Been testing Tickmill for scalping over the last couple of months and I’m trying to get a real picture of whether the spreads actually make sense for my style of trading. On paper, their spreads look competitive, but when I factor in rebates through GlobeGain, I’m not entirely sure how much that really changes the math.
Here’s what I’m working with: I’m doing 5-15 trades per day on EUR/USD and GBP/USD, mostly holding for 5-10 minutes. The spread costs add up fast at that frequency. I understand how rebates work in theory, but I’m having trouble seeing clearly whether Tickmill actually becomes cost-efficient after the cashback kicks in, or if I’m just paying for spreads that rebates only partially offset.
I’ve seen a few other brokers mentioned around here, but I want to understand Tickmill specifically. Does anyone here actually track your true cost per trade after rebates with Tickmill? What’s your experience been? And more importantly, how do you actually decide when spreads are acceptable for scalping versus when you should look elsewhere?
Tickmill spreads tight enough. Rebates cover about half.
Track your actual costs weekly. Spreads change with volume.
Calculate true cost this way: take your average spread on EUR/USD over a week, add any commissions, then subtract the rebate you actually received. Most traders find Tickmill works for scalping if you’re trading 20+ lots daily. Below that, the rebate barely moves the needle. Volume matters more than the base spread.
One thing I see traders miss: rebate rates on Tickmill can vary by account type. The Standard account gives you one rebate tier, but the Pro account might give you better rates at higher volumes. Before you commit, ask GlobeGain specifically which Tickmill account type qualifies for their best rebate rates. That choice alone can change your monthly costs by 20-30%.
I tracked my Tickmill costs for about three months. The spreads on EUR/USD hover around 0.9-1.2 pips depending on the time of day and market conditions. Once I got the rebates applied, my effective cost dropped to roughly 0.5-0.7 pips per round trip. It’s not the tightest you’ll find, but it works for my scalping volume.
What really helped was comparing it side by side with one other broker I was using. Sometimes the comparison shows you things that raw numbers don’t reveal.
I’ve been with Tickmill for about a year now, scalping mostly European pairs. The experience varies depending on what time you trade and which account you’re on. During London open the spreads get tighter, but during Asian hours they widen out.
Rebates have made a real difference for me. I’m doing around 40-50 trades per week, and the cashback adds up. It’s not a game-changer, but it’s meaningful over time. The thing is, you need to compare Tickmill against whatever your alternative is. If you’re currently with a broker charging higher spreads or giving you zero rebates, then Tickmill and GlobeGain together look much better.
One issue I ran into: Tickmill’s rebate payment timing. They don’t settle as quickly as some other brokers. Make sure you understand the rebate payout schedule before you switch. Some people think they’re getting rebates immediately, then get surprised when they show up a week or more later.