CMC Markets vs ThinkMarkets 2025
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs ThinkMarkets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets 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.
CMC Markets, founded in 1989, and ThinkMarkets, established in 2010, are both significant players in the online brokerage industry. While neither is a bank, CMC Markets stands out by being publicly traded, unlike ThinkMarkets. Both companies hold five Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. However, CMC Markets holds an additional Tier-2 license compared to ThinkMarkets, which holds two. This regulatory framework supports CMC Markets' top Trust Score rating of 99 out of 99, compared to ThinkMarkets' still impressive score of 92.
These high Trust Score ratings reflect their reliability, but CMC Markets' status as a publicly traded entity might offer additional reassurance for some investors. Despite being founded more recently, ThinkMarkets remains a trusted choice with its substantial regulatory backing. Both brokers offer a high level of security and trust, making them worthy of consideration for online trading, though CMC Markets slightly edges out in total trust metrics.
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Year Founded | 1989 | 2010 |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
Bank | No | No |
Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 5 |
Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
CMC Markets stands out as a top choice for traders, especially evident in its #1 ranking for Commissions and Fees according to the 2025 Annual Awards by ForexBrokers.com. Offering consistent low spreads, CMC Markets provides typical spreads of 0.61 pips on the EUR/USD pair, making it competitive within the industry. Additionally, CMC Markets offers an active trader program, the Price Plus Scheme, where traders can earn discounts based on their trading volume. This program allows traders to collect Trading Points, potentially reaching up to a 20% spread discount. Moreover, the introduction of FX Active supports a commission-based pricing model with fees as low as $2.50 per side, yielding an all-in cost of 0.5 pips when trading prominent currency pairs like the EUR/USD.
ThinkMarkets, on the other hand, offers competitive pricing but does not disclose average spread data, making it slightly less transparent than CMC Markets in this area. When comparing the two brokers, CMC Markets takes the lead with a 5-star rating for commissions and fees, while ThinkMarkets holds a respectable 4-star rating. This difference is reflected in their overall rankings, with CMC Markets securing the top spot among 62 brokers and ThinkMarkets being positioned at #48.
In summary, if low spreads and detailed pricing transparency are your priority, CMC Markets clearly emerges as a strong contender with its innovative pricing schemes and excellent industry reputation. Although ThinkMarkets provides solid offerings, CMC Markets holds a distinct advantage through its impressive rankings and customer-friendly pricing models.
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Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 1.1 |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | N/A |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets and ThinkMarkets both provide online forex trading, allowing clients to participate in the currency markets through CFDs. However, when it comes to the extent of investment options, CMC Markets stands out with a staggering 11,925 tradeable symbols, significantly more than ThinkMarkets' offering of 4,000. This diversity is further reflected in the availability of forex pairs, where CMC Markets offers 156 compared to ThinkMarkets' 46. Additionally, CMC Markets gives investors the option to directly purchase exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, such as Apple shares, a service not available with ThinkMarkets. Both brokers do, however, provide access to international securities, exemplified by the ability to invest in companies like Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange.
For those interested in modern investing trends, both CMC Markets and ThinkMarkets offer cryptocurrency derivatives, albeit not the actual cryptocurrencies. Copy trading is another feature available on both platforms, allowing investors to mimic successful trading strategies. With these choices, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars for its range of investments, ranking 9th out of 62 brokers in this category. ThinkMarkets follows with a commendable rating of 4.5 stars and a ranking of 21st. This comprehensive range offered by CMC Markets gives it an edge for traders seeking extensive investment opportunities, particularly in the forex and stock markets.
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 4000 |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 46 |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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.
CMC Markets and ThinkMarkets each offer impressive trading platforms and tools, tailored to cater to diverse trader needs. Both platforms provide a free virtual demo account, allowing users to practice and refine their trading strategies without financial risk. They also come with proprietary platforms alongside popular options like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 for comprehensive trading experiences. For those who prefer trading on a desktop, both brokers support Windows-based downloads in addition to convenient web-based platforms. Traders can benefit from copy trading across both services, although they do not support integration with DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
While both brokers are well-equipped for chart traders, CMC Markets edges out in drawing tools, offering 40 compared to ThinkMarkets’ 15. This advantage, combined with 11 columns for watch lists, provides users greater control over their trading insights. ThinkMarkets covers more watch list columns with 15, potentially offering greater data tracking flexibility. However, when it comes to the overall trading platform and tools experience, CMC Markets earns a 5-star rating, compared to ThinkMarkets' 4 stars, and ranks 4th on ForexBrokers.com among 62 brokers, showcasing its excellence in delivering superior trading tools. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets holds the 27th rank, reflecting strong capabilities that may still suit many traders' needs.
