Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
XTB vs Tickmill: XTB was founded in 2002 and is publicly traded, while Tickmill launched in 2014 and is not publicly traded. Neither broker is a bank.
Regulation and trust: Both brokers hold two Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and two Tier-2 licenses (trusted). XTB has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96/99, placing it in the highly trusted range (90–99), whereas Tickmill’s 85/99 puts it in the trusted range (80–89).
| Feature |
XTB
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
XTB and Tickmill both earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but Tickmill ranks a little higher overall in this category at #10 out of 36 brokers, while XTB comes in at #13 out of 36. For everyday retail forex traders, XTB’s pricing is generally close to the market average, with its Standard account using spread-only pricing and its EUR/USD spread averaging 1 pip in Q4 2023. XTB’s Professional account is commission-based, but it is mainly limited to eligible professional clients in the U.K. and Europe and is being phased out in many regions.
Tickmill is usually the cheaper choice for active traders, especially on its Raw account. Its EUR/USD spread was listed at 0.11 pips, and even after adding commission the all-in cost was about 0.51 pips before the recent increase; with the new $3 per side commission, that all-in cost is now around 0.71 pips. Tickmill’s Classic account has no commission, but its spreads are much wider, so it tends to be less attractive for frequent trading.
In simple terms, XTB may suit traders who want straightforward spread-based pricing and occasional active trader rebates through its Lower Spread Group, while Tickmill is often better for more frequent traders who want lower total trading costs on the Raw account. XTB’s minimum deposit starts at 250 in base currency, while Tickmill keeps entry costs lower with a $100 minimum deposit on the Raw account.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.70 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 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.
XTB offers a much wider range of investments than Tickmill, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more markets to choose from. XTB provides 10,900 tradeable symbols, including 71 forex pairs, while Tickmill offers 637 symbols and 62 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both also offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency.
Where XTB stands out most is in share investing: it offers exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so clients can buy real stocks like Apple and Vodafone. Tickmill does not offer exchange traded securities on either U.S. or international exchanges, though it does support copy trading, which XTB does not. Based on range of investments, XTB is rated 5 stars and ranked #14 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with Tickmill’s 3.5 stars and #30 ranking.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 637 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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.
XTB and Tickmill both give traders a solid choice of platform types, including free demo accounts, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based trading access. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which can make it easier to place orders while watching price movements. XTB stands out for its own in-house platform, while Tickmill relies more on well-known third-party tools.
For traders who want extra platform options, Tickmill has the edge because it supports copy trading as well as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while XTB does not offer those tools. That said, XTB is rated higher overall for trading platforms and tools, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #9 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with Tickmill’s 4 stars and #24 ranking. In short, XTB may suit traders who prefer a proprietary platform, while Tickmill may appeal more to those who want MT4, MT5, and copy trading.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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) | 39 | 97 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and Tickmill both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, so traders can manage their accounts on the go with either broker. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts, which is helpful for basic technical analysis. XTB stands out for adding stock and forex price alerts, while Tickmill does not offer alerts in its mobile app.
When it comes to charting and convenience, Tickmill offers more technical studies in its mobile app, with 97 versus XTB’s 39, and it also syncs watchlists between the mobile app and the online account. XTB, on the other hand, auto-saves chart drawings, which Tickmill does not. Overall, XTB holds the higher mobile trading app rating at 4.5 stars and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers, compared with Tickmill’s 4 stars and #25 ranking.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 97 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and Tickmill both give traders daily market commentary and an economic calendar, so each broker covers the basics well for staying on top of news and key events. XTB stands out with forex news from major sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus a sentiment tool that shows the share of long and short positions across markets. Tickmill does not offer those same news and sentiment features, but it does include research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre.
Overall, XTB has the stronger market research offering, which is reflected in its 5-star Research rating and #9 ranking out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Tickmill still provides useful research support, but its 4-star rating and #19 ranking place it behind XTB in this area.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Tickmill
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | 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.
When it comes to learning resources for beginners, both XTB and Tickmill give new traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, plus monthly online webinars and a solid library of beginner videos and advanced videos. That means you can find material whether you are just starting out or want to build on the basics.
Still, XTB has the edge overall. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category, while Tickmill is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #14. For beginners who want the stronger pick for education, XTB stands out as the better choice, although Tickmill also offers a helpful set of learning tools.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than Tickmill. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #23.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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Tickmill
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| Trust Score | 96 | 85 |
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XTB vs Tickmill: Neither online broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
XTB vs Tickmill: both online brokers allow deposits and withdrawals via PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire, neither supports ACH or SEPA, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | XTB | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Tickmill Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Tickmill | |
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| Regulation | XTB | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | 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) | XTB | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 637 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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 | XTB | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.70 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 0.70 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | XTB | 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 | XTB | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 97 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | 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 | 39 | 97 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | XTB | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review | Tickmill Review |
| Overall | XTB | Tickmill | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Tickmill Review |
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