Tickmill Review 2024

Trust

Tickmill Regulations

In our reviews, we examine the licenses and regulations of each entity operated by a broker. This allows us to compare their different levels of protection. We rank licenses by various regulatory bodies on a three-tier system, where Tier-1 licensing indicates the highest level of regulation.

This is what I discovered about Tickmill:

• Tickmill UK Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK under license number 717270. It is also authorized by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in the United Arab Emirates as a representative office, with reference number F007663. The FCA ranks as a Tier-1 regulator on our system, while DFSA ranks as a Tier-2 regulator on our system.
• Tickmill Europe Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under license number 278/15. CySEC ranks as a Tier-1 regulator on our system.
• Tickmill South Africa (Pty) Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa with license number FSP49464. The FSCA ranks as a Tier-2 regulator on our system.
• Tickmill Asia Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Labuan Malaysia under license number MB/18/0028. The FSA ranks as a Tier-2 regulator on our system.
• Tickmill Ltd is regulated and licensed by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles under license number SD008. The FSA ranks as a Tier-3 regulator on our system.

We have summarized the most essential aspects of Tickmill in terms of regulation and safety in the table below:

Why is it Important to Know Where Your Broker’s Subsidiaries are Regulated?

Brokers operate multiple entities because it allows them to serve clients worldwide. However, licenses obtained by regulators in different jurisdictions do not always entail the same degree of protection. Some regulators mandate compliance with the strictest financial frameworks, whereas others are less rigid. That is why traders need to familiarize themselves with the safety mechanisms ensured by the entity they want to open an account with beforehand.

Here is what you need to be looking for in a broker in terms of safety mechanisms:

• Segregation of client funds. Keeping client funds in segregated bank accounts from the ones used for the broker’s corporate capital negates the risk of accounting errors. All of Tickmill’s entities ensure this.
• Negative balance protection. This safety mechanism removes the risk of trading losses exceeding the account balance. In other words, the losses you incur from trading are capped at the amount you have put in your trading account. This is especially important in volatile markets. All Tickmill entities provide negative balance protection.
• Compensation scheme. A compensation scheme protects traders against the broker’s liabilities in the unlikely event that the company becomes insolvent. Clients of Tickmill UK Limited are protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) of the FCA by up to 85,000 GBP. Clients of the CySEC-regulated entity, Tickmill Europe Ltd, Tickmill Asia Ltd, Tickmill South Africa, and Tickmill Ltd also offer Lloyd’s insurance for clients’ funds ranging from $20,000 to $1,000,000.
• Maximum leverage. Capping the maximum leverage restricts the extent of market exposure to retail traders. The higher the leverage, the higher the potential profits and potential losses. The maximum retail leverage with Tickmill is 1:1000, available with Tickmill Ltd. While Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd offer a maximum leverage to retail customers of 1:30.

Is Tickmill Safe to Trade With?

With regards to Tickmill UK Ltd, I found the entity can be considered safe. It adheres to the most essential safety requirements, such as providing negative balance protection, segregated funds, and participating in a compensation scheme. Additionally, the entity operates on a ‘best execution’ basis, ensuring delivery of the most favorable price quotes under prevailing market conditions at all times.

Stability and Transparency

In our tests for the Trust category, we also cover factors relating to stability and transparency. Here, we focus on how long the broker has been in business, how big the company is, and how transparent it is in terms of readily available information.

I went over Tickmill’s legal documents and client agreement and found them to be in order. Important information regarding the broker’s terms and conditions is readily available and written in an easy-to-understand way. I also appreciated Tickmill’s high transparency concerning the people who stand behind it.

For instance, in the blog section of the website, there is a special section dedicated to introducing the reader to the market analysts who develop its market analyses and trading ideas. Knowing who (their experience level and career) develops all the market breakdowns you read makes the content more trustworthy.

I also appreciated that the information listed on the website with respect to Tickmill’s spread and swap charges matches reality (I measured Tickmill’s real-time spreads on several instruments and compared my findings to what is stated on the website).

