Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs VT Markets, 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 VT Markets are both established online brokers, with Tickmill having been founded in 2014 and VT Markets in 2016. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank. When it comes to regulatory oversight, Tickmill holds two Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses. VT Markets, on the other hand, has one Tier-1 license coupled with one Tier-2 license, both of which are important markers of their standing in the financial industry.
In terms of trustworthiness, Tickmill earns a Trust Score of 86 from ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as a trusted broker. VT Markets receives a Trust Score of 70, which places it in the average risk category according to the same rating scale. While both brokers offer various services to traders, Tickmill’s higher number of Tier-1 and Tier-2 licenses, combined with its stronger Trust Score, may provide an added layer of confidence to potential investors.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
Tickmill and VT Markets both offer a choice between commission-free and commission-based pricing, each with a $100 minimum deposit. Tickmill’s Raw account charges $3 per side ($6 per standard lot) and listed a typical EUR/USD spread of 0.11 pips in October 2023; adding the commission’s 0.6‑pip round‑turn equivalent brings the all‑in cost to about 0.71 pips. Tickmill’s Classic account is commission‑free but averages about 1.76 pips (August 2023). VT Markets’ Standard STP account is commission‑free with a typical EUR/USD spread around 1.2 pips, while its Raw ECN showed an effective 0.83 pips on EUR/USD (0.23‑pip spread plus 0.6‑pip round‑turn commission, September 2021). In short: for EUR/USD, Tickmill’s Raw is cheaper than VT Markets’ Raw ECN (about 0.71 vs 0.83 pips), whereas VT Markets’ commission‑free Standard STP is tighter than Tickmill’s Classic (about 1.2 vs 1.76 pips).
For commissions and fees, Tickmill earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. VT Markets earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #21 out of 63. If you want the lowest all‑in costs with a commission model, Tickmill’s Raw account is the stronger value; if you prefer commission‑free pricing, VT Markets’ Standard STP offers more attractive average spreads than Tickmill’s Classic.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.70 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 0.8 |
| 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.
Tickmill and VT Markets both support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts. Tickmill lists about 637 tradeable symbols with a strong focus on currency, offering 63 forex pairs. VT Markets provides a wider catalog overall with roughly 1,000 symbols, though it carries fewer forex pairs at 39. Neither broker offers exchange-traded U.S. stocks, but VT Markets does let clients access some international exchange-traded shares (not CFDs), while Tickmill does not.
Both brokers offer copy trading and give access to cryptocurrency through derivatives, not actual coins. Neither supports buying delivered crypto. For range of investments, each earns 3.5 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, VT Markets places #40 and Tickmill ranks #43.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 39 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| 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 VT Markets offer very similar trading platforms and tools. Both provide free demo (paper) accounts, support MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and give you access through a Windows desktop download or a web-based platform. Neither has a proprietary platform, but each supports copy trading and lets you place trades directly from charts. Watch lists are simple and flexible on both, with up to seven columns to track prices and other fields. ZuluTrade is not available at either broker.
For trading platforms and tools, both brokers earn 4 stars from ForexBrokers.com. Tickmill is ranked #30 out of 63 brokers in this category, while VT Markets is ranked #48. If MetaTrader choice, chart trading, copy trading, and an easy demo are your priorities, either broker will work well. Choose Tickmill if the higher ranking matters to you, or VT Markets if brand preference or other factors tip the scale.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 | Yes |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Tickmill and VT Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts and real-time watchlists. Their charting features are similar: each app includes 30 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and switch among multiple time frames like intraday, daily, or weekly. One shared drawback is that watchlists do not sync between the mobile app and your online account.
The key difference is chart annotations: Tickmill’s app auto-saves your drawings, while VT Markets does not. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, but ForexBrokers.com ranks Tickmill higher (#30 of 63) than VT Markets (#45 of 63). If saving chart markups matters to you, Tickmill has the edge; if you just need alerts, watchlists, and solid charting tools, either app gets the job done.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Tickmill and VT Markets both cover the essentials for market research: daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (e.g., Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones), an economic calendar, and sentiment tools that show the long-vs.-short split across currency pairs. Neither broker offers Autochartist. VT Markets adds Trading Central’s research, while Tickmill does not. Tickmill includes Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre. TipRanks and Acuity availability for VT Markets were not specified, and Tickmill does not offer TipRanks.
For overall research quality, Tickmill earns 4 stars and ranks #21 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while VT Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #37. Choose VT Markets if you want Trading Central’s insights, or pick Tickmill if Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre is a priority alongside strong daily commentary, news, and sentiment data.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both Tickmill and VT Markets provide forex and CFD education that’s beginner-friendly. Each has at least 10 educational pieces and a library of 10+ beginner video lessons, plus an investor dictionary with 50+ trading terms—useful for learning the basics and building confidence.
The big differences show up in ongoing training and depth. Tickmill runs monthly client webinars and offers a searchable archive of past sessions, while VT Markets does not provide webinars or an archive. Tickmill also includes 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up; VT Markets lacks that advanced video depth. Reflecting this, Tickmill earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #15 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with VT Markets’ 3.5 stars and #56 ranking. If you want live learning and advanced materials, Tickmill is the stronger pick; for basic self-study, both will do the job.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 VT Markets. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while VT Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
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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VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 70 |
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Both Tickmill and VT Markets allow users to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the option to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
Tickmill and VT Markets both support Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing funds, but only Tickmill offers PayPal as an option, while neither provides ACH or SEPA 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 | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | VT Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | VT Markets | |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 39 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.70 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | |||
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Tickmill | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Tickmill | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | VT Markets Review |
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