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 | 0.51 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | 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 Tickmill and Alpari, both online brokers offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, catering to traders interested in currency markets. Tickmill boasts a more extensive selection of 725 tradeable symbols compared to Alpari's 105, providing investors with a wider variety of options. Specifically, Tickmill offers 63 tradeable forex pairs, outshining Alpari's offering of 46 pairs. Neither broker allows for the purchase of exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges such as Apple shares, although Alpari does provide access to some international exchanges, unlike Tickmill.
Both brokers support copy trading and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, though they do not facilitate direct cryptocurrency purchases. In terms of rankings, Tickmill is rated at 3.5 stars for its range of investments, compared to Alpari's 3 stars, and holds the 42nd spot out of 63 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com ranking for range of investments, while Alpari ranks at 63rd. This indicates that Tickmill may be a more comprehensive choice for investors seeking a broader range of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 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.
Both Tickmill and Alpari offer comprehensive trading platforms and tools, including free virtual demo accounts for simulated trading. While neither broker has DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, both support MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, ensuring flexibility and choice for traders. However, a standout difference is that Alpari provides a proprietary trading platform, giving those who favor unique and tailored solutions an edge. In terms of accessibility, both brokers offer Windows desktop and web-based platforms, allowing traders the convenience of choosing how they engage with the market.
When it comes to charting capabilities, Tickmill and Alpari each offer 15 drawing tools, with both allowing trades to be executed directly from charts. Their watchlists are equally matched with seven customizable fields. Both brokers excel in copy trading options. Despite having equal star ratings for their trading platforms and tools, Tickmill ranks higher at #32 compared to Alpari’s #55 ranking out of 63 brokers in a recent ForexBrokers.com survey. This distinction suggests Tickmill might offer an overall slightly more refined experience for discerning traders.
| 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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Tickmill and Alpari provide mobile trading apps compatible with iPhones and Android devices, offering traders flexibility and accessibility on the go. These apps offer important features like stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Both brokers also provide 30 technical studies for charting, allowing users to analyze market data effectively. Moreover, traders can view multiple time frames, from intraday to weekly, on these mobile platforms.
However, there are a few differences. While both apps allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, only Tickmill's app auto-saves drawings on charts, which could enhance the trading experience for some users. Neither broker offers the capability to sync watchlists between the app and online accounts. When evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill ranks 32nd among 63 brokers, while Alpari stands at 56th. Despite this ranking, both apps share an equal rating of four stars for mobile trading, indicating a satisfactory user experience overall.
| 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.
When comparing the market research services of Tickmill and Alpari, Tickmill stands out by offering daily market commentary, a feature that Alpari does not provide. Both brokers supply forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. However, their research tool offerings differ, with Alpari providing technical analysis tools from Autochartist, a service not available with Tickmill. Conversely, Tickmill surpasses Alpari by offering a sentiment-based trading tool and research tools from Acuity Trading, providing traders with a more extensive array of insights.
Both brokers include an economic calendar to keep traders informed of current and upcoming global news events. Yet, Tickmill receives a higher overall rating for its research services at 4 out of 5 stars, ranking 22nd out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Alpari, on the other hand, holds a 3-star rating, positioned at 57th in the same category, reflecting its limited range of research tools. This analysis indicates that Tickmill's offerings cater more comprehensively to traders seeking enhanced market research resources.
| 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 | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| 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 |
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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) | No | No | |
| 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) | 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 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 | 0.51 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | 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) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 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 | 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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