In summary, my research indicates that Tickmill can be regarded as having a very good level of trust and stability due to the following factors:

• Authorized by several top-tier regulators
• Has a high level of transparency
• Maintains best execution standards
• Has a clear corporate structure

Fees

Tickmill’s Trading Fees

Tickmill’s Spreads

I tested Tickmill’s spreads during the most actively traded times – the London open at 8:00 a.m. GMT and just after the U.S. open at 2:45 p.m. GMT. The test was conducted on 7 November 2023. The results are shown in the table below:

Broken down by asset class and compared to the broader industry, Tickmill charges below-average spreads on instruments across all major asset classes. I was especially impressed by the low spreads I measured on gold and the two stock indices.

Tickmill’s Swaps

A swap fee is a trader’s cost for holding an open position overnight because of changing interest rates. Swap long refers to the charge deductible or credit receivable for holding a buy position open overnight. In turn, swap short relates to the charges/credits deductible or receivable for holding a selling position open overnight.

The values listed below are for one full contract (100,000 units) of the base currency.

The recorded values meet the industry average.

Tickmill’s Commissions

Traders who open a Raw account with Tickmill have to pay a $3 per side ($6 round-turn) commission for executing a full-sized position (100,000 units). This commission rate is below the industry average of $3 per side and is suitable for high-frequency trading. The classic account, in comparison, features commission-free trading.

Tickmill’s Non-Trading Fees

Tickmill does not charge a handling fee on deposits or withdrawals, though third-party banking fees may apply. However, an inactivity fee of £10 is charged to accounts on which no activity has been registered for one calendar year. The fee is charged monthly until activity resumes or the account balance drops to £0.

Are Tickmill’s Fees Competitive?

Tickmill’s fees are indeed very competitive. I found them suitable for the implementation of a wide variety of trading strategies. The combination of low spreads, especially on commodities and indices, and low fixed commissions is especially suitable for high-frequency and high-volume trading, which require frequent getting in and out of large-scale positions (scalping).

Accounts Comparison

I have compiled the table below to help you better understand the difference between the trading fees on Tickmill’s three CFDs accounts. It illustrates the spreads and commissions I have recorded on the EUR/USD pair on the Classic and Raw accounts. The table shows how much you will have to pay to trade 1 full lot (100,000 units) in EUR/USD with a pip value of $10.

To calculate the cost of such a full-sized trade, I used this formula: Spread x pip value+commission

Given that the industry average net cost fluctuates around $10, my tests indicate that Tickmill’s Raw account has favorable trading fees. It has a minimum deposit requirement of $100, making it quite affordable for all kinds of retail traders. In contrast, the Classic account’s fees are noticeably less favorable because of its elevated floating spreads.

Platforms and Tools

In this review, I evaluated the MetaTrader 5 platform, which is notable for its extensive features, including a remarkable selection of 21 timeframes. This aspect especially distinguishes it from other retail trading platforms. It also has an intuitive strategy tester tool, making it possible for algo traders to automate their strategies. Tickmill is especially suitable for algorithmic trading due to its fast execution speed (around 20 milliseconds). I, however, have some reservations about the platform, primarily stemming from its rugged design.

When you right-click on MT5’s chart screen, you get a dropdown menu with some of its key features. As shown above, the platform supports one-click trading, which is essential for high-frequency trading strategies. The platform also has other highly practical features, such as the possibility to set alarms and the depth of the market tool.

Tickmill also offers multiple MT4&5 plugins and toolkits for enhanced trading, such as a correlation matrix, market sentiment tool, session map, and more.

Tickmill’s MetaTrader 5 Desktop Platform

General Ease of Use

The platform has a very familiar layout. The watch list and screen navigator tools are positioned on the left-hand side, the charts screen is on the right-hand side, the strategy tester and other account info panes are at the bottom, and a panel of available settings can be found at the top. The arrows on the image above indicate where you can access all the available technical indicators and drawing tools.

