Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs Trade Nation, 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 Trade Nation, both founded in 2014, are reputable online brokers in the trading landscape. Neither is publicly traded nor operates as a bank. When it comes to regulatory credentials, both brokers boast two Tier-1 licenses, recognized as highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com. However, Tickmill edges out slightly by holding two Tier-2 licenses compared to Trade Nation's one Tier-2 license. This is reflected in their Trust Scores, with Tickmill earning a score of 86 and Trade Nation close behind at 85, indicating that both brokers are considered trustworthy, though Tickmill has a slight advantage.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Tickmill and Trade Nation each offer unique benefits when it comes to commissions and fees, catering to different trading styles and preferences. Tickmill offers a Classic account that is fully commission-free, relying solely on the bid/ask spread. However, these spreads are notably higher at 1.76 pips as of August 2023 compared to their Raw account. The Raw account, with its recently increased commission of $3 per side, equates to $6 per standard lot traded. Despite the increase, Tickmill remains a top choice for active traders due to its low average spreads and an all-in cost of 0.71 pips for the EUR/USD pair. This account, once known as the Pro account, also boasts a low entry barrier with a minimum balance requirement of just $100 and is ideal for those who engage in algorithmic trading.
On the other hand, Trade Nation provides fixed-spread pricing, making it stand out in the market. With a fixed spread of 0.6 pips for the EUR/USD pair, Trade Nation offers transparency and predictability that some traders might find appealing. While the spread can widen up to 1.4 pips during the rollover period, the average spread typically remains around 1 pip. Trade Nation presents three primary account options, including the Raw Spread account charging a $3.50 commission per side, and the TN Trader account, which offers lower spreads. These fixed-spread accounts appeal to traders who favor predictability over fluctuating variable spreads.
In terms of ratings, Tickmill and Trade Nation both achieve a stellar 5-star rating for their commissions and fees. Among 63 brokers, Tickmill takes the #4 spot, with Trade Nation not far behind at #7 according to ForexBrokers.com. Each platform provides significant value for traders, tailored through their respective pricing strategies: Tickmill with competitive spreads that cater to high-frequency trading, and Trade Nation with consistent and transparent pricing through fixed spreads.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.70 | 0.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 0.6 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| 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.
Comparing Tickmill vs Trade Nation on range of investments: both support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts. Trade Nation lists around 1,000 tradeable symbols, topping Tickmill’s 637. That said, Tickmill offers more forex pairs (63 vs 46), which could matter if currency trading is your focus.
Neither broker provides exchange-traded stocks on U.S. or international exchanges, and neither lets you buy actual crypto. Both offer copy trading and access to cryptocurrency derivatives instead of the underlying coins. On ForexBrokers.com, each earns 3.5 stars for Range of Investments, with Trade Nation ranked slightly higher (#39 of 63) than Tickmill (#43 of 63).
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 46 |
| 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 Trade Nation both make it easy to get started with free demo (paper) accounts, plus they each offer web and Windows desktop platforms and support copy trading. Tickmill sticks to third-party platforms, offering MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Trade Nation provides its own in-house platform alongside MT4 (but not MT5). Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting and workflow, Trade Nation packs more drawing tools (39 vs. Tickmill’s 9) and offers more watchlist fields (14 vs. 7), while Tickmill lets you place trades directly from charts and Trade Nation does not. Indicator counts aren’t specified. Both brokers earn 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, with Tickmill ranked #30 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com and Trade Nation ranked #45.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| 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) | 91 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 9 | 39 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 14 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Tickmill and Trade Nation both offer iPhone and Android apps with handy stock and forex price alerts. Each app lets you build watchlists with real-time quotes, draw trendlines on charts, switch among multiple time frames, and autosave your drawings. One key difference is syncing: Trade Nation syncs watchlist symbols between mobile and web, while Tickmill does not.
For charting depth, Tickmill includes 30 technical studies, whereas Trade Nation packs in 99. Both earned 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, yet ForexBrokers.com ranks Tickmill higher (#30 of 63) than Trade Nation (#46 of 63). If synced watchlists and a larger set of indicators matter most, Trade Nation stands out; if overall category standing influences your choice, Tickmill has the edge.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 99 |
| 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.
Tickmill and Trade Nation both deliver daily market commentary and streaming forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Each broker includes a sentiment tool that shows the long/short split and offers Acuity Trading tools (e.g., Signal Centre). Neither broker provides Autochartist, Trading Central, or TipRanks. The key difference is the economic calendar: Tickmill offers a built-in global calendar, while Trade Nation does not.
On balance, Tickmill scores higher for market research, earning 4 stars and ranking 21st out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Trade Nation’s 3.5 stars and 43rd place. If you value an integrated economic calendar alongside news, sentiment, and Acuity tools, Tickmill has the edge; if the calendar isn’t a must-have, both brokers cover the basics with day-to-day commentary and quality news.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing educational resources for beginners, Tickmill and Trade Nation both offer a variety of options to support new traders. Both brokers provide at least ten educational pieces focusing on forex and CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, offering newcomers essential insights into trading. However, Tickmill stands out by hosting online educational client webinars at least once a month and providing a searchable archive of these sessions. In contrast, Trade Nation doesn't offer any online educational webinars, a notable gap for those seeking live interactive learning sessions.
In terms of video resources, both Tickmill and Trade Nation offer over ten educational videos specifically designed for beginners and the more experienced traders. Additionally, each broker includes an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms. Despite these similarities, Tickmill has a higher overall educational rating of 4 stars compared to Trade Nation’s 3.5 stars. This higher rating is supported by Tickmill's more frequent webinars and comprehensive library, which likely contributes to its higher ranking of #15 in the Education category on ForexBrokers.com, while Trade Nation ranks at #41.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 Tickmill is better than Trade Nation. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34.
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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Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 |
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Both Tickmill and Trade Nation do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they each offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives instead.
In comparing online brokers Tickmill and Trade Nation regarding their funding and withdrawal options, neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers, while Tickmill supports PayPal unlike Trade Nation; both brokers accept Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers.
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 | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | Trade Nation | |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | |||
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Tickmill | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Tickmill | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 46 | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.70 | 0.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 0.6 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 14 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 9 | 39 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Tickmill | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 99 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Tickmill | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | Tickmill | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | Trade Nation Review |
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