Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group 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 XM Group and Tickmill, it's clear both have their own strengths. Founded in 2009, XM Group holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93, classifying it as highly trusted. They are not publicly traded or a banking institution, yet boast 4 Tier-1 licenses, a testament to their secure offerings. Additionally, XM Group holds 1 Tier-2 license, adding to their overall trusted profile and appeal to investors.
Tickmill, established in 2014, is also a prominent name in online brokerage with a Trust Score of 86, denoting a trusted status. Like XM Group, Tickmill isn't publicly traded and isn't a bank. However, they hold 2 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses, highlighting their commitment to maintaining trusted operations. While both brokers are not part of a stock exchange or banking institution, their regulatory credentials reflect their trustworthiness, catering to diverse investor needs.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, XM Group and Tickmill offer different approaches for traders. XM Group's standard account is noted for its costly spreads, and unfortunately, the broker does not disclose average spreads for its XM Zero account, which is based on commissions. Despite these considerations, XM Group holds a respectable ranking, rated at 4 stars for commissions and fees, sitting at #33 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
Tickmill, on the other hand, provides traders with two distinct account types: the Classic and the Raw. The Classic account features commission-free trading, but with average spreads being on the higher side, at approximately 1.76 pips. Conversely, the Raw account, which transitioned from the previous Pro account, offers minimal typical spreads, such as 0.11 pips for the EUR/USD, with an all-in cost coming to 0.71 pips once the $6 per standard lot commission is applied. Despite the slight increase in commission fees, Tickmill maintains its reputation for affordability and flexibility, securing a 5-star rating and a commendable #4 spot in commissions and fees among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
Tickmill's Raw account is particularly appealing to active traders, with spreads and commissions that accommodate frequent trading activity. Unlike XM Group, Tickmill provides more transparency with its spread statistics and offers flexible policies that favor both manual and algorithmic traders. Even with the recent increase to a $3 per side commission, Tickmill's combination of competitive pricing and low entry barriers, highlighted by a mere $100 minimum deposit for the Raw account, makes it a strong competitor in the brokerage landscape.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.70 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XM Group and Tickmill both provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, catering to those interested in the currency market. With an impressive 1,394 tradeable symbols, XM Group significantly surpasses Tickmill's 637 symbols, offering a wider range of investment options. When it comes to forex pairs, Tickmill edges out XM Group slightly, with 63 pairs compared to XM Group's 55. Moreover, XM Group offers exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling clients to purchase shares such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Vodafone (VOD-GB), while Tickmill does not provide this service.
Both brokers offer copy trading, allowing users to mimic successful trades. However, neither XM Group nor Tickmill offers the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies; they only provide cryptocurrency derivatives for trading. In terms of range and diversity of investment, XM Group holds a 4.5-star rating, surpassing Tickmill's 3.5 stars. This is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where XM Group ranks 24th out of 63 brokers, while Tickmill is ranked at 42nd.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 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 comparing trading platforms and tools between XM Group and Tickmill, both brokers offer virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading without risk. Neither broker provides a proprietary trading platform, but each supports widely-used platforms such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Whether traders prefer a Windows-based desktop application or a web-based browser platform, both options are available through XM Group and Tickmill. For those interested in copy trading, both brokers have this feature, although neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade support.
XM Group provides 15 drawing tools for charting, while Tickmill offers 9. However, both platforms allow for direct trading from stock charts and offer 7 columns for watch lists. In terms of overall ratings, both brokers score 4 out of 5 stars for their trading platforms and tools. Despite their similarities, Tickmill is ranked slightly higher by ForexBrokers.com for the Trading Platforms and Tools category, placing at #29 compared to XM Group’s #32 out of 63 brokers. This minor difference in ranking suggests a close competition in terms of platform capabilities and user experience.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 91 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 9 |
| 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 XM Group and Tickmill, both brokers provide apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. They each allow users to get stock or forex price alerts and offer the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, there are some differences you may want to consider. While both apps support drawing trendlines and viewing various time frames on charts, Tickmill's app uniquely auto-saves these drawings, unlike XM Group's app. On the other hand, XM Group excels by offering watchlist symbol syncing between its mobile app and online accounts, a feature not present in Tickmill's app.
In terms of charting capabilities, both XM Group and Tickmill apps provide 30 technical studies, helping traders analyze market trends. Ratings for these mobile trading apps reflect their quality, with both brokers receiving a satisfactory score of 4 out of 5 stars. However, in the ForexBrokers.com ranking of 63 brokers, Tickmill takes a slight edge over XM Group, securing the 29th position compared to XM Group's 30th rank. Each broker offers strong mobile trading experiences, but your choice may come down to the specific features important to your trading style.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both XM Group and Tickmill provide daily market commentary and deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, while both brokers offer valuable market sentiment tools, XM Group excels with additional features such as Technical Analytics from Trading Central, which is not available with Tickmill. Conversely, Tickmill distinguishes itself by offering a range of research tools from Acuity Trading, which XM Group does not provide. Both brokers supply economic calendars to keep traders informed of upcoming global events.
When it comes to research quality, XM Group boasts a five-star rating, standing out with a significant #8 rank among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for the Research category. Tickmill, while still solid, garners a four-star rating, positioned at #21. This comparative analysis highlights that XM Group may offer a more comprehensive research experience for traders seeking enhanced market insights, although both brokers maintain commendable standards in providing essential market information.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, XM Group and Tickmill both offer commendable options. XM Group is highly praised for its extensive educational offerings, providing a variety of resources like articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. They host monthly webinars and maintain a detailed archive of past events, catering well to beginners and experienced traders alike with a series of educational videos for each group. Although XM Group lacks an investor dictionary, its overall educational support earns it a top rating and a high ranking among industry peers.
Tickmill also ensures a solid educational foundation, offering a collection of resources designed to inform new and seasoned investors about trading. Like XM Group, Tickmill provides more than ten educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, regular webinars, and archived content. Beginner and advanced traders can both find educational videos suited to their level. Additionally, Tickmill features an investor dictionary, making it easier for beginners to grasp trading terminology. However, despite these offerings, Tickmill is slightly edged out by XM Group in both rating and rank for educational resources.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XM Group is better than Tickmill. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 |
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Both XM Group and Tickmill provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but do not allow the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
When comparing online brokers XM Group and Tickmill regarding deposit and withdrawal options, neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers, XM Group supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while Tickmill offers all these methods plus PayPal.
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 | XM Group | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | Tickmill | |
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| Regulation | XM Group | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | No | 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) | XM Group | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XM Group | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 637 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 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 | XM Group | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.70 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | XM Group | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 91 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 9 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | 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 | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | 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 | XM Group Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | XM Group | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Tickmill Review |
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