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 both earn 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees, but Tickmill ranks higher (#10 of 63) than City Index (#16 of 63) with ForexBrokers.com. On headline EUR/USD costs, City Index’s CFD spread averages about 0.74 pips (July 2023), while Tickmill’s Raw account typically lists 0.11 pips plus a $3-per-side commission, bringing the estimated all‑in to roughly 0.71 pips. In short, Tickmill edges City Index on EUR/USD pricing, though the difference is small and can vary with market conditions; Tickmill also records typical spread data during normal (tighter) markets.
City Index’s pricing across CFDs, forex, and spread betting sits around the industry average, and you’ll generally get the best rates on its proprietary platforms or MetaTrader. High-volume and professional traders can tap extras: the Premium Trader account (usually for deposits over £10,000) offers exclusive pricing and dedicated service, and rebates can add up — for example, in the U.K. about £4–£7.5 per million depending on monthly volume, and in Australia about AUD $4.5–$14.5 per million.
Tickmill keeps things simple with two choices. The Classic account is commission-free but carries wider average spreads (around 1.76 pips as of August 2023). The Raw account — now the flagship after replacing Pro and discontinuing VIP — pairs very low spreads with a $3-per-side commission per 100,000 units and only a $100 minimum. For active traders, that combination helps Tickmill deliver a low effective trading cost, even after the recent commission increase.
| 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.
City Index vs Tickmill: both let you trade forex either as a CFD or in the spot market, and both support copy trading. For overall market access, City Index offers far more to choose from with 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, compared with Tickmill’s 637 symbols and 63 forex pairs. Neither broker offers exchange‑traded U.S. or international stocks, and neither lets you buy actual cryptocurrency. If you want crypto exposure, both provide cryptocurrency CFDs (not the underlying coins).
For Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com rates City Index at 5 stars and ranks it #8 out of 63 brokers, while Tickmill earns 3.5 stars and ranks #30. In short, City Index suits traders who want the widest selection of markets, whereas Tickmill covers the essentials for forex and CFD traders who also value copy trading.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 63 |
| 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 let you practice with a free demo account. Each supports a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform, along with copy trading and the ability to place orders directly from a chart. Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4); Tickmill also offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while City Index does not. A key difference is platform choice: City Index provides its own in-house platform in addition to MT4, whereas Tickmill focuses on third-party platforms and does not have a proprietary option.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates City Index 4.5 stars (ranked 11th out of 63 brokers) and Tickmill 4 stars (ranked 24th out of 63). In short, City Index suits traders who want a broker-built platform paired with MT4 and chart trading, while Tickmill appeals to those who prefer MT4 plus access to MT5 and copy trading, available on the web and on Windows.
| 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 | 91 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and Tickmill both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app includes price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and auto-saving for your chart markups, so your notes stay put between sessions.
The key differences show up in research and syncing. City Index syncs mobile watchlists with your web account, while Tickmill does not. City Index also includes 88 technical studies for charting, compared with Tickmill’s 30, giving more ways to analyze price moves. Reflecting that, City Index holds a 4.5-star Mobile Trading Apps rating and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, versus Tickmill’s 4 stars and #25 ranking. Choose City Index if you want deeper chart tools and synced watchlists; pick Tickmill if you just need the essentials on the go.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
City Index and Tickmill both check key boxes for market research. Each provides daily market commentary, top‑tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), a sentiment tool that shows long vs. short positioning, and an economic calendar. Neither broker includes Autochartist or TipRanks. The big difference is tooling: City Index offers Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights, while Tickmill integrates Acuity Trading’s research, including Signal Centre.
For ratings, City Index earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill scores 4 stars and ranks #19. In short, choose City Index if you value Trading Central’s analysis suite; pick Tickmill if you prefer Acuity Trading and Signal Centre alongside daily commentary and premium news.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
City Index vs Tickmill: both brokers deliver forex and CFD education that meets the mark for beginners. Each offers at least 10 educational pieces, including a clear path of at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, plus ongoing client webinars at least once a month. That mix gives newcomers step-by-step lessons, deeper strategy content, and live sessions to ask questions and practice what they learn.
In independent testing, City Index scores higher for Education with 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #14. Both are good choices for learning to trade, but if you want the higher-rated education and a stronger category ranking, City Index has the edge; Tickmill is a close alternative.
| 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 SCA 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 | 63 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 91 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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