%
- Anyone who plans to hold an idle balance for a long period, given the inactivity fee of €10
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.
XTB
What does XTB charge to open and hold an account?+
The account fee is €0, so there is no monthly or annual cost to keeping the account open. A stock trade costs €0 on the same account. The only recurring charge to watch is an inactivity fee of €10 for traders whose balance sits idle.
Is there a minimum deposit at XTB?+
The minimum deposit is €0, which means the account can be opened and funded with a small amount. It is a lower floor than the $5 asked by Vantage, so it suits a trader testing the platform before scaling up.
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