Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC 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 2007, IC Markets and Tickmill, which started in 2014, are prominent online brokers that consistently ensure client safety through solid regulatory credentials. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank. When comparing their adherence to financial standards, both hold two Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a category considered highly trusted and secure. However, Tickmill gains an edge with an additional two Tier-2 licenses, which mark it as more comprehensively regulated in trusted levels compared to IC Markets, which holds none.
Both brokers are assessed by ForexBrokers.com with Trust Scores within the trusted range: IC Markets earns a score of 84, while Tickmill is rated slightly higher at 86. This indicates that both brokers maintain a good level of safety for traders, with Tickmill showing marginally higher reliability within its regulatory framework. While both brokers present strong regulatory backgrounds, Tickmill's additional Tier-2 licenses contribute to its slightly superior trust rating.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
IC Markets and Tickmill both keep trading costs low, earning 5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. IC Markets ranks #5 out of 63 brokers in this category, while Tickmill ranks #10 out of 63. On EUR/USD, IC Markets’ all-in costs can be as low as 0.62 pips on its cTrader Raw account (about 0.72 pips on MetaTrader Raw), and its commission-free Standard account averages 0.62 pips. Tickmill’s Raw account lands around 0.71 pips all-in after its recent commission increase, while its Classic (commission-free) account averages a much wider 1.76 pips.
IC Markets offers three account types: Standard (spread-only), Raw Spread on MT4/MT5, and cTrader Raw. Commissions are $3.0 per side on cTrader ($6 round turn) and $3.5 per side on MT4/MT5 ($7 round turn). IC Markets lists an average raw spread of 0.02 pips on EUR/USD (Aug 2022); adding commissions brings the all-in cost to about 0.62 pips on cTrader and 0.72 on MetaTrader. Pricing can vary by platform, account, and which IC Markets entity you use (Cyprus, Australia, or Seychelles). Active traders who exceed 100 standard lots per month can qualify for discounts, and IC Markets earned Best in Class honors for Commissions & Fees in 2024.
Tickmill keeps things simple with two accounts: Classic (commission-free) and Raw. The Raw account replaced the Pro account and now charges $3 per side per 100,000 units ($6 round turn). Tickmill lists a typical EUR/USD spread of 0.11 pips on the Raw account (Oct 2023); with the updated commission, the all-in cost works out to about 0.71 pips. The Classic account is spread-only but averages 1.76 pips (Aug 2023). The Raw account’s minimum deposit is just $100, and despite the commission hike, Tickmill remains a strong pick for active traders, reflected in its 5-star rating and #10 ranking for Commissions & Fees.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.70 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IC Markets offers a much wider product lineup, with 3,583 tradeable symbols compared with Tickmill’s 637. Both support forex trading (CFD/spot), but Tickmill edges out IC Markets on currency pairs with 63 vs 61. For overall variety, IC Markets earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #22 of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while Tickmill scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #30.
Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares directly (non-CFD), and neither offers delivered crypto; both do offer crypto CFDs and copy trading. A key difference: IC Markets provides access to international exchange-traded shares, while Tickmill does not. Choose IC Markets if you want more symbols and access to international stocks, or consider Tickmill if you mainly want forex and appreciate the slightly larger list of pairs.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 63 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | 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.
IC Markets vs Tickmill: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, and neither uses a proprietary trading platform. Instead, they provide the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) on Windows desktop and via web-based platforms. Each supports copy trading and lets you place trades directly from charts. For trading platforms and tools, both earn 4 out of 5 stars.
Where they differ is in third‑party rankings: IC Markets is rated #17 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools by ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill is #24. Because both rely on MT4/MT5, your charting indicators and watchlist features come from those platforms and any add-ons you install. If you want a slightly higher platforms/tools ranking, IC Markets has the edge; otherwise, the overall platform experience should feel similar on either broker.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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) | 30 | 91 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets and Tickmill both deliver mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, making it easy to trade on the go. Each broker supports price alerts for forex (and other supported markets) and earns a 4-star rating for Mobile Trading Apps. In the ForexBrokers.com rankings, IC Markets sits slightly ahead at #22 out of 63 brokers, while Tickmill is close behind at #25.
Feature-wise, the apps are nearly identical: both include 30 technical studies for charting, let you draw trendlines, and auto-save your chart drawings. One notable limitation for both is the lack of watchlist syncing between the mobile app and your online account—changes made in one place won’t carry over to the other. If you’re choosing based on mobile experience alone, expect similar tools and performance, with a small edge to IC Markets in third-party rankings.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets and Tickmill both deliver a strong lineup of market research. Each broker publishes daily market commentary, offers forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and includes an economic calendar to track key events. Traders also get access to sentiment tools at both brokers, showing the balance of long vs. short positions across instruments. Neither broker includes TipRanks research.
The key differences come down to research add‑ons. IC Markets includes Autochartist and Trading Central, giving traders popular tools for chart patterns, technical levels, and trade ideas. Tickmill does not offer those, but it does provide Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre for trade signals and insights. Both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for research; however, ForexBrokers.com ranks Tickmill slightly higher at #19 versus IC Markets at #21 out of 63 brokers. If you want Autochartist and Trading Central, IC Markets is the better fit; if you prefer Signal Centre from Acuity Trading, consider Tickmill.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IC Markets vs Tickmill for beginner education: both brokers deliver forex and CFD education that meets the 10+ piece threshold. Each runs ongoing client webinars at least once a month and offers extensive beginner video libraries (10+ videos) that explain trading basics in clear terms. As you progress, both also provide 10+ advanced videos, so there’s room to grow beyond the fundamentals.
According to ForexBrokers.com, both IC Markets and Tickmill earn 4 stars for Education. Tickmill ranks slightly higher at #14 out of 63 brokers, while IC Markets sits at #16. For most beginners, the learning experience will feel very similar at either broker—choose Tickmill if you value the marginally higher ranking, or go with IC Markets if its platform lineup or other features suit you better.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
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 IC Markets is better than Tickmill. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #23.
IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
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Tickmill
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 86 |
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IC Markets vs Tickmill: neither broker supports purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading, enabling speculation on crypto price movements without owning the underlying asset.
IC Markets vs Tickmill: for deposits and withdrawals, neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers; both support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers; 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 | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 84 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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) | No | 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) | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 637 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 63 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | 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 | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.70 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 91 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC 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 | IC Markets Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 84 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Tickmill Review |
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