Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Admirals vs Tickmill, 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.
When comparing Admirals and Tickmill, their regulatory credentials offer a clear picture of their trustworthiness. Admirals, established in 2001, holds a high Trust Score of 93 out of 99, making it a highly trusted choice according to ForexBrokers.com. Admirals boasts 4 Tier-1 licenses, reflecting strong regulatory compliance, and an additional 3 Tier-2 licenses, further reinforcing its trusted status. Although not listed on any stock exchange or operating as a bank, Admirals' regulatory standing assures clients of secure trading practices.
On the other hand, Tickmill, which was founded in 2014, carries a Trust Score of 86, indicating that it is a trusted broker but slightly less so compared to Admirals. Tickmill maintains 2 Tier-1 licenses along with 2 Tier-2 licenses, which support its credibility in the trading community. Like Admirals, Tickmill is neither publicly traded nor a banking institution. While both brokers present solid regulatory frameworks, Admirals generally holds a stronger position based on the number of licenses and its higher trust rating.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Tickmill takes the lead with a 5.0/5.0 star rating and a #4 ranking out of 63 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while Admirals earns a strong 4.5/5.0 stars and ranks #18. Both brokers aim for low trading costs, but Tickmill’s pricing structure is tailored more for high-volume and cost-conscious traders.
Admirals offers competitive pricing with typical spreads around 0.8 pips on its Trade account, and similar overall pricing on the Zero account type. For many retail traders, this straightforward, spread-focused setup makes it easy to estimate costs trade to trade.
Tickmill provides two choices: the Classic account (commission-free, but with higher average spreads of about 1.76 pips as of August 2023) and the Raw account. The Raw account replaced Pro and now charges $3 per side ($6 round trip) per standard lot, paired with very low spreads—Tickmill lists a typical 0.11-pip spread on EUR/USD (October 2023). After adding the new commission equivalent of about 0.60 pips, the all-in cost comes to roughly 0.71 pips under normal market conditions. The Raw account also has a low $100 minimum, helping cost-focused traders access Tickmill’s lowest pricing.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.70 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Admirals and Tickmill both let you trade forex via CFDs or spot, and each supports copy trading. Both also offer cryptocurrency exposure through derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual coins. Where they differ is breadth: Admirals lists 8,702 tradeable instruments and 82 forex pairs, while Tickmill offers 637 instruments and 63 pairs.
If you want to invest in real shares, Admirals provides exchange-traded securities on U.S. markets (like Apple on NASDAQ) and international markets (such as Vodafone on the LSE). Tickmill does not offer exchange-traded stocks, focusing instead on derivatives. Reflecting the wider selection, Admirals earns 4.5/5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #20 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #43.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 63 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| 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.
Admirals and Tickmill both make it easy to get started with a free demo account for simulated (paper) trading. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), offers Windows desktop and web-based platforms, and includes copy trading. Admirals also adds its own proprietary platform, while Tickmill does not. Neither broker integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Both let you trade directly from charts and provide watch lists with seven fields.
For charting tools, Admirals lists 106 drawing tools versus 9 at Tickmill; indicator counts were not provided. Independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com give both firms 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, with Admirals ranked #19 out of 63 brokers and Tickmill ranked #30 out of 63. In short, both deliver the core MetaTrader experience and demo access, while Admirals stands out with an extra in-house platform and a wider set of drawing tools.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 | 91 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 9 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Admirals and Tickmill deliver very similar mobile trading experiences on both iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts for stocks and forex, real-time quote watchlists, and charting with 30 technical studies. You can draw trendlines, switch among multiple time frames (intraday, daily, weekly), and your chart drawings auto-save. One limitation is the same for both brokers: watchlist symbols do not sync between the mobile app and your online account.
Both mobile apps earn 4 out of 5 stars. That said, ForexBrokers.com ranks Admirals slightly higher at #23 of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Tickmill sits at #30. If you’re choosing based on mobile features alone, they are closely matched; Admirals gets a small edge on overall ranking.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When comparing Admirals and Tickmill for market research features, both brokers provide a strong foundation with daily market commentary and up-to-date forex news sourced from reputable outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters. They each offer sentiment-based trading tools and maintain comprehensive economic calendars. However, Admirals stands out with its partnership with Trading Central, offering advanced technical analytics, while Tickmill does not. Admirals also enhances its offerings with market research from TipRanks, a feature Tickmill lacks, despite both brokers delivering research tools from Acuity Trading.
In terms of recognition, Admirals slightly edges out Tickmill with ForexBrokers.com ranking it at #15 for research, compared to Tickmill's #21 ranking among 63 brokers. Both still share a commendable research rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which highlights their dedication to providing traders with essential information and tools. Ultimately, while both Admirals and Tickmill offer valuable resources, Admirals provides a bit more depth with unique research partnerships that may appeal to traders seeking comprehensive insights.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Choosing the right online broker is crucial for beginner traders who are eager to dive into the world of forex and CFDs. Both Admirals and Tickmill stand out in offering quality educational resources tailored to newcomers. Admirals provides an impressive array of educational content, including at least 10 pieces focusing on forex and CFDs, ensuring a solid foundational understanding for new traders. Additionally, they organize monthly webinars and maintain a searchable archive of past sessions to further support continuous learning. Admirals goes above and beyond with over 10 beginner videos, alongside a variety of advanced materials, creating a comprehensive learning platform for different levels of trader experience. Their resources also feature a detailed investor dictionary explaining over 50 investing terms, providing clear insights into trading jargon.
Similarly, Tickmill matches Admirals in offering a variety of educational resources curated for traders at different stages. Tickmill hosts engaging online webinars monthly and offers a repository of recorded sessions for easy access. The platform boasts a collection of over 10 beginner-friendly videos, ensuring novices gain confidence as they start trading. For those advancing in their trading journey, Tickmill offers more than 10 advanced videos, just like Admirals. Their extensive investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 terms provides further clarity for beginners navigating the trading landscape. Rated four stars for education by ForexBrokers.com, both Admirals and Tickmill are highly regarded, with Admirals ranking slightly higher at #12 compared to Tickmill at #15 out of 63 brokers, for their educational offerings.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Admirals is better than Tickmill. Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22.
Traders choose Admirals for its excellent investor education and advanced MetaTrader features – such as the Supreme add-ons – alongside an extensive range of shares, forex and CFD markets, and premium research content.
| Feature |
Admirals
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Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 |
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Both Admirals and Tickmill do not offer the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the ability to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing the deposit and withdrawal options for online brokers, Admirals supports ACH or SEPA transfers, a feature Tickmill does not offer; both Admirals and Tickmill facilitate transactions via PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires.
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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Admirals | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Admirals | Tickmill | |
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| Regulation | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 637 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 63 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.70 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 91 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 9 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Admirals | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Admirals Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | Admirals | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | Tickmill Review |
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