Dukascopy and Tickmill face off on regulation, cost, and tools, but differing risk protections and platform strategies create a sharp, practical tension for traders.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose Dukascopy if you want a proprietary JForex platform and broad liquidity.
Choose if…
Choose Tickmill if you want low commissions and negative balance protection.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.9 / 5▲ | 4.4 / 5 |
Pros
Full FINMA banking licence - client cash protected under Swiss deposit guarantee up to CHF 100,000
Genuine interbank SWFX ECN liquidity from 14+ institutional providers
EUR/USD variable spreads from 0.1 pips during London/New York overlap
JForex supports Java/Groovy strategy automation built into the platform
Banking-grade transparency with published balance sheet
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Dukascopy | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | 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 | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Dukascopy and Tickmill share the same editorial score of 4.3/5. One concrete differentiator: Tickmill requires a lower minimum deposit.
Tickmill starts from 0 pips, tighter than Dukascopy's 0.1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Tickmill has $100, while Dukascopy requires at least $1000. This makes Tickmill more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Dukascopy and Tickmill hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
Tickmill stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Dukascopy lists maximum leverage of 200:1, 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, lower than Dukascopy's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Dukascopy supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while Tickmill supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. Dukascopy has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile. Tickmill has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5.
Tickmill offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.10 pips for Dukascopy, reducing trading costs.
Equally matched; both have strong regulation and client funds protection.
Dukascopy wins for active traders due to 1200 instruments and interbank ECN liquidity.
Tickmill is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($6/lot), tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
Dukascopy wins for platform choice with the proprietary JForex and MT4/MT5 support.
Tickmill wins for beginners with a $100 min deposit and familiar MT4/MT5.
Dukascopy leads in instrument variety with 1200 offerings.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.7 / 5▲ | 4.5 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 2014 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland | London, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $1,000 | $100▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.1 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | $6/lot▼ lower |
|---|
| 0.8 pips | 0.6 pips▼ lower |
| Max Leverage | 200:1▲ higher | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSA Seychelles FINMA | CySEC FCA FSCA |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
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
CHF 1,000 minimum deposit excludes traders starting with less than USD 1,000
JForex has a steep learning curve; designed for professional clients
Customer support primarily Swiss business hours
Not available to US residents
No negative balance protection
No 24/5 live chat
Cons
No cTrader support
Limited asset classes compared to multi-asset peers
Not available to US residents
No proprietary platform
Dukascopy and Tickmill remain closely matched, with Tickmill's negative balance protection contrasting Dukascopy's lack of it.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
Score 4.3 / 5
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