A head-to-head comparison of AvaTrade and Tickmill across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Heavily regulated across 6+ jurisdictions with a unique AvaOptions platform for vanilla options trading and strong educational content.
Among the lowest commissions available at $6 round-turn on Pro accounts, with strong FCA, CySEC, and FSCA regulation and transparent execution.
AvaTrade edges ahead with a score of 4.4/5 vs Tickmill's 4.3/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Tickmill offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.9 pips for AvaTrade, reducing trading costs.
Tickmill has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Tickmill has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
AvaTrade offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
AvaTrade edges out Tickmill with a higher editorial score (4.4/5 vs 4.3/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
| Founded | 2006 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.9 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 1000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FSCA ASIC ADGM CBI MFSA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit AvaTrade | Visit Tickmill |
Pros
Heavily regulated across 6+ jurisdictions
AvaOptions platform for vanilla options trading
Strong educational content and structured courses
Multiple platforms including MT4, MT5 and proprietary AvaTradeGo
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
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
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
Inactivity fee of $50 after 3 months of no trading
Not available to US residents
Spread-only model means no raw ECN pricing
No investor compensation scheme
Cons
No cTrader support
Limited asset classes compared to multi-asset peers
Not available to US residents
No proprietary platform
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AvaTrade | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, AvaTrade ranks higher with a score of 4.4/5 vs 4.3/5 for Tickmill. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; AvaTrade and Tickmill may each suit different trader profiles.
Tickmill offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to AvaTrade's spreads from 0.9 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Both AvaTrade and Tickmill require a minimum deposit of $100 to open a live trading account.
Both AvaTrade and Tickmill hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
AvaTrade offers maximum leverage of 400:1, while Tickmill offers up to 1000:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Tickmill charges $6 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
AvaTrade supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile and Tickmill offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; AvaTrade exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile.
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