Charts

I consider the chart screen a platform’s most important feature. It aids technical analysis by providing an overview of price action behavior and allows traders access to a range of analytical tools and chart configuration possibilities. A good chart should afford easy scaling up and down of price action.

I have broken down the available analytical tools and chart configurations below:

• 38 technical indicators. The platform supports trend-based, volume-based indicators, oscillators, and more. These can be applied to study price action behavior and determine the underlying market sentiment. In general, technical indicators are used to gauge where the market is likely to head next.
• 24 drawing tools. Drawing tools, such as Fibonacci retracement levels and Elliott waves, are used to study repeatable price patterns. Additionally, they can be applied to determine key support and resistance levels and potential breakout or breakdown levels.
• 21 timeframes. The platform affords multi-timeframe analysis of price action behavior. The greater the number of timeframes, the more intricate examinations that can be carried out across the short-term and long-term.
• 3 chart types. MT5 makes it possible to represent price action as a line, area, or using candlesticks. This diversity makes it possible to examine potential trading opportunities from different angles.

Orders

I have broken down the available order types on the MetaTrader 5 platform below:

• Market orders. Market orders are used for immediate entry at the best possible price. If triggered, they guarantee volume filling, though there could be a discrepancy between the requested price and the price where the order actually gets filled.
• Limit orders. Unlike market orders, limit orders guarantee exact price execution. However, a limit order will not be filled if the price action does not reach the pre-determined execution price.
• Stop orders. They are used to support open positions by limiting the maximum loss that can be incurred if the market turns in the opposite direction. A stop-loss order is placed at a fixed price below or above the spot price. If the market does indeed turn and triggers the stop-loss, it will transform into a market order and get filled at the best possible price.

My Key Takeaways After Testing Tickmill’s MetaTrader 5 Platform

As for me, MT5 presents a blend of pros and cons. Its simple design eases the learning process, especially for new traders. The platform’s strengths lie in its Expert Advisors (EAs) for automated trading and compatibility with Tickmill’s rapid execution speeds, making it ideal for algorithmic trading. However, MT5 falls short in modernity and versatility, particularly in charting capabilities. It lacks the user-friendly interface and the detailed visual analysis found in newer platforms, limiting its effectiveness in tracking subtle market movements.

Tickmill’s MetaTrader 5 Mobile App

The mobile app version of MetaTrader 5 retains the simplicity of the desktop version of the platform. It is quite easy to use due to its straightforward layout. Essentially, the app comprises four major components. It has a watchlist of selected instruments, a chart window affording traders an insight into price action behavior, an order placing window, and an account info section.

Futures and Options Platforms

Tickmill also offers a plethora of platforms and tools for futures and options trading. I have summed up the functionalities of some of the available platforms below. To access the comprehensive list of possibilities, please visit here.

• Multicharts. Advanced charting solution for high-definition price examination. The platform also stands out with its enhanced backtesting capabilities catering to the needs of seasoned algo traders.
• CQG. It is a US financial firm with over 40 years of experience providing decision-making tools and professional-grade software. The CQG platform offers superior market data visualization for traders with extensive experience.
• Sierra Chart. With its connectivity to multiple exchanges and backend trading platform services, Sierra is a good choice for those interested in precision algorithmic trading.
• ATAS. The Advanced Trading Analytical Software, or ATAS, accommodates order flow and volume analysis. It is geared towards high-volume day and position traders.
• MotiveWave. This software is light and easy to use, and it serves chart artists interested in price pattern recognition.

My Key Takeaways After Testing MT5’s Mobile App Version

I noticed that the MT5 mobile app has strengths and weaknesses similar to those of its desktop counterpart. It’s easy to use because of its simple design, yet it’s not great for detailed market analysis. This is a common problem with trading apps trying to show complex information on a small screen. As a result, it’s not the best choice for advanced technical analysis.

Still, the app is useful in its own way. The main advantage is that the app allows traders to access the market and their accounts anytime, which is really helpful for making quick changes to active trades.

