City Index vs Tickmill (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared

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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan

City Index

Trust rank #16 · Founded 1983

City Index is a well-regarded, regulated forex broker offering forex and CFD trading across a broad range of markets via web and mobile platforms, supported by research, charting, and risk management tools.…

Read the City Index review

Tickmill

Trust rank #31 · Editorial rating 8.7 / 10 · Founded 2014

Tickmill is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker that provides broad market access, platform choice, and tools for analysis, education, and risk management. It offers account options and support suited to a…

Read the Tickmill review

City Index (United Kingdom, founded 1983) holds 2 regulatory licences (ASIC, FCA), 2 of them tier-1, offers MT4, Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. Tickmill (United Kingdom, founded 2014) holds 5 regulatory licences (CySEC, FCA, FSCA, Labuan FSA, Seychelles FSA), 1 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5 and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 227 countries; City Index is available in 3 countries where Tickmill is not, and Tickmill in 1 where City Index is not.

Verdict at a glance

  • City Index leads on trust rank, track record, country coverage and tier-1 licences.
  • Tickmill leads on regulatory coverage and instrument range.
  • Level on platform choice and fee level.

Scored on 8 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.

City Index vs Tickmill: side-by-side data

CriteriaCity IndexTickmill
Editorial ratingNot verified8.7 / 10
Trust rank#16#31
Founded19832014
HeadquartersUnited KingdomUnited Kingdom
RegulatorsASIC, FCACySEC, FCA, FSCA, Labuan FSA, Seychelles FSA
Broker typeMarket MakerECN, STP
PlatformsMT4, ProprietaryMT4, MT5
InstrumentsCommodities, Forex, Indices, MetalsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals
Countries accepted230 countries228 countries
Fee levelLowLow
Trading typesCFD Trading, Spot TradingCFD Trading, Spot Trading
Best-for use casesRetail TradingCopy Trading, Professional Trading, Retail Trading

Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.

Pros

City Index

  • Tier-1 regulation (FCA/ASIC/MAS)
  • Competitive FX spreads
  • Fast execution and deep liquidity
  • Proprietary web/mobile platforms + MT4 support
  • Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders (GSLO)

Tickmill

  • Tight spreads and low commissions
  • Fast NDD execution, low latency
  • FCA & CySEC regulation
  • MT4 and MT5 platforms
  • High leverage up to 1:500

Cons

City Index

  • Inactivity fee applies
  • No MetaTrader 5 or cTrader support
  • Spread-only pricing; no raw ECN account
  • Average FX spreads vs low-cost peers
  • Not available to U.S. residents

Tickmill

  • CFD-only; no real share or ETF investing
  • No guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs)
  • Protections vary by entity; offshore regulation for many clients
  • No proprietary platform; MetaTrader-focused
  • Limited in-house research and education tools

Key features

City Index

  • Multi asset trading Forex CFDs and Spread Betting
  • Tier one regulation FCA ASIC MAS and client fund protection
  • Advanced platforms Web Trader Mobile and MetaTrader 4
  • Smart Signals performance analytics and advanced charting tools
  • Guaranteed Stop Loss Orders and negative balance protection
  • Fast execution competitive spreads and deep liquidity

Tickmill

  • Multi jurisdiction regulation FCA CySEC FSCA and FSA Seychelles
  • ECN no dealing desk execution with raw spreads and low commissions
  • MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 with VPS and FIX API
  • Multi asset CFDs Forex Indices Commodities Bonds and Cryptocurrencies
  • Negative balance protection and segregated client funds
  • Scalping hedging algorithmic and copy trading supported

Country availability: City Index vs Tickmill

Available at both (227): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China and 187 more.

Only City Index (3): India, Japan, Singapore.

Only Tickmill (1): Canada.

Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.

City Index vs Tickmill: common questions

Which broker is more regulated, City Index or Tickmill?

Tickmill holds more regulatory licences: City Index (ASIC, FCA) versus Tickmill (CySEC, FCA, FSCA, Labuan FSA, Seychelles FSA). Tier-1 licences: City Index 2, Tickmill 1.

Which trading platforms do City Index and Tickmill offer?

City Index offers MT4, Proprietary; Tickmill offers MT4, MT5.

Which has lower fees, City Index or Tickmill?

Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.

Which is older, City Index or Tickmill?

City Index is the older of the two, founded in 1983; Tickmill was founded in 2014.

Are City Index and Tickmill available in the same countries?

They overlap in 227 countries. City Index is additionally available in 3 countries (India, Japan, Singapore) and Tickmill in 1 countries (Canada).

Keep comparing

City Index

Tickmill

Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.