Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers and Tickmill are two options to consider for online trading, both offering different levels of trust and credibility. Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers is publicly traded and boasts the highest ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99. It holds 9 Tier-1 licenses, reflecting strong regulatory compliance. On the other hand, Tickmill, established in 2014, is not publicly traded and has a Trust Score of 86. While it holds 2 Tier-1 licenses, this suggests a solid level of trust but not as extensive as Interactive Brokers.
Neither company operates as a bank, focusing solely on providing brokerage services. Both firms hold 2 Tier-2 licenses, indicating they meet trusted standards in certain jurisdictions. However, Interactive Brokers' extensive Tier-1 licensing positions it as a more secure choice from a regulatory perspective compared to Tickmill. For investors prioritizing regulatory approval and publicly traded status, Interactive Brokers may offer greater peace of mind.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees between Interactive Brokers and Tickmill, both platforms offer competitive pricing structures that cater to active forex traders. Interactive Brokers stands out with a pricing system where commissions start at 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a minimum of $2 per order. This structure can drop to 0.08 basis points for very active traders. For example, buying and then selling $100,000 worth of EUR/USD at Interactive Brokers results in a commission-equivalent of roughly 0.40 pips, making it an appealing choice for seasoned traders. Interactive Brokers, rated 5 stars for its commissions and fees, is ranked #2 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, Tickmill provides two main account options: Classic and Raw. The Raw account, which replaced the Pro account, features a $3 per side commission rate, or $6 per standard lot. With this account, typical spreads for the EUR/USD are listed at 0.11 pips, with an all-in cost of 0.71 pips after incorporating the commission. While the Classic account offers commission-free trading, its average spreads are significantly higher at 1.76 pips. Despite the recent price increase, Tickmill remains a top contender for active traders, earning a 5-star rating and securing the #4 rank for commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, Interactive Brokers and Tickmill both offer attractive options for forex traders with efficient pricing models. Interactive Brokers is particularly suited for those who prioritize volume discounts and extensive interbank access, while Tickmill appeals with its straightforward account options and competitive spreads through its Raw account. Both brokers shine in delivering cost-effective solutions while receiving top ratings in the industry for their commissions and fees.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.51 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.31 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When evaluating the range of investments between Interactive Brokers and Tickmill, Interactive Brokers emerges as a more versatile option for investors. With 8,500 tradeable symbols, including 90 forex pairs, Interactive Brokers offers a diverse investment experience. Clients can also trade directly on U.S. and international exchanges, such as purchasing shares of Apple or Vodafone. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers supports both actual cryptocurrency purchases and derivatives, broadening investment flexibility. In contrast, Tickmill offers 725 tradeable symbols and 63 forex pairs. While it supports forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts like Interactive Brokers, it does not provide access to U.S. or international exchange-traded securities or actual cryptocurrency purchases, focusing instead on cryptocurrency derivatives and offering copy trading.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers ranks as the top provider for a range of investments, scoring a perfect 5 stars. This top ranking underscores its extensive asset offerings and comprehensive trading options. Meanwhile, Tickmill holds a more modest position, ranked #42 and rated 3.5 stars in the same category. This comparison clearly indicates that Interactive Brokers provides a broader and more comprehensive range of investment opportunities than Tickmill, making it a preferred choice for investors seeking varied trading options.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 725 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 63 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
Both Interactive Brokers and Tickmill offer free virtual demo accounts, making it easy for traders to practice without any financial risk. While Interactive Brokers provides an in-house developed trading platform that can be downloaded on Windows, Tickmill does not have its own proprietary software, opting instead for popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both brokers offer browser-based platforms, but Tickmill stands out by supporting copy trading, a feature not available with Interactive Brokers. Additionally, Interactive Brokers allows for trading directly from a stock chart and provides an expansive selection of drawing tools, boasting 85 compared to Tickmill's 15.
When assessing the trading platforms and tools, Interactive Brokers outshines Tickmill, earning a 5-star rating compared to Tickmill's 4-star rating. Interactive Brokers also excels with an extensive 659 fields available for watch lists, compared to just 7 from Tickmill. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is positioned at number 3 out of 63 brokers, significantly surpassing Tickmill, which ranks at number 32. Overall, both brokers offer valuable features, but Interactive Brokers provides a more comprehensive suite of tools for traders who demand greater flexibility and customization.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and Tickmill both offer iPhone and Android apps, allowing traders to manage their activities on the go. Both platforms provide stock and forex price alerts, and enable users to draw trendlines and view various time frames on charts. However, a key difference lies in watchlist synchronization: Interactive Brokers allows watchlists in its mobile app to sync with the client's online account, while Tickmill does not. Additionally, Interactive Brokers offers a wider range of technical studies with 97 available, compared to Tickmill's 30. Interactive Brokers, though, falls short in autosaving chart drawings, a feature Tickmill provides.
When it comes to creating watchlists with real-time quotes, both brokers offer this capability. Interactive Brokers shines with a 5-star rating for its mobile trading apps, ranking 4th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Tickmill, while still competent, holds a 4-star rating and is ranked 32nd in the same category. These ratings reflect the advanced features and user satisfaction of Interactive Brokers compared to Tickmill, making it a preferred choice for those seeking a rich mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Interactive Brokers and Tickmill deliver daily market commentary and provide forex news from industry-leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, giving investors timely insights. Although neither broker integrates Autochartist for technical analysis, Interactive Brokers sets itself apart by offering tools from Trading Central, a feature not present with Tickmill. Furthermore, both platforms include sentiment-based trading tools and comprehensive economic calendars that track global news events. However, Interactive Brokers holds the edge with exclusive access to TipRanks market research, which Tickmill doesn't provide.
In terms of additional research tools, both brokers feature offerings from Acuity Trading, ensuring a high-quality analysis experience. The difference in their research capabilities is reflected in their industry ratings; Interactive Brokers shines with a 5-star rating, securing the #3 rank out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill holds a commendable 4-star rating, sitting at #22. This makes Interactive Brokers a more robust choice for investors seeking extensive research tools and resources.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Interactive Brokers and Tickmill both offer comprehensive educational resources geared towards beginner investors, making them strong contenders for anyone looking to learn more about forex and CFDs. With an array of over ten educational materials spanning articles, videos, archived webinars, and more, both platforms ensure their users are well-informed. They each provide monthly updated online educational webinars along with searchable archives of past sessions, providing continuous learning opportunities. Moreover, both brokerages cater specifically to new traders by supplying more than ten beginner-focused videos. For those looking to advance their knowledge, each offers at least ten advanced educational videos.
Digging deeper, Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself with an investor dictionary covering over fifty essential investing terms, matching Tickmill's offering in this area. However, when it comes to recognition, Interactive Brokers edges out with a higher educational rating of five stars compared to Tickmill's four. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers ranks impressively as the third best among 63 brokers for education according to ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill holds the fifteenth position. Hence, while both platforms are valuable resources for newcomers, Interactive Brokers slightly outshines Tickmill in providing a more highly rated learning experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | 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 Interactive Brokers is better than Tickmill. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 |
| Range of Investments |
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Interactive Brokers provides investors with the option to purchase both actual cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, while Tickmill exclusively offers cryptocurrency derivatives, lacking the option for buying actual cryptocurrency.
When comparing Interactive Brokers and Tickmill as online brokers, Interactive Brokers allows ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for handling account funds but does not support PayPal, Skrill, or Visa/Mastercard, whereas Tickmill does not support ACH/SEPA transfers but does offer options for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | 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) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 725 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 63 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.51 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.31 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | 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 | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | 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 | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Tickmill Review |
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