Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs BDSwiss, 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, established in 2014, and BDSwiss, founded in 2012, are both private online brokers, not listed on stock exchanges and neither operates as a bank. A key element of their reliability comes from their regulatory licenses. Tickmill holds two Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, which positions them as a trusted broker with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86 out of 99. This indicates that Tickmill is considered a trusted brokerage option according to ForexBrokers.com's rating system.
In comparison, BDSwiss holds one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses, earning it a Trust Score of 73. This score places BDSwiss in the average risk category. While both Tickmill and BDSwiss do not trade publicly and aren't banks, Tickmill's higher score suggests marginally better trustworthiness in terms of regulatory standing and overall perceived risk.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When it comes to comparing the commission structures and fees, Tickmill and BDSwiss have distinct offerings. Tickmill provides two major account types: Classic and Raw. The Raw account, which replaced the Pro account, features increased commissions of $3 per side, or $6 per standard lot. Despite this increase, Tickmill maintains an impressive position among brokers for active traders due to its attractive low average spreads. In contrast, the Classic account is commission-free but has higher average spreads of 1.76 pips as of August 2023. Tickmill boasts a typical spread of 0.11 pips for EUR/USD in its Raw account, with an all-in cost of 0.71 pips after including the new commission rates.
Meanwhile, BDSwiss offers competitive order execution, though its spreads are generally higher compared to industry leaders. For its Classic account, EUR/USD spreads are set at 1.5 pips, which is on the pricier side. The Raw account has a spread of 0.3 pips plus a $5 commission per side, leading to an effective spread of 1.3 pips. BDSwiss's VIP account offers a slightly better spread of 1.2 pips. This comparison highlights that Tickmill might be more favorable for cost-conscious traders, especially those engaging in high-frequency trading.
Based on their commissions and fees, Tickmill is highly rated with five stars, securing the #4 rank out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for this category. Conversely, BDSwiss earns four stars and holds the #30 spot in the same ranking. This ranking signifies Tickmill's more competitive pricing structure, making it a potentially more appealing choice for traders considering lower costs and efficient spreads in their trading strategies.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.51 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| 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 range of investments available at Tickmill and BDSwiss, both platforms offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, catering to traders interested in the currency market. Tickmill provides access to 725 tradeable symbols and has a selection of 63 forex pairs, whereas BDSwiss offers a slightly larger collection of 1081 tradeable symbols, though it has slightly fewer forex pairs at 53. While both brokers facilitate copy trading and allow for investing in cryptocurrency derivatives, neither offers direct purchases of U.S. or international exchange-listed securities, or actual cryptocurrencies.
According to ForexBrokers.com, BDSwiss earns a marginally higher rating of 4 stars for its range of investments, positioned at rank 34 out of 62 brokers. On the other hand, Tickmill, rated at 3.5 stars, stands at rank 42 in the same category. Therefore, for those prioritizing a broader range of investment options, BDSwiss presents somewhat more diversity in its offerings compared to Tickmill, potentially providing a more comprehensive platform for various trading ventures.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 the trading platforms and tools of Tickmill and BDSwiss, both brokers provide traders with a range of options designed for versatility and user experience. Each broker offers simulated trading via a virtual demo account, allowing newcomers to practice without financial risk. While neither provides DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, both brokers cater to traders looking for Windows-based desktop and web-based platforms, with options such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 available for all. However, BDSwiss distinguishes itself by offering a proprietary platform, developed in-house, adding a unique option for its users.
In terms of charting tools, Tickmill and BDSwiss offer 15 drawing tools each for detailed technical analysis, alongside the ability to execute trades directly from stock charts. Watch lists on both platforms feature seven columns, giving traders comprehensive market insights at a glance. Despite the similar offerings, BDSwiss narrowly leads with a higher ranking in the Trading Platforms and Tools category according to ForexBrokers.com, positioned at #24 compared to Tickmill's #32. Both brokers, however, earn a solid four out of five stars for their trading platforms and tools.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Tickmill and BDSwiss, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps that provide a range of trading features to suit the needs of various traders. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, allowing users to stay up-to-date with market movements. While both platforms unfortunately lack the feature to sync watchlist symbols with a client's online account, they excel in technical analysis with 30 technical studies available for charting. Additionally, users can draw trendlines and view different chart timeframes, from daily to intraday, with drawings being automatically saved.
Both Tickmill and BDSwiss allow users to create watchlists featuring real-time quotes, making it easy to monitor preferred stocks and forex pairs. When it comes to ratings, both platforms earn a solid four-star rating for their mobile apps. Nevertheless, according to ForexBrokers.com, BDSwiss has a slight edge in the rankings, coming in at 24th place out of 62 brokers, whereas Tickmill is positioned at 32nd. This makes BDSwiss a slightly more popular choice for mobile trading, though both apps provide valuable tools for traders on the go.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 BDSwiss, both provide daily market commentary to keep traders informed. Additionally, Tickmill takes a step further by delivering forex news sourced from top-tier platforms like Bloomberg and Reuters, something BDSwiss does not offer. On the other hand, BDSwiss excels in providing technical analysis tools from reputed companies such as Autochartist and Trading Central, which are not featured by Tickmill. However, Tickmill compensates for this by offering a sentiment-based trading tool that displays the ratio of long or short positions across currency pairs, a feature BDSwiss lacks.
Both brokers include economic calendars to help traders stay updated with global news events. Whereas Tickmill incorporates research tools from Acuity Trading like the Signal Centre, BDSwiss does not provide this feature. Rated equally at 4 stars for their research capabilities, Tickmill holds a slight edge in the rankings at #22 compared to BDSwiss's #24, according to ForexBrokers.com. Choosing between the two depends on whether a trader values top-tier forex news and sentiment analysis or prefers advanced technical research tools.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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.
Tickmill and BDSwiss both offer extensive educational resources for those looking to dive into forex and CFDs trading. Each platform provides a wealth of materials, including over ten educational articles, videos, and archived webinars, specifically targeting forex and CFDs education. Whether you're a newbie or experienced trader, both brokers have monthly live webinars to sharpen your skills and further your understanding. These webinars are also archived and searchable for convenient access anytime. Beginners will appreciate the educational videos on both platforms, as each broker ensures there are more than ten video guides specifically tailored for those new to trading.
Tickmill and BDSwiss also cater to advanced traders with over ten videos focusing on complex trading topics. For those stuck on specific terms or concepts, both brokers provide a comprehensive investor dictionary with more than 50 key investing terms. With impressive educational offerings, Tickmill and BDSwiss both earn a 4-star rating for education. While Tickmill is ranked slightly higher at 15th place compared to BDSwiss at 19th by ForexBrokers.com out of 62 brokers, both platforms stand out as excellent choices for educational resources in the trading landscape.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
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 BDSwiss. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
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
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 86 | 73 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Tickmill and BDSwiss do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer opportunities to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Tickmill and BDSwiss, Tickmill supports PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires but lacks ACH or SEPA transfers, whereas BDSwiss offers ACH or SEPA transfers, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, but not 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Tickmill | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | Tickmill | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2012 | |
| 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 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Tickmill | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 | Tickmill | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.51 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Tickmill | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $10-$5000 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Tickmill | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | BDSwiss Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill