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.
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Tickmill vs IFC Markets: Tickmill (founded 2014) and IFC Markets (founded 2006) are online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. According to ForexBrokers.com Trust Scores out of 99, Tickmill scores 85 (trusted, 80–89), while IFC Markets scores 73 (average risk, 70–79).
In terms of regulation, Tickmill holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses. IFC Markets holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. ForexBrokers.com considers Tier-1 licenses highly trusted and Tier-2 licenses trusted, which can help signal stronger oversight and client safeguards.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
Tickmill comes out ahead of IFC Markets on commissions and fees, especially for active traders who care about low trading costs. Tickmill is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #10 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. It offers a commission-free Classic account, though the average spread is higher at 1.76 pips, and a Raw account with tighter pricing plus a $3 per side commission, or $6 per standard lot. Even with the recent commission increase, Tickmill still offers strong all-in pricing, with typical EUR/USD costs that remain competitive.
IFC Markets is a bit less competitive on pricing overall, with a 4 out of 5 star rating and a #34 ranking out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is above the industry average, though its ECN account can offer better effective pricing at about 1.1 pips after commission. IFC Markets does have some cost-friendly features, including no inactivity fees and discounts for active traders, but its pricing still trails Tickmill for most cost-focused traders.
In short, Tickmill is the better choice if low commissions and tighter trading costs are your top priority, while IFC Markets may appeal to traders who value no inactivity fees and occasional active-trader savings. Both brokers offer ways to reduce costs, but Tickmill has the stronger overall edge for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.70 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.70 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 each give traders access to forex, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual crypto or U.S.-listed shares as exchange-traded securities. Tickmill offers a slightly wider selection overall, with 637 tradeable symbols and 62 forex pairs, compared with IFC Markets’ 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. That gives Tickmill a small edge for traders who want more choices in currencies and total markets.
IFC Markets does have one area where it stands out: it offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as shares listed outside the U.S., while Tickmill does not. Even so, both brokers receive the same 3.5 out of 5 stars for range of investments, with Tickmill ranked #32 and IFC Markets ranked #33 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 62 | 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.
Tickmill and IFC Markets both give traders a solid set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web trading, Windows desktop downloads, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, copy trading, and the ability to trade right from a chart. In other words, either broker gives you the core tools most traders look for, whether you want to practice first or trade live from a browser or desktop app.
The main difference is that IFC Markets also offers its own in-house platform, while Tickmill does not. Even so, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, showing a similar overall user experience. On ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill ranks #24 out of 36 brokers in this category, while IFC Markets ranks #32, giving Tickmill a slight edge in the platform and tools comparison.
| 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) | 97 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Tickmill and IFC Markets both make it easy to trade on the go, since each offers iPhone and Android apps, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Both mobile apps are also rated 4 out of 5 stars, so each one delivers a solid overall experience for everyday mobile trading.
Where Tickmill pulls ahead is charting depth, offering 97 technical studies in its mobile app compared with 30 at IFC Markets. Tickmill also ranks higher with ForexBrokers.com for mobile trading apps, placing #25 out of 36 brokers versus IFC Markets at #37. On the other hand, IFC Markets includes price alerts and can auto-save chart drawings, while Tickmill does not offer alerts and does not auto-save drawings. If chart variety matters most, Tickmill has the edge; if alerts and saved chart work are more important, IFC Markets may be the better fit.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Tickmill and IFC Markets both give traders daily market commentary and an economic calendar, so each provides helpful updates on current and upcoming events. Neither broker includes forex news from major outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and neither offers research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, or TipRanks. The main difference is that Tickmill adds research from Acuity Trading, while IFC Markets does not. Tickmill also does not offer a sentiment tool, but IFC Markets does, letting traders see the balance of long and short positions across instruments.
Overall, Tickmill scores higher for research, with a 4-star rating and a #19 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets comes in lower at 3.5 stars and #33 out of 36. For traders who want a few more built-in research features, Tickmill has the edge, while IFC Markets stands out mainly for its sentiment tool.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to learn forex and CFD trading, Tickmill has the edge over IFC Markets. Tickmill offers forex and CFDs education, runs online client webinars at least once a month, and provides at least 10 beginner videos as well as 10 advanced videos. This gives new traders more ways to learn through articles, videos, and live sessions. It is also rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category.
IFC Markets also provides forex and CFDs education, along with at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, so it still gives new traders useful learning content. However, it does not offer monthly educational webinars, which may matter for beginners who prefer live guidance and regular Q&A sessions. IFC Markets is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #26 out of 36, putting it behind Tickmill overall for beginner-friendly learning support.
| 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 #36.
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
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 |
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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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
| 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 CMA 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) | 62 | 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) - Spread-only account | 1.70 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 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 (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 97 | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
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