A head-to-head comparison of OANDA and Tickmill across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
NFA- and FCA-regulated with strong US/UK coverage, transparent historical pricing, and excellent research.
Among the lowest commissions available at $6 round-turn on Pro accounts, with strong FCA, CySEC, and FSCA regulation and transparent execution.
OANDA edges ahead with a score of 4.6/5 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 1 pips for OANDA, 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.
OANDA offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
OANDA edges out Tickmill with a higher editorial score (4.6/5 vs 4.3/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.4 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
| Founded | 1996 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | New York, United States | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $100 |
| Spreads from | 1 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
| Max leverage | 50:1 | 1000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free for ACH | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMF ASIC NFA CBI | FCA FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit OANDA | Visit Tickmill |
Pros
Available to US residents (NFA-registered)
Best-in-class research and economic data
No minimum deposit
MT4, MT5 and proprietary platforms
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
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
Spreads slightly wider than ECN-style brokers
No copy trading
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
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 | OANDA | 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, OANDA ranks higher with a score of 4.6/5 vs 4.3/5 for Tickmill. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; OANDA and Tickmill may each suit different trader profiles.
Tickmill offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to OANDA's spreads from 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
OANDA has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Tickmill requires at least $100. This makes OANDA more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both OANDA 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: OANDA 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.
OANDA offers maximum leverage of 50:1, 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.
OANDA supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView and Tickmill offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; OANDA exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView.
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