City Index Review 2026
The full City Index write-up for United Kingdom traders: the kitchen inspection, the ingredient costs, the bill, and our straight verdict.
Regulation in United Kingdom
| Regulator | FCA FCA, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Licence Number | 113942 |
| Regulated Entity | GAIN Capital UK Ltd (City Index) |
| Max Leverage (Forex) | 1:30 |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| EUR/USD Spread | From 0.5 pips |
| Instruments | 13,500+ |
| Platforms | City Index Platform, MT4, TradingView |
| Copy Trading | ✗ |
| Real Stocks | ✗ |
| Inactivity fee | Inactivity fee: GBP12/month after 12 months |
| Verify on FCA register → | 113942 |
Verdict
Cooks under FCA (licence 113942). Cover charge $0. In United Kingdom, forex leverage is capped at 1:30.
About City Index
City Index opened its doors in 1983 out of a kitchen in London, UK. Its menu runs to 13,500 tradeable instruments, forex pairs alongside CFDs on stocks, indices and commodities. It holds licences across several jurisdictions, with the head licence carried by GAIN Capital UK Ltd (City Index) under FCA.
In United Kingdom, City Index serves as GAIN Capital UK Ltd (City Index), cleared by FCA under licence number 113942. Under FCA house rules, United Kingdom traders are poured no more than 1:30 leverage on forex pairs.
Trading Platforms
Pros
- FCA regulated, licence 113942
- 13,500+ instruments to trade
- Negative balance protection in United Kingdom
- Platforms: City Index Platform, MT4, TradingView
- Founded in 1983 (43 years operating)
- 13,500+ instruments, one of the widest menus reviewed
Cons
- Inactivity fee: GBP12/month after 12 months
- 76% of retail clients burn their fingers
- CFDs only, you trade the price, you never own the dish
- No real stock ownership
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City Index regulated?
Yes. City Index is authorised by FCA, issued to the entity GAIN Capital UK Ltd (City Index), an authorisation you can look up for yourself on the official FCA public register.
What is the minimum deposit for City Index in United Kingdom?
The cover charge is $0, the smallest amount United Kingdom traders need to open a live account with City Index under FCA rules.
What leverage does City Index offer in United Kingdom?
In United Kingdom, FCA rules cap City Index at 1:30 on forex pairs. A larger pour is sometimes available through offshore-regulated entities, with thinner protection to match.
Is City Index safe to trade with?
The kitchen passes inspection: City Index cooks under FCA. A tier-1 regulator insists on segregated client money, negative balance protection and independent audits, while lighter offshore regimes offer weaker cover and often no compensation scheme. That does not make trading risk-free, so check which entity holds your account and what protections actually apply before you deposit.
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