Side-by-side
Deriv vs Tickmill
Deriv vs Tickmill — Direct comparison across cost, regulation, leverage, platforms and operating history.
Tracked byBrokerlist Editorial · Independent review teamUpdated
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.
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.
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
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 — 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.