City Index Alternative: Why Traders Switch to LHFX

City Index is a StoneX Group broker founded in 1983, focused on UK and Australian retail CFDs at 1:30 leverage. If you want higher leverage and an MT5 ECN account, here is how LHFX compares.

LHFX charges $3 per side, opens at $10, offers up to 1:500 leverage, and settles withdrawals in about 13 minutes via auto-payout on MT5.

Quick Comparison

LHFX vs City Index at a glance.

Feature
LHFX
City Index
Commission
$3 per side ($6 per lot round-turn)
Spread-only on FX (commission on shares)
Minimum Deposit
$10
Low minimum (varies by entity)
Spreads
From 0.0 pips
From 0.5 pips on EURUSD (marketed as low)
Leverage
Up to 1:500
Up to 1:30 retail (FCA, ASIC)
Platforms
MT5
Web Trader (proprietary), MT4, TradingView
Instruments
132+ (41 forex pairs)
4,500+ (80+ forex pairs, heavy on share CFDs)
Execution
STP/ECN
STP and ECN routes (StoneX Group)
Regulation
FSC Mauritius (GB23202204), FSCA South Africa (FSP 52816)
FCA UK, ASIC Australia, MAS Singapore, Central Bank UAE
Crypto Withdrawals
About 13 minutes
Not offered
Islamic Account
Yes, swap-free available
Not publicly advertised in core markets

Where LHFX Wins

The areas where LHFX offers a clear advantage over City Index.

01

Transparent Per-Side Commission

$3 per side ($6 round-turn) at LHFX on raw spreads from 0.0 pips. City Index uses spread-only pricing on FX, which makes total cost harder to compare directly and typically higher for active scalpers.

02

Up to 1:500 Leverage

LHFX offers up to 1:500 leverage. City Index is capped at 1:30 on retail forex under FCA and ASIC rules. That is roughly 16x more buying power per dollar of margin at LHFX.

03

Crypto Deposits and Withdrawals

BTC, ETH, USDT and other crypto rails alongside Skrill, Neteller and bank wire. City Index does not offer crypto deposits or withdrawals at retail entities.

04

MT5 as Standard

LHFX runs MT5 with full ECN execution. City Index leads with its proprietary Web Trader and offers MT4. For traders who specifically want MT5 with raw-spread ECN flow, LHFX is the cleaner fit.

05

13-Minute Auto-Payout

Withdrawals settle in about 13 minutes on average through the LHFX auto-payout system. City Index processes via bank rails without a published average settlement time, typically 1 to 3 business days.

Where City Index Wins

City Index has genuine strengths. Here is where they come out ahead.

Founded in 1983

City Index has been operating for over four decades and is part of StoneX Group, a NASDAQ-listed financial services group. That is a depth of operating history LHFX cannot match.

Multi-Jurisdiction Tier-1 Regulation

City Index is licensed by the FCA UK, ASIC Australia, MAS Singapore and the Central Bank of UAE. For traders who prioritise tier-1 regulators, that is a stronger footprint than LHFX.

4,500+ Instruments

City Index lists over 4,500 share CFDs alongside forex, indices, commodities and bonds. LHFX offers 132+ instruments concentrated on forex, indices, commodities, crypto and select stocks.

80+ Forex Pairs

City Index quotes 80+ currency pairs against 41 at LHFX. If you actively trade exotic crosses, the wider list matters.

Who Should Choose LHFX

  • Traders who want leverage above 1:30 (LHFX offers up to 1:500)
  • Traders who want crypto, Skrill or Neteller deposits and withdrawals
  • Traders who prefer transparent per-side commission on raw spreads
  • Traders who want withdrawals settled in roughly 13 minutes
  • Traders who want a swap-free Islamic account
Open an LHFX Account

Who Should Stick with City Index

  • Traders who specifically need an FCA or ASIC-regulated broker
  • UK or Australian residents who need a local entity
  • Share CFD traders who want access to 4,500+ stocks in one account
  • Traders who actively trade 60+ exotic forex crosses
  • Traders who value a broker with 40+ years of operating history

Making the Switch

Moving from City Index to LHFX takes minutes, not days.

1

Open an LHFX Account

$10 minimum deposit. Registration takes about 2 minutes.

2

Verify Your Identity

Upload a government-issued ID. Most verifications complete within a few hours.

3

Fund and Start Trading

Deposit via crypto, Skrill, or Neteller and place your first trade on MT5 or LHFX Trade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Try LHFX?

$10 minimum deposit. $3 per side commission. 1:500 leverage. Crypto withdrawals in about 13 minutes.