Tickmill vs IC Markets

IC Markets is the better overall broker for most active traders in 2026, while Tickmill is the stronger choice if your priority is keeping MetaTrader raw-account commissions as low as possible.

IC Markets wins on platform choice and market coverage, with MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView available across its current offering. Tickmill counters with a cheaper standard Raw commission on MT4 and MT5 at $3 per lot per side, versus $3.50 per lot per side on the standard IC Markets MetaTrader Raw Spread account.

Our overall winner: IC Markets.

Choose Tickmill instead if: you primarily trade forex through MT4 or MT5 and commission cost matters more than having cTrader or a larger selection of markets.

Tickmill vs IC Markets at a glance

Tickmill currently publishes Raw spreads from 0.0 pips, a $100 starting deposit and a $3-per-side commission. IC Markets publishes spreads from 0.0 pips and a $3.50-per-side MetaTrader Raw commission, while its cTrader pricing uses a different $3 per USD 100,000 traded model.

Which is cheaper: Tickmill or IC Markets?

Tickmill charges $3 per standard lot per side on its Raw account. Opening and closing one standard lot therefore costs $6 in commission before spread, swaps and any execution slippage.

IC Markets charges $3.50 per standard lot per side on its MetaTrader Raw Spread account. The corresponding round-turn commission is $7.

That creates a simple cost difference:

The important bit is what happens after commission.

On a standard EUR/USD lot, one pip is approximately $10. A 0.1-pip difference in executable spread therefore represents roughly $1 per standard lot.

That means IC Markets only needs to deliver an average executable EUR/USD spread roughly 0.1 pip tighter to cancel Tickmill's $1-per-lot commission advantage.

IC Markets currently publishes an average EUR/USD Raw spread of around 0.1 pip. Tickmill publishes spreads from 0.0 pips but does not provide a directly comparable long-term average on the Raw account page. Its own trading-cost example uses a 0.2-pip EUR/USD spread, but explicitly presents the calculation as an illustration rather than an average.

So the sensible decision is not to choose Tickmill simply because $6 is lower than $7.

If you trade serious volume, compare the brokers over the same currency pair, trading session, platform, account currency and order size, then measure spread plus commission plus slippage. A tiny difference in actual execution can matter more than the headline commission.

What about commission-free accounts?

IC Markets' Standard account currently advertises spreads from 0.8 pips with no commission. Tickmill's Classic account starts from 1.6 pips with no commission. Both use variable spreads, so these figures are minimum advertised spreads rather than guarantees of the spread available when you trade.

For active forex traders, however, the Raw accounts are the more relevant comparison because transaction costs are more transparent.

Which has better trading platforms: Tickmill or IC Markets?

IC Markets' current global account structure offers MetaTrader on its Raw Spread and Standard accounts, while its cTrader Raw account can also connect with TradingView. The broker additionally supports cTrader's C# environment, making it particularly relevant for traders whose automation workflow does not revolve around MetaTrader and MQL.

Tickmill supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView and its proprietary Tickmill Trader platform. TradingView requires the corresponding TradingView Raw setup rather than simply using the normal MetaTrader Raw account, and Tickmill currently prices that TradingView Raw account at $3.50 per lot per side.

The practical choice is straightforward:

• Choose IC Markets for cTrader, C# automation or the widest platform flexibility.
• Choose Tickmill if MT4 or MT5 is already your workflow and you want the lower standard Raw MetaTrader commission.
• Either broker works for TradingView, although the account and commission structure differs.

IC Markets therefore wins the platform comparison.

Which broker offers more markets?

IC Markets' current global MetaTrader account overview lists around 2,250 tradable instruments. IC Markets EU separately advertises more than 2,850 instruments, which illustrates why exact market counts should always be attached to a specific legal entity rather than treated as one global number.

Tickmill covers the main markets most forex and CFD traders actually use, including forex, stock indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies and stocks. Tickmill's Raw account currently offers 62 currency pairs, and some Tickmill entities provide 500+ stock and ETF symbols.

If you trade primarily EUR/USD, GBP/USD, gold and major indices, the difference may be irrelevant.

If you actively scan a large universe of share CFDs and secondary markets, IC Markets has a meaningful advantage.

Is Tickmill or IC Markets better for scalping and algorithmic trading?

Both brokers explicitly permit scalping and automated strategies on their relevant Raw accounts.

Tickmill says all strategies are allowed on its Raw account and publishes an average execution speed of approximately 0.15 seconds.

IC Markets specifically positions its Raw Spread infrastructure around day traders, scalpers and Expert Advisors. Its MetaTrader servers are hosted in Equinix NY4, and its platform range also gives algorithmic traders access to cTrader alongside the MetaTrader ecosystem.

The decision again depends on the strategy.

