City Index
Sarwa
VS
Higher Rated
City Index
Capital at risk · T&Cs apply
Choosing between City Index and Sarwa depends on your trading style, preferred markets, and budget. City Index is headquartered in London, UK, while Sarwa operates from Dubai, UAE. City Index has the longer track record, established in 1983, compared to Sarwa which was founded in 2017. This in-depth comparison covers regulation, fees, platforms, markets, and overall ratings to help you decide which broker is the better fit in 2026.
City Index
Sarwa
| City Index | Sarwa | |
|---|---|---|
| BrokerRank Score | 4.1/5 ✓ | 3.3/5 |
| Min. Deposit | $0 ✓ | $500 |
| Spread from | 0.5 pips | 0 pips ✓ |
| Max Leverage | 1:200 ✓ | 1:1 |
| Regulation | FCA, ASIC, MAS ✓ | DFSA, SEC |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile, MT4 | Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile |
City Index is the better choice overall, scoring 4.1/5 vs 3.3/5 on BrokerRank's independent rating. On fees, Sarwa offers lower spreads (0 pips).
See full side-by-side comparison belowCity Index
WinnerSarwa
City Index
Sarwa
Lower feesCity Index holds licences from FCA, ASIC, MAS. Sarwa is regulated by SEC, DFSA.
Both brokers offer access to Stocks markets. City Index additionally covers Cfd, Forex, Indices, Commodities. Sarwa adds Etf, Crypto.
On spreads, Sarwa is more competitive with EUR/USD spreads from 0.0 pips, compared to 0.5 pips at City Index.
City Index supports Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile, MT4. Sarwa offers Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile. Both brokers are available on Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile.
City Index requires no minimum deposit, while Sarwa sets a minimum deposit of $500. This makes City Index accessible to traders with any budget.
BrokerRank scores City Index at 4.06/5 and Sarwa at 3.34/5, based on 50+ data points covering regulation, fees, platforms, markets, and user experience. City Index leads overall with a clear advantage.
City Index
4.1/5
Choose City Index if you want…
Sarwa
3.3/5
Choose Sarwa if you want…
City Index scores higher overall on our independent rating system. City Index holds a 4.1/5 rating vs Sarwa's 3.3/5. The best choice ultimately depends on your trading style — see our full verdict above for a detailed breakdown.
City Index offers spreads from 0.5 pips, while Sarwa starts at 0 pips. Check the fees section above for a full breakdown.
City Index requires a minimum deposit of $0. Sarwa requires $500.
City Index is regulated by FCA, ASIC, MAS, while Sarwa holds licences from DFSA, SEC.
City Index supports Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile, MT4. Sarwa supports Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile.
Yes, you can hold accounts at multiple brokers simultaneously. Many traders diversify across platforms to access different markets and tools.
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Trading involves risk. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Capital at risk. Full risk disclosure.