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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) | 79 | 30 |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 15 |
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both CMC Markets and ThinkMarkets offer comprehensive solutions for traders who use iPhones and Android devices. Users can expect stock and forex price alerts from both platforms. However, CMC Markets has the advantage of syncing watchlist symbols with the client's online account, providing a seamless experience across different devices. Although both apps support various technical aspects like drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts, ThinkMarkets takes the lead in technical studies with an impressive 94 options compared to CMC's 29.
In terms of performance ratings, CMC Markets stands out with a perfect 5-star rating, placing it fifth out of 62 brokers in ForexBrokers.com rankings for mobile trading apps. In contrast, ThinkMarkets secures a 4-star rating, ranking 20th. Both apps allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes and auto-save chart drawings, but the superior customer ratings and feature set give CMC Markets an edge, making it a more attractive option for traders seeking a high-quality mobile trading experience.
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Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 94 |
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.
CMC Markets and ThinkMarkets both provide daily market commentary and offer forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring that traders have access to high-quality insights. When it comes to tools, CMC Markets stands out by offering technical analysis and fundamental research tools from Autochartist, a feature that ThinkMarkets does not provide. Both brokers lack tools from Trading Central but offer sentiment-based trading tools, helping traders gauge market sentiment through the ratio of long or short positions across different instruments. Neither platform provides market research from TipRanks. However, ThinkMarkets gains an edge by offering research tools from Acuity Trading, including the Signal Centre, which CMC Markets lacks.
Both brokers provide economic calendars to keep users informed about global news events that might impact the market. Despite some similarities in offerings, CMC Markets outshines ThinkMarkets in the research category, earning a 5-star rating compared to ThinkMarkets’ 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets ranks as the 6th best out of 62 brokers for research, while ThinkMarkets comes in at 50th. This higher ranking indicates that CMC Markets generally offers more comprehensive research features, making it a stronger choice for traders focused on in-depth market analysis.
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
Autochartist | Yes | No |
Trading Central (Recognia) | No | 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 comparing educational resources for beginners between CMC Markets and ThinkMarkets, both online brokers excel with comprehensive materials on forex and CFDs. CMC Markets and ThinkMarkets each provide at least 10 educational pieces, such as articles and videos, helping newcomers understand the basics of trading. Beginner traders can find learning materials tailored to their skill level on both platforms, with educational videos specifically designed for those just starting out. Additionally, both brokers offer an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, enhancing the learning experience for beginners. While CMC Markets does not conduct monthly live webinars, their searchable archive of recorded webinars makes it easy to access past educational content. On the other hand, ThinkMarkets holds monthly online webinars for their clients and also maintains an archive of previous sessions.
Overall, CMC Markets is highly rated, achieving an impressive 5-star rating in education, while ThinkMarkets holds a 3.5-star rating. When it comes to rankings, CMC Markets stands at 10th place out of 62 brokers in the Education category on ForexBrokers.com, showcasing their commitment to quality education for traders. In contrast, ThinkMarkets ranks 52nd, indicating room for improvement. While both brokers offer solid resources for beginners, CMC Markets appears to be the stronger choice for those prioritizing educational value.
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Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Client Webinars | No | 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 CMC Markets is better than ThinkMarkets. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
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Overall Rating |
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Trust Score | 99 | 92 |
Range of Investments |
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Both CMC Markets and ThinkMarkets provide the capability to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither offers the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency.
CMC Markets supports ACH and SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing funds, whereas ThinkMarkets does not offer ACH, SEPA, or PayPal, but facilitates transactions through Skrill, Visa or 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 5Overall Rating | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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Overall Rating |
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Range of Investments |
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Platform & Tools |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | CMC Markets Review |
Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Education Gallery (click to expand) |
Regulation | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
Year Founded | 1989 | 2010 | |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
Bank | No | No | |
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 5 | |
Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
Investments | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 4000 | |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 46 | |
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | 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 | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 1.1 | |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | N/A | |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
Funding | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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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 | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 15 | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 30 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 15 | |
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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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 | 29 | 94 | |
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 | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
Autochartist | Yes | No | |
Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
TipRanks | No | No | |
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Education | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Client Webinars | No | 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 | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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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 | CMC Markets Review |
Overall | CMC Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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Overall Rating |
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Commissions & Fees |
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Range of Investments |
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Platform & Tools |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | CMC Markets Review |