Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo 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.
When comparing online brokers, Saxo and Tickmill stand out with their strong regulatory standings, though they differ in certain key aspects. Saxo, founded in 1992, is also a licensed bank, which adds a layer of security for investors. With 7 Tier-1 licenses—licenses considered to be of the highest trust—Saxo establishes itself as a leader in the industry. In fact, Saxo's Trust Score is a stellar 99 out of 99, reflecting its highly trusted status according to ForexBrokers.com. While not publicly traded, Saxo offers a reassuring depth of regulatory oversight.
Tickmill, on the other hand, was founded in 2014 and, while it's not a bank, it manages to hold its ground with a robust suite of licenses. The broker possesses 2 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses, both of which are indicative of a respectable level of trust. With a Trust Score of 86 out of 99, Tickmill is classified as a trusted broker by ForexBrokers.com, although it doesn't quite reach the same high trust level as Saxo. Both brokers provide valuable options for traders, yet Saxo edges out with more comprehensive regulatory credentials.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Saxo offers highly competitive pricing, especially appealing to active and high-volume traders due to its excellent all-around rates. For those with significant account balances, Saxo’s pricing structures for its Platinum and VIP accounts are close to the industry average, with spreads on EUR/USD as low as 0.9 pips in its VIP tier. The Classic account has slightly higher spreads, averaging 1.1 pips. Saxo is commission-free for forex trading, although beginners trading fewer than 50,000 units may face a $3 ticket fee per side. The broker waives custody fees for traders engaging in securities lending, and offers a generous zero-dollar minimum deposit for Classic accounts, while elite investors are rewarded with exclusive VIP account benefits for deposits of $1,000,000 or more. Saxo has a premium star rating of five out of five, ranking #9 out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees.
In contrast, Tickmill provides two primary account options: Classic and Raw. The Raw account, designed for serious traders, features very low spreads, with typical rates at 0.11 pips for EUR/USD, though the overall cost rises to 0.71 pips when factoring in the $6 per standard lot commission. While the Classic account is entirely commission-free, it has a higher average spread of 1.76 pips. The Raw account supports high efficiency in trading with tighter spreads and low entry barriers, set at a $100 minimum deposit. Despite the recent increase in its commission structure, Tickmill remains a top choice for active traders. Tickmill also holds a five out of five star rating, proudly placed at #4 out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees.
Both Saxo and Tickmill lead the field with their exceptional fee and commission offerings, tailored for distinct investor needs. Saxo focuses on high-balance accounts and luxury access via its loyalty program, while Tickmill caters to active traders with enticing spreads and minimal entry costs. The choice between them hinges on the trader's priorities, whether it's exclusive VIP client experiences and minimal spreads or simple, cost-effective trading with low barriers to entry.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 0.51 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.31 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Saxo and Tickmill in terms of investment options, Saxo stands out with an extensive array of choices. Saxo offers clients access to 70,000 tradable symbols, including 190 forex pairs, and provides the ability to buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges. This means clients can purchase stocks like Apple and Vodafone directly. Additionally, Saxo supports forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts and offers the option to trade in cryptocurrency derivatives. Saxo also provides copy trading, allowing users to mimic the trades of successful investors. With a 5-star rating, it ranks third out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category according to ForexBrokers.com.
Tickmill, on the other hand, has a more limited investment range with 725 tradable symbols and 63 forex pairs. While it supports forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts and offers cryptocurrency derivatives, Tickmill does not provide access to exchange-traded securities on either U.S. or international exchanges, meaning clients cannot directly buy stocks like Apple or Vodafone. Like Saxo, Tickmill offers copy trading, giving investors the opportunity to follow successful traders. Despite its offerings, Tickmill receives a 3.5-star rating for its Range of Investments and ranks 42nd among 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 725 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 63 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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.
