Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs IronFX, 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.
Both Tickmill and IronFX are notable players in the online brokerage industry, though they present differences in their regulatory credentials. Founded in 2014, Tickmill holds two Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, earning it a Trust Score rating of 86 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. IronFX, founded in 2010, holds three Tier-1 licenses but doesn't possess any Tier-2 licenses and is rated with a Trust Score of 83 out of 99. These scores suggest that both brokers are considered trusted, yet Tickmill holds a slightly higher position in terms of trustworthiness.
Both companies remain private enterprises and do not operate as banks, which could influence their operational dynamics and service offerings. Their regulatory standing, reflected in the number and level of licenses they maintain, plays a crucial role for traders assessing the safety and reliability of each broker. As such, individuals evaluating Tickmill and IronFX should consider these regulatory details alongside other factors like user reviews and trading conditions to make informed decisions.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Tickmill offers two types of accounts: Classic and Raw. The Classic account is commission-free, with traders only needing to cover the bid/ask spread, which is relatively high at 1.76 pips as of August 2023. In contrast, the Raw account, which replaced the Pro account, features competitive spreads with a commission of $3 per side, or $6 per standard lot. Typical spreads for the EUR/USD are as low as 0.11 pips, bringing the all-in cost to 0.71 pips considering the new commission. With a low minimum deposit of $100, the Raw account is particularly appealing for algo traders looking for cost-efficiency. Tickmill earns a strong rating of 5 stars and holds an impressive #4 ranking out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category on ForexBrokers.com.
IronFX has room for improvement in its pricing structure. The Standard variable spread account comes with a typical spread of 1.8 pips, although spreads can fluctuate between account types. Their zero fixed-spread account starts from zero with an $18 per lot commission, but spreads can widen up to 3 pips overnight. Despite these costs, IronFX still manages to garner a 4-star rating, ranking at #46 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees on ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, while Tickmill offers more competitive pricing with low spreads and a straightforward commission structure in their Raw account, making it a favorable choice for active traders, IronFX's spreads tend to be higher and more varied. Consequently, Tickmill leads in both star ratings and rankings for commissions and fees compared to IronFX. Both brokers have their strengths, but Tickmill stands out as a more cost-effective option based on current data.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.51 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Tickmill and IronFX both offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, making them suitable for currency traders. Tickmill provides access to a broader range of tradable symbols with 725 options compared to IronFX's 340. However, when it comes to forex pairs specifically, IronFX takes the lead with 83 pairs as opposed to Tickmill's 63. Despite this, neither broker allows direct trading of exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international markets, such as buying shares of Apple or Vodafone directly.
Both brokers support copy trading, enabling clients to mimic successful traders' strategies, and offer cryptocurrency derivatives for those interested in digital assets. Yet, neither platform permits the purchase of actual or delivered cryptocurrencies. When it comes to ratings, both Tickmill and IronFX score 3.5 stars for their range of investments, yet Tickmill is ranked #42 by ForexBrokers.com in this category out of 63 brokers, while IronFX trails slightly behind at #51.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 83 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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.
Tickmill and IronFX both offer competitive online trading platforms and tools, starting with their provision of free virtual demo accounts, suitable for beginners looking to gain experience without financial risk. Neither broker offers a proprietary platform, but both support popular third-party options. Tickmill and IronFX provide desktop and web-based trading platforms, with both allowing copy trading. They each support MetaTrader 4 (MT4), a widely-used platform in the industry, though Tickmill takes a step ahead with support for MetaTrader 5 (MT5), offering more advanced features and flexibility for traders. However, neither broker provides DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
In terms of technical resources, Tickmill and IronFX offer a solid suite with 15 drawing tools each for charting and the capability to trade directly from stock charts. Their watch lists support up to seven custom columns, providing room for personalization. Tickmill stands out slightly in quality, rated 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, and holds a ForexBrokers.com ranking of 32 out of 63 brokers. Conversely, IronFX is rated 3.5 stars and places at 61 in the same ranking, suggesting that while both brokers offer a similar set of tools, Tickmill might have a marginally stronger edge in platform efficiency and user experience.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Tickmill and IronFX, both brokers provide similar features for traders on the go. Each offers dedicated apps for iPhone and Android devices, along with helpful stock or forex price alerts. Traders can enjoy a comprehensive charting experience with 30 technical studies available on both platforms. Furthermore, both apps support drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames like daily, weekly, or intraday on charts. They also ensure that any chart drawings are saved automatically, adding convenience for technical analysis enthusiasts.
Despite their similarities, there are differences in user overall satisfaction and ranking. Tickmill's app, rated four out of five stars, outweighs IronFX's with a rating of 3.5. In terms of rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill places significantly higher at #32 out of 63, compared to IronFX at #62. Both platforms, however, fall short in offering watchlist symbol syncing between their mobile app and online accounts. Nevertheless, traders can create watchlists with real-time quotes on both apps, adding valuable tools to their trading arsenal.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Tickmill and IronFX provide traders with daily market commentary and forex news from reputable sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. While neither broker offers tools from Autochartist, IronFX distinguishes itself by incorporating research tools from Trading Central, enhancing technical and fundamental analysis capabilities—something Tickmill does not offer. However, Tickmill compensates with a sentiment-based trading tool to help users gauge market positions across various currency pairs, a feature not available with IronFX. Additionally, Tickmill utilizes research tools from Acuity Trading, like Signal Centre, providing further insights, whereas IronFX doesn’t offer this resource.
Both brokers provide an economic calendar to keep traders informed about global news events. They share a similar research rating of 4 stars out of 5 by ForexBrokers.com. Still, Tickmill slightly outranks IronFX in the Research category, coming in at #22 among 63 brokers compared to IronFX’s #28 position. This suggests that while both brokers deliver quality research services, Tickmill may offer a marginally more comprehensive package for traders seeking a mix of sentiment analysis and economic insights.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing educational resources for beginners, both Tickmill and IronFX offer a solid foundation in forex and CFDs education by providing at least ten educational pieces each, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. However, Tickmill stands out by hosting monthly online educational webinars for clients, a feature IronFX does not offer. Additionally, both platforms provide searchable archives of previously recorded webinars, allowing users to revisit content as needed. Both brokers cater to beginners and experienced traders with a range of videos, but Tickmill provides a more comprehensive selection, including advanced topics for experienced traders which IronFX lacks.
In terms of supplementary resources, both Tickmill and IronFX offer an investor dictionary with definitions of over fifty investing terms, helping users familiarize themselves with essential terminology. Despite both platforms being highly rated for their educational efforts, receiving 4 stars each, Tickmill ranks significantly higher at #15 compared to IronFX at #44 according to ForexBrokers.com. For beginners seeking a more interactive learning experience with a blend of foundational and advanced content, Tickmill appears to offer a more comprehensive package.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Tickmill is better than IronFX. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
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
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 83 |
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Both Tickmill and IronFX allow investors to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but do not provide options for purchasing actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
In comparing online brokers Tickmill and IronFX, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, while Tickmill offers PayPal in addition to the commonly available Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options that both brokers provide.
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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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) | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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 | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.51 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
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