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 | 1.70 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Tickmill and ATFX both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both support copy trading. For overall market access, Tickmill offers a wider menu with 637 tradeable symbols and 63 forex pairs, compared with ATFX’s 150 symbols and 44 forex pairs. Neither broker lets you buy real, exchange‑traded shares in the U.S. or overseas (so no direct Apple or Vodafone stock). For crypto, both brokers offer derivatives but not actual coins.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments ratings, both score 3.5 out of 5 stars, though Tickmill ranks higher at 43rd out of 63 brokers, versus ATFX at 58th. Traders who want more symbols and currency pairs may lean toward Tickmill, while ATFX covers the basics for those focused on a smaller list of markets.
| 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 vs ATFX: Both brokers provide the core trading platforms and tools most traders expect. Each offers a free demo (paper) account, Windows desktop and web-based platforms, and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Neither broker has a proprietary platform, but both enable copy trading and let you place trades directly from charts, giving you familiar workflows across browser and download versions.
Looking at third-party evaluations, Tickmill holds the edge for platform quality. In ForexBrokers.com's Trading Platforms and Tools category, Tickmill is rated 4 stars and ranks #30 of 63 brokers, while ATFX is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #63. If ratings are important to you, Tickmill may be the safer pick; if you prefer ATFX for other reasons, you’ll still get similar platform coverage and features.
| 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.
Tickmill and ATFX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts to help you track forex or stock moves on the go. Each app includes core charting tools like trendlines, and both save your drawings automatically so your annotations persist between sessions. One drawback for both brokers is that watchlist symbol syncing isn’t supported, meaning changes made on mobile won’t sync with your online account.
For charting depth, Tickmill stands out with 30 technical studies compared to ATFX’s 7, giving more flexibility for analysis. Tickmill also earns a higher mobile app rating (4 stars) versus ATFX (3.5 stars). Reflecting this, ForexBrokers.com ranks Tickmill #30 and ATFX #64 in its Mobile Trading Apps category. If you value a wider set of indicators, Tickmill may be the better fit; if you just need essential alerts and basic charting on iOS or Android, both will 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 |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] |
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.
Tickmill vs ATFX for beginner education: both brokers offer at least 10 beginner trading videos to help you learn the basics of forex and CFDs. Tickmill adds depth with at least 10 advanced videos for when you’re ready to progress, and it runs educational client webinars at least once a month. ATFX does not host monthly educational webinars and does not meet the 10-video threshold for advanced topics.
Independent ratings reflect this gap. ForexBrokers.com rates Tickmill 4 stars for Education and ranks it #15 out of 63 brokers, while ATFX earns 3 stars and ranks #28. The data provided doesn’t confirm whether either broker has a searchable archive of past webinars, an investor dictionary, or a broad set of written lessons beyond the video counts noted. If you want structured learning with live sessions, Tickmill has the edge; if you prefer self-paced beginner videos, ATFX remains a straightforward option.
| 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
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ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 |
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Both Tickmill and ATFX do not provide the option to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but each offers the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing for significant market engagement without owning the underlying assets.
Tickmill vs ATFX funding methods: both do not support ACH or SEPA, both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, only Tickmill supports PayPal, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | 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 | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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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