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 |
When comparing the commissions and fees between Tickmill and ActivTrades, Tickmill emerges as a favorable choice for active traders. Tickmill offers two main account types: the Classic account, which is entirely commission-free but has higher average spreads of 1.76 pips, and the Raw account, which recently replaced the Pro account. The Raw account charges a commission of $3 per side, leading to an all-in cost of 0.71 pips for EUR/USD trades. Despite the increase in its commission structure, Tickmill consistently ranks among the top brokers, boasting an impressive 5-star rating for commissions and fees and securing the #4 position out of 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, ActivTrades provides spreads that are slightly better than the industry average but not as competitive as Tickmill's offering. ActivTrades features an Individual Account as its primary option, accessible alongside Professional and Islamic account types. However, the broker does not offer a specific pricing model for high-volume traders. ActivTrades' average spread for EUR/USD stands at 0.98 pips, as noted for May 2024. While ActivTrades is a reliable broker, it receives a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and holds the #28 spot in rankings by ForexBrokers.com.
For traders prioritizing cost efficiency, Tickmill's low spreads and commission fees on its Raw account make it a strong contender. With a minimum deposit of just $100 to access its most competitive pricing and flexible trading options suitable for algo traders, Tickmill is an appealing choice despite recent changes. Meanwhile, ActivTrades caters to a broader trading community with different account offerings, though it falls short of Tickmill's tight cost-efficiency for active and high-volume traders.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.51 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | 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 and ActivTrades both offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, catering to traders looking to engage in currency markets. When it comes to tradeable symbols, ActivTrades provides a larger selection with 1,267 symbols compared to Tickmill's 725. However, for those specifically focused on forex pairs, Tickmill leads slightly with 63 pairs available, while ActivTrades offers 49. Neither broker allows the direct purchase of U.S. exchange-traded securities, although ActivTrades permits investment in international exchange-traded shares like Vodafone, unlike Tickmill.
Both brokers feature copy trading options, accommodating investors interested in mirroring trades. They also offer cryptocurrency derivatives but not actual cryptocurrencies. With a 3.5-star rating for its range of investments, Tickmill is ranked 42 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ActivTrades scores slightly higher at 4 stars, ranking 31 in the same category, signaling a broader investment palette for clients seeking diverse trading opportunities.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 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.
When considering online brokers, both Tickmill and ActivTrades provide a range of trading platforms and tools to cater to different trader preferences. Tickmill offers access to the widely-used MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, ensuring compatibility with older and newer systems. While Tickmill lacks a proprietary platform, it compensates by providing a Windows-based desktop platform and a web-based option, making it versatile for users who prefer different environments. Alongside its 15 drawing tools for charting, Tickmill supports direct trading from stock charts and enables paper trading via a free virtual demo account. Additionally, it allows for copy trading, enhancing its appeal to various trading styles.
ActivTrades distinguishes itself by offering a proprietary platform, providing traders with a unique, in-house developed trading experience. Like Tickmill, ActivTrades also supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, along with Windows and web-based platforms. Both brokers offer 15 drawing tools for charting and permit trading directly from stock charts. ActivTrades extends its offering with more columns for watch lists, totaling 11 compared to Tickmill's 7, giving traders a more comprehensive view of their market interests. As with Tickmill, ActivTrades also facilitates paper trading and copy trading, rounding out its robust platform options. Despite these differences, both platforms are rated four stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and hold close rankings within the competitive broker landscape.
| 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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Tickmill and ActivTrades offer convenient and versatile trading experiences through their mobile apps, available on both iPhone and Android devices. Users of both platforms can receive stock or forex price alerts and utilize 30 different technical studies for chart analysis. Both apps also support drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on stock or forex charts. Adding to the seamless experience, the apps automatically save any drawings you make. Furthermore, both Tickmill and ActivTrades allow traders to create watchlists with real-time quotes, though they do not currently offer watchlist syncing between mobile and online accounts.
Despite their similarities, there are some notable differences in user experience. While both mobile apps are well-regarded, with a four-star rating for mobile trading, ActivTrades stands out slightly in industry rankings. ActivTrades is positioned at #19 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas Tickmill ranks at #32. This distinction might be relevant for traders considering app-based brokerage services, especially those seeking higher rated options. Overall, both brokers offer strong mobile trading solutions that cater to a range of technical needs.
| 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 provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from well-regarded sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, neither broker offers technical analysis or fundamental tools from Autochartist or Trading Central. Both brokers do include sentiment-based trading tools that help traders track the ratio of long and short positions across different currency pairs.
When it comes to unique offerings, Tickmill stands out with the inclusion of research tools from Acuity Trading, while this feature is absent in ActivTrades. Both brokers supply an economic calendar to keep traders informed about global events. Tickmill and ActivTrades receive a four-star rating for research, although Tickmill is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com, placing 22nd out of 63 brokers compared to ActivTrades' ranking of 30th. This suggests a slightly stronger standing for Tickmill in the realm of market research.
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education 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 | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 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 | 0.51 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | 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) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 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