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, it's clear that Tickmill stands out for its competitive commissions and fees structure. Tickmill offers two types of accounts: the Classic account, which is entirely commission-free but comes with higher spreads, and the Raw account, which is prized for its low spreads. The Raw account charges a commission of $3 per side or $6 per standard lot, following a recent increase from the previous $2 per side. Despite this change, Tickmill continues to be a top contender for active traders, offering a typical spread of 0.11 pips for the EUR/USD, resulting in an all-in cost of 0.71 pips when considering the revised commission fees. Tickmill is highly rated, earning a 5-star review for its commissions and fees, securing the 4th spot out of 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, Alpari’s details on average spread data are not readily available, which may make it challenging for traders to get a clear picture of its cost structure. Despite this lack of specific data, Alpari is rated 4 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees. This rating places Alpari at rank 41 out of 62 in the ForexBrokers.com listing. While Alpari provides various account types and trading platforms, the absence of detailed spread information can be a point of consideration for traders aiming to reduce trading costs.
Overall, Tickmill seems to offer more transparency and better cost efficiency, especially for traders who benefit from lower spreads and commission structures that are crucial for optimizing trading costs. For traders prioritizing lower trading expenses and comprehensive information, Tickmill's Raw account offers a compelling choice. In contrast, while Alpari might serve a more diverse trading profile, those who are critically cost-conscious might find Tickmill’s offering more suitable for their trading strategies.
| 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 it comes to the variety of investments available, both Tickmill and Alpari offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. However, Tickmill stands out by providing a larger selection of tradeable symbols, with 725 options compared to Alpari's 105. In the realm of forex pairs, Tickmill also has the edge, offering 63 pairs against Alpari’s 46. While neither broker offers exchange-traded U.S. securities or the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency, both facilitate trading in cryptocurrency derivatives and offer copy trading services. Nonetheless, Alpari sets itself apart by enabling clients to buy international exchange-traded securities, a feature Tickmill does not provide.
Despite this advantage, overall ranking and ratings suggest Tickmill provides a more extensive investment range. Tickmill receives a 3.5-star rating for their range of investments, while Alpari follows closely with 3 stars. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, Tickmill is placed at #42 out of 62 brokers for their range of investments, whereas Alpari is positioned at #62. This comparison highlights Tickmill's broader offering while acknowledging Alpari’s unique feature of international security trading.
| 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.
When comparing Tickmill and Alpari for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers cater to traders looking for strong and versatile trading experiences. They each provide access to MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), allowing clients to use these industry-standard platforms across Windows desktops and web browsers. Additionally, both brokers offer simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, which is ideal for beginners or those testing new strategies. A key differentiation lies in Alpari offering a proprietary trading platform, while Tickmill relies solely on third-party platforms. Despite this, both brokers scored equally with four out of five stars for their trading platforms and tools.
Both Tickmill and Alpari support copy trading, and traders can conduct direct trades from stock charts, enhancing their trading efficiency. While neither broker offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, they each provide 15 drawing tools for charting. They also match up with seven columns available for watch lists, aiding in effective market monitoring. Even though their star ratings are identical, Tickmill ranks higher at #32 compared to Alpari’s #55 in ForexBrokers.com's assessment of 62 brokers. This suggests a slightly better market reception for Tickmill in terms of trading platform offerings, despite similar feature sets between the two brokers.
| 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 versatile mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. They support essential features like price alerts for stock and forex, which help users stay updated with market changes. Additionally, both platforms offer 30 technical studies for charting, along with the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts, providing comprehensive tools for technical analysis. However, neither app supports watchlist symbol syncing, meaning changes made on the mobile app don't automatically reflect on the user's online account. Notably, Tickmill offers autosave for chart drawings, ensuring that work isn't lost, a feature that Alpari lacks.
Both apps allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, which is crucial for active monitoring. When it comes to user ratings, both Tickmill and Alpari score well at 4 stars for their mobile trading performance. However, in the ForexBrokers.com ranking among 62 brokers, Tickmill is positioned higher at #32 compared to Alpari's rank of #56. This disparity might influence traders who weigh rankings and user experiences when choosing a trading platform that suits their mobile trading needs.
| 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 offerings of Tickmill and Alpari, several key differences emerge. Tickmill provides comprehensive daily market commentary and offers forex news from renowned sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Additionally, traders with Tickmill gain access to sentiment-based trading tools and research tools from Acuity Trading, enhancing their decision-making capabilities. With a highly rated economic calendar, Tickmill's research services are robust, earning it a favorable 4-star rating and a #22 ranking among 62 brokers for research according to ForexBrokers.com.
Alpari, on the other hand, also supplies forex news from top-tier sources and features an economic calendar, yet lacks several other research tools offered by competitors. Although it benefits from tools like Autochartist for technical analysis, Alpari does not provide sentiment-based trading tools or any research resources from Acuity Trading or Trading Central. As a result, Alpari receives a 3-star rating and ranks #57 in the research category. This comparison clearly highlights that Tickmill has a broader array of research tools and insights available to its users, positioning it as a more superior option for those focusing on 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 comparing the educational resources available to beginners at Tickmill and Alpari, both offer a variety of learning materials focused on forex and CFDs, with each providing a minimum of 10 educational pieces. However, one of the key differences lies in the availability of live educational webinars. Tickmill excels here by offering regular monthly webinars, which are not provided by Alpari. Additionally, Tickmill ensures these sessions are accessible later with a searchable archive of recorded webinars, a feature absent from Alpari's offerings.
In terms of video content, both brokers meet the needs of beginners by providing at least 10 educational videos tailored to newcomers. However, Tickmill also extends its video library to include advanced content, catering to more experienced traders, something Alpari falls short of. For those looking for a thorough understanding of trading terminology, both brokers offer an investor dictionary with over 50 terms. Based on these offerings, Tickmill earns a slightly higher education rating, securing 4 stars and ranking 15th among 62 brokers, while Alpari holds a 3-star rating and ranks 48th, reflecting Tickmill’s broader and more accessible 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 62 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 #57.
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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