Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Tickmill and ActivTrades are dynamic players in the online brokerage market, each showcasing robust regulatory frameworks to ensure trader confidence. Founded in 2014, Tickmill is a relatively new entrant, whereas ActivTrades has been established since 2001. Both brokers are not publicly traded nor operate as banks, providing similar market opportunities without the complications of bank-backed pressures. Trust plays a pivotal role when choosing a broker; Tickmill holds an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86, while ActivTrades is not far behind with a score of 81, placing both in the trusted category.
Delving into their regulatory setups, Tickmill and ActivTrades each possess two Tier-1 licenses, a testament to their commitment to securing high trust from their clientele. While Tickmill boasts two Tier-2 licenses, ActivTrades maintains one, still aligning itself with trusted standards. These licenses underpin each broker's focus on safeguarding trader interests, ensuring that both newcomers and experienced traders can navigate their platforms with confidence.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Tickmill generally comes out cheaper than ActivTrades for forex—especially if you trade frequently. On Tickmill’s Raw account, the typical EUR/USD spread is 0.11 pips (Oct 2023), and after adding the updated commission, the all-in cost works out to about 0.71 pips. ActivTrades reported an average EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips (May 2024). Ratings and rankings: Tickmill earns 5/5 stars and ranks #4 of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees (ForexBrokers.com), while ActivTrades earns 4/5 stars and ranks #29 of 63.
Tickmill offers two accounts. Classic is commission-free but carries wider average spreads (about 1.76 pips on EUR/USD as of Aug 2023). The Raw account is geared toward lower costs: $3 per side ($6 round turn) per standard lot, plus tight spreads, with only a $100 minimum deposit. Tickmill’s listed spreads reflect normal market conditions; actual pricing can vary during fast markets.
ActivTrades keeps things simple with its Individual account (plus Professional and Islamic options), but there’s no special pricing for high-volume traders and spreads are the same across account types. Actual costs depend on the asset and platform you use, and spreads can widen during quieter or rollover periods. With its 0.98-pip average on EUR/USD, ActivTrades is competitive but, for many forex pairs, pricier than Tickmill’s Raw account on an all-in basis.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.70 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Tickmill vs ActivTrades: both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both support copy trading. ActivTrades offers a wider overall range of investments with 1,267 tradeable symbols, while Tickmill lists 637. If forex depth matters most, Tickmill provides more currency pairs (63 vs 49). Neither broker offers U.S.-listed shares as exchange-traded (non-CFD) investments. However, ActivTrades does provide access to international exchange-traded shares, whereas Tickmill does not. For crypto, neither broker lets you buy actual coins, but both offer cryptocurrency derivatives.
Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments scores, ActivTrades earns 4 stars and ranks #32 out of 63 brokers, while Tickmill scores 3.5 stars and ranks #43. In short, choose ActivTrades if you want more total markets and international exchange-traded shares; pick Tickmill if having more forex pairs is your priority.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Tickmill vs ActivTrades: both brokers cover the essentials for trading platforms and tools. Each offers free paper trading with a demo account, copy trading, and the ability to trade directly from charts. You can trade on the web or download a Windows desktop platform at either broker, and both support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). One key difference is that ActivTrades also provides a proprietary (in‑house) platform, while Tickmill does not. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting and watchlists, ActivTrades lists 15 drawing tools and 11 watchlist columns, while Tickmill offers 9 drawing tools and 7 watchlist columns. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. In ForexBrokers.com’s category ranking (out of 63 brokers), Tickmill is #30 and ActivTrades is #32. If you want an extra in‑house platform and more on-chart drawing options and watchlist fields, ActivTrades stands out; if you prefer a similar experience with a slightly higher category ranking, Tickmill is appealing.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 9 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Tickmill and ActivTrades both deliver mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and real-time watchlists. Charting tools are on par: you can apply 30 technical studies, draw trendlines, switch among multiple time frames (intraday, daily, weekly), and your drawings auto-save. One key limitation is the same for both—watchlist symbols do not sync between the mobile app and the online account.
Both brokers earn 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, yet their industry rankings differ: ActivTrades is ranked #19 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill is #30. With nearly identical mobile features, ActivTrades holds a higher category placement, but Tickmill remains a solid choice for trading on the go. If cross-device watchlist syncing matters to you, note that neither app offers it at this time.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Tickmill and ActivTrades both deliver daily market commentary and stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each broker provides a sentiment tool that shows long vs. short positioning and includes an easy-to-follow economic calendar. Neither platform integrates Autochartist or Trading Central, and neither offers TipRanks. The key difference is that Tickmill adds research tools from Acuity Trading (including Signal Centre), while ActivTrades does not.
According to ForexBrokers.com, both brokers earn 4 stars for research, with Tickmill ranked #21 out of 63 and ActivTrades ranked #31 out of 63. If you want built-in trade ideas from Acuity Trading, Tickmill has a small edge; otherwise, their core research coverage is broadly similar.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both Tickmill and ActivTrades provide a solid foundation for beginners looking to learn about forex and CFDs. They each offer a wide range of educational content, including more than 10 articles, videos, and archived webinars specifically focused on forex and CFDs. Additionally, they conduct online educational webinars every month and maintain an easily searchable archive of recorded webinars. This makes accessing past insights and learning at one's own pace much easier for beginners and more experienced traders alike.
However, while both brokers supply beginner and advanced educational videos, only Tickmill complements these resources with an investor dictionary containing definitions of over 50 investing terms, providing extra value for learners who wish to deepen their understanding. Despite this added feature, Tikcmill and ActivTrades both receive a solid 4-star rating for their educational offerings. Yet, Tickmill ranks higher at number 15 compared to ActivTrades at number 38 in the education category according to ForexBrokers.com, highlighting its competitive position among other brokers.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Tickmill is better than ActivTrades. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
Tickmill is a run-of-the-mill MetaTrader broker that offers a limited selection of tradeable securities. The broker does offer very competitive commission-based pricing for professionals through its VIP and Pro accounts.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 86 | 81 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Tickmill and ActivTrades do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for buying cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Tickmill and ActivTrades in terms of deposit and withdrawal options, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, while Tickmill distinguishes itself by offering PayPal, a feature ActivTrades lacks; both brokers support Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers for account funding transactions.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.70 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 9 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Tickmill Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | ActivTrades Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill