Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs Alpari, 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.
Founded in 2014, Tickmill is an online broker with a Trust Score rating of 86 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, making it a trusted choice for traders. Although Tickmill is not publicly traded or classified as a bank, it operates under two Tier-1 licenses—deemed highly trusted—and two Tier-2 licenses, further establishing its credibility in the financial trading sector. Alpari, established in 1998, lacks the backing of Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, and with a Trust Score of 68, it falls into the high-risk category, requiring more caution from potential traders. Despite both companies being privately owned and not operating as banks, their regulatory standing distinguishes Tickmill as the more dependable option.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing Tickmill and Alpari on commissions and fees, Tickmill stands out with its clear, competitive pricing structure. Tickmill offers two main accounts: the Classic account, which is commission-free but has higher spreads, and the Raw account, with a competitive commission rate of $3 per side per standard lot. Despite the recent increase, Tickmill's Raw account is still appealing for active traders due to its low spreads, averaging 0.11 pips on major pairs like the EUR/USD. This brings the all-in cost to approximately 0.71 pips. Tickmill receives high praise, rated 5 stars for its commissions and fees, and ranks 4th out of 63 brokers analyzed by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, Alpari lacks comprehensive average spread data, making it challenging to fully assess its cost effectiveness. Alpari charges no commissions by default, which appeals to some traders; however, this often comes with wider spreads. Consequently, Alpari holds a slightly lower rating of 4 stars for commissions and fees and sits at 41st in the same category according to ForexBrokers.com.
For traders focusing on minimizing their trading costs, Tickmill’s Raw account offers a noteworthy advantage, especially with its transparent and competitive pricing strategy. Additionally, the minimum deposit requirement of only $100 ensures it remains accessible to a wide audience. While Alpari may offer a simpler, commission-free model, the lack of data on spreads could be a limiting factor for traders who prioritize low fees. Tickmill's higher ratings and rankings reflect its commitment to offering cost-effective trading conditions.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.70 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| 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.
When comparing the investment options available with Tickmill and Alpari, both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. Tickmill stands out with 637 tradeable symbols and 63 forex pairs, surpassing Alpari's 105 symbols and 46 forex pairs. This makes Tickmill a more attractive choice for traders seeking a broader range of forex trading opportunities. Both platforms also provide crypto derivative trading but do not offer actual cryptocurrency transactions. Notably, neither Tickmill nor Alpari allows investing in exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges; however, Alpari does permit trading international exchange securities, which is a feature not available with Tickmill.
Both brokers support copy trading, enabling traders to replicate the strategies of more experienced investors. In terms of their ratings, Tickmill receives 3.5 stars for its range of investments, while Alpari receives 3 stars. Additionally, according to ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill ranks #42 out of 63 brokers, better than Alpari, which ranks at #63. Therefore, Tickmill might be the preferable option for those prioritizing a wider range of tradeable instruments and higher ratings, while Alpari offers a unique advantage with investments in international exchange securities.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 46 |
| 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 comparing the trading platforms and tools of Tickmill and Alpari, both brokers offer simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, making it easy for beginners to practice without any financial risk. While Tickmill does not provide a proprietary platform, Alpari does, offering in-house developed system that might cater to users looking for unique features. Both brokers support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and they offer both Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based trading options. This ensures flexibility and ease of access for traders across different devices.
Copy trading is available with both Tickmill and Alpari, though neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. For charting, Tickmill provides nine drawing tools, while Alpari offers 15, giving Alpari users a slight edge in this area. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts and have seven watchlist columns. Despite these similarities, Tickmill holds a higher industry ranking for trading platforms and tools, sitting at 29th out of 63 brokers, compared to Alpari at 55th. Both firms share a four-star rating, making them worthy contenders for traders seeking a comprehensive trading experience.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Tickmill and Alpari provide options for iPhone and Android users, offering necessary functions like stock and forex price alerts. Additionally, both platforms support 30 technical studies for their charting features and allow traders to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on the charts. While both allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, neither platform offers watchlist syncing across devices. However, Tickmill's app stands out by automatically saving chart drawings, a feature Alpari does not include.
In terms of overall user satisfaction, both Tickmill and Alpari have received a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. Nevertheless, Tickmill holds a higher industry ranking at #29, compared to Alpari, which ranks at #56 according to ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers. This distinction may be influenced by Tickmill's capability to automatically save chart drawings, a convenient feature that enhances user experience in their trading app.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
For traders prioritizing comprehensive market research, Tickmill outshines Alpari in several key areas. Tickmill provides daily market commentary, crucial for staying informed on market movements, while Alpari does not offer this feature. Both platforms supply forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders receive high-quality insights. However, Tickmill stands out with its sentiment-based trading tool, offering valuable insights into market positions, a feature absent in Alpari. Additionally, Tickmill's tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, offer further research advantages. Both brokers provide economic calendars to track global news events, but Tickmill's array of tools translates into a higher customer rating of 4 stars in market research, compared to Alpari's 3 stars.
Although Alpari benefits from access to Autochartist’s technical analysis tools, a service Tickmill does not provide, it does not compensate for the broader research gap. Ranked #21 in the Research category by ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill is a more favored choice compared to Alpari's lower position at #57. Traders seeking a deeper dive into market trends and analytics might prefer Tickmill for its combination of higher-quality tools and insights. Whether it's the strategic advantage of daily commentary or enhanced sentiment analysis tools, Tickmill's offerings establish a more competitive edge over Alpari for those intent on thorough market research.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner traders, Tickmill stands out compared to Alpari. Both brokers offer a range of educational content, such as articles and videos, exceeding the threshold of ten pieces dedicated to forex or CFDs. However, Tickmill goes a step further by providing online educational webinars on a monthly basis, while Alpari lacks this feature. Moreover, Tickmill maintains a searchable archive of recorded webinars, giving learners the flexibility to access prior sessions anytime.
In addition to hosting comprehensive beginner-friendly content, Tickmill also caters to advanced traders with at least ten educational videos specifically designed for experienced audiences. Alpari, on the other hand, does not match this offering. Both brokers provide an investor dictionary featuring over 50 investing terms to help demystify industry jargon for newcomers. According to ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill is rated 4 stars for its education offerings, ranking 15th out of 63 brokers. In contrast, Alpari earns a 3-star rating and ranks 48th, highlighting Tickmill's stronger focus on educational support.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Tickmill is better than Alpari. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
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
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 |
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Both Tickmill and Alpari do not offer the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Tickmill and Alpari, both do not offer ACH or SEPA transfers but provide Skrill and Visa or Mastercard as fund transaction options; however, Tickmill distinguishes itself by supporting PayPal, which Alpari does not, while both brokers allow for bank wire 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Tickmill | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | Alpari | |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | Tickmill | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 46 | |
| 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.70 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $20 | |
| 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Tickmill | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
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