Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill vs ThinkMarkets, 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 ThinkMarkets, both established online brokerage firms, offer investors platforms to trade various financial instruments. Tickmill, founded in 2014, holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, reflecting a commitment to security and compliance. However, with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86, Tickmill may raise some concerns as it falls into the trusted category, but not the highest trusted range. Despite this, it remains a reliable choice for many traders seeking a reputable brokerage.
On the other hand, ThinkMarkets, which has been in operation since 2010, boasts 5 Tier-1 licenses and shares a similar Tier-2 license count with Tickmill. These credentials speak volumes about its reliability and adherence to regulatory standards. ThinkMarkets further strengthens its position with a Trust Score of 92, placing it in the highly trusted category. Both companies are privately held and are not banks, but ThinkMarkets stands out for its higher trust rating and extensive regulatory oversight, making it an appealing option for cautious investors.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When comparing online brokers Tickmill and ThinkMarkets on commissions and fees, Tickmill stands out with its flexible account options and competitive fee structure. Tickmill offers a Raw account, which features a newly increased commission of $3 per side or $6 per standard lot. Despite this hike, it remains a top choice for active traders due to its low average spreads and appealing all-in cost, earning a 5-star rating in this category. The Classic account from Tickmill, on the other hand, is commission-free but comes with higher average spreads of 1.76 pips, making it less competitive than the Raw account.
Tickmill's Raw account provides traders with narrow spreads, such as 0.11 pips for EUR/USD typically, though the all-in cost comes to 0.71 pips after including the recent commission adjustments. This account is accessible with a minimum of $100, focusing on affordable trading for those using algorithmic strategies. Additionally, Tickmill is ranked #4 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees. In contrast, ThinkMarkets is highly rated with 4 stars but falls behind at #48 in the same ranking.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.51 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| 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 examining the range of investments available through Tickmill and ThinkMarkets, both platforms offer forex trading as CFDs. Tickmill provides 725 tradable symbols, which include 63 forex pairs, whereas ThinkMarkets presents a broader selection with 4,000 symbols but offers 46 forex pairs. Neither of the brokers allows the purchase of exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges such as Apple stock. However, ThinkMarkets stands out by enabling users to buy international exchange-traded securities like Vodafone shares, a feature not available with Tickmill. Both platforms support copy trading and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, but they do not facilitate the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
In terms of overall ratings for their range of investments, Tickmill receives a score of 3.5 stars, while ThinkMarkets is rated higher at 4.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Tickmill ranks at #42, whereas ThinkMarkets secures the #21 position out of 62 brokers. These rankings and ratings highlight ThinkMarkets as a more versatile choice for investors seeking a wider variety of investment options. Despite Tickmill's supportive features in forex trading and derivatives, ThinkMarkets offers a more comprehensive suite of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 46 |
| 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 ThinkMarkets offer comprehensive trading platforms and tools, making them accessible for traders seeking simulation options with their demo accounts. While both brokers provide MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, allowing familiarization with popular platforms, ThinkMarkets distinguishes itself with its proprietary platform, offering a unique in-house solution. Both companies cater to various trading preferences with Windows-based desktop downloads and convenient web-based platforms accessible via your browser. Additionally, options for copy trading are available with both brokers, but neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade for further social trading opportunities.
In terms of charting capabilities, Tickmill and ThinkMarkets offer 15 drawing tools each, and they both enable direct trading from stock charts. ThinkMarkets, however, provides 15 columns for watch lists compared to Tickmill’s seven, potentially offering a broader data snapshot for traders. When it comes to overall satisfaction in trading platforms and tools, both brokers receive a solid four-star rating. However, ThinkMarkets edges slightly ahead in rankings, positioned at #28 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Tickmill’s #32 ranking.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Tickmill and ThinkMarkets offer comprehensive solutions for traders on the go. They each provide apps for iPhone and Android devices, ensuring accessibility no matter your choice of platform. Both brokers include features like stock and forex price alerts, drawing tools for trendlines, the ability to view charts in multiple time frames, and creating watchlists with real-time quotes. While Tickmill and ThinkMarkets support auto-saving of chart drawings, they lack the ability to sync watchlist symbols between the mobile app and the online account, which could be a consideration for traders wanting seamless integration across devices.
In terms of charting tools, ThinkMarkets stands out with 94 technical studies compared to Tickmill's 30, offering traders more options for in-depth analysis. Despite this difference, both brokers maintain a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. However, in rankings by ForexBrokers.com, ThinkMarkets edges ahead at #20 compared to Tickmill's #32 out of 62 brokers. These factors make ThinkMarkets potentially more appealing for those who emphasize a wide array of technical analysis tools, while both options remain strong contenders in the mobile trading landscape.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 94 |
| 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 research offerings of Tickmill and ThinkMarkets, both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from reliable sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. However, their approaches to enhancing traders' decision-making processes vary in subtle ways. While neither broker offers tools like Autochartist or Trading Central, both Tickmill and ThinkMarkets deliver sentiment-based trading tools to help traders gauge market sentiment through the ratio of long and short positions in various instruments. In terms of more advanced tools, both brokers integrate solutions from Acuity Trading, including the Signal Centre, and they also provide an economic calendar for keeping track of global news events.
In terms of overall research quality, Tickmill scores a slightly higher 4-star rating compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. This difference is reflected in their rankings on ForexBrokers.com, where Tickmill takes the 22nd spot out of 62 brokers for research capabilities, while ThinkMarkets is positioned at the 50th spot. Thus, traders interested in a slightly more comprehensive research experience may find Tickmill a more suitable option, especially if the specifics of research rankings hold weight in their decision-making process.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources of Tickmill and ThinkMarkets, both online brokers equip beginners with a comprehensive learning toolkit. Tickmill excels with a higher rating of four stars, whereas ThinkMarkets follows closely with 3.5 stars. Both brokers offer over ten pieces of educational content focused on forex and CFDs, ensuring newcomers have access to informative articles, engaging videos, and archived webinars. Moreover, both Tickmill and ThinkMarkets regularly conduct monthly educational webinars and maintain a searchable archive, allowing users to revisit sessions at their convenience.
In addition to introductory resources, both brokers provide more than ten advanced educational videos targeted towards experienced traders. An extensive investor dictionary with over 50 terms is also accessible through either platform, aiding traders in building a strong foundational knowledge. Despite these similarities, Tickmill has a leading advantage with its 15th place rank in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, as opposed to ThinkMarkets, which stands at 52nd place. This ranking reflects Tickmill's slightly richer educational offerings and resources tailored for traders at various levels.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 ThinkMarkets. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
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
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 92 |
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Both Tickmill and ThinkMarkets do not offer the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies, focusing instead on cryptocurrency derivatives, allowing traders to engage in digital asset investments without owning the underlying assets.
In comparing online brokers Tickmill and ThinkMarkets, neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers; however, Tickmill provides PayPal for transactions, unlike ThinkMarkets, with both brokers offering Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing and withdrawing account funds.
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 | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 725 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 46 | |
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.51 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.31 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 | |
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 15 | |
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 94 | |
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Tickmill | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review |
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