The 1-Second Verdict
XM's bonus empire vs Tickmill's ultra-low ECN costs. Two trusted brokers, two very different philosophies.
XM Trading
Est. 2009 · ASIC/CySEC Regulated
Best for traders who value bonus perks, low entry barriers, and rock-solid execution during volatile events. Start with $5 and trade with the broker's money through aggressive welcome bonuses.
Claim $30 No-Deposit Bonus
Tickmill
Est. 2014 · FCA/CySEC Regulated
Built for cost-conscious and algorithmic traders demanding the lowest all-in trading costs, FCA-grade regulation, and a true ECN execution model. No gimmicks — just pure, transparent pricing.
Try Raw ECN AccountWhich Broker Makes You More Money?
We put both platforms through 4 real-world trading situations — scalping, small accounts, swing trading, and news events — so you can see where your strategy actually wins.
Ultra Low at 0.6 pips with zero commission is the tightest pure-spread option. Standard account spreads of ~1.0 pip — decent but not leading. No dedicated raw-spread ECN account like Tickmill's Raw line.
Tickmill WinsRaw account at $3/side ($6 round-turn) with raw interbank spreads from 0.0 pips. TradingView Raw at $3.5/side for chart-based scalping. True ECN execution with no dealing desk.
Tickmill Wins: Raw Account at $6/lot round-turn with true ECN raw spreads. XM's best offering is Ultra Low at 0.6 pips pure spread — competitive for moderate traders but can't match Tickmill's raw interbank pricing for high-frequency scalping.
XM Wins$30 no-deposit bonus + 100% welcome bonus up to $500. Start trading with as little as $5. Massive educational library with live webinars.
Classic account starts at $100. No promotional bonuses. Compensates with tight spreads and solid educational resources including webinars and eBooks.
XM Wins: $5 minimum deposit + $30 no-deposit bonus makes XM the clear winner for beginners. Tickmill's $100 minimum and lack of bonuses create a higher barrier for new traders testing the waters.
Multi-regulated with solid investor protection. Standard overnight swap fees at industry average. Reliable for multi-week and multi-month position holds.
UK FCA regulation provides top-tier investor protection and FSCS coverage up to £85,000. Swap rates are competitive for swing traders holding positions.
Too Close to Call: XM offers multi-jurisdiction security, while Tickmill's FCA regulation with FSCS protection gives UK/EU traders unmatched peace of mind. Choose based on your jurisdiction.
XM Wins99.35% of orders executed in under 1 second. Rock-solid execution during NFP, FOMC, and black-swan events with strict slippage control.
Excellent execution speeds under normal conditions. During extreme news events, occasional slippage of 1-3 pips reported on major pairs. ECN model provides transparency.
XM Wins: Fear no NFP. XM's execution during news events is top-tier with explicit no-requote guarantees. Tickmill is solid but XM's consistency under extreme volatility is hard to beat.
Every Account Type — Side by Side
XM offers 4 account types: Micro, Standard, Ultra Low, and Shares. Tickmill runs 3 tiers: Classic, Raw, and TradingView Raw. See exactly what you get at every level — no cherry-picking, every account shown.
Micro Account
Classic Account
Contracts are 1,000 base currency units (1 micro lot). Perfect for absolute beginners who want to learn with minimal risk. Same execution quality as larger accounts. Eligible for XM bonuses including the $30 no-deposit bonus.
Tickmill's beginner-friendly account. Zero commission with spreads starting from 1.6 pips — all cost baked into the spread. Available on MT4 and MT5. Ideal for traders who prefer straightforward, commission-free pricing. Islamic swap-free version available on request.
- Trade with as little as $5 — the industry's lowest barrier
- 1 micro lot = 1,000 units, ideal for position sizing practice
- Full MT4/MT5 access with all 1,000+ instruments
- Negative balance protection included standard
- Eligible for all XM bonuses and promotions
- Zero commission — pay only the spread, nothing else
- Available on MT4 and MT5 platforms
- All trading strategies allowed — scalping, hedging, EAs
- Islamic swap-free version available on request
- Minimum lot size 0.01
Standard Account
Raw Account
XM's flagship account. 1 standard lot = 100,000 units. No commissions, just the raw spread. Eligible for all XM bonuses including $30 no-deposit and 100% welcome match. Reliable spread-only model backed by 99.35% execution rates.
