Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ThinkMarkets vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
When comparing the online brokers ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades, both firms show impressive regulatory credentials, yet some differences stand out. ThinkMarkets, established in 2010, has a higher Trust Score of 92 according to ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as highly trusted. This company holds 5 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, reflecting strong global regulatory recognition. In contrast, ActivTrades, founded in 2001, holds a Trust Score of 81, marking it as trusted by industry standards. This broker has secured 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, which also demonstrate a firm regulatory standing, albeit less extensive than ThinkMarkets.
Both ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades are not publicly traded and do not operate as banks, maintaining a similar business model in providing online trading services. Their regulatory profiles indicate both brokers have built a foundation of trust within the financial sector, yet ThinkMarkets edges ahead with additional licensing and a higher trust rating, offering traders an attractive layer of security and confidence to consider when choosing a broker.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades, it's important to note that both brokers offer a competitive edge in the market but serve traders with different preferences. ThinkMarkets receives a commendable 4-star rating for its commissions and fees, placing it at the 47th position among 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. Although average spread data for ThinkMarkets isn't available, traders can generally expect competitive pricing structures across its offerings.
ActivTrades also earns a 4-star rating in this category, but ranks higher at 28th out of 63 brokers. The broker's spreads, while slightly more favorable than the industry average, are not the lowest available in the forex market. ActivTrades provides several account types including Individual, Professional, and Islamic accounts, with spreads consistent across each but offering different margin requirements and leverage. It's important for traders to consider that actual spreads at ActivTrades can fluctuate throughout the day.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades for their range of investments, it's evident that both online brokers allow forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. ThinkMarkets boasts a larger selection with 4,000 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs, whereas ActivTrades provides 1,267 tradeable symbols and slightly more forex pairs at 49. However, neither broker offers the ability to buy U.S. exchange-traded securities like Apple shares, but they do allow investments in international shares such as Vodafone. Additionally, both offer copy trading and enable investments in cryptocurrency derivatives, but not in actual cryptocurrencies.
ThinkMarkets outranks ActivTrades with a 4.5-star rating for its range of investments, placing it 22nd out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's rankings. Meanwhile, ActivTrades earns a 4-star rating, coming in at 31st. In summary, if you're seeking more tradeable symbols and a higher rated investment range, ThinkMarkets emerges as the favorable choice. Nevertheless, both brokers offer strong options in international shares and similar forex pair selections, satisfying different investor preferences.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades for trading platforms and tools, both brokers provide a comprehensive trading experience for their users. Each offers important features such as simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts for practicing strategies without risk. Furthermore, both brokers have developed proprietary trading platforms and provide Windows-based desktop downloads, web-based platforms, and compatibility with popular platforms MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Traders can engage in copy trading with both brokers, but neither supports additional services like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Both offer 15 drawing tools for charting, though specific numbers of technical indicators are not listed.
While ThinkMarkets provides the ability to trade directly from stock charts, so does ActivTrades. There is a slight difference in watch list functionality, with ThinkMarkets offering 15 columns compared to 11 for ActivTrades, giving a bit more flexibility in monitoring markets. Both brokers achieve a respectable 4-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, according to ForexBrokers.com. However, ThinkMarkets edges slightly ahead, ranking 28th out of 63 brokers for trading platforms and tools, whereas ActivTrades ranks 30th in the same category. Overall, both ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades deliver strong offerings for traders, with minor differences that could sway preference based on specific trading needs.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 15 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades both offer fully functional mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, allowing traders to stay connected and manage their trades on the go. Users can set stock or forex price alerts with ease, providing timely notifications regardless of where they are. While both brokers enable the drawing of trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts, ThinkMarkets takes a lead with 94 technical studies available for its charting tools compared to ActivTrades' 30. However, neither app currently supports watchlist symbol syncing, which means changes made to watchlists on mobile do not automatically update on the online account.
Creating watchlists with real-time quotes is straightforward on both platforms, ensuring that traders have access to up-to-date information. Despite these comprehensive offerings, both ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades fell just shy of the top rankings in the mobile app category according to ForexBrokers.com, with ThinkMarkets holding the 20th position and ActivTrades slightly ahead at 19th out of 63 brokers. Both brokers have earned commendable four-star ratings for their mobile trading apps, reflecting strong user satisfaction and solid toolsets for mobile trading enthusiasts.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 94 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades both provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay informed with reliable market updates. Both brokers also include sentiment-based trading tools that display the ratio of long and short positions. When it comes to fundamental or technical analysis tools, neither broker offers resources from Autochartist or Trading Central, nor do they provide market research from TipRanks. However, ThinkMarkets stands out by offering research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, whereas ActivTrades does not.
In terms of additional resources, both ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades offer an economic calendar to help traders track global economic events. Despite these similarities, ActivTrades edges ahead with a Research rating of 4 stars compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. This is further reflected in their rankings on ForexBrokers.com, where ActivTrades is positioned at #30 out of 63 brokers for research, while ThinkMarkets holds the #50 spot.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources offered by ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades, both platforms provide a solid foundation for beginners interested in forex and CFDs. Each broker offers a comprehensive selection of educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, exceeding the minimum threshold of ten items dedicated to forex or CFDs. They also maintain an impressive schedule of online educational webinars, ensuring at least one is hosted each month, and offer a searchable archive of these sessions, which can be invaluable for those unable to attend live events.
For beginners looking for video content, both ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades deliver with over ten beginner-focused videos exploring various trading topics. They also cater to more advanced traders, offering more than ten in-depth videos suited for experienced investors. One key difference is that ThinkMarkets includes an extensive investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, a resource ActivTrades lacks. Despite ThinkMarkets providing a wide range of educational resources, ActivTrades edges slightly ahead in overall educational ratings, earning four out of five stars compared to ThinkMarkets’ 3.5 stars, and securing a higher rank (#38) among 63 brokers as opposed to ThinkMarkets’ (#52) ranking according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that ThinkMarkets is better than ActivTrades. ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
ThinkMarkets has multiple regulatory license and offers a proprietary trading platform, as well as the entire MetaTrader suite. The broker has made progress in key areas, such as research and education, and the range of markets available, although trails behind the best brokers in these categories.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 81 |
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Both ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades do not offer actual (delivered) cryptocurrency purchases but provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
ThinkMarkets and ActivTrades both provide options for depositing and withdrawing funds via Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither supports ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transactions.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 92 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 15 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 94 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | ThinkMarkets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
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