IG Markets vs Tickmill (2026) — Which Is Better?
Compare IG Markets and Tickmill — features, pricing, pros and cons.
Fees, feature availability, and plan details come from each provider's current documentation. If you're about to act on this, confirm the specific numbers on the vendor's site first. Methodology →
At-a-Glance
Higher Rated
IG Markets (4.3)
More Affordable
IG Markets (Free)
IG Markets
World's largest CFD and spread betting provider with 17,000+ markets, ProRealTime charting, and 50 years of trading heritage.
Tickmill
Tickmill is a regulated ECN/STP forex and CFD broker offering raw spreads from 0.0 pips, fast execution, and MT4/MT5 platforms across 80+ instruments.
Spread, Regulation & Feature Breakdown
| Feature | IG Markets | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.3 | ★ 4.2 |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Markets | forex, stocks, crypto, futures, options | forex, indices, commodities, bonds, crypto |
| AI Analysis | ✗ | ✗ |
| Backtesting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paper Trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price Alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Social Features | ✗ | ✗ |
| Broker Integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated Trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trade Journaling | ✗ | ✗ |
| Performance Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Risk Management | ✓ | ✓ |
| News Feed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Education Content | ✓ | ✓ |
Forex Broker Head-to-Head
IG Markets targets established traders seeking comprehensive platform ecosystem with trusted heritage, while Tickmill serves cost-conscious traders prioritizing execution speed and transparent pricing. IG Markets excels in breadth—17,000+ markets across equities, forex, and indices—backed by 50 years of regulatory credibility and ProRealTime charting included free. Tickmill focuses on forex and CFD specialists, emphasizing raw execution quality with spreads from 0.0 pips and sub-0.20-second execution through its ECN/STP model.
IG Markets' defining strength is its educational infrastructure—IG Academy provides institutional-grade content that justifies its platform for learning traders—coupled with regulated access across FCA, ASIC, and other top authorities. Tickmill's differentiator is pure execution efficiency; raw spreads and zero dealing desk appeals to algorithmic traders and high-frequency scalpers, particularly those using Expert Advisors through MT4/MT5.
Choose IG Markets if you trade multiple asset classes, value educational resources, or prefer a trusted institution. Pick Tickmill if you're a forex/CFD specialist focused on commission transparency, minimal spreads, and automated trading via APIs—but accept the $50,000 VIP minimum and platform limitations.
IG Markets: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + 50+ years of operating history — highly trusted
- + 17,000+ tradable markets
- + ProRealTime professional charting included free
- + Excellent educational content via IG Academy
- + Regulated by FCA, ASIC, and other top authorities
Cons
- - CFDs not available to US clients (forex only)
- - Inactivity fee of $12/month after 2 years
- - Spread betting only available in UK/Ireland
- - Share CFD commissions can be high
Tickmill: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Raw spreads from 0.0 pips on Pro and VIP accounts with transparent commissions
- + Regulated by FCA, CySEC, DFSA, and FSA across multiple global jurisdictions
- + Fast order execution averaging under 0.20 seconds with no dealing desk
- + Supports Expert Advisors and algorithmic trading with FIX API for VIP clients
- + Low $100 minimum deposit for both Classic and Pro accounts
Cons
- - VIP account requires a steep $50,000 minimum deposit
- - Limited to MT4/MT5 platforms with no proprietary charting or analysis tools
- - No social or copy trading features
- - Educational content is adequate but less comprehensive than broker-school-focused competitors