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, established in 1989, stands out as a highly trusted online broker with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99. This score reflects its strong regulatory framework, highlighted by its possession of six Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. A publicly traded entity, CMC Markets is not a bank, but its presence on the stock exchange adds another layer of credibility and transparency for traders seeking a reliable platform.
Conversely, Tickmill, founded in 2014, holds a Trust Score of 86, indicating it is trusted but not to the same degree as CMC Markets. It maintains two Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, offering a solid regulatory standing for traders. Unlike CMC Markets, Tickmill is not publicly traded, which may be an important consideration for some investors when evaluating its trustworthiness. Both platforms are not banks, ensuring a focused investment experience for users.
| 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 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, CMC Markets and Tickmill both cater to active traders with compelling pricing structures. CMC Markets stands out with its #1 ranking in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com, earning a 5-star rating. This recognition comes from their low, advertised spreads that remain consistent across different account types. Their FX Active pricing offers traders highly competitive spreads with a commission of $2.50 per side. For instance, trading the EUR/USD results in a 0.5 pip all-in cost, which truly underscores CMC Markets as a pricing leader in the industry.
Conversely, Tickmill has also achieved a 5-star rating and holds the #4 spot among 63 brokers. Their Raw account, which replaced the Pro account, includes a $3 per side commission structure. Despite the recent commission increase, Tickmill remains attractive to active traders, offering a typical spread of 0.11 pips on the EUR/USD. The all-in cost is now 0.71 pips, a slight increase due to the new commission rate. However, Tickmill's Classic account remains commission-free, albeit with higher average spreads of 1.76 pips.
Both brokers have created specialized programs for traders aiming to reduce their trading costs. CMC Markets introduced the Price Plus Scheme, allowing discounts on trading costs through the accumulation of Trading Points. Tickmill, on the other hand, provides competitive spreads and low entry barriers, making both brokers strong options for investors looking for cost-effective trading solutions.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 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.
CMC Markets vs Tickmill: both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both support copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives (neither offers actual, delivered crypto). Where they differ is scale. CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, and it also lets you buy exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple or Vodafone). Tickmill lists 637 symbols and 63 forex pairs, and it does not offer exchange-traded stocks in the U.S. or abroad.
For range of investments, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers, while Tickmill scores 3.5 stars and ranks #43. If you want the widest selection—especially more forex pairs and access to stock exchanges—CMC Markets is the stronger pick. If you mainly need CFDs, copy trading, and crypto derivatives with a smaller lineup, Tickmill can fit the bill.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 63 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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.
CMC Markets and Tickmill both offer free demo (paper) accounts, Windows desktop and web-based platforms, copy trading, and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). CMC Markets also provides its own in-house platform, while Tickmill sticks to third-party platforms. Neither broker connects to DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Both let you place trades directly from a chart.
When it comes to tools, CMC Markets offers 36 drawing tools versus 9 at Tickmill, and its watchlists can show up to 11 columns compared with 7 at Tickmill. Indicator counts weren’t provided for either broker. In ForexBrokers.com testing, CMC Markets scored 5 stars and ranked #4 out of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Tickmill scored 4 stars and ranked #30. If platform depth is a priority, CMC Markets stands out; if you mainly want MT4/MT5 with copy trading and a demo, Tickmill is a solid pick.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
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) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 91 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 9 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and Tickmill both deliver iPhone and Android mobile trading apps with real-time quotes, watchlists, and price alerts for forex and stocks. The standout difference is watchlist syncing: CMC Markets syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, so edits on one device appear on the other; Tickmill does not offer syncing, which may add extra steps if you trade on both phone and desktop.
For charts, each app lets you draw trendlines, switch among multiple time frames, and auto-save drawings. CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies, while Tickmill offers 30. Even so, CMC Markets holds the edge in third-party evaluations, earning 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and a #5 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Tickmill’s 4-star rating and #30 ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 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 CMC Markets and Tickmill offer valuable insights for their users. Each brokerage provides daily market commentary and forex news from high-profile sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Furthermore, both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools that display a ratio of long or short positions across different instruments, ensuring traders have a comprehensive view of market sentiments. Each also includes an economic calendar that outlines current and upcoming global news events, keeping traders informed about the latest economic developments worldwide.
While both online brokers deliver essential market analysis features, CMC Markets goes a step further with tools from Autochartist, enhancing their technical analysis capabilities. Tickmill, on the other hand, stands out by offering additional resources from Acuity Trading. Despite both platforms not featuring Trading Central or TipRanks tools, CMC Markets emerges as a slightly stronger choice for research according to ForexBrokers.com, with a 5-star rating and a rank of #6 out of 63 brokers, compared to Tickmill's 4-star rating and #21 rank.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | 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 it comes to educational resources for beginners, both CMC Markets and Tickmill offer a wealth of options. Each provides a minimum of 10 educational pieces, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars that focus on forex and CFDs. For those keen on attending live educational events, Tickmill excels by hosting at least one online educational webinar each month, while CMC Markets lacks this feature. However, both brokers maintain a searchable archive of past webinars, making it easy for users to access a treasure trove of learning materials at their convenience.
Beginner traders will find plenty to like with both brokers offering at least 10 educational videos aimed at newcomers to trading. For those looking to deepen their knowledge, advanced traders aren't left out either, with each broker offering 10 advanced-level videos. Additionally, both CMC Markets and Tickmill provide investor dictionaries with detailed definitions of over 50 investing terms. CMC Markets edges out slightly in educational rankings, earning 5 stars and securing the 10th position among 63 brokers, compared to Tickmill's 4 stars and 15th place ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | 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 CMC Markets is better than Tickmill. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22.
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 | 86 |
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CMC Markets and Tickmill both do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets supports ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for account transactions, but not Skrill, while Tickmill offers PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | 86 | |
| 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 | 86 | |
| 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 (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) | 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/Central Bank 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 | 63 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.70 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | CMC Markets | 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 91 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 9 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 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 | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | 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 | CMC Markets | 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 | CMC Markets Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Tickmill Review |
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