Side-by-side
Alpari vs Tickmill
Alpari vs Tickmill — Direct comparison across cost, regulation, leverage, platforms and operating history.
Tracked byBrokerlist Editorial · Independent review teamUpdated
In short. Choose Alpari if you have $500+ and want commission-based Pro ECN pricing at ~$7.50/lot with 27 years of operating history. Choose Tickmill if you are EU or UK retail and want FCA + CySEC double cover with ECN-style commission pricing.
Alpari vs Tickmill comparison: fees, licences, platforms
Verdict at a glance
Tickmill leads
- Alpari
- ahead on 1 dimension
- Tickmill
- ahead on 2 dimensions
- Tied
- 2 tied
Cost per lot
Alpari: $7.50/lot, Tickmill: $8.00/lot. Lower at Alpari.
Minimum deposit
Alpari: $500, Tickmill: $100. Smaller minimum at Tickmill.
Maximum leverage
Alpari: 1:1000, Tickmill: 1:1000. Same maximum leverage.
Regulator and licence
Alpari: MISA, Tickmill: FCA, CySEC, FSA, FSCA. Stronger licensing at Tickmill.
Trading platforms
Alpari: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Tickmill: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Same platform selection.
Pros and cons
Alpari
Pros
- ✓27 years of operating history (founded 1998) — predates most current retail brokers
- ✓Pro ECN: 0.1–0.4 typical spread + $5 round-turn ≈ $7.50/lot — competitive commission tier
- ✓Standard account available at $50 min for lower entry (spread-only ~1.2 pip from)
Cons
- ✕Regulated only by offshore entities (Mauritius / St. Vincent) after losing its FCA licence in 2015 — no tier-1 regulator, no FSCS-equivalent protection
- ✕Pro ECN tier requires $500 minimum deposit — not accessible for small accounts
- ✕Inactivity fee $10/month after period of inactivity
- ✕Not available in 38 jurisdictions (all of EU + UK, US, Japan, Canada, India, Myanmar, OFAC-sanctioned countries)
Tickmill
Pros
- ✓Raw account: 0.0 from-spread + $6 round-turn — ECN-style pricing in a commission-based tier
Cons
- ✕Broker publishes "from" spreads only — realised typical is not disclosed on the accounts page
- ✕No cTrader — MT4/MT5 only
- ✕Not available in 16 jurisdictions including US, Canada, Japan, Russia/Belarus, and OFAC-sanctioned countries
Who should choose which
Choose Alpari if:
- ✓You have $500+ and want commission-based Pro ECN pricing at ~$7.50/lot with 27 years of operating history
- ✓You're in a jurisdiction outside EU/UK/US/Japan/Canada where Alpari's MISA (Comoros) entity onboards you
- ✓You want offshore high-leverage access (up to 1:3000 on Standard) at a legacy retail brand
Choose Tickmill if:
- ✓You are EU or UK retail and want FCA + CySEC double cover with ECN-style commission pricing
- ✓You scalp or algo-trade: Raw account's ~$6 round-turn commission + 0.0-from spread is competitive with focused-ECN brokers
- ✓You deposit $5,000+ via wire — Tickmill covers bank-side fees up to ~$100, unusual for the category
- ✓You're in Asia and want UnionPay funding — one of the few of our brokers to offer it
- ✓You want crypto funding (USDT, BTC) without giving up traditional methods
We may earn a commission if you open an account — it never affects our ranking or scores. How we’re paid.
Frequently asked
Which is better — Alpari or Tickmill?+
Across our 5 dimensions: Alpari leads in 1, Tickmill in 2, ties: 2. Overall verdict: Tickmill. Full breakdown below.
Which broker has lower fees?+
Cost-per-lot in our calculation: Alpari — $7.50, Tickmill — $8.00. Lower at Alpari.
Which is better for beginners?+
Minimum deposit: Alpari — $500, Tickmill — $100. Easier onboarding at Tickmill.
What trading platforms do they offer?+
Alpari: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Tickmill: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
Who regulates each broker?+
Alpari: MISA. Tickmill: FCA, CySEC, FSA, FSCA.