When choosing between Saxo and Tickmill for trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a free virtual demo account, allowing users to familiarize themselves with trading without the risk of real money. Saxo stands out with its in-house developed trading platform, providing a proprietary suite of tools, while Tickmill relies on third-party solutions like MetaTrader 4 and 5. Both brokers have Windows-based desktop and web-based trading options, but Saxo offers an exceptional experience with capabilities like trading directly from stock charts and a comprehensive selection of 60 fields for watch lists, compared to Tickmill's 7. Furthermore, Saxo's platform features 20 drawing tools, five more than Tickmill provides.
Copy trading is available with both brokers, yet Saxo consistently receives higher acclaim, evident in its 5-star rating for trading platforms and tools, compared to Tickmill's 4 stars. This superiority is mirrored in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Saxo holds an impressive 1st place out of 63 brokers, while Tickmill is ranked 32nd. While both brokers offer compelling features, Saxo's tailored platform and extensive array of tools may appeal more to traders seeking an all-in-one, user-friendly experience.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 60 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and Tickmill both provide mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, allowing seamless market access on the go. Both apps include essential features such as price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and view multiple time frames. Additionally, real-time quotes for creating watchlists are available on each platform. However, Saxo stands out by offering 64 technical studies for charting compared to Tickmill's 30. Saxo also provides the advantage of syncing watchlist symbols with the client’s online account, a feature Tickmill lacks. This can greatly enhance the user experience for those managing their portfolios across multiple devices.
In terms of user ratings, Saxo receives a full 5-star rating for its mobile trading app, while Tickmill follows with a 4-star rating. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Saxo holds an impressive 2nd place out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, whereas Tickmill ranks at 32nd. Saxo's app also automatically saves drawings on charts, adding to its convenience. These distinctions make Saxo a strong contender for traders seeking comprehensive mobile trading features.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 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.
When comparing the market research offerings of Saxo and Tickmill, both brokers provide daily market commentary and forex news from premier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They each offer sentiment-based trading tools, displaying the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments. Furthermore, both Saxo and Tickmill supply an economic calendar that highlights critical global news events. However, Saxo stands out by offering tools from Autochartist, enhancing its technical and fundamental research resources, whereas Tickmill offers tools from Acuity Trading, like Signal Centre. Neither broker provides tools from Trading Central or market research from TipRanks.
In terms of research ratings and rankings, Saxo shines with a perfect 5-star rating, topping the charts as the number one broker in research according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Tickmill holds a respectable 4-star rating, placing it at 22nd among 63 evaluated brokers. This suggests that while both Saxo and Tickmill offer comprehensive market insights, Saxo provides a more enhanced set of research tools, giving it an edge in the broker market.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For newcomers diving into the world of forex and CFDs, Saxo and Tickmill both offer a comprehensive range of educational resources. Each broker provides over 10 educational pieces, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars that focus on forex or CFDs. If live learning is your preference, both Saxo and Tickmill conduct monthly online educational webinars, ensuring that beginners have ample opportunity to gain valuable knowledge. Additionally, they provide searchable archives of past webinars, allowing learners to revisit topics at their convenience.
When it comes to videos, both brokers cater to different experience levels with at least 10 beginner trading videos and another set for advanced traders. For those needing jargon explanations, Saxo and Tickmill each offer an investor dictionary that includes over 50 terms. However, while both brokers present similar educational offerings, Saxo is rated slightly higher, with a 5-star education rating compared to Tickmill's 4 stars. In terms of rankings, Saxo stands at #13 in the education category according to ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill follows closely at #15.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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 Saxo is better than Tickmill. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22.
Saxo is an exclusive multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 |
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Both Saxo and Tickmill do not offer the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for buying cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers Saxo and Tickmill, neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers for account transactions, but while Tickmill supports PayPal and Skrill, Saxo does not; both brokers do support Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for deposits and withdrawals.
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 | Saxo | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Tickmill Review |
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| Regulation | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Saxo | 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) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 725 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 63 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 0.51 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.31 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 60 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | 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 | 64 | 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 | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | 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 | Saxo | 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 | Saxo Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | Saxo | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Tickmill Review |
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