Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM 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.
FXCM vs Tickmill: regulation and trust at a glance. FXCM was founded in 1999 and is publicly traded; Tickmill launched in 2014 and is not publicly traded. Neither firm is a bank. For oversight, FXCM holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, while Tickmill holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses—Tier-1 being the most stringent regulators tracked by ForexBrokers.com.
On safety signals, FXCM earns a 95/99 Trust Score, which falls in the “highly trusted” range (90–99). Tickmill scores 85/99, placing it in the “trusted” tier (80–89). In short, both brokers are considered safe by industry standards, with FXCM scoring higher and carrying more top-tier licenses.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
FXCM and Tickmill both earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but Tickmill ranks higher (#10 of 63) than FXCM (#17 of 63) at ForexBrokers.com. For EUR/USD, Tickmill’s Raw account typically delivers the lower all‑in cost for active traders at about 0.71 pips (including the $3 per side commission), while FXCM’s commission-based pricing lands closer to 0.74–0.78 pips effective cost. On standard, no‑commission pricing, FXCM averaged 0.78 pips in the EU, U.K., and Australia during May 2024 (and 1.38 pips via its St. Vincent & the Grenadines entity), which is higher than many low-cost alternatives.
FXCM offers a choice between standard spreads and a commission-based setup. Its commission account showed a 0.28‑pip core spread in May 2024, with an effective cost closer to 0.74 pips after commissions. FXCM’s Active Trader discounts can reduce costs further with rebates of $5 to $25 per million traded (program availability varies by region and isn’t offered in the U.K. or EU). Discount structures differ by entity; for example, in the U.K., meeting higher balance and volume thresholds (e.g., $25,000 balance and $50 million monthly volume) can bring commissions to about $2.50 per side ($5 round‑turn). As with most brokers, spreads can widen during rollover and volatile market conditions.
Tickmill keeps things simple with two choices: the Classic account (no commission, but higher spreads around 1.76 pips as of August 2023) and the Raw account, which replaced the Pro and carries a $3 per side commission ($6 per lot). On the Raw account, Tickmill lists a typical 0.11‑pip EUR/USD spread (October 2023), making the all‑in cost about 0.71 pips after today’s commission rate. The Raw account has a low $100 minimum and posts typical spread data during normal market conditions. Taken together, Tickmill’s pricing structure helps explain its higher category ranking (#10) versus FXCM (#17), even though both hold the same 4.5‑star score.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.70 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FXCM vs Tickmill: both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. Tickmill lists more markets overall, with 637 tradeable symbols and 63 currency pairs, compared with FXCM’s 440 symbols and 46 pairs. Neither broker lets you buy exchange-traded stocks on U.S. or international exchanges. Both support copy trading. For crypto, each offers cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows buying actual coins.
Ratings tilt toward FXCM for range of investments: FXCM scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 21st out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill earns 3.5 stars and ranks 30th. If you want a larger list of symbols and forex pairs, Tickmill has the edge; if independent scores for range of investments matter more, FXCM comes out ahead.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 63 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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.
FXCM vs Tickmill: both brokers cover the essentials for trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo account for simulated trading, web-based and Windows desktop platforms, and copy trading. FXCM adds a proprietary platform built in-house, while Tickmill relies on third-party software. MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is available at both brokers; only Tickmill also supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Both let you place orders directly from charts.
According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns 5 stars and ranks 4th out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Tickmill earns 4 stars and ranks 24th. Pick FXCM if you want an in-house platform and a higher-rated toolset; choose Tickmill if MT5 access is a priority and you’re comfortable with third-party platforms.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 91 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and Tickmill both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, lets you draw trendlines on charts, and auto-saves your drawings. In independent testing, FXCM earned 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #16 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill scored 4 stars and ranked #25.
FXCM stands out for charting depth with 59 technical studies versus Tickmill’s 30, and it syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account—Tickmill does not. If you want more advanced chart analysis and seamless watchlist syncing across devices, FXCM is the stronger pick. If you need the essentials with alerts and drawing tools on both iPhone and Android, Tickmill still gets the job done.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing FXCM vs Tickmill for market research, both forex brokers check key boxes. You get daily market commentary, an economic calendar with upcoming events, and a sentiment tool that shows the long/short split across instruments. Each also streams forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Neither broker includes Autochartist.
The main differences are in third‑party research add‑ons. FXCM includes Trading Central and TipRanks, while Tickmill offers Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre but does not include Trading Central or TipRanks. In our ratings, FXCM scores 4.5/5 for Research and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill earns 4/5 and ranks #19. If you want extra analysis and stock‑style insights alongside daily commentary and premium news, FXCM has the edge; if you prefer Signal Centre tools, Tickmill is worth a look.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM and Tickmill both provide forex and CFD education suitable for beginners, with each broker offering well over 10 pieces of learning content such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. You’ll also find ongoing support through online client webinars at least once a month. For structured learning, both brokers deliver at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, making it easier to start from scratch and progress to more complex topics.
When it comes to quality scores, FXCM earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks 13th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 14th. In short, both are strong choices for learning the basics and beyond, with FXCM holding a slight edge in ratings and overall placement.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | 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 FXCM is better than Tickmill. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #23.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
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Tickmill
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 |
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In the FXCM vs Tickmill cryptocurrency trading comparison, neither broker supports purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
FXCM and Tickmill both support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, but only FXCM offers ACH/SEPA transfers, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | FXCM | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Tickmill | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | 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) | No | 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) | FXCM | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 637 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 63 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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 | FXCM | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.70 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | 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) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 91 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FXCM Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Tickmill Review |
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