Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs ThinkMarkets, 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.
AvaTrade, established in 2006, and ThinkMarkets, founded in 2010, are two well-known online brokers, neither of which is publicly traded or operates as a bank. Both brokers have built a strong reputation for trustworthiness, with AvaTrade scoring an impressive 94 out of 99 on the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score rating, indicating it is highly trusted. ThinkMarkets also holds a solid position in the industry with a score of 92, closely following AvaTrade, reflecting a similar level of trust.
In terms of regulatory oversight, AvaTrade holds four Tier-1 licenses, underscoring its commitment to high standards of security and reliability, while also possessing three Tier-2 licenses. ThinkMarkets surpasses AvaTrade slightly in Tier-1 regulation, holding five Tier-1 licenses, but it holds fewer Tier-2 licenses with two. These regulatory credentials make both brokers reputable choices, with AvaTrade emphasizing a balanced regulatory footprint and ThinkMarkets offering slightly more coverage at the top-tier level.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets are two popular online brokers that offer different experiences when it comes to commissions and fees. AvaTrade features spreads that are close to the industry standard, starting at just under one pip (0.9 pips as of June 2024). These spreads are slightly higher than what CMC Markets and Tickmill provide for their entry-level accounts. However, traders who qualify as professionals can enjoy more competitive rates on AvaTrade's Professional account, where spreads tighten to 0.6 pips, similar to those offered by FP Markets.
In comparison, ThinkMarkets does not provide specific average spread data, making it difficult for potential users to fully assess their cost structure upfront. Despite this, ThinkMarkets maintains a reputation for providing transparent and reasonable fees across various trading platforms and accounts, although it may not stand out for its pricing compared to some competitors.
When it comes to ratings, AvaTrade shines with a commendable 4.5 out of 5 stars for its fees and commission framework, securing the 12th rank among 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, ThinkMarkets receives a solid 4 out of 5 stars but sits at the 48th rank in the same category. This comparison suggests AvaTrade might offer more appealing fee structures for those prioritizing cost efficiency in their trading ventures.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets, both online brokers provide a compelling range of investment options that cater to diverse trading needs, though some differences are apparent in their offerings. AvaTrade offers 1,260 tradeable symbols, including 53 forex pairs, and supports trading forex both as CFDs and spot contracts. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets expands the options further with 4,000 tradeable symbols and offers 46 forex pairs, also providing the capability to trade forex as both CFDs and spot contracts. Both brokers support copy trading, as well as the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, although neither offer the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
ThinkMarkets distinguishes itself by enabling investments in exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as buying shares of Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange, a feature not available with AvaTrade. Consequently, ThinkMarkets earns a slightly higher rating for its range of investments, with 4.5 stars compared to AvaTrade's 4 stars. In the broader comparison among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, ThinkMarkets is ranked at #21 for its range of offerings, whereas AvaTrade holds the #32 position. This indicates a modest edge for ThinkMarkets in providing a slightly more comprehensive array of investment options.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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.
AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets provide traders with a variety of online trading platforms and tools that cater to different needs. Both brokers offer simulated trading through a free virtual demo account, ensuring customers can practice before diving into real markets. AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets also provide proprietary platforms and support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). With the inclusion of Windows-based desktop and web-based platforms, both brokers offer seamless access to trading from various devices. In terms of copy trading, both firms enable this feature, allowing users to mimic successful trading strategies. However, AvaTrade has an edge by supporting both DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, while ThinkMarkets does not offer these options.
Charting tools differ slightly between the brokers, as ThinkMarkets provides 15 drawing tools compared to AvaTrade’s 13. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, facilitating swift transactions. AvaTrade offers watch lists with 7 columns, whereas ThinkMarkets presents a more detailed configuration with 15 columns. Despite ThinkMarkets’ broader watch list features, AvaTrade still garners a higher rating of 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools compared to ThinkMarkets’ 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade ranks #13 among 62 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category, outperforming ThinkMarkets, which sits at #28. This highlights AvaTrade's slightly greater appeal in this area, making it a strong choice for trading enthusiasts.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets cater to users on iPhone and Android devices. They both provide features like stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. However, AvaTrade takes the lead in providing watchlist symbol syncing between the app and the online account, which is something ThinkMarkets lacks. This syncing feature ensures that any changes you make to your watchlists are seamlessly reflected across platforms. AvaTrade also offers 73 technical studies for charting, while ThinkMarkets provides a more extensive selection with 94 technical studies, giving traders a wider array of tools for in-depth analysis.
Both platforms support viewing charts across multiple time frames, but ThinkMarkets stands out with the auto-save feature for chart drawings, a convenience not found in AvaTrade. In terms of creating watchlists with real-time quotes, both brokers deliver efficiently. User ratings highlight AvaTrade with 4.5 stars, while ThinkMarkets trails slightly with 4 stars. In the Mobile Trading Apps category, AvaTrade is ranked 13th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, placing it ahead of ThinkMarkets, which is ranked 20th. For traders seeking a balance of functionality and ease of use, AvaTrade appears to offer a slightly superior mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 94 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets for market research, both online brokers offer forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, ThinkMarkets takes the lead with daily market commentary, providing timely insights to traders. AvaTrade stands out with its access to Trading Central's technical analysis tools, offering traders in-depth analytics not available with ThinkMarkets. Both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools and maintain comprehensive economic calendars to keep users informed of global news events.
While neither platform provides market research from TipRanks, ThinkMarkets delivers additional research resources from Acuity Trading's Signal Centre. In terms of overall research quality, AvaTrade edges out ThinkMarkets with a 4-star rating against ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. Industry rankings also reflect this, with AvaTrade positioned at #34 compared to ThinkMarkets at #50 among 62 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. These differences make each platform uniquely suitable depending on a trader’s specific research needs and preferences.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets provide a solid foundation in forex and CFDs education, offering over ten educational pieces such as articles, videos, and webinars. Both platforms ensure that aspiring traders have access to regular online educational webinars, and they also maintain searchable archives of past sessions, making it easier for learners to revisit and reinforce their knowledge. Moreover, each broker caters to a range of skill levels by offering more than ten beginner-friendly instructional videos, as well as a series of advanced videos for those who wish to expand their trading expertise. For those who need to get acquainted with trading terminology, both AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets provide an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms defined.
Despite these similarities, there are noticeable differences in their educational recognition. AvaTrade is highly regarded in the education category, with a strong 4-star rating, and is ranked second among 62 brokers in this area by ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, ThinkMarkets holds a slightly lower 3.5-star rating and is ranked 52nd in the same category. This difference suggests that AvaTrade might have the edge in delivering comprehensive educational support to its users. As a result, beginners seeking a more highly-rated educational experience might lean towards AvaTrade for their initial trading journey.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that AvaTrade is better than ThinkMarkets. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, as well as exceptional educational content that helped it nab Best in Class honors for Beginners in the ForexBrokers.com 2025 Annual Awards.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 92 |
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Both AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, instead they both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, AvaTrade offers more flexibility by supporting PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, whereas both platforms accept Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 94 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 15 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 94 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review |
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