The key difference between a demo account and a live account is that a demo comes with zero risk – it enables you to buy and sell real markets with virtual funds. With a live account, on the other hand, you’re risking your own capital.

Many traders use a demo to see how the markets work – or test drive our platform – before they upgrade to a live account that earns real profits and losses.

There are some other differences between demo and live accounts. For example, you won’t be able to access features such as Performance Analytics or SMART Signals with a demo.

We’d recommend using a demo account until you feel comfortable trading with real capital. Ideally, you’ll have a comprehensive plan and strategy in place too, so you know exactly what to do once you’ve added some funds.

City Index demo accounts expire in 12 weeks, but you can open another one if you wish to continue practising for longer.

Yes, you can open as many City Index demo accounts as you like – although you’ll need a different email address for each one. You can also apply for another demo account once your current one has expired by contacting our client services team, if you want to trade risk free for a longer period.