XM vs Tickmill $30 Bonus — Same Amount, Different Terms

Both XM and Tickmill offer a $30 no deposit bonus to new traders. Same amount, same concept — free money to start trading without risking your own capital. But the similarities largely end at the headline number. The terms, conditions, and real-world trading experience differ substantially between these two brokers.

We opened accounts at both, claimed both bonuses, and traded them side by side to give you an honest comparison of what each actually delivers.

Side-by-Side Overview

XM $30 Bonus — Terms in Detail

XM's $30 no deposit bonus has been available since 2017 and remains one of the most popular promotions in retail forex. The longevity of this offer speaks to its legitimacy — XM has honored it consistently for years.

When you open a Standard or Micro account at XM and complete KYC verification, the $30 is credited to your trading account automatically. You trade on a regular account with normal conditions — this is not a restricted demo-like environment.

The volume requirement is approximately 10 micro lots (which equals 0.10 standard lots). This is a small amount of trading activity. On EUR/USD with average conditions, you could complete this in 10-20 trades with 0.01 lot positions. There is no time pressure since XM imposes no deadline.

Once requirements are met, you can withdraw up to $200 in profits. The $30 bonus credit is removed from your account at the time of first withdrawal. Available withdrawal methods include bank wire, e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller), and local payment options.

Tickmill $30 Bonus — Terms in Detail

Tickmill's $30 bonus operates through a dedicated "Welcome Account." This is a distinct account type, separate from Tickmill's standard Classic, Pro, or VIP accounts. The Welcome Account comes with its own set of conditions.

After registering and verifying your identity, Tickmill creates a Welcome Account with $30 in trading credit. The account uses MT4 or MT5 with access to forex pairs, metals, and indices. Trading conditions on the Welcome Account closely mirror the Classic account — spreads start from 1.6 pips with no commission.

The volume requirement is 5 standard lots, which must be completed within 60 days of account opening. Five standard lots represents 500,000 units of notional trading volume. On EUR/USD at 1.6 pip average spread, this equates to approximately $80 in spread costs — more than half the bonus amount.

Profit withdrawal is capped at $100. If you generate $300 in profit, you can only withdraw $100. This lower cap compared to XM's $200 reduces the upside potential of the Tickmill bonus.

After withdrawing profits, the Welcome Account is closed. To continue trading with Tickmill, you must open and fund a regular account.

Volume Requirements — The Math

Let us break down what each broker actually requires in practical trading terms:

XM: 10 Micro Lots

• 10 micro lots = 0.10 standard lots = 10,000 units of base currency
• Spread cost (EUR/USD at 1.0 pip average): approximately $1.00 total
• Number of trades at 0.01 lots: 10 trades
• Time needed: 1-3 days of casual trading
• Risk to bonus: Very low — you barely need to expose the account to market risk

Tickmill: 5 Standard Lots

• 5 standard lots = 500,000 units of base currency
• Spread cost (EUR/USD at 1.6 pip average): approximately $80 total
• Number of trades at 0.10 lots: 50 trades
• Time needed: 2-4 weeks of regular trading
• Risk to bonus: Moderate — spread costs consume over half the bonus

The difference is stark. XM requires roughly 50 times less trading volume than Tickmill. While Tickmill's requirement is still achievable (unlike the 40 standard lots required by FBS), it demands significantly more trading activity and exposes the $30 account to more market risk.

Platform and Trading Conditions

Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, so the platform choice is similar. However, the trading conditions on bonus accounts differ:

XM bonus accounts use the same trading conditions as regular accounts. If you choose a Standard account, you get spreads from 1.0 pip with no commission. If you choose Micro, you get the same spreads but can trade in smaller increments (micro lots starting from 0.01). The leverage is up to 1:1000 depending on your region.

Tickmill Welcome Accounts offer spreads from 1.6 pips with no commission. This is comparable to Tickmill's Classic account but wider than their Pro account (0.0 pips + $4 commission). Leverage on the Welcome Account is up to 1:500.

The wider spreads at Tickmill mean higher trading costs per lot, which compounds the already higher volume requirement. For a $30 bonus account, this matters because every pip of spread cost comes directly out of your limited trading capital.

Execution Quality

Both brokers offer reliable execution. XM claims 99.35% of orders are executed in under one second. Tickmill is known for fast execution with minimal slippage, particularly on their Pro and VIP accounts. For the small position sizes typical of bonus trading, execution quality differences are negligible.

Withdrawal Process Compared

Assuming you meet the requirements at both brokers, here is what the withdrawal process looks like:

XM Withdrawal

• Submit withdrawal request through Members Area
• Processing time: within 24 hours
• Available methods: bank wire, credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, local methods
• Fees: none from XM (bank/provider fees may apply)
• Maximum from bonus: $200

Tickmill Withdrawal

• Submit request through Client Area
• Processing time: 1-2 business days
• Available methods: bank wire, credit/debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, UnionPay
• Fees: none for most methods (bank wire may incur fees)
• Maximum from bonus: $100
• Note: Welcome Account is closed after withdrawal

Which Should You Choose?

XM wins this comparison on almost every metric that matters for bonus traders:

• Easier requirements: 50x less trading volume needed
• No time pressure: Unlimited vs 60 days
• Higher profit cap: $200 vs $100
• Lower trading costs: Tighter spreads on bonus account
• Regular account: Not a restricted special account type

Tickmill does have one advantage: FCA regulation. The UK's Financial Conduct Authority is considered the gold standard for forex regulation. If regulatory prestige is your primary concern, Tickmill's FCA license carries weight. However, for the purpose of a $30 bonus, XM's CySEC and ASIC regulation provides more than adequate protection.

Our recommendation: claim the XM bonus first. If you want additional exposure, open a Tickmill Welcome Account as well — but understand that the requirements are significantly harder to meet.

For traders who prefer raw spreads over bonuses, Exness offers 0.0 pip spreads on major pairs with instant withdrawals. No bonus gimmicks — just the best trading conditions in the industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tickmill still offer a $30 welcome bonus in 2026?

Yes, Tickmill continues to offer its $30 Welcome Account bonus in 2026. The bonus is available to new clients who open a Welcome Account and complete identity verification. Terms may vary by region.

Which has easier withdrawal requirements, XM or Tickmill?

XM generally has easier withdrawal requirements. Tickmill requires 5 standard lots within 60 days and caps profit withdrawal at $100. XM requires fewer equivalent lots with no time limit and allows up to $200 in profit withdrawal.

Can I use Expert Advisors with the XM or Tickmill bonus?

XM allows Expert Advisors on bonus accounts with both MT4 and MT5. Tickmill also permits EA trading on Welcome Accounts, though some restrictions may apply to certain high-frequency strategies. Check each broker's current terms.

Is Tickmill better regulated than XM?

Both brokers hold strong regulatory licenses. XM is regulated by CySEC, ASIC, IFSC, and DFSA. Tickmill holds licenses from the FCA (UK), CySEC, FSCA (South Africa), and FSA (Seychelles). The FCA license gives Tickmill an edge in regulatory prestige.