Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs ThinkMarkets, 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.
Tickmill and ThinkMarkets, both established online brokerage firms, offer investors platforms to trade various financial instruments. Tickmill, founded in 2014, holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, reflecting a commitment to security and compliance. However, with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86, Tickmill may raise some concerns as it falls into the trusted category, but not the highest trusted range. Despite this, it remains a reliable choice for many traders seeking a reputable brokerage.
On the other hand, ThinkMarkets, which has been in operation since 2010, boasts 5 Tier-1 licenses and shares a similar Tier-2 license count with Tickmill. These credentials speak volumes about its reliability and adherence to regulatory standards. ThinkMarkets further strengthens its position with a Trust Score of 92, placing it in the highly trusted category. Both companies are privately held and are not banks, but ThinkMarkets stands out for its higher trust rating and extensive regulatory oversight, making it an appealing option for cautious investors.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When comparing the commissions and fees between Tickmill and ThinkMarkets, Tickmill stands out with its competitive pricing options, especially for active traders. Tickmill offers two different account types: the Classic account, which is entirely commission-free but comes with higher spreads of 1.76 pips, and the Raw account, which has recently introduced a commission structure of $3 per side, equivalent to $6 per standard lot. Despite the increase in fees, Tickmill remains a top choice for committed traders due to its low spreads and a cost-efficient all-in trading price. With its Raw account, Tickmill provides a typical EUR/USD spread of 0.11 pips, leading to an effective all-in cost of 0.71 pips when including the new commission. Furthermore, the Raw account maintains a low entry requirement with a minimum deposit of just $100.
On the other hand, ThinkMarkets's commission and fees details are less transparent, as average spread data is not readily available. This lack of available data might make it challenging for traders to gauge the overall trading costs with ThinkMarkets. However, ThinkMarkets has managed to secure a good rating of 4 stars for its commissions and fees, although it ranks considerably lower than Tickmill at #48 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
Overall, Tickmill is rated 5 stars for its commissions and fees, showing a strong emphasis on delivering cost-effective trading conditions, which has earned it a higher ranking at #4 out of 63 brokers. In contrast, ThinkMarkets, while maintaining a decent rating, doesn't match the transparent and competitive fee structure of Tickmill.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.70 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Tickmill and ThinkMarkets both offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, plus copy trading. Each also provides cryptocurrency CFDs (but not actual coins). ThinkMarkets features a much larger catalog with about 4,000 tradeable symbols versus Tickmill’s 637. If your focus is forex, note that Tickmill lists 63 currency pairs, compared with 46 at ThinkMarkets.
When it comes to real exchange-traded securities, neither broker offers U.S. shares; however, ThinkMarkets does let you buy international shares, while Tickmill does not. Based on ForexBrokers.com ratings for Range of Investments, ThinkMarkets scores 4.5/5 (ranked 24 of 63), outpacing Tickmill’s 3.5/5 (ranked 43 of 63). In short, ThinkMarkets is better for broad market access, while Tickmill suits traders who mainly want forex and CFDs.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 46 |
| 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). | 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.
Comparing Tickmill vs ThinkMarkets for trading platforms and tools, both brokers check the key boxes: free demo (paper) trading, Windows desktop and web platforms, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), copy trading, and trading directly from charts. The main difference is platform choice. ThinkMarkets also offers a proprietary, in-house platform for traders who want an alternative to MetaTrader, while Tickmill focuses on third-party platforms.
Both brokers earned 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. According to ForexBrokers.com, ThinkMarkets ranks slightly higher at #28 out of 63 brokers, while Tickmill sits at #30. If you want a broker-built platform alongside MT4/MT5, ThinkMarkets has the edge. If you’re comfortable with MetaTrader and want industry-standard tools plus a demo account, both are solid options.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 ThinkMarkets both check the main boxes for mobile traders: iPhone and Android apps, stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing on charts, and autosaving of your drawings. One limitation is that watchlists you build in the app do not sync with your online account on either broker, so edits made on mobile won’t carry over to web or desktop.
If you care about charting depth, ThinkMarkets offers 94 built-in technical studies versus Tickmill’s 30, giving indicator-focused traders more options on the go. Both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading, but ThinkMarkets ranks higher overall for Mobile Trading Apps (20th out of 63 brokers) compared with Tickmill (30th out of 63). For most traders, both deliver capable mobile experiences; chart-focused traders may prefer ThinkMarkets, while Tickmill suits those who want straightforward tools and alerts.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 94 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
In a Tickmill vs ThinkMarkets market research comparison, both brokers offer daily market commentary, real-time forex news from top-tier sources (such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), a handy economic calendar, and sentiment tools that show long vs. short positioning. Each also includes Acuity Trading tools like Signal Centre for trade ideas. On the flip side, neither broker currently provides Autochartist or Trading Central analytics, and neither offers TipRanks research.
Where they differ is in third-party evaluations: Tickmill earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #21 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #51. If you want strong news coverage, sentiment data, and an easy-to-use calendar, both fit the bill—but based on ratings and rankings, Tickmill has the edge for market research.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing forex and CFD education, both Tickmill and ThinkMarkets check the key boxes. Each offers at least 10 educational pieces, runs monthly client webinars, and provides 10+ beginner videos that walk through trading basics. Where they differ is in overall depth and polish. Tickmill earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #15 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #52. If you want a higher-rated learning experience with a wider selection, Tickmill has the edge; if you just need clear essentials and regular webinars, ThinkMarkets remains a practical choice.
As you grow, both brokers also supply 10+ advanced videos for experienced traders, so there’s room to progress beyond the basics. In short, beginners will find helpful forex and CFD education at either broker, but Tickmill’s stronger rating and ranking suggest a more extensive learning path from day one.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 ThinkMarkets. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
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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ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 92 |
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Tickmill and ThinkMarkets both do not offer actual delivered cryptocurrency purchases, but each provides cryptocurrency CFD trading, making them comparable options for traders seeking crypto exposure via derivatives rather than owning the underlying asset.
In a deposit and withdrawal methods comparison of online brokers Tickmill and ThinkMarkets, both lack ACH/SEPA; Tickmill supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire, Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker, and ThinkMarkets’ support for PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire is not specified.
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 | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 92 | |
| 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 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 46 | |
| 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). | 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.70 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 94 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
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