A head-to-head comparison of CMC Markets and Tickmill across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
FCA-regulated and LSE-listed with one of the best proprietary platforms in retail FX and CFDs.
Among the lowest commissions available at $6 round-turn on Pro accounts, with strong FCA, CySEC, and FSCA regulation and transparent execution.
CMC Markets edges ahead with a score of 4.5/5 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 0.7 pips for CMC Markets, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Tickmill has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
CMC Markets offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
CMC Markets edges out Tickmill with a higher editorial score (4.5/5 vs 4.3/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.5/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.4 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
| Founded | 1989 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.7 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
| Max leverage | 30:1 | 1000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA BaFin FMA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit CMC Markets | Visit Tickmill |
Pros
FCA-regulated, LSE-listed
Excellent proprietary platform
MT4 also available
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
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 after 12 months
No raw spread account option
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 | CMC Markets | 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) | Pass | 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, CMC Markets ranks higher with a score of 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5 for Tickmill. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; CMC Markets and Tickmill may each suit different trader profiles.
Tickmill offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to CMC Markets's spreads from 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
CMC Markets has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Tickmill requires at least $100. This makes CMC Markets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both CMC Markets 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: CMC Markets has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
CMC Markets offers maximum leverage of 30:1, 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.
CMC Markets supports MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile and Tickmill offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4; CMC Markets exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile; Tickmill exclusively offers MetaTrader 5.
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