Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs Xtrade, 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.
Founded in 2014, Tickmill offers a reliable trading experience with a strong regulatory standing, boasting two Tier-1 and two Tier-2 licenses. Though not a publicly traded entity or a bank, Tickmill is considered a trusted broker with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86 out of 99. This reflects its solid position as a trusted choice for online traders, ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
Founded in 2003, Xtrade also provides online trading services but with a different regulatory profile. Xtrade holds one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license and, like Tickmill, it is not publicly traded nor a bank. With a Trust Score of 74 out of 99 on ForexBrokers.com, Xtrade is deemed to carry an average risk level, making it important for traders to weigh their options carefully when considering their investment platforms.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2003 |
| 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 | 1 |
Tickmill offers two pricing setups. The Classic account is spread-only and commission-free, but its average spreads are wider (about 1.76 pips as of August 2023). The Raw account replaces the old Pro tier and charges a $3 per side commission per 100,000 units ($6 round turn per standard lot) with a low $100 minimum. On EUR/USD, Tickmill lists a typical 0.11-pip spread; after adding the new commission (about 0.6 pips round turn), the all-in cost comes to roughly 0.71 pips. Even with the recent commission increase, Tickmill remains price-competitive for active traders. Commissions and fees rating: 5/5 stars; category ranking: #4 out of 63 brokers.
Xtrade does not provide average spread data, making it difficult to estimate true trading costs or compare them against peers. This lack of transparency is reflected in its scores. Commissions and fees rating: 2.5/5 stars; category ranking: #64 out of 63 brokers.
Bottom line: cost-focused traders are likely to prefer Tickmill’s Raw account for its tight spreads and clear per-trade commission, while the Classic account suits those who want a simple, spread-only plan (albeit with wider spreads). With no published average spreads from Xtrade, Tickmill is the safer bet if your priority is predictable, low all-in costs.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.70 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A |
| 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 vs Xtrade: both brokers let you trade forex via CFDs/spot, but their catalogs differ in size. Tickmill lists 637 tradeable symbols with 63 forex pairs, while Xtrade offers 482 symbols and 56 forex pairs. Neither broker provides access to exchange-traded U.S. or international shares (so you can’t buy actual stocks like Apple or Vodafone). Both brokers support cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual crypto.
Feature-wise, Tickmill includes copy trading, whereas Xtrade does not. For range of investments, both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars. In category rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill places 43rd out of 63 brokers, and Xtrade ranks 50th.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 vs Xtrade: both brokers provide free demo accounts and web-based trading, plus the ability to place trades directly from charts. Tickmill does not have its own platform but supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 and offers a Windows desktop download, along with copy trading. Xtrade, by contrast, runs a proprietary platform, does not offer a Windows desktop download, and does not support copy trading. Neither broker lists DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Indicator counts weren’t specified for either broker.
For charting tools, Xtrade lists 100 drawing tools compared with 9 at Tickmill; watchlists include 9 columns at Xtrade and 7 at Tickmill. In our Trading Platforms and Tools ratings, Tickmill scores 4 stars (ranked 30 of 63), while Xtrade scores 3.5 stars (ranked 59 of 63). In short, choose Tickmill if you want MT4/MT5, desktop access, and copy trading; pick Xtrade if you prefer a proprietary web platform with many drawing tools.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 9 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Tickmill and Xtrade both offer iPhone and Android apps, but their mobile features differ. Tickmill supports stock and forex price alerts, while Xtrade does not. Neither broker syncs watchlists between mobile and web, yet Tickmill lets you build a watchlist with real-time quotes; Xtrade does not offer this.
For charting, Tickmill provides 30 technical studies, trendline drawing, multiple time frames, and auto-save for drawings. Xtrade does not list technical studies and lacks these chart tools. Both apps hold a 4-star rating, but ForexBrokers.com ranks Tickmill higher (#30 of 63) than Xtrade (#54 of 63). If you want alerts, real-time watchlists, and deeper charting on mobile, Tickmill is the stronger choice; for basic access, either app will do.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Tickmill vs Xtrade for market research: both brokers publish daily market commentary and stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each provides an economic calendar to track upcoming global events. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Trading Central tools, and neither offers TipRanks.
Tickmill stands out by adding a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning across instruments and by integrating Acuity Trading research (e.g., Signal Centre). Xtrade does not offer those two features. That difference shows up in independent ratings: Tickmill earns 4 stars for Research and ranks #21 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade holds 3.5 stars and ranks #53. If you value sentiment data and extra third-party signals, Tickmill may be the better fit; if you only need news, commentary, and an economic calendar, both will work.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Tickmill and Xtrade both offer valuable content, but with some noticeable differences. Tickmill provides a comprehensive array of educational materials, including a well-rounded library of articles, videos, and archived webinars focusing on forex and CFDs. A standout feature for Tickmill is their monthly online educational webinars, ensuring beginners consistently get fresh and relevant insights. Additionally, their searchable archive of recorded webinars makes it convenient for users to access past sessions. Tickmill also excels by offering at least 10 videos specifically tailored for beginners, as well as a series for advanced traders. The broker also provides an investor dictionary with a wide range of investing terms, which is a shared feature with Xtrade.
On the other hand, while Xtrade does deliver educational content such as articles and videos, it falls short in some areas crucial for beginners. Xtrade lacks regular monthly webinars and does not offer a searchable archive of previous sessions. Furthermore, they do not meet the benchmark of providing at least 10 beginner-focused educational videos. Despite these limitations, Xtrade does offer an investor dictionary. Overall, these differences are reflected in their ratings and rankings, with Tickmill receiving 4 stars for education and ranking at #15 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade is rated at 3.5 stars and ranks at #46.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Xtrade. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #60.
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
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 74 |
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Both Tickmill and Xtrade provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
When comparing online brokers Tickmill and Xtrade, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, but while Tickmill allows PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, Xtrade does not; however, both brokers facilitate transactions through Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.70 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $250 | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 9 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | Xtrade Review |
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