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 |
When comparing City Index and Tickmill, both online brokers offer distinct advantages concerning their commissions and fees. City Index provides a competitive but average pricing model, particularly when trading CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products using their proprietary platforms or MetaTrader. A notable feature of City Index is their Premium Trader account for those depositing over £10,000, which ensures exclusive perks, though it remains slightly behind the best forex brokers in terms of tight spreads, such as Tickmill. Active traders in the U.K. can benefit from rebates starting at £4 per million, reaching £7.5 per million for high-volume trading, aligning their costs closely with industry standards. With a 4.5-star rating, City Index is ranked #14 out of 63 in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com.
Tickmill, on the other hand, stands out with its Raw account, which offers one of the most enticing pricing structures for active traders. Despite a recent increase in the per trade commission to $3 per side, Tickmill's low spreads make it a strong competitor. Their Raw account, which replaced the Pro account, features a typical spread of 0.11 pips for EUR/USD, with an all-in cost now at 0.71 pips, maintaining its rank among the top brokers. The Classic account offers a commission-free structure but comes with higher spreads. Tickmill is accessible with a minimum deposit of $100 for its Raw account, providing competitive spreads alongside efficient execution policies. With a 5-star rating, Tickmill is ranked impressively at #4 out of 63 on ForexBrokers.com for its competitive commissions and fees.
In summary, while City Index offers solid options with average pricing and attractive rebates for high-volume traders, Tickmill delivers exceptional value especially through its Raw account, which manages to keep spreads low despite increased commissions. Traders choosing between the two will find that Tickmill's fee structure and lower entry point set it apart for those seeking maximum savings and efficiency in their trading endeavors.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.70 |
| 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.
City Index and Tickmill both offer forex trading as CFDs, allowing flexibility in managing leveraged positions. When comparing the breadth of available trading options, City Index clearly leads with an impressive array of 13,500 tradeable symbols, far surpassing Tickmill's 637. Forex enthusiasts will find City Index accommodating with 66 forex pairs available, slightly edging out Tickmill, which offers 63 pairs. Both platforms, however, do not provide options for buying exchange-traded securities, either in the U.S. or international markets. Despite this, both brokers support copy trading, a feature appealing to traders looking to learn or capitalize on more experienced traders' expertise.
When it comes to cryptocurrency, neither City Index nor Tickmill facilitates the purchase of actual digital coins, focusing instead on cryptocurrency derivatives for speculative purposes. In terms of overall investment variety, City Index scores a stellar 5 out of 5 stars, being ranked 8th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for its range of investments. Conversely, Tickmill receives a 3.5-star rating for its investment offerings, placing 42nd in the same ranking, indicating more limited investment opportunities for potential traders.
| Feature |
City Index
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 637 |
| 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 comparing the trading platforms and tools of City Index and Tickmill, both brokers provide a virtual demo account for simulated trading, offering an excellent opportunity for traders to practice without financial risk. City Index stands out by offering a proprietary platform developed in-house, whereas Tickmill doesn't provide its own unique platform. Both brokers offer a Windows-based desktop download and a web-based browser trading platform, alongside copy trading features. While MetaTrader 4 is available with both, Tickmill also gives traders access to MetaTrader 5, which City Index doesn't support. Neither broker currently offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For those keen on charting tools, City Index supplies 239 drawing tools, surpassing Tickmill's offering of just nine. Traders at both City Index and Tickmill can execute trades directly from stock charts, but City Index offers more flexibility with 11 columns for watch lists compared to Tickmill's seven. In terms of overall platform quality, City Index earns a higher rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, ranking 11th out of 63 in a ForexBrokers.com review, while Tickmill scores 4 stars, placing 29th. These differences make City Index particularly appealing for those who prioritize advanced features and 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 | 91 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 9 |
| 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 mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, featuring stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. While both brokers provide apps that allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes and view multiple time frames, City Index stands out with its ability to sync watchlist symbols across the mobile app and online account, a feature Tickmill's app lacks. Additionally, City Index offers 88 technical studies for charting, significantly more than Tickmill's 30. Both apps do auto save drawings made on charts.
When considering user ratings, City Index earns a higher score of 4.5 stars compared to Tickmill's 4 stars. This points to a difference in user satisfaction favoring City Index. Moreover, this difference in satisfaction is echoed in expert rankings, where City Index occupies the 9th position, whereas Tickmill is positioned at 29th out of 63 brokers. For traders prioritizing advanced technical analysis tools and seamless synchronization of their trading activities, City Index might be the preferable choice. Tickmill, however, remains a solid alternative with essential features well-suited for those who prefer straightforward functionalities.
| 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 comparing City Index and Tickmill for market research offerings, both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, City Index stands out with its inclusion of Trading Central’s technical analysis tools, providing traders with advanced insights not available through Tickmill. On the flip side, Tickmill offers research tools from Acuity Trading, enhancing traders’ market perspectives, which City Index does not provide. Both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools and comprehensive economic calendars to keep users informed of global economic events.
In terms of research ratings, City Index is rated slightly higher at 4.5 stars, compared to Tickmill’s 4 stars. This reflects its broader range of tools and high ranking of #10 out of 63 brokers in the Research category, compared to Tickmill’s position at #21. These rankings underscore City Index's strength in providing a more comprehensive suite of analytics for traders, while Tickmill offers a distinct advantage through Acuity Trading tools, catering to different trading strategies and preferences.
| 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.
When comparing City Index and Tickmill in terms of educational resources for beginners, both brokerages excel in offering a wealth of information. Each provides over ten educational pieces, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, all focusing on forex or CFDs. In addition, both brokerages host monthly online educational webinars, which greatly benefit those starting their trading journey. The resources don't stop there; archived webinars are available in a searchable format to ensure learning is accessible whenever needed.
For those just beginning to explore trading, City Index and Tickmill each offer more than ten beginner videos that cover essential topics, coupled with another set of ten advanced videos for seasoned investors looking to deepen their knowledge. Furthermore, both have created an investor dictionary, featuring at least 50 defining terms to help clarify investing terminology. In the realm of educational offerings, City Index slightly outshines Tickmill with a rating of 4.5 stars and a rank of #9 on ForexBrokers.com, compared to Tickmill's 4-star rating and #15 ranking. This indicates that while both brokers are strong choices for educational resources, City Index may offer a slight edge in overall quality and reputation.
| 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 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 #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
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 86 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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) | |||
| 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/Central Bank 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. 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 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.70 | |
| 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 | 91 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 9 | |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | Tickmill Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill