Side-by-side
Deriv vs Tickmill
Both Deriv and Tickmill are licensed brokers — but each is stronger in different areas. We compare spreads and commissions, regulators and licences, leverage and trading platforms.
In short. Choose Deriv if you trade synthetic indices (Volatility, Crash, Boom) — Deriv invented this product category. Choose Tickmill if you are EU or UK retail and want FCA + CySEC double cover with ECN-style commission pricing.
Pros and cons
Deriv
Pros
- ✓$5 minimum + 25 years of operating history (since 1999 as Binary.com, rebranded Deriv in 2020)
- ✓MFSA-licensed Malta entity gives EU retail clients tier-1 MiFID investor protection
Cons
- ✕Forex is secondary to synthetic indices (their proprietary product) — CFD instrument breadth is narrower than ECN-focused brokers like Tickmill
- ✕Offshore entities (Labuan, Vanuatu, BVI) carry light regulatory oversight; not available in 17 jurisdictions including Canada, Israel, Singapore, UAE, OFAC-sanctioned countries
- ✕Broker publishes "from" spreads only — realised typical is not disclosed on trading pages
- ✕Inactivity fee up to $25 / €25 / £25 after 12 months, then every 6 months
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 Deriv if:
- ✓You trade synthetic indices (Volatility, Crash, Boom) — Deriv invented this product category
- ✓You have $5 to start and want an EU-grade (MFSA Malta) MiFID entity at entry level
- ✓You want Deriv P2P for local-currency funding via agents and other traders
- ✓You value 25+ years of operating history (originated 1999 as Binary.com, rebranded 2020)
- ✓You fund via crypto (BTC, ETH, USDT) and want it credited to a fiat trading balance
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
Deriv vs Tickmill comparison: fees, licences, platforms
Verdict at a glance
Deriv leads
- Deriv
- ahead on 2 dimensions
- Tickmill
- ahead on 1 dimension
- Tied
- 2 tied
Cost per lot
Deriv: $7.00/lot, Tickmill: $8.00/lot. Lower at Deriv.
Minimum deposit
Deriv: $5, Tickmill: $100. Smaller minimum at Deriv.
Maximum leverage
Deriv: 1:1000, Tickmill: 1:1000. Same maximum leverage.
Regulator and licence
Deriv: BVI, MFSA, Tickmill: FCA, CySEC, FSA, FSCA. Stronger licensing at Tickmill.
Trading platforms
Deriv: MetaTrader 5, Deriv X, Tickmill: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Same platform selection.
Frequently asked
Which is better — Deriv or Tickmill?+
Across our 5 dimensions: Deriv leads in 2, Tickmill in 1, ties: 2. Overall verdict: Deriv. Full breakdown below.
Which broker has lower fees?+
Cost-per-lot in our calculation: Deriv — $7.00, Tickmill — $8.00. Lower at Deriv.
Which is better for beginners?+
Minimum deposit: Deriv — $5, Tickmill — $100. Easier onboarding at Deriv.
What trading platforms do they offer?+
Deriv: MetaTrader 5, Deriv X. Tickmill: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
Who regulates each broker?+
Deriv: BVI, MFSA. Tickmill: FCA, CySEC, FSA, FSCA.
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Tracked byIndependent review teamUpdated