| Feature | XM Trading | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | London, England |
| Regulation | ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC Belize, FSCA | FCA, CySEC, FSA Seychelles, FSA Labuan, FSCA |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $100 |
| Maximum Leverage | Up to 1:1000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, XM Trading Apps | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, WebTrader, Tickmill Mobile App |
| Tradable Instruments | Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Stock CFDs, Turbo Stocks, Commodities, Equity Indices, Thematic Indices, Precious Metals, Energies, Shares | Forex, Stock Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Stocks |
| Account Types | Micro, Standard, Ultra Low, Shares Accounts | Classic, Pro, VIP, Demo, Islamic |
| Spreads | Starting from 0.6 pips | Starting from 1.6 pips (Classic Account); 0.0 pips with $3 commission per lot per side (Raw Account) |
| Commission on ECN/STP Accounts | $3.5 | $3 |
| Payment Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Card, Neteller, Skrill, UnionPay, WebMoney, XM Card, M-Pesa | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Card, FasaPay, Globe Pay, Local Bank Transfers, Neteller, Ngan Luong, Qiwi, Skrill, SticPay, UnionPay |
| Islamic Accounts | Available | Available |
| Scalping | Allowed | Allowed |
| Hedging | Allowed | Allowed |
| Automated Trading (EAs) | Allowed | Allowed |
| Copy Trading | Available through XM's Social Copy Trading Program | Not Available |
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | Not Available | Available |
| Educational Resources | Extensive, including webinars, tutorials, and real-time trading sessions | High-quality educational tools and daily research |
| Customer Support | 24/5 support in multiple languages | 24/5 support |
| Bonuses and Promotions | Up to $5,000 deposit bonus, up to 100% forex deposit bonus | $30 welcome bonus (for international entities) |
| Demo Account | Available | Available |
| VPS Hosting | Available | Available |
| Inactivity Fee | Charged after 3 months of inactivity | No inactivity fee; accounts with less than $10 balance may be closed and funds donated to charity |
| US Clients Accepted | No | No |
| Order Execution Speed | Ultra-fast execution, ~0.4 seconds | Fast execution, ~0.2 seconds |
| Slippage Policy | No re-quotes, minimal slippage | No re-quotes, minimal slippage |
| Stop-Out Level | 20% (Standard & Micro), 50% (Ultra Low & Shares) | 30% (Classic & Pro), 50% (VIP) |
| Margin Call Level | 50% | 100% |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Restrictions | No restrictions on strategies | No restrictions on strategies |
| Crypto Trading Availability | Yes, multiple cryptocurrencies | Yes, limited cryptocurrency options |
| Market Execution Type | Market Execution | Market Execution |
| Lot Size | Minimum 0.01 lots (Micro Accounts) | Minimum 0.01 lots |
| Swap-Free Accounts | Yes (Islamic accounts available) | Yes (Islamic accounts available) |
| CFD Expiry Policy | No expiry on most CFDs | No expiry on most CFDs |
| Stock Trading Type | CFDs only | CFDs & direct stocks available |
| Trailing Stop Feature | Available | Available |
| One-Click Trading | Available | Available |
| News Trading Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading Apps | Android & iOS (MetaTrader & XM App) | Android & iOS (MetaTrader & Tickmill App) |
| Deposit Processing Time | Instant for most methods | Instant for most methods |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | 24 hours for most methods | Same-day processing for most methods |
| Affiliate Program | Yes, multiple-tier commission structure | Yes, up to $25 per lot referred |
| Rebate Program | Available | Available |
| Currency Options for Trading Accounts | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF, AUD, HUF, PLN, RUB, SGD, ZAR | USD, EUR, GBP, PLN, CHF |
| Swap Rates Transparency | Published daily | Published daily |
| VIP Programs | Yes, with higher leverage & lower spreads | Yes, with exclusive benefits for high-volume traders |
| Trading Contests | Yes, frequently hosted with cash prizes | Occasionally held for promotional purposes |
| Guaranteed Stop-Loss | Not available | Not available |
| Partial Order Filling | Yes | Yes |
| Execution Type Options | Market execution only | Market execution only |
| FIX API Access for Institutional Traders | No | Yes |
| STP/ECN Model | Hybrid model (Market Maker & STP) | Pure STP/ECN broker |
| Algorithmic Trading Support | Yes (via MT4 & MT5) | Yes (via MT4 & MT5) |
| Tick Size | 5 decimal pricing (fractional pip pricing) | 5 decimal pricing |
| Tick Speed (Update Frequency) | High-frequency pricing updates | High-frequency pricing updates |
| Market Depth (Level 2 Pricing) | Not available | Available (for ECN accounts) |
| Available Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop, Trailing Stop | Market, Limit, Stop, Trailing Stop |
| HFT (High-Frequency Trading) Support | Limited | Allowed on ECN accounts |
| Currency Pairs Available | 55+ | 60+ |
| Commodities Available | Gold, Silver, Oil, Natural Gas | Gold, Silver, Oil, Natural Gas, Coffee, Cocoa |
| Bonds Trading | No | Yes (German Bund, UK Gilt, US Bonds) |
| ETF Trading | No | No |
| Fractional Share Trading | No | No |
| Dividend Payments on Stock CFDs | Adjustments made based on underlying dividend payments | Adjustments made based on underlying dividend payments |
| Interest on Unused Margin | No | No |
| Spread Betting (UK Clients) | No | No |
| Deposit Currencies Supported | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF, AUD, ZAR, SGD, PLN, RUB, HUF | USD, EUR, GBP, PLN, CHF |
| Segregated Client Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Insurance for Client Funds | Up to €20,000 via CySEC, additional investor protection under ASIC | Up to £85,000 via FCA UK |
| Banking Partners | Multiple international banks | Tier-1 banks only |
| Withdrawal Fees | None for most methods | Free for most methods, but bank wire transfers under $5,000 may incur a fee |
| Processing Time for Wire Transfers | 2-5 business days | 2-5 business days |
| Account Base Currencies Supported | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and several others | USD, EUR, GBP, PLN, CHF |
| User Interface of Trading Platforms | Standard MT4/MT5 with minor UI tweaks | Standard MT4/MT5 with minimal modifications |
| Server Locations | Multiple global data centers | Europe & Asia-based data centers |
| Dedicated Account Managers | Available for higher-tier clients | Available for Pro & VIP clients |
| Research Reports & Market Analysis | Daily reports with in-depth insights | Daily reports with economic news |
| Autochartist Support | Available | Available |
| Trading Signals | Available via XM Research | Available via Autochartist |
| Sentiment Analysis Tools | Yes | Yes |
| Custom Indicators for Technical Analysis | Available | Available |
| Forum/Community Support | Active community forums | No active community forums |
| Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on Idle Funds | No | No |
| Institutional Trading Desk | No | Yes |
| TradingView Integration | No | No |
| API Trading | No | Yes (via FIX API) |
| MetaTrader VPS Hosting Cost | Free for eligible traders | Free for eligible traders |
| Social Media Presence | Active on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn | Active on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube |
| Contests for Traders | Yes, frequent demo & real account competitions | Occasional competitions |
| Loyalty Program | Yes, for long-term traders | No |
| Multi-Account Management (MAM/PAMM) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading Platforms Supported | XM Social Trading | Not supported |
| Trading Rewards & Rebates | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend Trading Availability | Limited (Crypto only) | Limited (Crypto only) |
XM Trading offers a broader range of trading instruments, lower minimum deposits, and strong educational support, while Tickmill provides a lower-cost ECN trading model, better execution speed, and advanced institutional trading options.