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.
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets stands as a highly trusted online broker, earning a stellar Trust Score rating of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. This publicly traded firm, though not a bank, boasts five Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a strong regulatory position. CMC Markets also holds one Tier-2 license, further solidifying its standing as a reliable platform for traders.
Conversely, Tickmill, established in 2014, is a privately held broker with a Trust Score of 86, marking it as a trusted option in the market. While it is not bank-affiliated either, Tickmill operates under two Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, indicating a solid regulatory presence. Both brokers offer diverse regulatory advantages, catering to different needs and preferences of online traders.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 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 | 0.61 | 0.51 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.31 |
| 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.
When comparing CMC Markets and Tickmill, the difference in their range of investments is noticeable. CMC Markets stands out with a remarkable selection, offering 11,925 tradable symbols and 156 forex pairs, whereas Tickmill provides 725 tradable symbols and 63 forex pairs. This extensive variety from CMC Markets is complemented by their ability to trade exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing investors to directly purchase shares in companies like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, Tickmill does not offer trading in exchange-traded securities on these markets. Both platforms support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts and offer copy trading as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
Given these investment options, CMC Markets earns a high rating of 5 stars for its range of offerings, while Tickmill receives 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets ranks 9th out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category, highlighting its comprehensive investment options. Meanwhile, Tickmill is ranked at 42nd, indicating a more limited selection compared to CMC Markets. For investors looking for extensive market access and a broad selection of trading instruments, CMC Markets emerges as the more fitting choice between the two.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 725 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 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 a range of trading platforms and tools that cater to different trading needs. Both brokers provide simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, which are excellent for practice without risking real money. While CMC Markets has its own in-house developed platform, Tickmill relies on third-party solutions. Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, providing traders with popular choices for executing trades. Additionally, both platforms support Windows-based desktop and web-based (browser) trading, making them accessible for various devices.
When it comes to trading tools, CMC Markets stands out with more comprehensive offerings. It supports 40 drawing tools for charting, compared to Tickmill's 15, and provides more fields for watch lists. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts and offer copy trading features, but neither supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets receives a 5-star rating for their trading platforms and tools and ranks 4th out of 63 brokers, whereas Tickmill earns a 4-star rating and is ranked 32nd. This points to CMC Markets offering a slightly more advanced suite of trading tools, appealing to those who require detailed and extensive resources.
| 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) | 79 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both CMC Markets and Tickmill support iPhone and Android devices, making them accessible to a wide range of users. These apps allow traders to receive price alerts for stocks and forex, ensuring that they stay updated with market movements. Both platforms also enable users to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts, providing flexibility and insight for technical analysis. However, a key difference lies in watchlist syncing capabilities. CMC Markets allows for seamless syncing of watchlists between mobile and online accounts, a feature Tickmill lacks, potentially affecting continuity for active traders.
In terms of technical studies, Tickmill offers a slight edge with 30 studies compared to CMC Markets' 29. Despite this, CMC Markets receives a higher user rating of 5 stars out of 5 for their mobile app functionality, whereas Tickmill scores 4 stars. This higher endorsement reflects in CMC Markets' superior ranking at number 5 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, significantly ahead of Tickmill, which stands at rank 32. Such rankings highlight the performance reliability and user satisfaction that are vital for traders seeking efficient mobile trading solutions.
| 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 daily market commentary and forex news, both CMC Markets and Tickmill are evenly matched, as they provide fresh insights and updates from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. However, when digging deeper into specialized trading tools, CMC Markets distinguishes itself by offering Autochartist, a valuable resource for technical and fundamental analysis, while Tickmill does not. In contrast, Tickmill makes up for this gap by offering trading tools from Acuity Trading, such as the Signal Centre, whereas CMC Markets does not. Both brokers also provide sentiment-based trading tools and maintain comprehensive economic calendars to keep traders informed about global economic events.
In terms of research rankings, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars for research and holds a strong position at 6th place among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Tickmill receives a 4-star rating and is ranked 22nd. These ratings highlight CMC Markets' slight edge in research offerings. Whether you prioritize advanced technical analysis tools or alternative research insights, both brokers offer a solid foundation for making informed trading decisions.
| 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 | 5 | 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 725 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 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 | 0.61 | 0.51 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.31 | |
| 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) | 79 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 15 | |
| 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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