Admirals vs Tickmill
Detailed side-by-side broker comparison
Admirals (CySEC/FCA, minimum deposit $100) and Tickmill (FCA/CySEC, minimum deposit $100) are two regulated brokers competing for retail investors in the CIS and EU markets. This comparison is built from verified data on fees, available instruments, trading platforms and country access — so you can see exactly where each broker wins before you open an account.
Across 9 fee categories we track, Admirals comes out cheaper in 3, while Tickmill wins only 1. For active traders this gap compounds over time — commission, FX markup and custody fees are the three that hurt portfolio returns the most. On asset class coverage Admirals is ahead with 7 instrument categories versus 6 at Tickmill — relevant if you plan to diversify beyond stocks into bonds, ETFs, commodities or crypto.
Both brokers have similar entry requirements, so the decision comes down to fees and instruments. Admirals supports 3 trading platforms, Tickmill supports 3.
Trust dimensions side by side
Where it's safer
Five trust dimensions per our methodology. The further from the centre — the stronger. Dashed line is the industry median.
Admirals leads on the combined score — 93/100 vs 83/100. Industry median is 72.
Overview
Admirals leads with 4 out of 9 objective metrics. On fees specifically, Admirals wins 3 of 9 categories.
Fees & Commissions
Fee scenario
Approximate — based on listed fees only. Real costs depend on instrument, currency conversion and individual trade size.
Instruments & Markets
8k+ instruments · 700+ instrumentsRegulators & investor protection
- CySEC—Cyprus (EU)
- FCA—United Kingdom
- ASIC—Australia
- FCA—United Kingdom
- CySEC—Cyprus (EU)
Both brokers operate under Tier-1 jurisdictions, so regulatory oversight strength is comparable.
Account & Support
Admirals
Tickmill
Pros & Cons
Admirals
- Invest.MT5 = real shares, not CFD wrapper — $0.02/share with $1 min on US stocks
- Multi-license coverage (CySEC 201/13 EU + FCA UK + ASIC AU + JSC Estonia)
- Established 2001 — 25-year track record without licence suspensions on record
- Unlimited demo accounts — paper-trade strategies for months without expiry
- Strong Trustpilot rating (4.2★)
- Fragmented account structure: Invest.MT5 (shares) and Trade.MT5 (CFD) are separate accounts
- MT5 platform learning curve — proprietary UI is dated
- Inactivity fee €10/mo after 24 months of no activity
- Google Play mobile rating 3.5 — well below industry norm (4.5+)
- Compensation caps at €20,000 — below FCA (£85k) / SIPC ($500k)
Tickmill
- FCA-regulated Pro / Raw accounts with raw spreads (EURUSD ~0.1 pip)
- 24/5 trading + phone support in multiple languages (en, ru, de, es, pl)
- Fast withdrawals — cards typically same-day, wire 1-3 days
- Negative balance protection
- Unlimited demo account
- CFD-only — does NOT offer real stocks, ETFs or bonds despite 'Stock CFDs' branding
- Trustpilot 'fake reviews removed' notice — material trust signal
- High-leverage retail accounts (1:500) under offshore FSA Seychelles
- No proprietary platform — MT4 / MT5 only
- Compensation caps at €20,000 — below FCA (£85k) / SIPC ($500k)
Who each broker is for
Verdict
Admirals offers real shares through Invest.MT5; Tickmill is CFD-only despite its 'Stock CFDs' branding. If you want to actually own the equity (dividends as cash, voting rights, FATCA reporting), Admirals is the only viable choice here. Tickmill only fits FX day-traders who want FCA-regulated raw-spread accounts — not stock investors. Our pick for stock-and-ETF investing: Admirals.
Both Admirals and Tickmill are regulated brokers offering access to global financial markets. However, they differ significantly in fees, available instruments, and minimum deposit requirements. Below is our expert assessment to help you make an informed decision.
Choose Admirals if you want lower fees, more instruments, fractional shares.
Choose Tickmill if you want stronger regulation.
- Just starting outEither works
- Active tradingAdmirals· lower fees, more instruments, raw spreads
- Advanced / professionalAdmirals· more exchanges, US stocks access
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your trading style, budget, and preferred instruments. We recommend using our Broker Quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this comparison and how to use it.