A scalper running an existing MQL5 EA with very high monthly turnover may value Tickmill's $6 standard round-turn commission.

A trader who wants cTrader, C# development, more markets or greater platform flexibility will probably prefer IC Markets.

Execution quality should still be tested rather than inferred from marketing claims. Spread distribution, slippage, rejection rates and fill quality during the actual hours your strategy trades can outweigh a one-dollar commission difference.

Is Tickmill or IC Markets safer?

The Tickmill group currently includes Tickmill UK Ltd regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, Tickmill Europe Ltd regulated by CySEC, Tickmill South Africa regulated by the FSCA and Tickmill Ltd regulated by the Seychelles FSA.

The wider IC Markets business includes International Capital Markets Pty Ltd regulated by ASIC in Australia, IC Markets (EU) Ltd regulated by CySEC and Raw Trading Ltd, trading as IC Markets Global or IC, regulated by the Seychelles FSA.

That distinction matters more than the logo.

An account opened with an EU entity does not necessarily have the same leverage, compensation arrangements, complaint procedures or balance protections as an account held through an offshore Seychelles entity.

Check the legal company name in the account-opening process before comparing regulation. Do not compare "Tickmill regulation" with "IC Markets regulation" as if each brand were a single regulated company.

For example, EU retail accounts at Tickmill Europe and IC Markets EU are both restricted to maximum leverage of 1:30 on relevant products under the European retail framework. Offshore account conditions can be substantially different.

Which broker has the lower minimum deposit?

Tickmill publishes a $100 starting deposit for its Classic and Raw accounts.

IC Markets Global's current account overview lists a $0 minimum deposit for its normal Raw Spread and Standard MetaTrader accounts. IC Markets Australia lists $200. IC Markets EU's FAQ states that clients can open an account with as little as €200 or the equivalent, while another current EU product page displays "No minimum deposit".

That is not a useful place to manufacture certainty.

If minimum funding matters to you, check the amount shown during onboarding for your specific IC Markets entity before depositing.

For Tickmill, the standard published figure is much less ambiguous at $100.

What about leverage?

For EU retail traders, both Tickmill Europe and IC Markets EU offer leverage up to 1:30 on relevant forex accounts.

Outside the EU, the numbers can change dramatically. Tickmill's global Raw account currently advertises maximum leverage up to 1:1000. IC Markets Global currently lists up to 1:5000 on standard MetaTrader Raw accounts and up to 1:1000 on its cTrader offering, while stating that leverage is dynamic and may change.

Higher leverage increases capital efficiency, but it also increases the speed at which losses can consume account equity. It should not be treated as a quality score for a broker.

Who should choose Tickmill?

Choose Tickmill when the priorities are low Raw MetaTrader commissions, MT4 or MT5, a straightforward $100 starting deposit, forex-focused trading and access to a regulatory entity appropriate to your country.

The strongest argument for Tickmill is very simple: the standard Raw account costs $6 per standard lot round turn in commission instead of $7 at IC Markets on MetaTrader.

There is no need to overcomplicate it.

Who should choose IC Markets?

IC Markets is the stronger choice if you want cTrader, TradingView, MT4 and MT5, a much broader instrument universe, or the ability to move between different algorithmic ecosystems.

IC Markets Global has also introduced early-access Raw Pro and Raw Pro+ MetaTrader tiers with substantially lower commissions for accounts meeting much higher funding requirements. The current global page lists Raw Pro at $1.50 per side with a $5,000 minimum and Raw Pro+ at $1 per side with a $100,000 minimum. These are not equivalent to the standard Raw account and should not be used to advertise IC Markets' normal commission, but they materially change the calculation for eligible high-volume traders.

That extra depth is why IC Markets takes the overall win.

Tickmill vs IC Markets: final verdict

IC Markets wins because its combination of MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView and broader market coverage gives more active traders more room to build the setup they actually want. The standard Raw Spread account remains competitively priced, even though its MetaTrader commission is slightly higher than Tickmill's.

Tickmill's case is narrower but strong. Tickmill charges $6 per standard lot round turn on its standard Raw MetaTrader account compared with $7 at IC Markets. For a forex trader already committed to MT4 or MT5, there may be no reason to pay more unless IC Markets delivers enough improvement in spread or execution to compensate.

Choose IC Markets for the better overall trading ecosystem.

Choose Tickmill for lower baseline Raw MetaTrader commissions.

And if you're trading enough volume for a $1-per-lot difference to matter, don't choose either broker from a comparison table alone. Run the same strategy on both with a small live balance and compare actual spread, commission and slippage during the sessions you trade. That is the number that ultimately matters.

Trading forex and CFDs with leverage involves a high risk of loss. Broker availability, products, leverage and investor protections vary by jurisdiction. This comparison evaluates broker features and is not personalised investment advice.