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.
Tickmill and ThinkMarkets both provide traders with a variety of platforms and tools designed to enhance their trading experience. Both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading without financial risk. While Tickmill primarily utilizes established platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ThinkMarkets stands out by offering an in-house developed platform in addition to the popular MetaTrader options. Both brokers support desktop and web-based platforms, making it easy for traders to access markets from a range of devices. Additionally, they both provide options for copy trading, which can be appealing to those looking to mimic successful trading strategies.
When it comes to charting features, Tickmill and ThinkMarkets match fairly evenly, offering 15 drawing tools, and allowing traders to execute trades directly from charts. However, a key difference lies in the number of columns available for watch lists: Tickmill offers 7, whereas ThinkMarkets provides more versatility with 15 columns. Both platforms receive a 4-star rating for their tools and platforms, though ThinkMarkets ranks slightly higher at #27 compared to Tickmill's #32 among 62 evaluated brokers. These factors suggest that while both brokers offer rich trading environments, ThinkMarkets might appeal more to users who value a proprietary platform and extensive watch list features.
| 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 comparing the mobile trading apps of Tickmill and ThinkMarkets, both platforms offer apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring access to trading on the go. They both provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and the option to view multiple time frames for informed decision-making. Furthermore, real-time quote watchlists are available on both apps, although neither supports syncing watchlist symbols between the app and online account. This means users have to manually update watchlists on each platform.
A notable difference lies in the technical analysis capabilities. Tickmill offers 30 technical studies for chart analysis, while ThinkMarkets provides a more extensive selection with 94 studies, catering to traders who prefer more analytical tools. Both apps auto-save drawings on charts, providing convenience and efficiency. As for ratings, both platforms have been awarded a strong 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. However, ThinkMarkets takes a higher rank at #20 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to Tickmill’s position at #31. This difference may influence traders who place emphasis on rankings in their decision-making process.
| 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 it comes to market research, both Tickmill and ThinkMarkets are strong contenders, providing daily market commentary and forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They each offer a sentiment-based trading tool, showing the ratio of long and short positions across currency pairs, along with economic calendars detailing global news events. However, neither broker provides analysis tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, and both lack research support from TipRanks. On the bright side, traders will benefit from Acuity Trading's tools with both brokers.
Despite their similarities, Tickmill takes the edge with a research rating of 4 stars compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. A broader market review from ForexBrokers.com ranks Tickmill at #21 out of 62 brokers in the research category, while ThinkMarkets finds itself further down the list at #50. These rankings highlight Tickmill as the stronger choice for those seeking insightful and effective research capabilities.
| 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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