Which broker is better for Australia traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Australian traders seeking ASIC-regulated brokers with local payment options, Exness and Tickmill are two leading choices. Exness, with a stellar 4.8/5 rating, is known for its ultra-low spreads, high leverage (up to 1:2000 for professional clients), and extensive product range including crypto CFDs. Tickmill, rated 4/5, offers a more traditional but equally reliable trading environment with competitive raw spreads and fast execution. Both brokers accept AUD deposits via BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card, making them accessible for local traders. This comparison focuses on key factors for Australian traders: ASIC regulation, trading costs on AUD pairs, platform usability, and deposit/withdrawal convenience. Whether you are a scalper or a long-term investor, understanding how these brokers cater to the Australian market will help you make an informed decision.
| Instrument | Exness | Tickmill | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Tickmill |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Tickmill |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Tickmill |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Tickmill |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $10 | $100 | Exness |
| Inactivity fee | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
When comparing trading costs for Australian traders, Exness generally has the edge with spreads starting from 0.0 pips on its Zero account for major pairs like EUR/USD and AUD/USD, with a commission of $3.50 per lot per side. Tickmill’s Classic account has spreads from 1.6 pips with no commission, while its Pro account offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips with a $2 per side commission. For high-volume Australian traders, Exness’s lower overall cost structure can save hundreds of dollars per month, especially when trading AUD crosses. Additionally, Exness does not charge swap fees on certain instruments, which benefits long-term position traders.
| Account Type | Exness | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| VPS trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Min deposit | $10 | $100 |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Entity / Asset | Exness | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:500 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Margin call level | 80% | 80% |
| Stop out level | 50% | 50% |
| Asset Class | Exness | Tickmill | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Exness |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | Exness |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | ✗ | Exness |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Tickmill |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Options | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Futures | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Exness | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed spreads | ✗ | ✗ |
| Variable spreads | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Exness and Tickmill offer the industry-standard MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms, which are widely used by Australian traders for their advanced charting and automated trading capabilities. Exness also provides its own web terminal and mobile app, while Tickmill offers a dedicated Tickmill MT4 plugin for enhanced analysis. For Australian traders who trade on the go, both platforms have robust mobile apps compatible with iOS and Android. Exness’s platforms support one-click trading and hedging, which is crucial for scalpers in the Australian session. Tickmill’s platforms are known for their stability and fast execution, making them suitable for algorithmic trading strategies.
| Factor | Exness | Tickmill | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Tickmill |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Exness |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Dealing desk | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| News trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Exness uses a hybrid STP/ECN model with execution speeds under 100 milliseconds on average, making it suitable for scalpers and high-frequency traders. Tickmill also offers fast execution via its ECN technology, with average speeds of 50-100 milliseconds. Both brokers have no requotes and offer negative balance protection, which is crucial for Australian traders using high leverage. Exness’s execution is slightly more consistent during volatile markets, while Tickmill excels in low-latency environments.
| Safety Factor | Exness | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Reg number | #730729 | #717270 |
| Verify registration | Verify ↗ | Verify ↗ |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Exness and Tickmill are regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), ensuring Australian traders are protected under strict local laws. Exness holds an AFSL (number 417272) and Tickmill holds AFSL number 414992. ASIC regulation means client funds are held in segregated accounts, and leverage is capped at 1:30 for retail clients. Importantly, both brokers must comply with ASIC’s product intervention orders, which restrict the offering of binary options and certain CFDs. For Australian traders, this provides peace of mind that their broker operates transparently and fairly. While Exness has additional global regulation from the FCA and CySEC, its ASIC-regulated entity is the primary choice for local clients.
| Payment Method | Exness | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✗ |
| Deposit fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal time | 24/7 automated; 98% instant to 24hrs; mobile money often instant; bank transfer 1-3 days | Most withdrawals 1 business day; bank wire 1-3 days |
| Min withdrawal | $50 | $50 |
Australian traders can deposit and withdraw funds easily at both Exness and Tickmill using local methods: BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Credit/Debit Cards. Exness processes deposits instantly for BPAY, POLi, and cards, while bank transfers take 1-3 business days. Tickmill also offers instant deposits via POLi and cards, with BPAY taking up to 24 hours. Withdrawals are generally free at both brokers, with Exness processing within 24 hours and Tickmill within 1-2 business days. Exness supports over 40 payment methods including e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller, which are popular among Australian traders for faster withdrawals. Both brokers do not charge deposit fees, but your bank may apply foreign exchange fees if depositing in non-AUD currencies. Minimum deposits are low: Exness requires $10 (AUD), while Tickmill requires $100 (AUD).
| Islamic Account Feature | Exness | Tickmill |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gold swap-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Crypto swap-free | ✓ | — |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
For Muslim traders in Australia, both Exness and Tickmill offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts that comply with Sharia law by not charging or paying overnight interest. Exness provides swap-free accounts on all account types, including Standard, Zero, and Raw Spread, with no additional fees for holding positions overnight. Tickmill offers swap-free accounts on request for its Classic and Pro accounts, but may charge an administration fee if positions are held beyond a certain period (typically 7-10 days). Australian Muslim traders should review each broker’s policy on long-term swaps, as Exness’s offering is more straightforward. Both brokers require a declaration of faith or proof of Muslim status to open an Islamic account.
| Support Feature | Exness | Tickmill | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✓ | ✗ | Exness |
| 24/5 support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Exness |
Exness offers 24/7 customer support in multiple languages, including English, with live chat, email, and phone support. Australian traders can reach a dedicated team via a local Australian phone number. Tickmill also provides 24/5 support with live chat and email, but lacks a dedicated Australian phone line. Both brokers have comprehensive FAQs and educational resources. For urgent issues during Australian trading hours, Exness’s round-the-clock support is more reliable.
| Mobile Feature | Exness | Tickmill | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5★ | 4.3★ | Exness |
| Google Play rating | 4.3★ | 4.2★ | Exness |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Mobile deposit/withdrawal | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Dark mode | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Resource | Exness | Tickmill | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Exness |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Exness |
| Beginner resources | Excellent | Basic | Exness |
Choose Exness if you...
Choose Tickmill if you...
For Australian traders seeking an ASIC-regulated broker with local payment methods like BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card, Exness is the stronger choice due to its higher rating (4.8/5), lower spreads, and 24/7 support. It offers more flexibility for high-volume and scalping strategies. Tickmill remains a solid option for traders who prefer a straightforward, low-cost broker with excellent execution and a focus on forex. Ultimately, Exness wins on overall value and convenience for Australian traders, but Tickmill is a reliable alternative for those who value simplicity. Consider your trading style and volume when making your final decision.