Tickmill
Published: Updated:
- Trust score
- 4/10
- Legal simplicity
- 5/10
- Min. deposit
- 25
- Trading platforms
- Regulations
- Payment systems
- Instruments
- Forex, Metals, Indices, Commodities, Energies, Stocks, Bonds, Futures, Cryptocurrencies
- Legal entity
- Tickmill UK Ltd
- Jurisdiction
- United Kingdom
- Fees
- Classic accounts price the cost into the spread with no commission; Pro and VIP accounts quote raw spreads with a per-lot commission that falls at the VIP tier. Overnight swaps apply, and swap-free accounts are available on request.
- Withdrawals
- Withdrawals return to the funding method and are normally processed the same business day when requested before the cut-off, with no broker withdrawal fee on most methods.
Features
- Islamic (swap-free) accounts
- Segregated client accounts
- ECN account type
- Scalping allowed
- Affiliate program
- Wide range of trading instruments
Pros
- Regulated by the UK's FCA
- Fast withdrawal processing
- Fast execution with tight spreads
- English-language customer support
Cons
- Reports of frequent slippage
Tickmill is a forex and CFD broker built on an STP/NDD/DMA execution model, with spreads from 0 pips and leverage up to 1:500. Its UK entity, Tickmill UK Ltd, holds FCA license number 717270, while a separate Tickmill entity is registered with the Seychelles Financial Services Authority as a securities dealer under license SD008. Accounts open with a $25 minimum deposit and include Islamic (swap-free) and segregated-fund options across more than 80 instruments.
Tickmill is an ECN/STP forex and CFD broker offering segregated and Islamic accounts, a $25 minimum deposit, and spreads from 0 pips.
Overview
Tickmill is a forex and CFD broker built on an STP/NDD/DMA (Straight Through Processing / No Dealing Desk / Direct Market Access) execution model, giving clients direct market access without dealing-desk intervention. The broker won "Best ECN/STP Broker" and "Most Reliable Forex Broker" at the 2016 China Forex Expo.
Regulation and Fund Safety
Tickmill's UK entity, Tickmill UK Ltd, is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under license number 717270. A separate Tickmill entity is registered with the Seychelles Financial Services Authority as a securities dealer under license SD008.
Client accounts are held on a segregated basis, and Tickmill states customer funds are insured for up to £50,000 if the company becomes insolvent. The broker does not offer negative balance protection, so losses can exceed the account balance in fast-moving markets.
Trading Conditions
Spreads start from 0 pips and leverage of up to 1:500 is available. Tickmill lists 62 currency pairs plus precious metals and CFDs on oil and stock indexes, for more than 80 tradable instruments in total. Orders use instant execution, and the broker permits scalping, hedging, and arbitrage strategies.
Accounts and Services
- Minimum deposit of $25
- Islamic (swap-free) accounts
- Multi-currency accounts in USD, EUR, GBP, and PLN
- VIP conditions for balances from $50,000
- Free VPS server access for uninterrupted trading
- No fees on deposits or withdrawals, with withdrawals processed in 1 to 8 days
- Weekly demo-account trading contests with a $1,000 prize
- An affiliate/partner program
Platform
Tickmill runs on MetaTrader 4, supporting scalping, hedging, and arbitrage across its account types.
Bottom Line
Tickmill pairs FCA regulation in the UK with an offshore Seychelles entity, so the choice of entity changes the level of protection: Tickmill UK Ltd carries FCA safeguards, while the Seychelles entity does not. Factor in the lack of negative balance protection when managing risk.
Trading conditions
Tickmill competes on cost and execution. Its Pro account quotes raw spreads with a low per-lot commission, and the VIP tier lowers that commission further above a balance threshold — the pricing is among the tightest in the retail market for clients who qualify.
The instrument range extends beyond the usual CFD list into bonds and futures, and platform choice covers MetaTrader 4 and 5, TradingView and FIX API access.
Terms follow the entity: FCA and CySEC clients face 30:1 on major currency pairs with negative balance protection and compensation cover — £85,000 under the FSCS, €20,000 under the Cyprus fund. The Seychelles and Labuan entities offer higher leverage and neither.
Verification
Verification requires photo ID and proof of address, with an appropriateness assessment on the regulated entities. Onboarding is largely electronic and often same-day.
Check which tier your intended deposit places you in. The commission difference between Pro and VIP is large enough to change which broker is cheapest for your volume, and the VIP threshold is the binding constraint for most retail accounts.
