Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs ATFX, 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 ATFX are two online brokers, both unlisted on stock exchanges and not operating as banks. Tickmill, established in 2014, holds two Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust, and two Tier-2 licenses, making it overall a trusted choice with an 86 Trust Score by ForexBrokers.com. ATFX, launched in 2017, boasts four Tier-1 licenses, reflecting strong regulatory standing, alongside two Tier-2 licenses, resulting in an overall Trust Score of 85 on the same scale.
Whichever platform you choose, both brokers offer a level of trust that makes them suitable for trading activities. Tickmill edges slightly ahead with a slightly higher Trust Score, while ATFX strengthens its case with a greater number of highly regarded Tier-1 licenses. Investors seeking reliable and well-regulated platforms will find that both options maintain a standard above average in today's competitive marketplace.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
For low-cost trading, Tickmill stands out. It offers two account types: Classic (no commissions, you pay only the spread) and Raw (commission plus tight spreads). The Raw account now charges $3 per side per standard lot ($6 round turn) and lists a typical 0.11-pip spread on EUR/USD; with the new commission, the estimated all-in cost comes to about 0.71 pips. The Classic account’s average spread was 1.76 pips (Aug 2023), making Raw the better value for most active traders. Minimum deposit for Raw is just $100. Tickmill earns 5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers.
ATFX does not provide average spread data, which makes it harder to gauge all-in trading costs side by side. It receives 3 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #61 out of 63 brokers. If you want transparent, data-backed pricing, Tickmill’s Raw account is the more compelling pick; if you prefer commission-free trading, compare Tickmill’s Classic spreads with ATFX’s live pricing before choosing.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $500 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.70 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Tickmill vs ATFX: For range of investments, both support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. Tickmill lists 637 tradeable symbols and 63 forex pairs, while ATFX offers 150 symbols and 44 pairs. Each earns 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments on ForexBrokers.com, but Tickmill ranks #43 of 63 brokers versus ATFX at #58, reflecting Tickmill’s broader selection.
Neither broker provides exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international exchanges; access is through CFDs. Both offer copy trading and cryptocurrency via CFDs (not actual delivered crypto). If you want a wider list of markets, Tickmill may suit you; if you just need the essentials with copy trading, ATFX covers the basics.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 44 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
Tickmill and ATFX both make it easy to get started with a free demo account and offer the same core platform lineup: MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Neither broker has its own proprietary platform, but both provide a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform, support copy trading, and let you place trades directly from charts. These overlaps mean you’ll have a familiar MetaTrader experience at either broker, whether you prefer trading in a browser or on a desktop app.
Where they differ is in evaluations of their platforms and tools. Tickmill earns 4 stars and ranks #30 out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, while ATFX scores 3.5 stars and ranks #63. Counts for built-in indicators and watchlist columns weren’t specified, so the choice may come down to platform feel and extras like copy trading integrations. If you want slightly higher-rated platform quality, Tickmill edges ahead; if you already like ATFX’s take on MT4/MT5 and web access, you’ll find similar capabilities there as well.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Tickmill and ATFX offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with stock and forex price alerts. Each app lets you draw trendlines on charts, and those drawings auto-save. One thing neither app supports is watchlist symbol syncing, so changes you make on mobile won’t carry over to your web platform automatically.
For charting depth, Tickmill stands out with 30 technical studies compared with ATFX’s 7. Tickmill also earns a higher Mobile Trading Apps rating at 4 stars and is ranked #30 by ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers, while ATFX holds 3.5 stars and is ranked #64. If you want more technical indicators and a higher-rated mobile experience, Tickmill is the stronger pick; if you only need essentials like alerts and basic drawings, ATFX can still get the job done.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Tickmill and ATFX both publish daily market commentary and include an economic calendar, but their research lineups differ. Tickmill stands out for streaming forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and it adds a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long vs. short positions across instruments. ATFX, on the other hand, leans into third-party technical analysis by offering Autochartist and Trading Central. Tickmill supplements its research with Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). ATFX’s availability of TipRanks or Acuity Trading wasn’t disclosed.
For overall research quality, ForexBrokers.com rates Tickmill 4 out of 5 stars and ATFX 3 out of 5, ranking them #21 and #55 respectively out of 63 brokers. In short: pick Tickmill if you want integrated news and sentiment alongside Acuity’s signals; pick ATFX if you prioritize Autochartist and Trading Central for trade ideas and technical analysis.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing Tickmill and ATFX, both brokers offer a solid video library to get you started. Each provides at least 10 beginner-friendly videos that explain forex and CFD basics in clear terms. Tickmill goes a step further with ongoing online education, hosting client webinars at least once a month, while ATFX does not run monthly educational webinars.
If you plan to grow beyond the basics, Tickmill also offers at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced topics, whereas ATFX falls short on advanced video depth. Reflecting this, ForexBrokers.com rates Tickmill 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks it #15 out of 63 brokers, compared with ATFX at 3 stars and #28. In short: choose Tickmill if you want beginner videos plus regular webinars and a clearer path into advanced strategies; pick ATFX if you only need a straightforward set of beginner video lessons.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 ATFX. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
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
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 |
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Tickmill vs ATFX: neither broker allows you to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both let you trade cryptocurrency CFDs.
Tickmill vs ATFX deposit and withdrawal methods: both brokers do not support ACH/SEPA; Tickmill offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, while ATFX’s availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires is not specified.
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 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | ATFX | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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) | Tickmill | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Tickmill | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.70 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Tickmill | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Tickmill | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Tickmill | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
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