Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs IFC Markets, 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.
When comparing online brokers Tickmill and IFC Markets, it's important to look at their regulatory standing and trust ratings. Tickmill, founded in 2014, has made a significant mark in the financial landscape with a Trust Score of 86 out of 99, according to ForexBrokers.com. This score places Tickmill in the 'trusted' category. Tickmill holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted, and two Tier-2 licenses. In contrast, IFC Markets, which was established in 2006, holds a Trust Score of 73, indicating an average risk and has no Tier-1 licenses but one Tier-2 license available. Neither Tickmill nor IFC Markets are publicly traded, nor do they operate as banks, offering similar foundations but varying levels of regulatory confidence.
The distinction in regulatory credentials between Tickmill and IFC Markets is clear, as Tickmill demonstrates a stronger regulatory footing with its Tier-1 licenses, contributing to its higher trust rating. While both brokers provide online trading services, the licensing and trust metrics offer potential clients a basis to assess the comparative security and reliability of these two financial entities. As these factors are crucial for traders, the differences in trust scores and legal authorizations are notable, providing insight into the brokers' adherence to regulatory standards and overall investor protection.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Tickmill generally comes out cheaper for frequent traders than IFC Markets. Tickmill’s Raw account delivers a lower all-in cost on EUR/USD at about 0.71 pips (0.11-pip typical spread plus a $3-per-side commission), while IFC Markets’ ECN account works out to roughly 1.1 pips after its 0.005% commission on both sides. On standard pricing, IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips (above the 1.08-pip industry average). For commissions and fees, Tickmill is rated 5/5 stars and ranks #10 of 63 brokers, whereas IFC Markets is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #32 of 63.
Tickmill offers two account types. The Classic account is commission-free but has wider average spreads around 1.76 pips (as of August 2023). The Raw account replaced the Pro account and charges $3 per side ($6 per standard lot) with a $100 minimum deposit. On EUR/USD, Tickmill lists a typical 0.11-pip spread for the Raw account (October 2023), producing an estimated 0.71-pip all-in cost after commissions—competitive pricing that helps explain its 5-star rating and #10 ranking for commissions and fees.
IFC Markets’ headline EUR/USD spread averages 1.44 pips, which is less competitive than the industry average. Active traders can do better with IFC Markets’ ECN account, where the effective cost is about 1.1 pips once the 0.005% commission on both sides is included. The lack of inactivity fees and availability of active trader discounts are positives, but overall pricing trails Tickmill, reflected in IFC Markets’ 4-star rating and #32 ranking for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.70 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Tickmill and IFC Markets both support forex trading (CFDs/spot) and offer copy trading. Tickmill lists 637 tradeable symbols and 63 forex pairs, slightly more than IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 pairs. Both brokers let you trade cryptocurrency via CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments rating, each scores 3.5 out of 5 stars, with Tickmill ranked #30 of 63 and IFC Markets at #31.
Access to real exchange-traded shares differs. Neither broker offers U.S.-listed stocks for direct share dealing, but IFC Markets does provide access to certain international exchange-traded securities (not CFDs), while Tickmill does not. If you prioritize a wider list of forex pairs and total symbols, Tickmill has a small edge; if you want the option to buy some international shares outright, IFC Markets stands out.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
In the Tickmill vs IFC Markets comparison for trading platforms and tools, both brokers tick the key boxes: free demo (paper) trading, Windows desktop downloads, web-based platforms, copy trading, and the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Both also let you place orders straight from charts and offer adjustable watchlists, with a range of technical indicators available in MT4/MT5. The main difference is platform choice: Tickmill relies on third-party platforms, while IFC Markets adds its own proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader.
For quality, each earns 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools from ForexBrokers.com, with Tickmill ranked #24 of 63 brokers and IFC Markets ranked #29. Choose Tickmill if you want a straightforward MetaTrader setup across web and desktop; choose IFC Markets if having an extra in-house platform matters to your workflow. Either way, you can test strategies with a free demo, follow other traders with copy trading, and place trades directly from charts.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| 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) | 91 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Tickmill and IFC Markets both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app lets you set forex and stock price alerts, draw trendlines on charts, and auto-save your annotations. Charting tools are similar too, with 30 technical indicators available on both platforms. One key difference is watchlist syncing: IFC Markets syncs your symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while Tickmill does not. Both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile apps.
If rankings matter, ForexBrokers.com places Tickmill at 25th out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, ahead of IFC Markets at 34th. If you need seamless watchlist sync across devices, IFC Markets has the edge. If a slightly higher third-party ranking is important, Tickmill may appeal more. Either way, both apps cover core needs for trading on the go.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at Tickmill versus IFC Markets: both brokers publish daily market commentary, provide an economic calendar, and offer sentiment tools that show the balance of long and short positions. Neither broker adds Autochartist or Trading Central, and neither uses TipRanks. Key differences: Tickmill streams forex news from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while IFC Markets does not. Tickmill also integrates Acuity Trading tools (including Signal Centre), a feature not available at IFC Markets.
These extras help Tickmill earn a higher Research score (4 stars, ranked 19th of 63), compared with IFC Markets (3.5 stars, ranked 30th of 63). If you want premium news and Acuity-powered trade ideas alongside the basics, Tickmill is the stronger fit; if you only need commentary, a calendar, and sentiment data, IFC Markets covers those essentials.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing education, both Tickmill and IFC Markets deliver sizeable forex and CFD learning libraries. Each offers at least 10 beginner-focused videos, plus at least 10 advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper. A key difference is live training: Tickmill runs educational client webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not offer ongoing webinars. If you prefer real-time sessions with Q&A, Tickmill has the edge; if you mainly learn through on-demand videos, both will suit you.
In independent reviews, Tickmill earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #25. In short, Tickmill’s education is rated slightly higher and includes live webinars, whereas IFC Markets provides a solid video-based path for beginners without live events.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Tickmill is better than IFC Markets. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #23, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.
Tickmill is a run-of-the-mill MetaTrader broker that offers a limited selection of tradeable securities. The broker does offer very competitive commission-based pricing for professionals through its VIP and Pro accounts.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 86 | 73 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Tickmill vs IFC Markets: for crypto trading, neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer trading via cryptocurrency CFDs.
Tickmill vs IFC Markets: for deposits and withdrawals, both brokers do not support ACH or SEPA and both support bank wire transfers, but only Tickmill offers PayPal and Skrill while IFC Markets does not; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.70 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill