Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets 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.
CMC Markets vs Tickmill: CMC Markets was founded in 1989 and is publicly traded, while Tickmill launched in 2014 and is not listed. Neither broker is a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets holds a Trust Score of 99, which falls in the 90–99 “highly trusted” range, whereas Tickmill’s score is 85, placing it in the 80–89 “trusted” range.
Regulation and licenses: CMC Markets holds 6 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 1 Tier-2 license (trusted). Tickmill holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses. These credentials help signal how each broker is supervised across top-tier and mid-tier regulators.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
CMC Markets comes out ahead of Tickmill on commissions and fees, earning a 5-star rating and ranking #4 out of 36 brokers for this category. It also won #1 in ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 Annual Awards for Commissions and Fees, thanks to its consistently low spreads across all account types. On its standard pricing, CMC Markets shows an average EUR/USD spread of 0.61 pips, and its FX Active pricing can lower the all-in cost to about 0.5 pips on the EUR/USD when commissions are included.
Tickmill is still a strong low-cost choice, but it trails CMC Markets on overall pricing, with a 4.5-star rating and a #10 ranking out of 36 brokers. Its Classic account is commission-free, but spreads are wider, averaging 1.76 pips. Tickmill’s Raw account is more competitive for active traders, with typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.11 pips, though commissions apply at $3 per side, which raises the total trading cost.
In short, CMC Markets is the better pick for traders focused on the lowest overall fees, especially if you want low spreads without having to chase volume-based savings. Tickmill can still work well for active traders who prefer its Raw account structure, but its recent commission increase makes it slightly less attractive than CMC Markets on pure cost.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 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, CMC Markets offers a much wider choice than Tickmill. CMC Markets gives clients access to 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while Tickmill offers 637 tradeable symbols and 62 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency.
CMC Markets also stands out by offering exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so investors can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone, while Tickmill does not offer these products. That broader selection helps explain why CMC Markets is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers, compared with Tickmill’s 3.5 stars and #30 ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 62 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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.
CMC Markets and Tickmill both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web and Windows desktop platforms, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which can make order entry quicker and easier for active traders. For traders who want flexibility, both brokers cover the main bases for trading platforms and tools.
The main difference is that CMC Markets also offers its own in-house trading platform, while Tickmill does not. That extra built-in platform, along with CMC Markets’ higher Trading Platforms and Tools rating of 5 stars versus Tickmill’s 4 stars, helps explain why CMC Markets is ranked #6 out of 36 brokers in this category, compared with Tickmill at #24 out of 36.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
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) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 97 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and Tickmill both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and both let users sync watchlists between the app and their online account. Each app also supports drawing trendlines on charts, which can help traders study price moves on the go. In terms of overall mobile experience, CMC Markets stands out with a 5-star rating and a #5 ranking out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Tickmill is rated 4 stars and ranked #25.
Where CMC Markets pulls ahead is with price alerts, which Tickmill does not offer in its mobile app, plus automatic saving of chart drawings, a helpful feature for active traders. Tickmill does have the edge in charting depth, offering 97 technical studies compared with 29 at CMC Markets. For traders who want more built-in alerts and easier chart management, CMC Markets may be the better pick; for those who care most about a wider range of technical tools, Tickmill has the advantage.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 97 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets has a clear edge over Tickmill for market research. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and an economic calendar, but CMC Markets goes further with forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Autochartist tools and a sentiment feature that shows the balance of long and short positions across markets. These extras make it easier for traders to follow news, spot ideas, and gauge market mood in one place.
Tickmill still offers useful research support, including daily commentary, an economic calendar, and Acuity Trading tools, but it lacks the premium news coverage and several extra analysis features found at CMC Markets. That difference is reflected in their research scores and rankings: CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers for Research, while Tickmill scores 4 stars and ranks #19. For traders who want more built-in market insight, CMC Markets is the stronger choice.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, both CMC Markets and Tickmill offer a solid range of learning materials, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders. Both brokers also provide forex or CFD education with a wide selection of articles, videos, and similar learning content, making it easier for new traders to build basic knowledge before placing trades.
CMC Markets stands out for education overall, earning 5 stars and ranking #10 out of 36 brokers for the Education category on ForexBrokers.com. Tickmill is also a good choice for learning, but it trails slightly with 4 stars and a #14 ranking. One clear difference is that Tickmill offers online educational webinars at least once per month, while CMC Markets does not, so Tickmill may appeal more to beginners who like live, guided lessons.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 CMC Markets is better than Tickmill. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #23.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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CMC Markets vs. Tickmill: Both online brokers support cryptocurrency trading through CFDs, but neither allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, CMC Markets and Tickmill both support PayPal and bank wire transfers, but CMC Markets additionally offers ACH/SEPA transfers while Tickmill supports Skrill—making CMC Markets ideal for ACH/SEPA users and Tickmill a better fit for Skrill users.
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 | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | 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) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | 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 | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 637 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 62 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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 | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.70 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | CMC Markets | 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 97 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | 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 | 29 | 97 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Tickmill Review |
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