Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs ActivTrades, 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 ActivTrades are dynamic players in the online brokerage market, each showcasing robust regulatory frameworks to ensure trader confidence. Founded in 2014, Tickmill is a relatively new entrant, whereas ActivTrades has been established since 2001. Both brokers are not publicly traded nor operate as banks, providing similar market opportunities without the complications of bank-backed pressures. Trust plays a pivotal role when choosing a broker; Tickmill holds an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86, while ActivTrades is not far behind with a score of 81, placing both in the trusted category.
Delving into their regulatory setups, Tickmill and ActivTrades each possess two Tier-1 licenses, a testament to their commitment to securing high trust from their clientele. While Tickmill boasts two Tier-2 licenses, ActivTrades maintains one, still aligning itself with trusted standards. These licenses underpin each broker's focus on safeguarding trader interests, ensuring that both newcomers and experienced traders can navigate their platforms with confidence.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2001 |
| 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 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Tickmill and ActivTrades, Tickmill shines as a top choice for active traders with its competitive pricing structure. Tickmill's Raw account, formerly the Pro account, features a new commission rate of $3 per side or $6 per standard lot, but it continues to rank highly due to its low average spreads and effective all-in cost. The Classic account offers a commission-free trading experience, with only the bid/ask spread to consider, although its average spread of 1.76 pips is notably higher than what's offered on the Raw account. Typical spreads for the Raw account, such as 0.11 pips for EUR/USD, result in an overall cost of 0.71 pips when factoring in commissions, which remains appealing for traders.
In contrast, ActivTrades provides several account options, including Individual, Professional, and Islamic Accounts, with spreads that are above the industry average but not among the lowest in the market. The Individual Account serves as the primary offering, without special pricing for high-volume traders. While aimed at delivering competitive rates, ActivTrades' commissions and fees are influenced by the assets traded and may fluctuate. For example, average spreads for the EUR/USD were reported at 0.98 pips, which is higher than Tickmill's offering, but the availability and cost can vary based on the platform and session times.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill holds a five-star rating for its commissions and fees, securing the fourth position out of 62 brokers. Meanwhile, ActivTrades receives a four-star rating, placing it at 27th in the same category. These rankings reflect the cost-effectiveness and trader satisfaction with Tickmill's streamlined pricing, while ActivTrades presents a more varied picture based on trading conditions and asset selection.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.51 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | 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.
When comparing the investment options at Tickmill and ActivTrades, both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. However, they differ significantly in their range of tradeable symbols and forex pairs. Tickmill provides 725 tradeable symbols and 63 forex pairs, whereas ActivTrades offers a wider selection with 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. In terms of exchange-traded securities, neither broker allows investing in U.S. stocks, but ActivTrades does offer trading in international stocks, unlike Tickmill.
Both brokers support copy trading and offer cryptocurrency derivatives rather than actual cryptocurrencies. Despite Tickmill providing a fair range of investment opportunities, it is rated 3.5 stars for its range of investments and ranks #42 among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades ranks higher with 4 stars and holds the #31 position, highlighting its broader spectrum of investment choices.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 49 |
| 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.
Both Tickmill and ActivTrades provide traders with the opportunity to practice and hone their skills using a free virtual demo account, making them suitable for beginners and experienced traders alike. When it comes to trading platforms, Tickmill does not offer a proprietary platform, whereas ActivTrades provides its own in-house developed platform, offering something unique to its users. Both brokers support the widely-used MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms and offer Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based trading options. For those interested in social trading, both brokers provide copy trading features, though neither supports services like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
Charting tools and features are another important aspect where both Tickmill and ActivTrades shine. They each offer 15 drawing tools and allow trading directly from a stock chart, catering to traders who prioritize technical analysis. While Tickmill provides seven fields for watch lists, ActivTrades takes it a notch higher with 11 fields, potentially offering more detailed tracking and analysis. Both brokers are similarly rated at four stars for their trading platforms and tools category, with ActivTrades slightly outranking Tickmill in this category according to ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades is ranked at #29 out of 62 brokers for trading platforms and tools, while Tickmill is rated at #32, showcasing both as strong contenders in the trading platform space.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Tickmill and ActivTrades, both brokers present solid options for traders on the go. They each offer apps available on both iPhone and Android smartphones, including key features like stock and forex price alerts. With 30 technical studies available for charting, both Tickmill and ActivTrades allow traders to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts. Furthermore, both apps auto-save chart drawings for user convenience. If you're looking to stay updated, both brokers' apps enable you to create watchlists with real-time quotes, although neither app offers the syncing of watchlist symbols between the mobile platform and an online account.
In terms of user experiences, both Tickmill and ActivTrades have received a commendable four-star rating for their mobile trading applications. However, according to ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades holds a more favorable position, ranked at #19 compared to Tickmill's #31 out of 62 brokers. This difference might suggest a slight edge in ActivTrades' overall user satisfaction or features, making it worthy of consideration for traders prioritizing mobile app performance. Despite this, both apps remain competitive choices, offering comparable functionalities that suit various trading needs.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of Tickmill and ActivTrades, both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from reliable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They each also offer a sentiment-based trading tool that displays the ratio of long to short positions across various instruments. However, neither Tickmill nor ActivTrades provides technical or fundamental analysis tools from Autochartist or Trading Central. Similarly, market research from TipRanks is not available through either broker.
Notably, Tickmill distinguishes itself by offering research tools from Acuity Trading, such as the Signal Centre, which ActivTrades does not. Both brokers supply an economic calendar showing global economic events. Despite these similarities and differences, both Tickmill and ActivTrades receive a solid four-star rating for research. Yet, Tickmill is ranked higher on ForexBrokers.com, securing the 21st position compared to ActivTrades’ 30th place among 62 brokers in the research category.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner traders, both Tickmill and ActivTrades offer a comprehensive selection that includes over 10 educational pieces, such as articles and videos focused on forex and CFDs. Each platform supports learning with monthly webinars and maintains a searchable archive of recorded sessions. Both brokers also provide more than 10 educational videos specifically crafted for beginners, as well as advanced videos tailored for seasoned investors.
While both Tickmill and ActivTrades deliver quality educational content and share similar educational star ratings of 4 out of 5, Tickmill goes a step further by offering an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, a feature missing from ActivTrades. In terms of industry ranking for educational offerings, Tickmill holds the 15th position according to ForexBrokers.com, significantly ahead of ActivTrades, which is ranked 38th out of 62 brokers. This indicates that while both platforms provide a solid foundation for beginner traders, Tickmill may have a slight edge in educational resources.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Tickmill is better than ActivTrades. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
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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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 81 |
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Both Tickmill and ActivTrades do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for buying cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Tickmill and ActivTrades in terms of deposit and withdrawal options, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, while Tickmill distinguishes itself by offering PayPal, a feature ActivTrades lacks; both brokers support Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers for account funding transactions.
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 | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | ActivTrades Review |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2001 | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | No | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 49 | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.51 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | ActivTrades Review |
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