Tickmill's flagship ECN account. Raw interbank spreads from 0.0 pips with a $3 per side commission on MT4 and MT5. This is Tickmill's most popular account for active traders who demand tight spreads and transparent commission-based pricing.
- Zero commission — pay only the spread, nothing more
- 1 standard lot = 100,000 units, full-size trading
- Eligible for all bonuses: $30 no-deposit + 100% welcome match
- Free daily market analysis and webinars
- XMP loyalty points earned on every trade
- Raw interbank spreads from 0.0 pips — true ECN pricing
- $3 per side commission ($6 round-turn) on MT4/MT5
- All trading strategies allowed with no restrictions
- Islamic swap-free version available on request
- Minimum lot size 0.01
Ultra Low Account
TradingView Raw
XM's tightest spread offering with zero commissions. Spreads start at 0.6 pips on EUR/USD. Available in both Micro and Standard lot sizes. Note: Bonuses are NOT available on Ultra Low accounts.
A dedicated Tickmill account for TradingView users. Same Raw ECN pricing and execution, but built exclusively for the TradingView ecosystem. Execute trades directly from your TradingView charts. Available base currency: USD only. Requires a separate account in your Tickmill client area.
- Spreads from 0.6 pips — XM's tightest pure-spread offering
- Zero commission — all cost is in the spread
- Available in Micro + Standard lot sizes
- Same 1,000+ instruments and platform access
- Not eligible for bonuses — pure pricing only
- One-click trade execution directly from TradingView charts
- Same Raw ECN pricing — 0.0 pip spreads + $3.5/side
- Use all your TradingView indicators and strategies
- Separate account — can run alongside MT4/MT5 accounts
- Available base currency: USD only
Shares Account
1,200+ global stocks — exchange pricingXM ExclusiveXM's dedicated stock trading account. Direct access to 1,200+ individual shares across US, UK, and EU exchanges — not CFDs, actual share trading with ownership rights. Leverage is not available. Designed for investors who want exchange-grade pricing and dividend entitlements.
- Trade 1,200+ individual shares across global exchanges
- Exchange-grade pricing with transparent per-share commissions
- Dividend rights included on long positions
- Access to US, UK, EU stock exchanges
- Physical share ownership — different from CFDs
How to Pick the Right Account in 30 Seconds
Under $100 budget? XM Micro, Standard, or Ultra Low — all $5 entry with zero commissions. Active ECN trader? Tickmill Raw — $3/side ($6 round-turn) with raw 0.0 pip spreads on MT4/MT5. TradingView user? Tickmill TradingView Raw — $3.5/side with one-click chart-to-trade execution. Just want stocks? XM Shares — 1,200+ global stocks with exchange pricing. Tickmill doesn't offer stock trading.
What Nobody Tells You About These Brokers
Every broker has strengths they brag about and weaknesses they hide. We lay out both sides honestly — because trust comes from transparency, not sugarcoating.
XM: The Good & The Bad
$30 no-deposit bonus + 100% welcome bonus up to $500. Trade with the broker's money before risking your own.
99.35% order execution rate in under 1 second. Virtually zero requotes even during major news events.
Ultra Low account with zero commissions and spreads from 0.6 pips — the tightest pure-spread account. Standard accounts from 1.0 pip.
ASIC, CySEC, FSC multi-regulated. Segregated client funds and negative balance protection for maximum security.
Free VPS for EA traders + XMP loyalty points on every trade. Trade more, earn back more.
Standard account spreads are merely average at 1.6 pips. Without bonuses, XM isn't the cheapest on raw spread cost alone.
Limited cryptocurrency pairs and higher stock CFD spreads compared to dedicated equity brokers.
Bonus terms come with trading volume requirements. The free money isn't withdrawable until you trade enough lots.
Tickmill: The Good & The Bad
Raw Account with $3/side commission — raw interbank spreads from 0.0 pips at $6/lot round-turn. Highly competitive ECN pricing.
TradingView Raw account — trade directly from TradingView charts with ECN raw spreads. Unique offering few brokers can match.
UK FCA regulation with FSCS protection up to £85,000. Five regulatory licenses: FCA, CySEC, FSA, FSCA, DFSA — covering UK, EU, South Africa, Dubai, and offshore.
