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Head to head

Alpari vs Tickmill

Alpari has no licence we could confirm on a regulator's register. Tickmill is licensed by FCA in the United Kingdom, CySEC in the European Union, FSCA in South Africa and DFSA in the United Arab Emirates (DIFC), and also has an offshore registration. The licence that applies to you depends on where you live, so check which company you would contract with before comparing anything else.

Minimum deposits start at $30 at Alpari and $100 at Tickmill. Neither offers negative balance protection. Only Tickmill offers segregated client money.

Facts last checked: Alpari on 20 October 2026, Tickmill on 20 October 2026.

Alpari profileTickmill profile
Broker 1
Broker 2
Broker 3

Monthly cost uses the account chosen in each slot: cost per lot × your lots. Swap and other fees are extra. The lowest monthly cost is highlighted only as a fact about cost, not as a recommendation.

Broker
AlpariRead the profile
TickmillStrictly regulatedRead the profile
Comparing
Alpari
TickmillUnited Kingdom

Overview

Founded
1998
Not yet checked
Headquarters
Fomboni, Mohéli, Comoros
Not yet checked
Official websites
  • alpari.com
  • tickmill.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026

Regulation and protection

Company you would contract with
No licence listed
Tickmill UK Ltd
Regulator
No licence listed
FCA
United Kingdom
Regulation level
No licence listed
Strictly regulated
Licence number
No licence listed
717270
Check the register
Clients this company serves
No licence listed
UK residents
All licences held
None listed
  • FCA (United Kingdom)
  • CySEC (European Union)
  • FSCA (South Africa)
  • DFSA (United Arab Emirates (DIFC))
  • FSA Seychelles (Seychelles)
Segregated client money
No
Yes
Negative balance protection
No
No
Compensation scheme
None
FSCS (UK, Tickmill UK Ltd clients); ICF (Cyprus, Tickmill Europe Ltd clients); none named for Tickmill Ltd (Seychelles)

Costs

Your monthly cost
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Cost per lot (EUR/USD)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Spread from
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical EUR/USD spread
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Commission per lot (round turn)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical GBP/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical USD/JPY spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical XAU/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Swap-free account
Yes
Yes

Leverage and margin

Maximum retail leverage
Up to 1:3000 (ECN and Pro ECN); 1:1000 on Standard; 1:500 on Micro
Up to 1:1000 on selected symbols, 1:500 by default on forex (Tickmill Ltd, Seychelles); 1:30 on major pairs for UK and EU retail clients
Retail leverage by asset class
  • Micro account: Up to 1:500
  • Standard account: Up to 1:1000
  • ECN and Pro ECN accounts: Up to 1:3000 (floating)
  • Major and minor currency pairs: 1:500 (global site)
  • Selected forex symbols: 1:1000 (global site)
Margin call level
50% on Micro and Standard; 80% on ECN and Pro ECN
Not yet checked
Stop-out level
20% on Micro and Standard; 50% on ECN and Pro ECN
Not yet checked

Account

Minimum deposit (this account)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Base currencies
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Execution
No accounts listed
No accounts listed

Platforms and features

Platforms
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • Alpari trading app
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • Tickmill Trader
  • TradingView
  • MetaTrader WebTrader
  • Tickmill mobile app
Markets
Forex, metals, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, stocks, ETF, futures and crosses CFDs
Currency pairs, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies and other CFDs; futures accounts
Demo account
Yes
Yes
Copy trading
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Expert advisors (automated trading)
Yes
Yes
News trading allowed
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Guaranteed stops
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Deposits and withdrawals

Deposit methods
  • Debit or credit card
  • Bank wire
  • E-wallet
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Local payment methods
  • Card
  • Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee
Varies by method; the fee is taken from the amount withdrawn
No withdrawal fees from Tickmill; bank fees on single wire deposits of $5,000 or more are covered
Inactivity fee
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Support

Customer support
Live chat, chatbot, messengers and phone helpline
Not yet checked

Our notes

Strengths
  • Four account types, from a $30 Micro account to a raw-spread Pro ECN account
  • Commission-free Micro, Standard and ECN accounts
  • MetaTrader 4 and 5, PAMM investing and a demo account
  • UK and EU companies licensed by the FCA (717270) and CySEC (278/15), with FSCS and ICF cover for eligible clients
  • Raw account with spreads from 0.0 pips and a $3 commission per lot per side
  • No withdrawal fees from Tickmill and a $100 minimum deposit on Classic and Raw
Watch out for
  • Says it holds Mwali International Services Authority (MISA) licence T2023236; we could not confirm it on MISA's register on 2026-10-20, because the register sits behind a bot check
  • No licence from a strict regulator; not available to UK or EU residents
  • We found no statement on its site about segregated client money or negative balance protection
  • Leverage up to 1:3000, and deposit bonuses that come with conditions
  • Clients of the global site join Tickmill Ltd, which holds only an offshore licence from the FSA Seychelles
  • The global site's risk warning says losses can exceed the initial investment; negative balance protection is a rule for UK and EU retail clients, not stated for the Seychelles company
  • The FCA has warned about clone firms using Tickmill UK's details (FX Profit Broker / FXPB / Armada Markets UK LTD and FxoptionTrade Limited)

Risk warnings

The buttons to a broker’s website above the table are partner links: we may earn a commission if you open an account through them. That never changes the facts shown here. Trading leveraged products such as forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money rapidly, and most retail accounts lose money. Each broker’s own warning:

  • Alpari: Before trading, you should ensure that you've undergone sufficient preparation and fully understand the risks involved in margin trading.
  • Tickmill: Risk Warning: Trading financial products on margin carries a high degree of risk and is not suitable for all investors. Losses can exceed the initial investment. Please ensure you fully understand the risks and take appropriate care to manage your risk.

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Other head-to-head pages

Cost per lot is the typical EUR/USD spread in busy hours × $10, plus any round-turn commission, for one standard lot. “Not yet checked” means we have not confirmed that fact yet. This page compares facts; it does not rank the brokers or recommend either. Confirm costs and licences on each broker’s site and the regulator’s public register before opening an account: see how we review brokers and check a broker yourself.

Nothing on this page is financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.

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