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 offers spreads that are near the industry average, with spreads just under one pip at 0.9 pips as of June 2024. This makes AvaTrade slightly more expensive than the entry-level accounts from competitors like CMC Markets and Tickmill. However, for those who qualify as professional traders, AvaTrade's Professional account provides competitive spreads of 0.6 pips, aligning closely with those offered by FP Markets. Rated 4.5 stars out of five, AvaTrade ranks impressively at #12 out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category according to ForexBrokers.com.
ThinkMarkets does not provide detailed average spread information, making direct comparison challenging. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that ThinkMarkets has earned a respectable rating of 4 stars out of five for commissions and fees. Despite a lack of specific spread data, ThinkMarkets holds the #47 position out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's Commissions and Fees rankings.
In summary, AvaTrade generally offers more competitive rates for professional traders and is regarded more favorably in terms of commissions and fees when compared to ThinkMarkets. AvaTrade's higher ranking and better star rating suggest a stronger position, especially for those seeking more competitive spreads in professional trading contexts.
| 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 it comes to the variety of investments available, AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets both offer opportunities for forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. AvaTrade provides traders with access to 1,260 tradeable symbols, while ThinkMarkets offers a more extensive selection of 4,000 tradeable symbols. In terms of forex pairs, AvaTrade edges out slightly with 53 options compared to ThinkMarkets' 46 pairs. Both brokers have embraced the growing interest in cryptocurrency derivatives, offering these options without providing direct ownership of the actual digital assets. For those interested in copy trading, both platforms have this service available to enhance trading strategies.
However, significant differences arise in stock trading on international exchanges. ThinkMarkets enables clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on international markets like the London Stock Exchange, while AvaTrade does not offer this option. Neither broker allows direct purchase of U.S. exchange-traded stocks. In a rating of the range of investments, ThinkMarkets slightly outshines AvaTrade with 4.5 stars compared to AvaTrade's 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, ThinkMarkets ranks 22nd out of 63 brokers for investment offerings, whereas AvaTrade comes in at 32nd. For traders, these distinctions offer a clearer picture of what each broker uniquely brings to the table.
| 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.
When choosing an online broker, exploring the features of AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets can help traders make an informed decision. Both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading without financial risk. Each offers proprietary platforms developed in-house, alongside popular tools such as MetaTrader 4 and 5. Both brokers support Windows-based and web-based trading platforms, providing flexibility for traders across different devices. Additionally, AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets offer copy trading capabilities, though AvaTrade stands out by supporting both DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, which ThinkMarkets does not offer. When it comes to charting tools, ThinkMarkets provides 15 drawing tools compared to AvaTrade's 13. Both brokers enable trade execution directly from stock charts, ensuring seamless trading experiences.
Furthermore, AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets differ in their offerings of watch list columns, with AvaTrade providing 7 and ThinkMarkets offering a more extensive range with 15 columns. AvaTrade's efforts in enhancing its trading platforms and tools have garnered a 4.5-star rating, ranking 13th out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets holds a 4-star rating, placing it at the 28th spot in the same category. With these insights, potential traders can evaluate which platform aligns better with their trading needs.
| 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.
If you're deciding between AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets for mobile trading, both offer iPhone and Android apps with stock and forex price alerts. AvaTrade stands out with the ability to sync watchlists across its mobile app and a client’s online account, which ThinkMarkets lacks. For charting, while AvaTrade provides 73 technical studies, ThinkMarkets offers more with 94, and their app auto-saves chart drawings, unlike AvaTrade. Both brokers allow placing trendlines and viewing various time frames on charts, as well as creating watchlists with real-time quotes.
AvaTrade shines in mobile trading with a higher rating of 4.5 stars compared to ThinkMarkets' 4 stars. When ranked by ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade is positioned at #13 out of 63 brokers, whereas ThinkMarkets comes in at #20. These features and ratings make AvaTrade a slightly more favored choice for those prioritizing mobile trading efficiency and user 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 market research offerings, AvaTrade and ThinkMarkets each have their own unique strengths. AvaTrade delivers forex news from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters and provides tools such as Trading Central's technical analysis. It also offers a sentiment-based trading tool that shows the ratio of long or short positions across currency pairs, allowing traders to gauge market mood effectively. Furthermore, AvaTrade provides an economic calendar offering timely information on global news events. However, it lacks daily market commentary and tools from Autochartist or Acuity Trading. AvaTrade is rated 4 stars for research and holds a #34 ranking among 63 brokers, indicating a strong overall research capability.
ThinkMarkets stands out with its daily market commentary and access to forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Additionally, it offers research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, enhancing its research arsenal. ThinkMarkets, like AvaTrade, features a sentiment-based trading tool and an economic calendar for global news events, albeit missing tools from Autochartist and Trading Central. With a 3.5-star research rating, ThinkMarkets finds itself ranked #50 by ForexBrokers.com, making it slightly less competitive in research offerings compared to AvaTrade.
| 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. AvaTrade excels with over ten articles, videos, and archived webinars focusing on forex and CFDs. Beginners can also benefit from monthly live webinars and access to a searchable archive of past sessions. Additionally, AvaTrade offers over ten videos tailored specifically to newcomers in trading, alongside a wealth of advanced materials for more seasoned traders. Their comprehensive investor dictionary covers more than 50 investing terms, making it a valuable go-to resource. With these educational offerings, AvaTrade earns a commendable four-star rating and ranks second out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
ThinkMarkets also offers a variety of educational tools, including over ten pieces of content dedicated to forex and CFDs education. Regularly scheduled webinars and a searchable archive provide additional learning opportunities. Beginner traders can access a series of educational videos designed to ease them into the trading world, while advanced traders are not left behind with their own selection of instructional content. Similarly, ThinkMarkets provides a dictionary with more than 50 investing terms to help demystify trading jargon. Though their educational offerings are extensive, the broker holds a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 52nd out of 63 brokers in the education category on ForexBrokers.com.
| 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 63 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 |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | ThinkMarkets | |
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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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