True ECN execution across Classic, Raw, and TradingView Raw. No dealing desk intervention. Transparent pricing and fast fills for all account tiers.
Proprietary Tickmill Trader app with 60+ technical indicators, advanced charting, and biometric login. Plus full MT4/MT5 support.
$100 minimum deposit across Classic, Raw, and TradingView Raw accounts. Significantly higher barrier to entry than XM's $5 minimum.
No deposit bonuses or promotional offers. If you're hunting for freebies and welcome bonuses, Tickmill offers absolutely nothing across any account tier.
$10 quarterly inactivity fee after 12 months of no trading. While not aggressive, seasonal traders who go dormant should be aware of this charge.
Pick the Wrong Account — Lose Thousands
Most beginners sign up for the default account and bleed money on wide spreads. We match XM and Tickmill flagship accounts head-to-head so you start with the right one from day one.
The Low-Cost Battle: Who's Cheaper Per Trade?
XM Ultra Low Account vs Tickmill Raw Account — we run the numbers so you don't have to
XM Ultra Low
Pure spread model — zero commission- Zero commission — all cost is the spread
- Lowest-cost XM spread-only account at 0.6 pips
- $50 minimum deposit
- 1,000+ instruments across all asset classes
Tickmill Raw
ECN raw spreads — $3/side commission- Raw interbank spreads from 0.0 pips
- $3/side — all-in ~$6/lot for active traders
- Same institutional liquidity with full MT4/MT5 access
- True ECN — no dealing desk intervention
Here's the math: XM Ultra Low at 0.6 pips = ~$6/lot all-in. Tickmill Raw at avg 0.1 pips + $6/lot commission = ~$7/lot all-in on EUR/USD. XM Ultra Low is actually cheaper for lower-volume traders, while Tickmill Raw becomes competitive at higher volumes with tighter raw spreads. For pure spread cost, XM Ultra Low wins at 0 commission. But for scalpers who need raw pricing transparency, Tickmill Raw's ECN model may be preferred despite the slight all-in cost difference.
The Popular Choice: Which Flagship Account Wins?
XM Standard Account vs Tickmill Classic Account — the most-used accounts, head to head
XM Standard
XM's most popular — bonus eligible- Zero commission spread-only model
- Eligible for $30 no-deposit + 100% welcome bonus
- Full 1 standard lot (100,000 units) trading
- Rock-solid 99.35% execution rate
Tickmill Classic
Tickmill's entry — true ECN backbone- Zero commission — all cost is the spread
- True ECN execution engine — no dealing desk
- Full MT4/MT5 + Autochartist included
- FCA-regulated with FSCS protection
For the average retail trader doing a few trades per day, XM Standard wins on value: $5 entry, 1.0 pip spread, plus bonus perks. Tickmill Classic at 1.6 pips with $100 minimum is a steeper entry. However, Tickmill Classic uses the same ECN infrastructure as the Raw account — meaning your fills come from real liquidity providers, not a dealer's book. For traders who prioritize execution quality over bonuses, Tickmill's transparency is worth the premium.
The Cost Showdown: Spread-Only vs ECN
XM's tightest spread-only account vs Tickmill's raw ECN — which pricing model fits your trading style?
XM Ultra Low
Tightest XM spreads — zero commission- Spreads from 0.6 pips — XM's tightest
- Zero commission — all cost is the spread
- $50 minimum deposit
- MT4/MT5 access with 1,000+ instruments
Tickmill Raw
Raw ECN — $3/side commission- Raw interbank spreads from 0.0 pips
- $3/side — $6/lot all-in round-turn
- MT4 and MT5 platform access
- All trading strategies and EAs allowed
Different pricing models, different trader profiles. XM Ultra Low at 0.6 pips pure spread = ~$6/lot all-in. Tickmill Raw at avg 0.1 pips + $6/lot commission = ~$7/lot all-in on EUR/USD. At moderate volumes (1-10 lots/day), XM Ultra Low is actually cheaper and simpler — no commission math. But Tickmill Raw's true ECN model delivers raw interbank pricing with ~$6/lot for active traders, and the TradingView Raw variant adds chart-to-trade execution. For spread-only simplicity, XM Ultra Low wins. For raw ECN transparency, Tickmill Raw is the superior platform.
Platforms, Copy Trading & Developer Tools
Spreads are just the entry fee. The real difference is in platform quality, copy trading ecosystems, mobile apps, and API access. See which platform gives you the better toolkit.
