Tickmill vs XTB
Detailed side-by-side broker comparison
Tickmill (FCA/CySEC, minimum deposit $100) and XTB (FCA/KNF, minimum deposit $0) 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, XTB 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. Both brokers offer access to 6 instrument categories, so asset coverage is not a differentiator here.
Both brokers have similar entry requirements, so the decision comes down to fees and instruments. Tickmill supports 3 trading platforms, XTB 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.
XTB leads on the combined score — 100/100 vs 83/100. Industry median is 72.
Overview
XTB leads with 4 out of 9 objective metrics. On fees specifically, XTB 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
700+ instruments · 6k+ instrumentsRegulators & investor protection
- FCA—United Kingdom
- CySEC—Cyprus (EU)
- FCA—United Kingdom
- KNF—Poland (EU)
- CySEC—Cyprus (EU)
Both brokers operate under Tier-1 jurisdictions, so regulatory oversight strength is comparable.
Account & Support
Tickmill
XTB
Pros & Cons
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)
XTB
- Zero commission on real stocks & ETFs below €100,000 monthly turnover
- WSE-listed public company (XTB SA, ticker XTB) — quarterly financial disclosures
- xStation 5 proprietary platform — single-app for stocks + CFD + FX
- Multi-regulator coverage: FCA (UK), KNF (Poland), CySEC (EU passporting)
- Wide instrument selection (6k+)
- Above-threshold pricing aggressive: 0.2% commission with £10 minimum
- No options or futures — derivatives are CFD-only
- Demo expires after 30 days of inactivity
- Trustpilot 'fake reviews removed' notice on broker page
- Trustpilot flagged reviews for removal · 3.7/5 from 2384
Who each broker is for
Verdict
XTB offers real stocks zero-commission below €100k/mo turnover; Tickmill is CFD-only even on equities. For owning the actual security (dividends, voting, FATCA), XTB is the only choice in this pair. Tickmill makes sense only if you specifically want FCA-regulated FX raw-spread accounts. Our pick for any stock-and-ETF investing: XTB. For FX-only retail: Tickmill.
Both Tickmill and XTB 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 an unlimited demo.
Choose XTB if you want lower fees, lower entry barrier, fractional shares.
- Just starting outEither works
- Active tradingXTB· lower fees, raw spreads, faster withdrawals
- Advanced / professionalXTB· more exchanges, more account currencies, 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.