In this head-to-head, two seasoned forex brands contrast on regulation, costs, and platform features as they court traders across regions.
Tickmill edges Alpari International on editorial score due to higher scores across trust & regulation, fees & spreads, platforms & tools, and customer support.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Alpari International if…
Choose Alpari International if you want a very low $5 minimum deposit and ECN-style pricing with $6 per lot, though you trade under FSC Mauritius regulation with no investor compensation and no negative balance protection.
Choose Tickmill if…
Choose Tickmill if you want top-tier FCA, CySEC, and FSCA regulation with investor compensation and negative balance protection, plus a broad 600-instrument offering and competitive $6 per lot pricing on Pro accounts.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.00 pips.
| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
Pros
26-year brand history in retail forex
Mature PAMM investor platform, one of the originals
ECN accounts with $6 per-lot commission competitive with top ECN desks
Wide geographic reach across CIS, MENA, and Africa
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Alpari International | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Alpari International rates 3.9/5 and Tickmill rates 4.3/5. Tickmill 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.
Both Alpari International and Tickmill start from 0 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
Alpari International has $5, while Tickmill requires at least $100. This makes Alpari International more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Tickmill holds top-tier regulation (FCA, FSCA, CySEC), providing stronger investor protections. Alpari International may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Alpari International requires a lower minimum deposit ($5), lowering the barrier to entry, and Tickmill provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Alpari International lists maximum leverage of 1000:1, while Tickmill lists up to 1000:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Both Alpari International and Tickmill charge the same commission of $6 per lot on applicable accounts.
Alpari International supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Tickmill supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Tickmill wins for safety & regulation due to FCA/CySEC/FSCA oversight and investor protection.
Both brokers offer equivalent ECN conditions including raw spread accounts, commissions, and spread levels.
Alpari International wins for beginners with a $5 minimum deposit.
Tickmill wins for instrument variety with about 600 instruments.
Tickmill wins for active traders thanks to broad instrument coverage and low $6/lot commissions.
Tickmill wins for platform choice with advanced charting on MT4/MT5.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.0 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1998 | 2014 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Port Louis, Mauritius | London, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $5▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips | 0 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $6/lot |
|---|
| 0.6 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Max Leverage | 1,000:1 | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSC FSCA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Industry-low commission of $6 round-turn on Pro account
Strong FCA, CySEC, and FSCA regulatory coverage
No dealing desk on Pro and Raw accounts
Negative balance protection for retail clients
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
FSC Mauritius licence, lower investor protection than FCA/ASIC/CySEC
Legacy of UK entity collapse in 2015 is a cautionary reference point
No top-tier regulatory licence for its core international client base
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Limited charting capabilities
Cons
No cTrader support
Limited asset classes compared to multi-asset peers
Not available to US residents
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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