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City Index vs Freetrade : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

City Index

City Index

VS
Freetrade

Freetrade

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Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

Market maker

STP broker

Years of Existence / Established Year

1983

2016

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

1M + active customers

1.5 M


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

CIRO, CySEC, NFA, CFTC, CIMA, FCA, SFC, FSA, MAS, ASIC

FCA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Best trading app, Best CFD provider, Forex broker.com No.1- Performance Analytics new tool, Best in Class overall

Best Online trading platform 2024

Security Measures

FSCS

Yes

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Yes


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Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

13,500+ assets types including Shares

6200+ U.S Treasury Bills, Investment trust

Currency Pairs

Yes

No

Commodities

Yes

No

Indices

Yes

No

Cryptocurrencies

No

No

CFDs

Yes

No

ETFs

Yes

Yes

Stocks

No

Yes

Options

Yes

No

Futures

No

No

Bonds

Yes

No

Mutual Funds

No

No

Fractional Shares

Yes

Yes

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

No

Precious Metals

Yes

No

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

No

Yes

Equities

No

No


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

Yes

No

MT5

No

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

Yes

Yes

Copy Trading

Yes

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

City Index mobile trading app

Freetrade web and mobile trading platform

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Yes


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Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Standard, MT4, Corporate account

General investment account, Stocks and shares ISA, Personal pension account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

No

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

No

No

Minimum Deposit

€100

$0

Leverage Available

30:1

100:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on the assets class

depends on asset class

Commission (per account type)

€0

$0

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginner to experienced

Beginners to experienced traders


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Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Bank transfer, credit card, debit card, e-wallets

Bank transfer, debit card, Apple pay, google pay

Withdrawal Methods

Bank transfer, credit card, debit card, e-wallets

Linked bank account

Other E-Wallets Supported

Paypal

Apple pay , google pay


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Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

No

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Reuters Insider, News and analysis, Trading tools, Advanced trading view Charts

Learn (Trading Education), Freetrade Blog (Market Insights), Webinars, Investing Guides, Video Tutorials, Community Forum


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Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

UK Shares: 0.10% (min. €8 commission)US Shares: 1.5 cents per share (min. €8 commission)

FX fee of 0.59%

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Fixed and variable spreads

Variable

Per Lot Fees

NA

NA

Options Contract Fees

NA

NA

Futures Contract Fees

NA

NA

Markup Fees on Spread

NA

NA

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

$0

NA

Maximum Leverage

30:1

100:1


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$15 monthly fee after 24 months of inactivity

$0

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

NA

$0

Advisory Fees

NA

NA

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Yes

NA

Statement or Document Fee

NA

NA

Account Opening Fee

NA

NA

Account Maintenance Fee

NA

£10.97

Deposit Fee

Credit/ debit card- 2%, others - €0

£5

Currency Conversion Fee

Varies by instrument

Exchange rate + 0.99%

Withdrawal Fee

Bank fees may apply

£5


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

No

No


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Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Varies by instrument

Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM GMT Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET (2:30 PM - 9:00 PM GMT) European Market Hours- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM CET (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM GMT)


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Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

24/5

24/5

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Email: [email protected], Phone: 0800 060 8609, Live chat

Help hub, community forum, E-mail, Social media

Support Languages

6

1


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

1st Floor, Moor House, 120 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5ET

Level 2, The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, England, E1 6QL

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

No

No


At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.
While City Index maintains low trading fees with no minimum deposit, Freetrade includes some charges for premium features and certain asset trades, making City Index the better option for budget-focused traders.
Creating an account with City Index is generally faster and more user-friendly, often taking just a few minutes, while Freetrade requires more detailed steps and identity verification, which may suit more cautious investors.
The trading interface of City Index is known for its speed and ease-of-use, while Freetrade shines with its customizable layouts and advanced charting capabilities, making it a strong choice for serious analysts.
If you're after professional-grade platforms, City Index may be ideal. For casual investors, Freetrade offers a low-barrier entry.

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