What We Tested
- Account type: Pro Account ($1,000 starting balance for test)
- Platform: MT4 Desktop
- Trading period: 4 months, 160 trades executed
- Pairs tested: EURUSD, GBPUSD, Indices CFDs
- Withdrawal tests: 2 successful (PayPal, Skrill)
- Support tests: 5 inquiries via live chat
Testing focused solely on verifying the ultra-low commission rates and high-frequency execution reliability on the MT4 platform.
Regulation & Safety
Tickmill maintains solid Tier-1 and Tier-2 regulation in major hubs, reinforcing its credibility as a low-cost ECN provider:
- FCA (UK) – Tier-1 regulator. Client money covered up to £85,000 by the FSCS.
- CySEC (Cyprus) – Tier-2 regulator. Client money covered up to €20,000 by the ICF.
- FSCA (South Africa) – Local oversight, providing regional trust.
- Labuan FSA (Malaysia) – International entity for non-EU/UK clients.
How licences work and what offshore routing changes: Offshore Brokers: Jurisdiction Risk · How Regulated Brokers Scam Legally
Spreads & Execution
| Pair/Asset | Pro Avg Spread | Zero Avg Spread | Commission (Zero) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.2 pips | 0.0 pips | $4.00/lot RT |
| GBP/USD | 0.6 pips | 0.2 pips | $4.00/lot RT |
| US30 (Dow Jones) | 1.5 points | 1.5 points | $0 |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | 25 pips | 20 pips | $0 |
The Pro and Zero accounts are ECN-style, requiring commission. The commission rate is tied to the account type, with Pro offering $4 RT ($2 per side).
Execution Quality (Tested)
- Execution Model: ECN/STP (No Dealing Desk)
- Commission Cost: $4.00 RT per standard lot (Industry Low)
- Median Fill Time: ~200ms (High by ECN standards, but fills are clean).
- Slippage: Minimal and mostly neutral.
Tickmill's execution speed of about 200ms is slower than leaders like IC Markets at about 5ms. The very low commission often still delivers the lowest overall cost of execution for high-frequency strategies.
What sits behind these execution numbers: Slippage and Latency · Anatomy of an Order · Trading terms glossary
Lowest Commission: $4.00 RT (Essential for Scalpers)
Tickmill's primary advantage is its unmatched commission structure for ECN trading:
- Tickmill Pro: $4.00 RT per standard lot ($2 per side).
- Industry Standard: $7.00 RT per standard lot ($3.50 per side) at rivals like IC Markets/Pepperstone.
- Cost Savings: Tickmill saves high-volume traders over 40% on commission fees alone.
That fee difference is critical for high trade frequency or small profit targets. It makes Tickmill the default choice for budget-conscious EAs and scalpers.
Account Types & Fees
Raw-spread account
- Min deposit: $100
- Spreads: From 0.0 pips (avg 0.2 pips EUR/USD)
- Commission: $4.00/lot RT
- Best for: Scalping, EAs, cost-conscious traders
Standard-type account
- Min deposit: $100
- Spreads: From 1.6 pips (markup included)
- Commission: $0
- Best for: Beginners and swing traders
Other Fees
- Deposit fees: $0 (all methods)
- Withdrawal fees: $0 (all methods)
- Inactivity fee: None
- Swap rates: Standard overnight financing applies.
Deposits & Withdrawals (Tested)
Tickmill offers free and reliable funding options:
| Method | Amount | Processing Time | Fees | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card/Debit Card | $300 | 1 business day | $0 | Return to source policy |
| Bank Wire | $500 | 2-3 business days | $0 | Broker covers fees |
| PayPal/Skrill/Neteller | $200 | Same day (4 hours) | $0 | Fastest methods tested |
How payout problems start at weaker brokers: Withdrawal Blocking Patterns
Platforms & Tools
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4): Full suite (desktop, web, mobile). Reliable for EAs and scalping.
- Tickmill WebTrader: Browser-based platform for basic trading.
- Advanced Tools: Access to Autochartist and various trading calculators.
Our Take: Platform selection is limited (no MT5 or proprietary platform) but reliable. The MT4 platform is optimized for the high trading frequency of the Pro and Zero accounts.
Customer Support (Tested)
Tickmill offers multilingual 24/5 support:
- Live Chat: 24/5, average response time ~1-3 minutes, professional and knowledgeable.
- Email/Ticketing: Highly responsive, handling technical inquiries related to spread and commission.
- Quality: Support quality is high, particularly in handling inquiries about their complex fee structure, confirming transparency.
24/5 support is fast and professional, aligning with the expectations of a Tier-1 regulated ECN broker.
PROS
- Ultra-low ECN commission ($4.00 RT) - Industry best value.
- Strong Regulation: Tier-1 FCA, Tier-2 CySEC
- Zero fees on deposits and withdrawals (all methods)
- Raw spreads from 0.0 pips (avg 0.2 pips EUR/USD)
- Ideal conditions for scalping and EAs (Pro/Zero accounts)
- No inactivity fee.
CONS
- No MT5 support (MT4 only)
- Execution speed (~200ms) is slower than market leaders (~5ms)
- Classic account spreads (1.6 pips) are wide for commission-free trading
- Limited market research and educational resources
Who Is Tickmill For?
- Great fit: High-frequency traders and Expert Advisors (EAs) whose profitability relies strictly on minimizing commission costs. Scalpers benefit significantly from the $4.00 RT fee.
- Good fit: Traders embedded in the MT4 ecosystem who value maximum safety (FCA/CySEC) combined with ultra-low cost.
- Not ideal: Beginners (Classic account spreads are high) or advanced traders who require MT5 or proprietary analytical platforms.
Final Verdict
Tickmill is a specialist ECN broker defined by its industry-leading commission rate. The $4.00 RT fee on the Pro and Zero accounts is exceptional value. For high-volume users it often gives the lowest overall trading cost.
Regulatory security is strong (FCA, CySEC), and the broker maintains a clean operational record. The entire funding process is genuinely free of charge from the broker's side, adding further value.
The primary drawback is platform limitation (MT4 only) and slightly slower execution speed (~200ms) compared to rivals like IC Markets. However, for sheer cost-effectiveness in the ECN space, Tickmill is hard to beat.
How this score is calculated: Our testing methodology