Copy Trading

The Seychelles entity of Tickmill also features a copy and social trading environment where strategy providers and followers can interact. Experienced traders market their strategy to less experienced traders who might want to subscribe to it and generate profits based on the activity of the seasoned trader.

The strategy provider decides what performance fee to charge. Accordingly, strategy followers can use Tickmill’s filters to evaluate each strategy’s performance. They can view a strategy’s maximum dropdown, average dropdown, average returns, and so forth.

Tradable Instruments

What Are CFDs?

Contracts for difference (CFDs) are derivatives used to speculate on the price of the underlying asset without physical delivery. For example, a long position on gold would generate profit as the price rises or incur a loss as it falls, all without the need to purchase actual gold bars. One of the biggest advantages of trading CFDs is that traders can get in and out of the market almost instantaneously, thereby catching even minute changes in the price of the derivative.

What Can You Trade With Tickmill?

I have broken down the available instruments with Tickmill below:

• 62 Currency Pairs
  Major, Minor, Exotic
• 11 Commodities
  Metals and Energy
• 494 Share CFDs
  Finance, Tech, Retail, Other
• 23 ETFs
  Europe, U.S., Other
• 20 Indices
  UK, Europe, U.S., Asia, Other
• 9 Cryptocurrencies*
  Majors and Minors
• 4 Bonds
  Europe
• 124 Futures and Options**
  Indices, Interest Rates, Metals, Energy, Other

Compared to the broader industry, Tickmill offers an average amount of FX pairs and commodities and a high amount of share CFDs and indices.

My Key Takeaways After Exploring Tickmill’s Tradable Instruments

I appreciated that Tickmill’s diversity of tradable instruments allows traders to implement a wide range of different trading strategies. For instance, more conservative traders can use bonds to hedge their trading risk, whereas traders with an affinity for price speculation can benefit from Tickmill’s above-average offering of indices.

Moreover, the availability of options and real futures, offered by Tickmill UK Ltd only, allows you to trade on expected changes in underlying volatility levels (or hedge against unexpected ones) in the future. Overall, I found Tickmill’s tradable instruments offering extremely versatile.

Customer Support

The live chat option is available from the bottom-right corner of the main page. Before you get in touch with an agent, you have to fill in your name and email address and choose a preferred language. Alternatively, you can use one of the other available contact channels listed here.

Tickmill Customer Support Test

When we test a broker’s customer support team, we evaluate the agent’s knowledge of their own website, how long it takes them to respond to questions, and how detailed their answers are.

I conducted my test on the 8 November at around 10:57 am CET via live chat. An agent connected almost instantaneously after I submitted my query. Initially, I asked about Tickmill’s execution model and received a straightforward answer shortly afterward.

The agent was polite and well-informed on a range of topics. He did not take long to respond to my several queries. I had a very positive overall impression of Tickmill’s customer support.

Deposit and Withdrawal

Tickmill’s Deposit Methods

$0 Tickmill covers banking fees on wire transfers above $5,000

Tickmill’s Withdrawal Methods

Tickmill processes all payments (deposits and withdrawals) within a single business day. However, some transactions may take up to 8 business days to reflect in your bank account. Notably, Tickmill covers banking fees on deposits via bank wire above $5000.

Account Types and Terms

Why is Choosing the Right Account Type Important?

Your account should reflect your goals, needs, and ambitions on the market. You should take into consideration several factors, such as whether the account type has a minimum deposit requirement, its spreads and commissions, the execution method, and more.

What Account Types Does Tickmill Offer?

I have broken down Tickmill’s account types below:

Forex and CFDs Trading Accounts

Futures Trading Account

Tickmill’s accounts are diverse and geared towards different kinds of traders. I determined that the Raw account is the most well-balanced of the bunch because it features low trading fees against a very low minimum deposit requirement, which makes it quite accessible. The account is equally suitable for inexperienced beginners and high-frequency/high-volume traders. The Futures account is tailored for volatility traders.

