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 account | 1.70 | N/A |
| 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 Xtrade both support forex trading (CFD or spot) and provide crypto CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies. In total selection, Tickmill lists 637 tradeable symbols and 63 forex pairs, while Xtrade offers 482 symbols and 56 forex pairs. Neither broker provides direct access to exchange-traded stocks on U.S. or international markets (no real shares of companies like Apple or Vodafone).
One key difference is copy trading: Tickmill offers it, Xtrade does not. For Range of Investments, both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, with Tickmill ranked #43 of 63 brokers and Xtrade at #50. If you want a slightly larger lineup and copy trading, Tickmill has the edge; if you’re fine with a smaller but solid CFD-focused menu, Xtrade covers the essentials.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 56 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
Tickmill and Xtrade both provide free demo (paper) accounts, web-based trading, and the ability to place orders directly from charts. The big differences are platform choice and extras. Tickmill offers a Windows desktop download and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), plus copy trading. Xtrade does not provide a desktop download and doesn’t support MT4 or MT5, but it does offer a proprietary, broker-built platform for trading in your browser. If you want desktop trading, MetaTrader tools, or copy trading, Tickmill fits better; if you prefer a simple, in-house web platform, Xtrade may suit.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates Tickmill 4 out of 5 stars and ranks it 30th of 63 brokers, while Xtrade earns 3.5 stars and ranks 59th. In short, Tickmill leans toward more features and flexibility—especially for MetaTrader users and those exploring automated or social strategies—whereas Xtrade focuses on streamlined, browser-based trading without copy trading or MetaTrader.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | N/A |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Tickmill vs Xtrade mobile app comparison: both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android, but their features differ in ways traders will notice. Tickmill supports stock and forex price alerts, while Xtrade does not. For charting, Tickmill includes 30 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and auto-saves your drawings; Xtrade does not offer trendline drawing or auto-save, and the number of technical studies is not available.
Neither broker syncs watchlists between the mobile app and the online account. Despite both earning 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, ForexBrokers.com ranks Tickmill higher at #30 out of 63 brokers, compared with Xtrade at #54. If you value alerts and stronger chart tools on mobile, Tickmill is the more feature-rich choice; if you just need basic trading on iPhone or Android without alerts or drawing tools, Xtrade may suffice.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | 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 (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners who value learning, Tickmill stands out. It meets the definition of offering forex and CFD education with 10+ educational pieces, and it adds live support through client webinars at least once a month. You also get 10+ beginner videos plus 10+ advanced videos to grow your skills step by step. Reflecting this depth, Tickmill holds a 4-star Education rating and ranks #15 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
Xtrade falls short by comparison for new traders. It does not meet the 10+ piece threshold for forex or CFD education, and it does not run monthly educational webinars. It also lacks a library of 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos. While there is some material available—earning Xtrade a 3.5-star Education rating and a #46 ranking out of 63—beginners seeking structured forex and CFD education will likely find Tickmill the stronger choice.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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
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Xtrade
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 74 |
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Online brokers Tickmill and Xtrade do not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
Tickmill vs Xtrade: both brokers do not offer ACH or SEPA transfers for deposits or withdrawals; Tickmill supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire funding, while Xtrade’s availability for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires 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 | 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, FSRA, or SCA 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. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.70 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | N/A | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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