menuclose
ForexBrokers.com is committed to the highest ethical standards and reviews services independently. Learn How We Make Money

City Index vs Tickmill 2026

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025
  Fact Checked

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.

City Index
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £100.00
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 13500
Tickmill
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Trust Score: 85
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 637

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.

Regulation

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 logoCity Index
Tickmill logoTickmill
Year Founded info 1983 2014
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 2
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 2
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

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 logoCity Index
Tickmill logoTickmill
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $100
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.4 info 1.70 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.9 info 0.70 info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

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, compared with 637 at Tickmill, and also has a slightly larger forex lineup with 66 currency pairs versus 62. Both brokers support forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither offers direct access to exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges, and neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency.

Overall, City Index stands out as the stronger choice for investors who want more market variety. It earns a 5-star rating for range of investments and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #30. If having more instruments to choose from matters to you, City Index has the clear advantage.

Feature City Index logoCity Index
Tickmill logoTickmill
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 637
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 62
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No No
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

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 logoCity Index
Tickmill logoTickmill
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 97
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

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 logoCity Index
Tickmill logoTickmill
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes No
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 97
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

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 logoCity Index
Tickmill logoTickmill
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

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 logoCity Index
Tickmill logoTickmill
Webinars info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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 logoCity Index
Tickmill logoTickmill
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 85
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with City Index or Tickmill?

City Index vs Tickmill comparison: neither broker allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.

What funding options does each broker offer?

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.




announcementPlease 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.

Select Brokers

×
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxActivTrades
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAvaTrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxBlackBull Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCapital.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCity Index
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCMC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxEightcap
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxExness
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFOREX.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFP Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFXCM
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFxPro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxHFM
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxHYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIFC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIG
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIUX
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxOANDA
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxOcta
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxPepperstone
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxPlus500
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxQuestrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSaxo
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSpreadex
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSwissquote
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTickmill
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTrading 212
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVantage
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxXM Group
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxXTB

Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating City Index Tickmill
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 85
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review Tickmill Review
Broker Screenshots City Index Tickmill
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation City Index Tickmill
Trust Score info 99 85
Year Founded info 1983 2014
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 2
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 2
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) City Index Tickmill
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) City Index Tickmill
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) info Yes Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments City Index Tickmill
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 13500 637
Forex Pairs (Total) info 66 62
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No No
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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 info 1.4 info 1.70 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.9 info 0.70 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info No Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding City Index Tickmill
Minimum Deposit info £100.00 $100
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
Trading Platforms City Index Tickmill
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools City Index Tickmill
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 88 97
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading City Index Tickmill
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes No
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 88 97
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes No
Research City Index Tickmill
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education City Index Tickmill
Webinars info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs City Index Tickmill
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review City Index Review Tickmill Review
Overall City Index Tickmill
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 85
Winner check_circle
Review City Index Review Tickmill Review
arrow_upward

close