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XM vs Tickmill
XM vs Tickmill: XM offers a $5 minimum, spread-only pricing and copy trading; Tickmill offers FCA and CySEC licences in the group, a
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XM is a spread-only broker with a $5 minimum deposit, no commission and its own copy trading service. Tickmill is a low-cost broker with FCA, CySEC and FSCA licences in its group, a $100 minimum deposit and a Raw account from 0.0 pips at $3 per lot per side. The better fit depends on where you live, how often you trade and which company would hold your account.
Quick Answer
| Best for | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Starting small | XM | $5 against $100 |
| Raw-spread account | Tickmill | XM has no raw-spread account |
A “winner” here means the better published figure on that one line. It is not a recommendation: the right broker depends on where you live and how you trade.
Comparison Table
| XM | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating since | Over 15 years in business | 2014 |
| Company for international clients | XM Global Limited, licensed by the FSC in Belize (8557558) | Tickmill Ltd, licensed by the FSA in Seychelles (SD008) |
| Regulators in the group | CySEC, DFSA, FSC Belize, FSA Seychelles, FSC Mauritius | FCA, CySEC, FSCA, FSA Seychelles (plus a DFSA representative office in Dubai) |
| Minimum deposit | $5 | $100 |
| Commission-free spreads | Ultra Low from 0.8 pips; Standard from 1.6 pips | Classic from 1.6 pips |
| Raw-spread account | None | Raw from 0.0 pips plus $3 per side |
| Maximum leverage | 1:1000 | 1:1000 at Tickmill Ltd (Seychelles); 1:30 on major pairs for UK and EU retail clients |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, XM App | MT4, MT5, TradingView, Tickmill Trader |
| Copy trading | XM Copy Trading, from $50 per strategy | Tickmill Social Trading on MT4 and MT5 (free to copy; strategy providers can take up to 50% of your profits) |
| Inactivity fee | $10 a month after 90 days without activity | Not stated on its public pages, though its terms reserve the right to charge one |
| Withdrawal fee | None from XM | None from Tickmill (minimum withdrawal 25 in your account currency) |
| Swap-free | Islamic option on all accounts | Swap-free Islamic option on every account |
| Bonus | 50% deposit bonus up to $100 and further bonuses (not in every country) | $30 Welcome Account (not in the EU) |
Figures come from each broker’s official site, checked on 11 October 2026. Spreads move through the day, and conditions vary by country and by the company that holds your account.
Regulation and Safety
XM’s group holds licences from CySEC in Cyprus and the DFSA in Dubai, plus offshore licences in Belize, Seychelles and Mauritius. Most international clients open accounts with XM Global Limited, licensed by the FSC in Belize. XM says negative balance protection applies to all clients.
Tickmill’s group holds licences from the FCA in the UK (717270), CySEC in Cyprus (278/15), the FSCA in South Africa (FSP 49464) and the FSA in Seychelles (SD008). Most international clients join Tickmill Ltd in Seychelles. Tickmill segregates client money, applies negative balance protection and insures funds through Lloyd’s for $20,000 to $1,000,000 per client if the firm becomes insolvent; UK clients also have FSCS cover and EU clients the Investor Compensation Fund.
Both groups hold top-tier licences, but those protect only the clients of the licensed companies. What matters is which company your country places you with, so check your client agreement before you deposit.
Trading Costs
On commission-free accounts, XM lists: Ultra Low from 0.8 pips; Standard from 1.6 pips. Tickmill lists: Classic from 1.6 pips. “From” figures are minimums, so expect wider live spreads, especially around news.
Only Tickmill offers a raw-spread account: Raw from 0.0 pips plus $3 per side. XM is spread-only, which is simpler but usually costs more per trade for frequent traders.
XM’s inactivity fee: $10 a month after 90 days without activity. Tickmill’s inactivity fee: not stated on its public pages, though its terms reserve the right to charge one. Withdrawal fees: XM: none from XM; Tickmill: none from Tickmill (minimum withdrawal 25 in your account currency).
Platforms and Copy Trading
XM offers MT4, MT5 and XM App. Tickmill offers MT4, MT5, TradingView and Tickmill Trader.
XM’s copy trading: XM Copy Trading, from $50 per strategy. Tickmill’s copy trading: Tickmill Social Trading on MT4 and MT5 (free to copy; strategy providers can take up to 50% of your profits). Copying another trader doesn’t remove risk: you can lose money as fast as trading yourself.
Leverage
XM’s maximum leverage: 1:1000. Tickmill’s: 1:1000 at Tickmill Ltd (Seychelles); 1:30 on major pairs for UK and EU retail clients.
A higher maximum is not an advantage in itself. Leverage multiplies losses as fast as gains, so beginners should use far less than either broker allows.
Which One Should You Choose?
Go with XM if:
- You want to start with as little as $5
- You prefer spread-only pricing with no commission
- You want copy trading and regular bonuses
Go with Tickmill if:
- You want FCA or CySEC regulation in the group
- You trade often and want raw spreads at $3 per side
- You want a free TradingView plan as an active trader
Whichever you choose, test a small withdrawal early, verify your account before you need your money, and risk only what you can afford to lose.
FAQ
Which has the lower minimum deposit, XM or Tickmill? XM. XM: $5. Tickmill: $100.
How are XM and Tickmill regulated? XM’s international clients deal with XM Global Limited, licensed by the FSC in Belize (8557558). Tickmill’s deal with Tickmill Ltd, licensed by the FSA in Seychelles (SD008). Group regulators: XM: CySEC, DFSA, FSC Belize, FSA Seychelles, FSC Mauritius; Tickmill: FCA, CySEC, FSCA, FSA Seychelles (plus a DFSA representative office in Dubai).
Which is cheaper to trade with? It depends on the account. Commission-free: XM: Ultra Low from 0.8 pips; Standard from 1.6 pips; Tickmill: Classic from 1.6 pips. Raw accounts: XM: none; Tickmill: Raw from 0.0 pips plus $3 per side.
Does either charge an inactivity fee? XM: $10 a month after 90 days without activity. Tickmill: not stated on its public pages, though its terms reserve the right to charge one.
Do both offer copy trading? XM: XM Copy Trading, from $50 per strategy. Tickmill: Tickmill Social Trading on MT4 and MT5 (free to copy; strategy providers can take up to 50% of your profits).
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