Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index 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.
City Index and Tickmill are both regulated online brokers, but they differ in pedigree and perceived safety. City Index, founded in 1983, is publicly traded and not a bank. Tickmill, launched in 2014, is privately held and not a bank. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score, City Index earns 99/99 (highly trusted), while Tickmill scores 85/99 (trusted).
In terms of regulation, City Index holds seven Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, whereas Tickmill holds two Tier-1 and two Tier-2 licenses. On ForexBrokers.com’s scale, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and 59 or lower not trusted.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
City Index and Tickmill are both rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but Tickmill has the edge in ranking, coming in at #10 out of 36 brokers, while City Index ranks #16 out of 36. In simple terms, both brokers offer pricing that can work well for traders, but Tickmill is generally the cheaper option for those who trade often and want tighter spreads.
City Index’s pricing for CFDs, forex, and spread betting is around the industry average, and the best rates are usually found on its own platforms or MetaTrader. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 0.74 pips, which is fair but not as low as the top low-cost brokers. City Index also offers a Premium Trader account for clients who deposit more than £10,000, plus rebate programs for higher-volume traders, including discounts for U.K. professionals and Australian traders.
Tickmill is designed with active traders in mind. Its Classic account has no commission, but spreads are wider, while the Raw account combines low spreads with a commission of $3 per side, or $6 per standard lot. Even with that commission, Tickmill’s overall trading costs stay very competitive, helped by a low minimum deposit of $100 for the Raw account. For traders focused on keeping fees down, Tickmill is usually the stronger choice.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.70 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, City Index offers a much wider selection than Tickmill. City Index provides access to 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, while Tickmill offers 637 symbols and 62 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual shares on U.S. or international exchanges or purchase real cryptocurrency.
For investors looking for more market choice, City Index has the edge overall. Its broader product list is reflected in its 5-star rating for range of investments and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #8 out of 36 brokers. Tickmill still covers the basics well, but its smaller selection is shown in its 3.5-star rating and #31 ranking in the same category.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 62 |
| 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.
City Index and Tickmill both give traders a solid mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and the ability to place trades straight from charts. The main difference is that City Index also offers its own in-house platform, while Tickmill does not. Tickmill, however, adds MetaTrader 5, which City Index does not provide.
For trading platforms and tools, City Index earns a higher score at 4.5 out of 5 and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers, compared with Tickmill’s 4 out of 5 and #24 ranking. In simple terms, both brokers cover the basics well, but City Index stands out for having a proprietary platform and a slightly better overall rating, while Tickmill may appeal to traders who want MT5 alongside the other standard platform options.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 97 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Tickmill both give traders mobile access on iPhone and Android, so either broker can be used on the go. Each app also lets users sync watchlists with their online account and draw trendlines on charts. Where City Index stands out is in price alerts and chart drawing tools that auto-save, which can make it easier to keep track of market moves and return to your setup later.
Tickmill offers a slightly larger set of technical studies in its mobile app, with 97 compared with City Index’s 88, but it does not include stock or forex price alerts and does not auto-save chart drawings. In overall mobile app ratings, City Index comes out ahead with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #9 ranking out of 36 brokers, while Tickmill is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #25, making City Index the stronger pick for mobile trading apps overall.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 97 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index edges ahead of Tickmill for market research overall, thanks to a wider mix of tools and higher third-party ratings. Both brokers offer daily market commentary and an economic calendar, so traders can track key events and follow market updates day to day. However, City Index goes further by providing forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Trading Central research and a sentiment tool that shows how traders are positioned across different markets. Tickmill does not offer those features, although it does include research tools from Acuity Trading.
In independent rankings, City Index is rated 4.5 out of 5 for research and is placed #10 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with Tickmill’s 4 out of 5 rating and #19 ranking. Neither broker offers Autochartist or TipRanks research, but City Index still comes out stronger overall for traders who want more market analysis and trading insights in one place.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning, both City Index and Tickmill give new traders plenty of support. Each broker offers forex and CFDs education with at least 10 learning pieces, runs online educational webinars at least once a month, and provides 10 or more beginner videos as well as 10 or more advanced videos. That means either choice can help first-time traders build knowledge through articles, videos, and live sessions.
City Index has the edge overall, though. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers, while Tickmill is rated 4 stars and ranks #14. So although both brokers offer a similar range of learning materials for beginners, City Index stands out as the stronger option for education overall.
| Feature |
City Index
|
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 City Index is better than Tickmill. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #23.
Backed by StoneX Group, City Index is a trusted brand known for its versatile trading platforms, excellent mobile app, diverse market research, and extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
City Index
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Tickmill
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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City Index vs Tickmill comparison: neither broker allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
City Index vs Tickmill: For deposit and withdrawal methods, City Index supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers (no Skrill), while Tickmill supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers (no ACH/SEPA); Visa/Mastercard availability 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 | City Index | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Tickmill | |
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| Regulation | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | 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) | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 637 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 62 | |
| 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 | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.70 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 97 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 97 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | City Index Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | City Index | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Tickmill Review |
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