This comparison pits Interactive Brokers against Tickmill on regulation, pricing, and platforms. The tension centers on instrument breadth and platform support versus cost efficiency.
Interactive Brokers edges Tickmill on overall score, backed by top-tier regulation and access to 17,000+ instruments.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Interactive Brokers if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you need access to 17,000+ instruments and a proprietary trading platform.
Choose Tickmill if…
Choose Tickmill if you want MT4/MT5 support and low commissions on Pro accounts.
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 0.20 pips for Interactive Brokers, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.4 / 5 |
Pros
Available to US residents
Lowest margin rates in industry
150+ global markets
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | 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 |
The scores are close: Interactive Brokers rates 4.6/5 and Tickmill rates 4.3/5. Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers's 0.2 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, while Tickmill requires at least $100. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Interactive Brokers 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.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Interactive Brokers lists maximum leverage of 50:1, 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.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 per lot, lower than Tickmill's $6 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Tickmill supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS) and Proprietary Web/Mobile. Tickmill has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Interactive Brokers wins for safety and regulation with multiple top-tier regulators and client funds in segregated accounts.
Tickmill wins for active traders with low Pro account commissions and MT4/MT5 support.
Interactive Brokers is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($2/lot).
Interactive Brokers wins for platform choice with a proprietary platform and advanced tools.
Tickmill suits beginners with MT4/MT5 and straightforward pricing.
Interactive Brokers offers 17,000+ instruments, far more than Tickmill.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.5 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1978 | 2014 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Greenwich, United States | London, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.2 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $2/lot▼ lower | $6/lot |
|---|
| 0.4 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
| Max Leverage | 50:1▲ higher | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC JFSA IIROC DFSA CNB CMVM CNV AMF SEC MFSA SFC SEBI CBI CMF NFA FSC FINRA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS) Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
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
Steeper learning curve on TWS
No MT4 / MT5
No MetaTrader support
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
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
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