Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com 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.
FOREX.com, established in 1999, and ThinkMarkets, founded in 2010, are two prominent names in the online trading industry. Both are not banks, but while FOREX.com is publicly traded, ThinkMarkets is not. FOREX.com holds an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, indicating its high level of trust and reliability. ThinkMarkets, on the other hand, possesses five Tier-1 licenses. In addition to Tier-1 licenses, FOREX.com holds one Tier-2 license, while ThinkMarkets holds two, demonstrating a solid level of trust for both brokers.
According to ForexBrokers.com, FOREX.com has achieved a Trust Score of 99 out of 99, making it highly trusted and reliable for investors. ThinkMarkets follows closely with a Trust Score of 92, positioning it as a trusted choice for traders. Both brokers offer distinct advantages, with FOREX.com leading in trust ratings and public visibility, while ThinkMarkets offers a competitive and trusted environment for its clients.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When comparing FOREX.com with ThinkMarkets regarding commissions and fees, it's important to consider the trading environment and cost structure each offers. FOREX.com provides traders with several account types and execution methods, including a RAW account with competitive spreads and lower costs for high-volume traders. Despite this, the Standard account in the U.S. presents higher average spreads of 1.4 pips on the EUR/USD. For those trading outside the U.S., FOREX.com delivers some cost advantages, with spreads as low as 0.74 for EUR/USD in July 2023. Nevertheless, these advantages fade unless traders meet high trading volumes. FOREX.com achieves a respectable ranking of 13th out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees, with an impressive rating of 4.5 stars.
On the other hand, ThinkMarkets, although lacking detailed average spread data in its reports, maintains a competitive edge with a 4-star rating for commissions and fees. While it ranks lower overall at 47th out of 63 brokers, ThinkMarkets still presents an appealing choice with its straightforward fee structure, likely appealing to traders prioritizing simplicity. However, its lower star rating and ranking suggest it might not match the cost-effectiveness of FOREX.com for frequent traders looking to minimize all-in trading costs.
For traders considering both platforms, FOREX.com might offer better conditions for those willing to trade larger volumes, especially beyond U.S. borders, while ThinkMarkets could be appealing for those prioritizing a lower-cost trading experience without the need for volume-based rebates. Ultimately, FOREX.com appears to be the stronger contender for those actively engaging in high-volume trading, showcased by its higher rating and better overall rank.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 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.
When comparing FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets, both platforms offer forex trading as Contracts for Difference (CFDs) or spot contracts, making them accessible options for forex enthusiasts. FOREX.com provides a more extensive selection with 5,500 tradeable symbols, outclassing ThinkMarkets' 4,000 symbols. This includes 80 forex pairs on FOREX.com, a significant lead over ThinkMarkets' 46 currency pairs. While neither broker offers the ability to buy shares of U.S. companies directly, ThinkMarkets does allow access to some international exchange-traded securities, unlike FOREX.com, which offers none.
For investors interested in innovative trading strategies, ThinkMarkets shines with its copy trading feature, absent on FOREX.com. Both platforms support trading cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither offers direct cryptocurrency purchases. With a 5-star rating for its investment range, FOREX.com ranks higher than ThinkMarkets, which holds a 4.5-star score. Accordingly, FOREX.com stands at rank #7 while ThinkMarkets is at #23 in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com. These distinctions highlight FOREX.com’s broader investment options, although ThinkMarkets presents unique advantages for specific markets.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 the trading platforms and tools offered by FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets, both brokers provide users with the opportunity to practice trading through free virtual demo accounts. Each broker has developed its own proprietary platform and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ensuring a flexible trading experience. Both platforms are accessible via Windows-based desktop software and web browsers. However, while ThinkMarkets includes copy trading in its offerings, FOREX.com does not. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, but they do allow trading directly from stock charts.
For charting tools, FOREX.com stands out with an impressive 239 drawing tools, significantly outnumbering ThinkMarkets' 15. In terms of watch lists, FOREX.com provides 20 customizable fields compared to 15 offered by ThinkMarkets. Given these features, FOREX.com has received a 5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, ranking 7th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets holds a 4-star rating and is ranked 28th in the same category. This positions FOREX.com as the preferred choice for traders seeking comprehensive tools and platform functionalities.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading, both FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets offer iPhone and Android apps, catering to traders who prefer to monitor and manage their investments on the go. Both apps provide essential features like stock or forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and view different time frames on charts. However, a key difference lies in watchlist symbol syncing. With FOREX.com, changes made to watchlists on the mobile app sync with the user's online account, offering seamless management across platforms. In contrast, ThinkMarkets does not offer this syncing feature, potentially causing inconvenience for users wanting a unified experience.
Chart enthusiasts might find ThinkMarkets slightly more appealing with its 94 technical studies compared to FOREX.com's 88. Both apps excel in auto-saving chart drawings and provide real-time quotes on custom watchlists. With an exceptional user rating of 5 stars, FOREX.com ranks 3rd out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets holds a 4-star rating and is ranked 20th, indicating solid, if not top-tier, performance. For those who prioritize app features and top ratings, FOREX.com may provide the edge in mobile trading utility.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 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.
When comparing the market research offerings of FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets, both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, a key difference is that FOREX.com integrates Trading Central's technical analysis tools, offering an edge in providing in-depth insights and analytics. In contrast, ThinkMarkets makes use of Acuity Trading's tools such as Signal Centre, highlighting different strengths in market research capabilities. Both platforms support sentiment-based trading tools and economic calendars to help traders track global financial events. Yet, FOREX.com's broader array of research tools, including exclusive use of Trading Central, positions it with a higher score of 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars.
In ForexBrokers.com's ranking, FOREX.com stands at a commendable 9th place out of 63 brokers for its research, showcasing its commitment to providing valuable market insights. ThinkMarkets, while still offering solid tools, particularly with Acuity Trading's research offerings, is placed at 50th in the same category, suggesting a potential area for enhancement. Both brokers deliver essential tools for informed trading decisions, yet FOREX.com's comprehensive offerings contribute to its higher reputation among brokers for market research.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | 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 beginner traders, both FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets provide comprehensive learning materials, including at least ten educational articles, videos, or webinars focused on forex or CFDs. Additionally, both platforms host educational webinars each month and maintain searchable archives where traders can access previous sessions. They also offer a robust selection of video content tailored to beginners, with each broker featuring more than ten videos dedicated to introducing newcomers to trading basics.
In terms of offerings for more experienced traders, FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets each supply a wealth of advanced educational videos as well as a dictionary with over 50 essential terms for investors. However, FOREX.com takes the lead in educational quality and reputation, earning a rating of 4.5 stars in education compared to ThinkMarkets’ 3.5 stars. FOREX.com is also ranked 4th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for its educational resources, while ThinkMarkets is positioned much lower at 52nd. This makes FOREX.com a more solid choice for traders who prioritize top-tier educational support.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
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 FOREX.com is better than ThinkMarkets. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 |
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Both FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets do not provide the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do offer cryptocurrency derivatives for trading.
FOREX.com offers a range of flexible deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while ThinkMarkets provides Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wire services but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options.
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 | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | 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) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $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 | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | 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 | 88 | 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 | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | 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 | FOREX.com | 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 | FOREX.com | 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 | FOREX.com Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
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