Tickmill’s Execution Model

Tickmill’s hybrid execution model involves market-making and straight-through-processing (STP) while employing market execution. The broker operates on an STP basis without a dealing desk. Order requests are transmitted to the interbank level, where Tickmill’s liquidity providers fill them. As long as there is enough liquidity in the market, all order requests will be filled, though at varying speeds.

In my experience, market execution is better suited for day trading and position trading strategies where volume is important. But it is less so for intraday trading strategies, such as scalping, where precise order filling is more important. Nevertheless, this is more than compensated for by Tickmill’s impressive execution speed, averaging 20 milliseconds, which decreases the risk of negative slippage. Concerning its average execution speed, I rate Tickmill among the best forex brokers in the world.

What is CFD Leverage?

The leverage determines a trader’s overall market exposure. When trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs), positions can be opened for a fraction of their value because of the leverage. Essentially, the broker lends the trader money so that the latter can open bigger-sized positions. The leverage multiplies the profits a trader generates from winning positions but also the losses incurred from failed trades.

Tickmill’s Account Opening Process

The account creation process with Tickmill is straightforward and quick. You can go at your own pace, though realistically, you will be done with everything within an hour. I have summarized the process step-by-step below:

• Step 1. Click ‘Create Account’ at the top-right corner of the main page.
• Step 2. Choose between a ‘Forex & CFDs’ and ‘Futures’ account.
• Step 3. Choose between an individual and corporate account, and fill in your personal details.
• Step 4. Confirm your email address.
• Step 5. Fill in the confirmation code sent as a text message to your phone number.
• Step 6. Fill in your financial and trading experience info.
• Step 7. Upload proof of address and ID to verify your account.
• Step 8. Deposit funds to begin trading.

What is a Demo Account?

Tickmill offers demo accounts that introduce traders to the broker’s services and allow them to tweak their strategies in a risk-free environment. The market is continually evolving and never static, so it is important to hone your skills in a safe environment. You can set up a demo account for yourself alongside your live CFD account.

Tickmill UK Ltd’s Restricted Countries

Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Canada, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, North Korea, Latvia, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Burma (Myanmar), Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Romania, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, United States, and US Virgin Islands.*

Research

Research Tools

Below, I have broken down Tickmill’s different types of research content.

In-House Market Breakdowns

These are available from the broker’s blog and are developed by Tickmill’s experts. I appreciated that the daily outlook reports explain the underlying economic reasons causing the market to behave in a certain way, also combining elements of technical and fundamental analysis. This combination gives the content depth and well-roundedness, benefiting traders who wish to learn about currently unfolding trading opportunities.

Trading Calculators

Trading calculators are pretty standard in the industry. They help you estimate the likely cost, potential losses, profits, and more of a trade you plan to execute.

Acuity Tool

Acuity is a market sentiment tool utilizing input directly from the Dow Jones news feed, allowing the reader to make timely and informed trading decisions as opportunities arise. Acuity can be incorporated directly on MT4 and MT5 and help you understand the underlying market sentiment on instruments across multiple asset classes.

Sentiment Gauge (for Futures)

Tickmill UK Ltd has another intuitive market sentiment tool for futures trading, incorporated directly on the platform. It features an instrument heatmap that helps the reader understand cross-asset correlations and currently developing market trends.

Economic Calendar

The economic calendar serves as the most basic research tool. It informs traders of upcoming economic releases that are likely to cause upsurges in market volatility. This creates potential trading opportunities. The economic calendar shows how the market is likely to react to specific events.

I like the intuitive design of Tickmill’s calendar, which is more user-friendly than the industry-standard version.

Signal Centre

This tool offers actionable entry and exit points based on human and AI analysis.

My Key Takeaways From Exploring Tickmill’s Research Materials

I appreciated Tickmill’s diverse research content, making it easy for different kinds of traders to always stay on top of current market developments. They can read insightful analyses with their morning coffee, gain access to penetrating trading signals directly on their platforms, or even listen to Tickmill’s ‘Bright Minds’ podcast while driving or tending to their other everyday tasks.

