Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Tickmill, 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.
Charles Schwab vs. Tickmill: regulation and trust at a glance. Charles Schwab, founded in 1971, is publicly traded and operates as a bank. Tickmill, founded in 2014, is not publicly traded and is not a bank. ForexBrokers.com Trust Scores: Charles Schwab 99/99 (highly trusted) and Tickmill 85/99 (trusted). On this scale, 90–99 = highly trusted, 80–89 = trusted, 70–79 = average risk, 60–69 = high risk, and 59 or below = not trusted.
Licensing adds context: Charles Schwab holds five Tier-1 licenses and zero Tier-2 licenses, while Tickmill holds two Tier-1 and two Tier-2 licenses. Tier-1 regulators are viewed as highly trusted, and Tier-2 as trusted by ForexBrokers.com. In short, Schwab offers wider top-tier oversight and the highest possible Trust Score, whereas Tickmill combines two top-tier and two mid-tier licenses with a trusted rating.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Charles Schwab earns 4 stars and ranks #25 out of 36 for commissions and fees. Schwab does not charge commissions on forex trades, so costs mainly come from the spread. That said, its average EUR/USD spread was 1.35 pips in October 2024, which is on the higher side compared with many online brokers. Schwab One has no minimum deposit, but forex trades are settled in U.S. dollars and the smallest trade size is 10,000 units. Schwab Global is better suited to traders who want access to 12 international markets in local currencies, though currency conversion fees may apply.
Tickmill rates higher with 4.5 stars and a #10 out of 36 ranking for commissions and fees. It offers two account choices: Classic and Raw. The Classic account has no commission, but its spreads are wider. The Raw account is built for active traders and charges $3 per side per standard lot, while offering very low spreads that can keep total trading costs competitive. Even with the updated commission, Tickmill still stands out for low all-in pricing, especially for traders who want tighter spreads and a low minimum deposit of just $100.
In simple terms, Schwab is easier to start with and may appeal to traders who want no commissions and no minimum deposit on its main forex account types. Tickmill, however, is the stronger pick for lower trading costs overall, especially on its Raw account. If keeping fees as low as possible is your main goal, Tickmill has the edge.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.27 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.27 | 0.70 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Charles Schwab offers a much wider range of investments than Tickmill, making it a stronger choice for traders and long-term investors who want more variety. Schwab provides access to about 40,000 tradeable symbols, including 73 forex pairs, and lets clients buy actual shares on both U.S. and international exchanges. Tickmill, by comparison, has 637 tradeable symbols and 62 forex pairs, and it does not offer exchange-traded stocks on U.S. or international markets. Both brokers offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both allow cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy delivered crypto.
For added features, Tickmill does offer copy trading, while Charles Schwab does not. Even so, Schwab comes out ahead overall in range of investments, earning 5 out of 5 stars and ranking #5 out of 36 brokers for this category at ForexBrokers.com. Tickmill is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #32 out of 36, reflecting a more limited product lineup despite its copy trading option.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 62 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
Charles Schwab and Tickmill both give traders useful platform choices, including a free demo account, a Windows desktop app, a web-based platform, and the ability to place trades straight from a chart. Schwab also stands out with its own in-house platform, while Tickmill relies on third-party options. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, Schwab is rated 5 stars and ranked #7 out of 36 brokers, compared with Tickmill’s 4 stars and #24 ranking.
For traders who want extras, Tickmill has the edge because it supports copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5, while Charles Schwab does not offer those tools. Schwab may still appeal to investors who prefer a broker-built platform and a more traditional trading setup, but Tickmill is the stronger pick for users who want access to popular forex platforms and social trading features.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 97 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Charles Schwab and Tickmill both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, so either broker lets you trade on the go from a phone or tablet. Both apps also support watchlist syncing, which means changes you make on your mobile app can carry over to your online account. For charting, both platforms let you draw trendlines, but Charles Schwab gives traders far more tools to work with, offering 374 technical studies compared with Tickmill’s 97.
Where Charles Schwab pulls ahead is in everyday app features and overall app quality. Schwab offers stock and forex price alerts, while Tickmill does not, and Schwab’s app also auto-saves chart drawings, which Tickmill does not. These differences help explain why Charles Schwab earns a 5-star rating and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, while Tickmill holds a 4-star rating and ranks #25.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 97 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Charles Schwab and Tickmill both give traders useful daily market commentary and an economic calendar to track major global events. Charles Schwab stands out for its access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, which can be a big plus for traders who want timely, high-quality updates. Tickmill does not offer that same level of premium news coverage, but it does provide Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, which Charles Schwab does not.
Neither broker offers Autochartist, Trading Central, sentiment tools, or TipRanks research, so their research suites are limited in those areas. Overall, Charles Schwab has the edge for research, earning 5 out of 5 stars and ranking #5 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Research category, while Tickmill scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #19. For traders who want stronger market news and research coverage, Charles Schwab is the better choice.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to learning support for beginners, both Charles Schwab and Tickmill offer a wide range of education tools that can help new traders build confidence. Each broker provides forex or CFDs education with at least 10 learning pieces, along with online educational webinars held at least once a month. They also each offer 10 or more beginner videos and 10 or more advanced videos, so traders can keep learning as their skills grow.
That said, Charles Schwab has the edge overall for education. It earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category, while Tickmill is rated 4 stars and ranks #14. For beginners who want a broker with stronger educational support and a higher industry ranking, Charles Schwab looks like the better choice, though Tickmill still offers plenty of useful learning materials.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than Tickmill. Charles Schwab finished with an overall rank of #6, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #23.
Charles Schwab is a highly trusted financial institution and multi-asset broker catering to U.S.-based and international forex traders. Schwab's award-winning thinkorswim platform offers over 70 tradeable currency pairs alongside impressive tools, research, and education. That said, the broker’s forex offering is still largely limited to what is available on thinkorswim.
| Feature |
Charles Schwab
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Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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Comparing online brokers Charles Schwab and Tickmill, neither offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both provide access to trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Comparing online brokers Charles Schwab vs. Tickmill for deposit and withdrawal methods: Charles Schwab offers ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers but not PayPal or Skrill, while Tickmill offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA; Visa/Mastercard availability for both 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 | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
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| Regulation | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1971 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 40000 | 637 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 73 | 62 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.27 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.27 | 0.70 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 374 | 97 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 97 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | Charles Schwab | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Charles Schwab Review | Tickmill Review |
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