Deriv and Tickmill clash on cost, regulation, and platforms. Deriv offers synthetic indices and MFSA licensing, while Tickmill emphasizes low cost execution under FCA/CySEC/FSCA oversight.
Tickmill edges Deriv in the overall editorial score, 4.3 to 4.1, reflecting stronger category performance.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Tickmill offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.50 pips for Deriv, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
Pros
Synthetic indices trade 24/7, unique offering unavailable at mainstream brokers
Very low $5 minimum deposit
Multi-platform: DTrader, MT5, Deriv X, SmartTrader
MFSA (Malta/EU) licensing for European clients
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Deriv | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Fail | 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 | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Deriv rates 4.1/5 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.
Tickmill starts from 0 pips, tighter than Deriv's 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Deriv has $5, while Tickmill requires at least $100. This makes Deriv more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Tickmill holds top-tier regulation (FCA, FSCA, CySEC), providing stronger investor protections. Deriv 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: Deriv requires a lower minimum deposit ($5), lowering the barrier to entry, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Deriv 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.
Tickmill charges $6 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Deriv are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Deriv supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, DXtrade, while Tickmill supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5. Deriv has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile and DXtrade. Tickmill has exclusive access to MetaTrader 4.
Tickmill wins for safety & regulation with FCA, CySEC, FSCA oversight.
Tickmill wins for active traders due to low cost execution and raw spreads.
Tickmill is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
Deriv wins for platform choice with MT5 and proprietary platforms.
Tickmill wins for instrument variety with 600 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2014 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Birkirkara, Malta | London, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $5▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 0.6 pips |
| Max Leverage | 1,000:1 | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | LFSA FSC BVI MFSA VFSC | FCA FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile DXtrade | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
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
Synthetic indices are proprietary instruments, not conventional regulated assets
Regulatory quality varies significantly by entity (MFSA vs VFSC/FSC BVI)
Customer support can be slow during peak periods
No top-tier regulatory licence
No investor compensation scheme
No raw spread account option
Limited charting capabilities
No phone support
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 4.1 / 5
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