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Head to head

Tickmill vs XM

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. XM is licensed by CySEC in the European Union, DFSA in the United Arab Emirates (DIFC) and FSCA in South Africa. 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 $100 at Tickmill and $5 at XM. Only XM offers negative balance protection. Both offer segregated client money.

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

Tickmill profileXM 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
TickmillStrictly regulatedRead the profile
XMStrictly regulatedRead the profile
Comparing
TickmillUnited Kingdom
XMEuropean Union

Overview

Founded
Not yet checked
2009
Headquarters
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Official websites
  • tickmill.com
  • xm.com
  • trading-point.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026

Regulation and protection

Company you would contract with
Tickmill UK Ltd
Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd
Regulator
FCA
United Kingdom
CySEC
European Union
Regulation level
Strictly regulated
Strictly regulated
Licence number
717270
Check the register
120/10
Check the register
Clients this company serves
UK residents
Residents of EU and EEA countries (CySEC lists xm.com and trading-point.com as its approved domains)
All licences held
  • FCA (United Kingdom)
  • CySEC (European Union)
  • FSCA (South Africa)
  • DFSA (United Arab Emirates (DIFC))
  • FSA Seychelles (Seychelles)
  • CySEC (European Union)
  • DFSA (United Arab Emirates (DIFC))
  • FSCA (South Africa)
Segregated client money
Yes
Yes
Negative balance protection
No
Yes
Compensation scheme
FSCS (UK, Tickmill UK Ltd clients); ICF (Cyprus, Tickmill Europe Ltd clients); none named for Tickmill Ltd (Seychelles)
ICF (Cyprus) for eligible clients of Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd; none named for XM Global Limited

Costs

Your monthly cost
No accounts listed
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Cost per lot (EUR/USD)
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Spread from
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical EUR/USD spread
No accounts listed
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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 1:1000 on selected symbols, 1:500 by default on forex (Tickmill Ltd, Seychelles); 1:30 on major pairs for UK and EU retail clients
Up to 1:1000 (XM Global Limited); EU retail clients are limited to 1:30 on major pairs
Retail leverage by asset class
  • Major and minor currency pairs: 1:500 (global site)
  • Selected forex symbols: 1:1000 (global site)
Not yet checked
Margin call level
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Stop-out level
Not yet checked
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
  • Tickmill Trader
  • TradingView
  • MetaTrader WebTrader
  • Tickmill mobile app
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • XM App
Markets
Currency pairs, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies and other CFDs; futures accounts
Currency pairs, indices, commodities and share CFDs; real shares on the Shares account
Demo account
Yes
Yes
Copy trading
Not yet checked
Yes
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
  • Card
  • Bank transfer
Not yet checked
Withdrawal fee
No withdrawal fees from Tickmill; bank fees on single wire deposits of $5,000 or more are covered
Not yet checked
Inactivity fee
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Support

Customer support
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Our notes

Strengths
  • 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
  • Low minimum deposit of $5 on the Standard and Ultra Low accounts
  • Negative balance protection on all accounts, according to XM's account page
  • EU clients can contract with a CySEC-licensed company (licence 120/10)
Watch out for
  • 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)
  • XM's global site names XM Global Limited, which it says is regulated by the FSC of Belize (licence 8557558). We could not confirm this licence on the Belize FSC's online register on 2026-10-20, so we do not list it.
  • Leverage of up to 1:1000 on the global site magnifies losses as much as gains
  • The Standard account is marketed with deposit bonuses; read the bonus terms before you accept one
  • XM no longer holds a UK licence (the FCA register shows its passport as cancelled) and its former Australian company now trades as Trading.com Markets

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:

  • 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.
  • XM: Risk Warning: Our services involve a significant risk and can result in the loss of your invested capital.

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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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