This matchup pits two regulated non-native crypto brokers against each other on coin breadth, platform approach, and fees. They shape contrasting access and risk profiles.
Interactive Brokers and Tickmill remain closely matched, but Interactive Brokers offers a broader coin list (9 vs 4) as the clearest differentiator.
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Choose Interactive Brokers if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you want real crypto ownership on a regulated platform with no inactivity fee.
Choose Tickmill if…
Choose Tickmill if you value low ECN commissions and FCA/CySEC regulation.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
Interactive Brokers wins for security with SEC and FINRA oversight and diverse regulators.
Tickmill wins for low fees with ECN commissions around $2 per lot.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
| Spreads From | 0.2 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
| Taker Fee | 2.00%▼ lower | 6.00% |
A closer look at the specific criteria each exchange meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Security | ||
| Cold storage for assets | Fail | Fail |
| Proof of reserves published | Fail | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees | ||
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Staking available | Fail | Fail |
| DeFi integration | Fail | Fail |
| NFT trading | Fail | Fail |
| 500+ coins listed | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Interactive Brokers rates 4/5 and Tickmill rates 3.9/5. Interactive Brokers has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Tickmill lists a lower spread from 0, compared with Interactive Brokers's 0.2. Crypto trading costs are typically quoted as a percentage of the trade value; check each exchange's full fee schedule, as maker/taker rates and volume discounts vary.
Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, while Tickmill requires at least $100. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders looking to start with a smaller crypto investment.
Both Interactive Brokers and Tickmill hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each exchange's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both exchanges provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Interactive Brokers offers up to 1:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus Tickmill's 2:1 cap. Margin and futures trading carry higher risk than spot crypto; confirm product availability and jurisdiction-specific limits on each exchange's website.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 per trade, lower than Tickmill's $6 per trade. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day. Crypto fees are typically quoted as maker/taker rates rather than fixed per-trade commissions; check each exchange's fee schedule for volume-based discounts.
Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Tickmill supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS) and Proprietary Web/Mobile. Tickmill has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Interactive Brokers scores better on fee criteria (no deposit fee, no inactivity fee). Always check both exchanges' current fee schedules, as maker/taker rates and withdrawal fees vary and are subject to change.
Interactive Brokers wins for coin selection with nine listed assets.
Interactive Brokers is best for beginners due to a zero minimum deposit.
Equally matched; neither offers DeFi or Web3 features.
| 0.4 pips▼ lower |
| 0.6 pips |
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC JFSA IIROC DFSA CNB CMVM CNV AMF SEC MFSA SFC SEBI CBI CMF NFA FSC FINRA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Cold Storage | No | No |
|---|
| Proof of Reserves | No | No |
|---|
| Staking | No | No |
|---|
| DeFi Integration | No | No |
|---|
| NFT Trading | No | No |
|---|
| 500+ Coins | No | No |
|---|
| P2P Trading | No | No |
|---|
| Crypto Earn / Savings | No | No |
|---|
| Token Launchpad | No | No |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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