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, founded in 1983, and Tickmill, established in 2014, provide online trading services with varying levels of regulatory protection and trust. City Index stands as a highly trusted broker, being publicly traded and holding a top-tier Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. It boasts seven Tier-1 licenses, indicating strong regulatory oversight, and one Tier-2 license. In contrast, while not publicly traded, Tickmill is still seen as a reliable option with a Trust Score of 86. It holds two Tier-1 and two Tier-2 licenses, reflecting its commitment to a secure trading environment.
| 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 balances competitive pricing with industry standards when it comes to trading CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products, earning a commendable rating of 4.5 stars for its commissions and fees. Utilizing either City Index’s proprietary platforms or MetaTrader ensures access to optimal pricing. For active UK traders, rebates begin at £4 per million for monthly trades over £25 million, increasing up to £7.5 for volumes surpassing £300M. The broker's account offerings include a Premium Trader account for deposits exceeding £10,000, designed to provide exclusive benefits and pricing. Ranked #14 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, City Index presents an overall average spread of 0.74 pips on the EUR/USD as of July 2023.
Tickmill, ranked #4 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com and boasting a perfect 5-star rating, is celebrated for its cost-effective and transparent fee structure. The brokerage offers two main accounts: the commission-free Classic account and the Raw account, which features a $3 per side commission, translating to a total of $6 per standard lot. While the Classic account presents higher average spreads of 1.76 pips, the Raw account is tailored for active traders with an all-in cost of 0.71 pips on the EUR/USD pair as of October 2023. Tickmill entices traders further with a low $100 minimum deposit requirement for its Raw account, ensuring accessibility alongside its favorable spreads even after recent commission increases.
If you're looking to compare City Index and Tickmill, Tickmill takes the lead with lower commissions and a more competitive structure under its Raw account, though City Index remains a strong contender with its broad-based appeal and exclusive offerings for high-volume traders. Both brokers cater well to active trading needs, with Tickmill positioned as a more favorable choice for those seeking the lowest all-inclusive trading costs.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.51 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.31 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 available investments, City Index and Tickmill both offer forex trading as either CFDs or spot contracts. However, City Index shines with a significantly larger selection of trading symbols—13,500 compared to Tickmill's 725. While both brokers provide clients with a choice of 66 and 63 forex pairs, respectively, neither offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges. For those interested in accessing cryptocurrency markets, both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies.
Added features like copy trading are available through both City Index and Tickmill, giving traders opportunities to mirror investments. In terms of user reviews and rankings, City Index outperforms Tickmill significantly. It is rated 5 stars for its range of investments and ranks 8th out of 62 brokers, whereas Tickmill earns 3.5 stars and ranks 42nd for the same category. These distinctions highlight City Index's notable strengths in providing a wider variety of investment options compared to Tickmill.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 725 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 63 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| 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 it comes to trading platforms and tools, City Index and Tickmill both offer a range of features aimed at enhancing the trading experience. Both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice their trading strategies without any financial risk. City Index stands out with its proprietary platform, tailored specifically for its users, while Tickmill relies on established third-party platforms. Both brokers offer Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, as well as the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4). However, only Tickmill includes the more advanced MetaTrader 5 (MT5) in its platform suite. Copy trading is supported by both brokers, though neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade integration.
In terms of charting tools, City Index outperforms Tickmill by offering an impressive 239 drawing tools compared to Tickmill's 15. Although specific numbers for technical indicators aren't provided, both platforms support trading directly from stock charts. For organizing watch lists, City Index provides 11 columns for customization, while Tickmill offers 7. Rated at 4.5 stars, City Index ranks #10 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for trading platforms and tools, showcasing its upper hand over Tickmill, which scores 4 stars and ranks #32. This makes City Index a formidable choice for traders seeking comprehensive platform features and user-friendly tools.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Tickmill both offer comprehensive mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, allowing traders easy access to stock and forex markets on the go. Both apps provide essential features like price alerts and the ability to create real-time watchlists. However, City Index offers an edge in terms of watchlist symbol syncing, ensuring that users' watchlist changes are seamlessly updated across their mobile app and online account, a feature currently missing in Tickmill's app.
When it comes to charting tools, City Index outpaces Tickmill with 88 technical studies compared to Tickmill's 30. Both platforms allow users to draw trendlines and view charts in multiple time frames, catering to varied trading strategies. Also, both apps save chart drawings automatically. City Index also holds a higher user rating with 4.5 stars compared to Tickmill's 4 stars, and it ranks #9 in the Mobile Trading Apps category on ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill ranks at #32, highlighting City Index’s mobile app as a more favored choice among traders.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both City Index and Tickmill provide daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay informed with premium data. However, a key differentiator is City Index's access to tools from Trading Central, offering advanced technical analytics, whereas Tickmill lacks this feature, aligning with more basic research resources. Both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools, giving insight into long and short positions across trades and help traders make more informed decisions.
City Index and Tickmill both have comprehensive economic calendars to keep traders updated on global economic events. Notably, Tickmill stands out with tools from Acuity Trading, like Signal Centre, adding a layer of depth to its research offerings. When ranked, City Index receives a higher rating of 4.5 stars for research in comparison to Tickmill’s 4-star rating. Furthermore, City Index is positioned at #10 in ForexBrokers.com's research category, while Tickmill is at #22 out of 62 brokers, reflecting City Index's more diverse research offerings and higher user satisfaction.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders eager to learn about forex and CFDs, both City Index and Tickmill provide comprehensive educational resources. City Index and Tickmill offer over ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars that cover various trading topics. Both brokers conduct monthly online webinars and maintain a searchable archive of past sessions. Beginners can benefit from more than ten videos tailored to their skill level, while advanced traders will find equally rich content designed for experienced users. Additionally, both platforms feature investor dictionaries with over 50 investing term definitions, aiding in demystifying trading jargon.
Comparing the two, City Index slightly edges out with an education rating of 4.5 stars, compared to Tickmill's 4 stars. This difference may be attributed to their diverse range of resources and slightly higher educational ranking at #9 according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to Tickmill's #15. Overall, both City Index and Tickmill offer substantial educational support for beginners, but City Index is considered slightly superior in this category.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 City Index is better than Tickmill. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22.
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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 |
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City Index and Tickmill both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, although neither provides the option to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency.
City Index offers more diverse deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal, while Tickmill provides flexibility with Skrill and also supports PayPal, with both brokers accepting Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for convenient 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 | City Index | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| 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 | 86 | |
| 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 (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 725 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 63 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| 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 | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.51 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.31 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | City Index Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | City Index | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Tickmill Review |
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