A head-to-head comparison of Swissquote and Tickmill across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Swiss banking heritage with exceptional fund security, the broadest asset range in retail trading, and FINMA oversight - though minimum deposits are high.
Among the lowest commissions available at $6 round-turn on Pro accounts, with strong FCA, CySEC, and FSCA regulation and transparent execution.
Swissquote and Tickmill are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.2/5 and 4.3/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Tickmill offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 1.7 pips for Swissquote, 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.
Swissquote offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
Tickmill edges out Swissquote with a higher editorial score (4.3/5 vs 4.2/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.4 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 3.9 / 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 | 1996 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Gland, Switzerland | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | $1,120 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 1.7 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
| Max leverage | 100:1 | 1000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA DFSA FINMA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Swissquote | Visit Tickmill |
Pros
Swiss banking heritage with FINMA regulation and bank-level fund security
Broadest multi-asset range including real stocks, bonds, and options
Listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SIX)
FCA and DFSA regulated for UK and UAE clients
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
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
Very high minimum deposit (CHF 1,000, approximately $1,120)
Spreads wider than ECN peers on standard account
Primarily suited to larger, more sophisticated accounts
Inactivity fee applies
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Swissquote | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Tickmill ranks higher with a score of 4.3/5 vs 4.2/5 for Swissquote. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Swissquote and Tickmill may each suit different trader profiles.
Tickmill offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Swissquote's spreads from 1.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Tickmill has a lower minimum deposit of $100, while Swissquote requires at least $1120. This makes Tickmill more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Swissquote 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: Tickmill has a lower minimum deposit ($100), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Swissquote offers maximum leverage of 100:1, 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.
Swissquote supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile and Tickmill offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; Swissquote exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile.
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