IG vs Tickmill (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared
Advertiser disclosure: some links on this page may be affiliate links, meaning BrokerCatalogue may earn a commission if you open an account. This never affects the data shown here, which is drawn from our catalogue and compared mechanically. How we make money.
Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan
IG is a well-regarded forex broker that provides broad access to currency pairs, multiple trading platforms, and extensive research and education within a regulated framework. It emphasizes transparent pricing, diverse order types,…
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…
IG (United Kingdom, founded 1974) holds 13 regulatory licences (ASIC, BaFin, BMA, CFTC, Deutsche Bundesbank…), 9 of them tier-1, offers MT4, Proprietary, ProRealTime 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; IG is available in 3 countries where Tickmill is not, and Tickmill in 1 where IG is not.
Verdict at a glance
IG leads on trust rank, track record, regulatory coverage, platform choice, country coverage and tier-1 licences.
Level on instrument range 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.
Copy 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
IG
Tier-1 regulation (FCA, ASIC, NFA/CFTC) with segregated client funds
Competitive spreads and deep liquidity
Fast, reliable execution and high uptime
Advanced platforms (IG web/mobile, MT4, ProRealTime) with GSLO and advanced order types
Wide FX pair coverage and strong research/education
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
IG
No MetaTrader 5 or cTrader support
Inactivity fee for dormant accounts
DMA/L2 access restricted to professional clients
Leverage capped by regional regulations
Market-maker model for retail accounts
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
IG
Top tier regulation and segregated client funds
Negative balance protection and guaranteed stop loss
CFDs spread betting and options on forex indices commodities shares and crypto
Advanced trading platforms IG web and mobile MetaTrader 4 and ProRealTime
Fast execution deep liquidity and competitive spreads
API and algorithmic trading support
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: IG 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, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China and 187 more.
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.