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Head to head

ThinkMarkets vs Tickmill

ThinkMarkets is licensed by FCA in the United Kingdom; CySEC in the European Union; ASIC in Australia; DFSA in Dubai (DIFC), UAE and FSCA in South Africa, and also has an offshore registration. 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 $10 at ThinkMarkets (the Standard account needs $50) and $100 at Tickmill. Neither offers negative balance protection. Both offer segregated client money.

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

ThinkMarkets 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
ThinkMarketsStrictly regulatedRead the profile
TickmillStrictly regulatedRead the profile
Comparing
ThinkMarketsStandard account · United Kingdom
TickmillUnited Kingdom

Overview

Founded
2010
Not yet checked
Headquarters
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Official websites
  • thinkmarkets.com
  • tickmill.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026

Regulation and protection

Company you would contract with
TF Global Markets (UK) Limited
Tickmill UK Ltd
Regulator
FCA
United Kingdom
FCA
United Kingdom
Regulation level
Strictly regulated
Strictly regulated
Licence number
629628
Check the register
717270
Check the register
Clients this company serves
UK residents
UK residents
All licences held
  • FCA (United Kingdom)
  • CySEC (European Union)
  • ASIC (Australia)
  • DFSA (Dubai (DIFC), UAE)
  • FSCA (South Africa)
  • FSA Seychelles (Seychelles)
  • FCA (United Kingdom)
  • CySEC (European Union)
  • FSCA (South Africa)
  • DFSA (United Arab Emirates (DIFC))
  • FSA Seychelles (Seychelles)
Segregated client money
Yes
Yes
Negative balance protection
No
No
Compensation scheme
FSCS up to £85,000 (UK); ICF up to €20,000 (Cyprus); none for the Seychelles company
FSCS (UK, Tickmill UK Ltd clients); ICF (Cyprus, Tickmill Europe Ltd clients); none named for Tickmill Ltd (Seychelles)

Costs

Your monthly cost
$110$11 per lot × 10 lots
No accounts listed
Cost per lot (EUR/USD)
$11
No accounts listed
Spread from
0.4 pips
No accounts listed
Typical EUR/USD spread
1.1 pips
No accounts listed
Commission per lot (round turn)
None
No accounts listed
Typical GBP/USD spread
1.3 pips
Not yet checked
Typical USD/JPY spread
1.4 pips
Not yet checked
Typical XAU/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Swap-free account
Yes
Yes

Leverage and margin

Maximum retail leverage
1:30 on major pairs (UK, EU, Australia); up to 500:1 (2500:1 on ThinkTrader) at the Seychelles company
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
  • Major currency pairs (UK: 1:30
  • Currency pairs: up to 500:1
  • ThinkTrader account (Seychelles company): up to 2500:1
  • Major and minor currency pairs: 1:500 (global site)
  • Selected forex symbols: 1:1000 (global site)
Margin call level
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Stop-out level
50% (forced liquidation level)
Not yet checked

Account

Minimum deposit (this account)
$50
No accounts listed
Base currencies
USD, USDt, AUD, GBP, EUR, SGD, CHF
No accounts listed
Execution
Spread only, no commission (MT4, MT5)
No accounts listed

Platforms and features

Platforms
  • ThinkTrader
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • TradingView
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • Tickmill Trader
  • TradingView
  • MetaTrader WebTrader
  • Tickmill mobile app
Markets
Forex, commodities, indices, crypto, stocks, ETFs and futures CFDs (up to 4,000 instruments on ThinkTrader)
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
  • Bank wire
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • Neteller
  • Crypto
  • Card
  • Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee
No fee on any funding method (international site)
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
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Our notes

Strengths
  • Licensed by the FCA, CySEC and ASIC, with client money in segregated accounts
  • Publishes target (typical) spreads for the Standard account, such as 1.1 pips on EUR/USD
  • No deposit or withdrawal fees on the international site's funding methods
  • 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
  • International clients join TF Global Markets Int Limited in the Seychelles (offshore tier), where leverage goes up to 2500:1 on ThinkTrader and losses can exceed deposits
  • ThinkMarkets also says it is licensed by CIMA, an FSC, an FMA and (on its South African company) FSCA FSP 49835, without naming every company; we could not confirm these on 2026-10-20. Its FSCA OTC derivative provider approval is confirmed.
  • The ThinkZero minimum deposit is shown as $100 on the account types page and $500 on the ThinkZero page; ask before you fund.
  • 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:

  • ThinkMarkets: Derivative products are leveraged products and can result in losses that exceed initial deposits. Please ensure you fully understand the risks and take care to manage your exposure and seek independent advice if necessary.
  • 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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