Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo 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.
Saxo and Tickmill are online brokers with different regulatory footprints. Saxo, founded in 1992, is a bank and not publicly traded. Tickmill, founded in 2014, is not publicly traded and is not a bank. In terms of regulation, Saxo holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, while Tickmill holds 2 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses.
On ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score, which classifies 90-99 as highly trusted and 80-89 as trusted, Saxo scores 99/99 (highly trusted) and Tickmill scores 85/99 (trusted). For traders prioritizing regulation and safety, Saxo shows the stronger profile, while Tickmill still earns a trusted rating.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Saxo edges out Tickmill on commissions and fees overall, earning a 5-star rating and a #8 ranking out of 36 brokers. Saxo offers commission-free forex trading for most clients, with costs built into the spread, and its pricing is especially attractive for active, high-volume, and larger-balance traders. Recent EUR/USD average spreads were 1.1 pips for Classic, 1.0 for Platinum, and 0.9 for VIP, while the entry-level Classic account now has a $0 minimum deposit. One small exception: traders who trade fewer than 50,000 units per month pay a $3 ticket fee per side.
Tickmill is also a low-cost broker, but it ranks slightly behind Saxo with a 4.5-star rating and a #10 ranking out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its Classic account is commission-free, though the average spread is wider at 1.76 pips, making it less appealing for frequent traders. The Raw account is the stronger choice for lower trading costs, with a typical EUR/USD spread of 0.11 pips plus a $3 per side commission, which puts the all-in cost around 0.71 pips after the latest pricing change. The Raw account also has a low $100 minimum deposit.
In simple terms, Saxo is the better pick if you want very strong overall pricing, especially at higher account tiers, while Tickmill can still be a good option for traders who want a low-cost Raw account with a small starting deposit. Saxo is generally better for spread-based pricing and premium account benefits, while Tickmill stands out for its low entry barrier and competitive active-trader pricing.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.70 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Saxo offers a much wider range of investments than Tickmill. Both brokers support forex trading, including forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs rather than actual crypto. However, Saxo stands out with 71,000 tradeable symbols and 190 forex pairs, compared with Tickmill’s 637 symbols and 62 forex pairs. Saxo also gives access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, so clients can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone, while Tickmill does not offer these exchange traded stocks.
Tickmill does have one feature Saxo does not: copy trading. Even so, Saxo is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and is ranked #3 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Tickmill is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #30. If you want the broader choice of markets and instruments, Saxo is the stronger option; if copy trading matters more to you, Tickmill may appeal.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 62 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
Saxo and Tickmill both give traders a choice of demo accounts, desktop downloads, web platforms, and the ability to place trades straight from a chart. The main difference is that Saxo offers its own in-house platform, while Tickmill does not. Saxo also does not support MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, whereas Tickmill includes both MT4 and MT5, which may appeal to traders who want those familiar tools. Tickmill also stands out for copy trading, a feature Saxo does not offer.
When it comes to overall platform quality, Saxo has the edge, earning 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranking #3 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Tickmill is still a solid choice, with 4 stars and a #24 ranking, but Saxo offers a more advanced platform experience overall, while Tickmill may be better for traders looking for MetaTrader support and copy trading options.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 97 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and Tickmill both give traders mobile access on iPhone and Android, along with watchlist syncing between the app and online account. Each also lets users draw trendlines on charts, so both apps cover the basics well for trading on the go. Saxo adds price alerts and automatically saves chart drawings, which can be especially helpful for traders who want to stay on top of market moves without redoing their chart work.
When it comes to charting depth, Tickmill offers more technical studies in its mobile app, with 97 compared with Saxo’s 64. Even so, Saxo comes out ahead overall in mobile trading app quality, earning a 5-star rating and a #3 ranking out of 36 brokers, while Tickmill holds a 4-star rating and ranks #25. For traders choosing mainly on app quality and ease of use, Saxo has the edge, while Tickmill may appeal to those who want more chart indicators.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 97 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Saxo and Tickmill both give traders daily market commentary and an economic calendar, so each platform helps users stay on top of major events and changing market conditions. Saxo goes further with news from top sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Autochartist tools and a sentiment feature that shows how traders are positioned across currency pairs and other instruments. Saxo is also ranked #1 out of 36 brokers for Research by ForexBrokers.com and earns a 5-star research rating.
Tickmill also offers daily commentary and an economic calendar, but it does not include top-tier forex news or Autochartist tools. Instead, Tickmill stands out with research from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre. Overall, Tickmill is rated 4 stars for Research and ranks #19 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, placing it behind Saxo in this category.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, both Saxo and Tickmill offer a solid mix of learning materials. Each broker provides forex and CFD education with at least 10 educational pieces, plus monthly online webinars to help new traders build knowledge over time. They also both offer at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, so users can find content whether they are just starting out or ready to go deeper.
That said, Saxo has a slight edge overall. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, while Tickmill is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #14. In simple terms, both brokers are useful for learning, but Saxo appears to offer a little more value for beginners who want more structured educational support.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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 Saxo is better than Tickmill. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #23.
Saxo is a multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
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Tickmill
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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In the Saxo vs Tickmill comparison, neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
Comparing online brokers Saxo and Tickmill for deposits and withdrawals: both support bank wire transfers and do not offer ACH or SEPA, but Tickmill additionally supports PayPal and Skrill whereas Saxo offers neither.
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 | Saxo | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | Tickmill | |
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| Regulation | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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) | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 637 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 62 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.70 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 97 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 97 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Saxo Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | Saxo | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Tickmill Review |
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