Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC Markets 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.
IC Markets vs Tickmill: both are regulated online brokers with solid marks for safety. On the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score scale (90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 not trusted), IC Markets scores 83 and Tickmill 85—so both are “trusted,” with Tickmill a touch higher.
Regulation and company basics: each broker holds 2 Tier-1 licenses. Tickmill also has 2 Tier-2 licenses, while IC Markets has none. Neither broker is publicly traded or a bank. IC Markets was founded in 2007; Tickmill in 2014. If added Tier-2 coverage matters to you, Tickmill may appeal; if a longer operating history matters, IC Markets is older.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
IC Markets and Tickmill are both low-cost online brokers, but IC Markets has the edge on commissions and fees. IC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers for this category. It offers a commission-free Standard account plus commission-based Raw Spread accounts, with very low effective costs on major pairs like EUR/USD. Depending on whether you choose cTrader or MetaTrader, the all-in cost on its Raw account is around 0.62 to 0.72 pips, and active traders can also qualify for discounts once they trade more than 100 standard lots per month.
Tickmill is also a strong choice for price-sensitive traders, though it trails IC Markets in this comparison. Tickmill is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its Classic account has no commission, but the spreads are wider. The Raw account is the better fit for active traders, with a $3 per side commission, or $6 per standard lot round turn, and a minimum deposit of just $100. Even after the recent fee increase, Tickmill still offers competitive all-in pricing, especially when trading under normal market conditions.
In short, IC Markets is the better pick if you want the lowest overall trading costs and the stronger rating and ranking in commissions and fees. Tickmill remains a good low-cost broker, especially for active traders who want a simple Raw account with a low starting deposit, but IC Markets provides the more attractive pricing structure overall.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.70 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IC Markets offers a wider range of investments than Tickmill, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more market options. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. However, IC Markets stands out with 3,583 tradeable symbols compared with Tickmill’s 637, and it offers 61 forex pairs versus Tickmill’s 62, so the main difference is in overall product variety rather than forex coverage.
IC Markets also gives clients access to exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as shares listed outside the U.S., while Tickmill does not offer this feature. Neither broker provides U.S.-listed exchange-traded securities or the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency. Based on Range of Investments, IC Markets is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #22 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #30.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 62 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
IC Markets and Tickmill both give traders a similar set of platform choices, making each broker a good fit for people who want familiar tools and flexible access. Both offer free demo accounts for paper trading, plus desktop and web-based platforms, so you can trade from a Windows computer or a browser. Each broker also supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, along with copy trading and the ability to place trades straight from a chart. Neither broker offers its own in-house platform, so the experience is centered on widely used third-party software.
In third-party ratings, both IC Markets and Tickmill earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. Still, IC Markets edges ahead in ForexBrokers.com’s category ranking, placing #17 out of 36 brokers, while Tickmill ranks #24. For traders comparing online brokers on platform access and tools, both are strong options, but IC Markets has a slight lead in the rankings.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 97 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets and Tickmill both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, so traders can manage accounts on the go with either broker. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts and has a 4-star rating for mobile trading from ForexBrokers.com. In the broader ranking of 36 brokers, IC Markets places slightly higher at #22, while Tickmill comes in at #25.
The main differences are in app features. IC Markets offers stock or forex price alerts and automatically saves chart drawings, which can make it easier to track setups and stay on top of the market. Tickmill does not offer price alerts, but it does support watchlist syncing between the mobile app and online account, so changes carry over across devices. For charting tools, Tickmill has a wider selection with 97 technical studies, compared with 30 at IC Markets.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 97 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IC Markets and Tickmill both give traders daily market commentary and an economic calendar, so each broker covers the basics for following news and key events. Both are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for research. That said, IC Markets offers a wider set of market research tools overall, including news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus Autochartist, Trading Central, and a sentiment tool that shows how other traders are positioned. Tickmill does not offer those same extras, but it does provide research from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre.
In ForexBrokers.com’s research ranking, Tickmill places slightly higher at #19 out of 36 brokers, while IC Markets ranks #21. For traders who want more built-in analysis tools and premium news coverage, IC Markets has the edge. If you are looking for a broker that still offers daily commentary and an economic calendar, with a slightly better research ranking and Acuity Trading support, Tickmill may also be worth a look.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing IC Markets and Tickmill for beginner learning tools, both brokers give new traders plenty to work with. Each offers forex and CFDs education with at least 10 relevant educational pieces, monthly online client webinars, and more than 10 beginner videos, along with 10 or more advanced videos for traders who want to keep learning. In plain terms, both platforms cover the basics and beyond, so beginners should find useful lessons no matter which broker they choose.
That said, Tickmill has a slight edge in overall education scoring. Both IC Markets and Tickmill are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education, but Tickmill is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com at #14 out of 36 brokers, compared with IC Markets at #16. For beginners, the difference is small, but Tickmill comes out just ahead on paper.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IC Markets is better than Tickmill. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #23.
IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
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Tickmill
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 85 |
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IC Markets vs Tickmill: neither broker supports purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading, enabling speculation on crypto price movements without owning the underlying asset.
IC Markets vs Tickmill: for deposits and withdrawals, neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers; both support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 83 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA 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) | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 637 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 62 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.62 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.70 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 97 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 97 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | Tickmill Review |
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