7.5/10Full MT4 and MT5 support with MQL community signals. TradingView integration for chart-based analysis. No proprietary platform.
8.5/10MT4/MT5 plus TradingView direct trading via dedicated Raw account. Tickmill Trader proprietary mobile app with 60+ indicators and biometric login. Autochartist integration for pattern recognition.
5.5/10Copy trading primarily through MQL5 community signals. No dedicated proprietary copy trading platform. Functional but not specialized.
7.5/10Tickmill Social Trading allows users to follow strategy providers. Multiple signal providers with verified track records. Dedicated follower and strategy provider roles.
7/10Relies on standard MetaTrader mobile apps. Solid for order management and basic charting but no proprietary mobile experience.
8.5/10Proprietary Tickmill Trader app alongside MT4/MT5 mobile. Cleaner interface with faster account management, 60+ technical indicators, and biometric login for security.
7.5/10Full MQL4/MQL5 support with rich community resources. Free VPS for EA traders. No standalone REST API.
7.5/10Full MQL support for expert advisors. No restrictions on automated strategies or scalping EAs. VPS service available for 24/7 EA operation.
Bonuses, Pricing & VIP Treatment
Free money exists — you just need to know where to look. From no-deposit bonuses to ultra-low ECN commissions, here's exactly what each broker will give you.
XM's Bonus Empire
$30 No-Deposit Bonus
Claim it right after verification. Trade real markets without depositing a cent first. The ultimate risk-free test drive.
Loyalty Points Program (XMP)
Earn points on every trade. Redeem for cash or bonus credit. The more you trade, the more you earn back — effectively lowering your spread costs.
Free VPS Service
Qualify with minimum deposit and volume requirements. Perfect for traders running EAs 24/7 without keeping their PC on.
100% Welcome Deposit Bonus
Double your first deposit up to $500. Deposit $500, trade with $1,000. The most aggressive bonus in the industry.
Tickmill's Pure Value
Raw Account — $3/Side Commission
Tickmill's flagship ECN account. Raw interbank spreads from 0.0 pips at $3/side ($6 round-turn). True ECN execution with no dealing desk for maximum pricing transparency.
TradingView Raw — Chart-to-Trade
Execute trades directly from TradingView charts via a dedicated Raw account. One-click trading from your favorite charting platform with ECN pricing at $3.5/side.
FCA + FSCS Protection
UK FCA regulation with Financial Services Compensation Scheme coverage up to £85,000. Five regulatory licenses across FCA, CySEC, FSA, FSCA, and DFSA — industry-leading fund security.
Tickmill Trader Proprietary App
Feature-rich mobile app with 60+ technical indicators, advanced charting tools, biometric login, and social trading. Available on iOS and Android for trading on the go.
When Markets Go Crazy — Who Protects Your Money?
NFP Friday. FOMC minutes. Flash crashes. This is when shady brokers widen spreads or reject orders. Here's how XM and Tickmill actually handled real-world chaos.
99.35% of orders executed in under 1 second. Zero requotes policy. Rock-solid during NFP, FOMC, and black-swan market events.
Strong ECN execution under normal conditions. During extreme volatility, occasional 1-3 pip slippage on major pairs reported. No requote policy but fills may slip.
Explicitly guarantees no requotes. Strict slippage control. Most orders filled at requested price or better.
ECN model means fills reflect real market conditions. Positive slippage possible, negative slippage also occurs during fast markets. Transparent but less controlled.
Leverage parameters remain stable during extreme conditions. Traders can rely on pre-set risk parameters without surprise adjustments.
Dynamic leverage adjusts with market exposure. During black-swan events, leverage on certain instruments may be reduced temporarily as a risk management measure.
Segregated client funds and negative balance protection. Solid multi-jurisdiction regulatory framework.
FCA regulation provides FSCS compensation up to £85,000 for UK clients. Segregated accounts at Tier-1 banks. Industry-leading fund protection.
Still Undecided?
Your capital size. Your trading style. Your priorities. Tell us these things and we'll recommend whether XM or Tickmill fits you better.
What's your starting capital?
So Which One Is It?
You've seen the data. You know the trade-offs. XM for bonuses and low entry. Tickmill for ultra-low ECN costs. Now pick your side.