Tickmill vs Trading 212
Detailed side-by-side broker comparison
Tickmill (FCA/CySEC, minimum deposit €100) and Trading 212 (FCA/CySEC, minimum deposit $1) 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 8 fee categories we track, Trading 212 comes out cheaper in 4, while Tickmill wins only 0. 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 Tickmill is ahead with 6 instrument categories versus 3 at Trading 212 — 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. Tickmill supports 3 trading platforms, Trading 212 supports 2.
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.
Tickmill and Trading 212 are tied — both score 83/100 against an industry median of 72.
Overview
Tickmill leads with 2 out of 9 objective metrics. On fees specifically, Trading 212 wins 4 of 8 categories.
Fees & Commissions
Fee scenario
Approximate — based on listed fees only. Real costs depend on instrument, currency conversion and individual trade size.
Instruments & Markets
700+ instruments · 10k+ instrumentsRegulators & investor protection
- FCA—United Kingdom
- CySEC—Cyprus (EU)
- FCA—United Kingdom
- CySEC—Cyprus (EU)
Both brokers operate under Tier-1 jurisdictions, so regulatory oversight strength is comparable.
Account & Support
Tickmill
Trading 212
Pros & Cons
Tickmill
- FCA-regulated 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
- Direct access to US stocks
- 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)
Trading 212
- 0% commission with fractional shares from £1 — genuinely accessible
- Pie investing — multi-stock portfolios with automatic rebalancing
- UK ISA available — tax-free growth for UK residents
- Strong Trustpilot rating (4.6★)
- Wide instrument selection (10k+)
- Not available in CIS countries — UK and EU residents only
- 0.15% FX conversion on each trade when currencies mismatch
- CFD product exists alongside Invest — potential for confusion
Who each broker is for
Verdict
Trading 212 is about owning the shares, Tickmill about leverage. Trading 212 charges 0% on real stocks and ETFs, converts at 0.15%, supports fractional shares and a UK ISA; its £85,000 FSCS cover belongs to the UK company, while an EU account sits with the Cyprus one at €20,000 — the same ceiling as Tickmill's. It serves the EU and UK only. Tickmill is CFD and FX on MetaTrader and does open accounts across most of the CIS. Our pick for investors: Trading 212. For leveraged FX trading: Tickmill.
Both Tickmill and Trading 212 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 Tickmill if you want more instruments.
Choose Trading 212 if you want lower fees, fractional shares.
- Just starting outTrading 212· faster KYC
- Active tradingTickmill· lower fees, more instruments, raw spreads
- Advanced / professionalTrading 212· more exchanges
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.