Tickmill vs Trading 212
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 only. Tickmill's Cyprus entity carries the €20,000 ICF. 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.
Editor: Kyrylo Vasyliev
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 2 fee categories Tickmill and Trading 212 split wins roughly evenly — the cheaper option depends on your specific trading pattern (stocks vs ETFs, frequency, currency). On asset class coverage Tickmill is ahead with 4 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. The dashed line is our fixed reference level, the same on every axis.
Trading 212 leads on the combined score — 93/100 vs 83/100. Our fixed reference line is 72.
Overview
Tickmill and Trading 212 split the 9 objective metrics evenly. The right pick depends on your priorities — see the breakdown below.
Fees & Commissions
Fee scenario
Approximate — based on verified fees only. Per-share commissions assume a $50 share price. 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)
- FSA Seychelles—Seychelles
- Additional licences on file: FSCA.
- FCA—United Kingdom
- CySEC—Cyprus (EU)
- BaFin—Germany
- Additional licences on file: FSC Bulgaria.
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
- 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)
- CFD-only (no direct exchange access)
Trading 212
- 0% commission with fractional shares — 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
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 fractional shares, a stronger Trustpilot rating.
- Just starting outTrading 212· faster KYC
- Active tradingTickmill· 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.