Education

Tickmill’s Educational Tools

I have broken down Tickmill’s educational materials by type below:

Free LSEG-Accredited Courses

What impressed me most in Tickmill UK Ltd’s educational offering is the access to London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Academy-accredited courses. Clients of Tickmill UK Ltd can access free courses that usually cost up to 1,195 GBP. They can learn about the intricacies of technical analysis, fundamental analysis, risk management, the psychology of trading, and more. Upon completing each of the three courses, you will receive a certificate.

Webinars

Tickmill is one of the best brokers in the industry for educational webinars. They are frequently updated and available in various languages, with an average of around twelve sessions released monthly. Webinars encompass a broad range of trading topics, including CFDs, futures, trading fundamentals, technical analysis, trading psychology, and more, offering comprehensive learning opportunities for traders. The collection of past webinars available on the broker’s YouTube channel.

Seminars

The broker also conducts seminars that are notably in-depth, focusing on key market drivers and behavior. I found that the recent seminar explored trading strategies in periods of high uncertainty. I particularly value the broker’s emphasis on trading psychology in their educational content, considering it a crucial aspect of effective trading.

Educational Videos

Tickmill has a large collection of 91 beginner-friendly educational videos across several categories: crypto trading, commodity trading, CFDs, stocks, market analysis, trading psychology, trading strategies, social trading, and technical indicators. There are also 15 MetaTrader video tutorials.

Each video lasts no longer than a couple of minutes, and the content is presented in an easy-to-understand way. The videos are excellent starting points for first-time traders.

E-books

Tickmill has developed 5 e-books, including ‘Introduction to Fibonacci Analysis’, ‘Knowing Your Trading Costs’, ‘An In-Depth Look at Risk Management’, and ‘Trading the Majors: Insights and Strategies’. Content is exhaustive, highly practical, and supported by multiple graphs, charts, and other types of images.

Educational Articles

There is a vast array of educational articles available from Tickmill’s blog. What Tickmill’s articles lack in coherence – each article is written independently and without a single structure – they make up in practicality.

I appreciated their focus on crucial trading aspects like risk management and trading psychology. These resources are less about teaching the technicalities of trading and more about shaping a trader’s mindset and approach. The inclusion of articles in an interview format provides practical insights, further enriching the learning experience.

Forex Glossary

As the name suggests, Tichmill’s forex glossary contains descriptions of some of the most popular and widely used trading terms and concepts.

Podcasts

Tickmill launched the T-SHOW, a video podcast series blending finance and entertainment exploring topics like trading, investing, and personal growth. Each T-SHOW episode features interviews with global experts.

Tickmill also has a proprietary ‘Bright Minds’ podcast, affording a broader and more abstract overview of important trading and investing topics. I found it useful for those

traders who would like to access a new way of looking at trading and finance.

Education Hub (for Futures Trading)

The education hub contains a basic introduction to futures trading, teaching the basics of futures contracts and how they can be used to generate profits. Content is written in an easy-to-grasp way so that even novice traders can grasp this complex subject matter. Note that it is available only to clients of Tickmill UK Ltd.

The Bottom Line

Founded in 2014, Tickmill is a thoroughly well-balanced broker that offers CFDs and ETDs (futures and options) trading to market participants with different experience levels. What I particularly liked about Tickmill is that its service as a whole is very neatly calibrated with the needs of the trader in mind.

Among the many advantages of Tickmill, I counted its ultra-fast order execution speeds of around 20 milliseconds, competitive fees, choice of tradable instruments, and a wide and diverse variety of trading platforms and tools. The broker also has quite robust research and educational materials.

There are not many disadvantages, though Tickmill would benefit from developing a proprietary CFDs trading platform or at least incorporating more proficient retail platforms than the outdated MetaTrader 4&5.

Tickmill’s offering is ideal for high-frequency and longer-term trading. There are plenty of options for more risk-averse traders who would like to be more conservative, as well as risk-takers wishing to speculate with changing volatility levels.

FAQ