Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM 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.
FXCM and ThinkMarkets are both reputable online brokers recognized for their trustworthy services, each with unique strengths in regulatory compliance. FXCM has been in the trading business since 1999 and is publicly traded, which can be an appealing factor for potential clients. The broker prides itself on a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 95 out of 99, indicating a high level of reliability. FXCM operates under the regulations of 4 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, ensuring stringent oversight and client protection.
ThinkMarkets, founded in 2010, is not publicly traded but still maintains a strong presence in the market. It holds a Trust Score of 92, suggesting a solid trust level with its clientele. The broker is under the regulations of 5 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, offering a secure trading environment. Both FXCM and ThinkMarkets are not banks, which means they focus solely on providing brokerage services. Clients seeking a trusted and regulated broker have commendable choices in either FXCM or ThinkMarkets, depending on their specific preferences or needs.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
FXCM and ThinkMarkets both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but FXCM ranks higher (#25 of 63) than ThinkMarkets (#48 of 63) in ForexBrokers.com’s category rankings. A key difference is transparency: FXCM publishes detailed spread data, while ThinkMarkets does not provide average spread figures, making side‑by‑side cost comparisons harder for ThinkMarkets.
FXCM’s standard account pricing is slightly higher than the industry average. In May 2024, the time‑weighted average spread on EUR/USD was 0.78 pips across its EU, U.K., and Australia entities, and 1.38 pips for its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. FXCM’s commission-based accounts averaged 0.28 pips (spread only), with an effective all‑in cost closer to 0.74 pips after adding the commission. Spreads can widen during rollover or volatile market conditions. FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program (not available in the U.K. or EU) with five tiers that pay $5 to $25 per million traded once you hit at least $10 million in monthly volume; for example, a U.K. setup with a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume can see commissions drop to $2.50 per side ($5 round‑turn), for an effective EUR/USD spread around 0.78 pips based on a 0.28‑pip core price.
Bottom line: Both brokers carry the same star rating for costs, but FXCM’s higher ranking and published spread data give cost‑conscious traders clearer expectations. ThinkMarkets may still be competitive, but the lack of average spread data limits direct comparison. Your actual costs with either broker will depend on your account entity, trading volume, and market conditions.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FXCM and ThinkMarkets both support forex trading (as CFDs or spot) and each offers 46 currency pairs. The big difference is overall product variety: FXCM lists around 440 tradeable symbols, while ThinkMarkets offers about 4,000. Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares outright, but ThinkMarkets does provide access to exchange-traded shares on international exchanges, whereas FXCM does not. Both brokers offer copy trading. For crypto, neither sells actual coins, but both offer cryptocurrency derivatives.
Reflecting this broader lineup, ThinkMarkets is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 24th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. FXCM earns 3.5 stars and ranks 48th. If you want the widest selection beyond forex, ThinkMarkets stands out; if your focus is mainly forex and CFDs with copy trading and crypto derivatives, FXCM covers the essentials.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
FXCM and ThinkMarkets both deliver key platform features that matter to everyday traders. Each offers a free demo (paper trading) account, its own proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform. Copy trading is available at both brokers, and you can place trades directly from charts. Both support MetaTrader 4 (MT4). The standout difference is MetaTrader 5 (MT5): ThinkMarkets offers MT5, while FXCM does not—important if you want MT5’s newer interface and features.
For overall platform quality, ratings from ForexBrokers.com give FXCM 5 stars and a #6 rank out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while ThinkMarkets earns 4 stars and ranks #28. If MT5 access is your priority, ThinkMarkets has the edge. If you want a higher-rated platform lineup and toolset, FXCM stands out. Either way, both brokers provide desktop and web platforms, copy trading, and easy chart-based trading to suit a wide range of trading styles.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and ThinkMarkets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto‑saved chart annotations. When it comes to charting tools, ThinkMarkets packs in more technical studies (94) compared with FXCM (59). A key usability difference is watchlists: FXCM syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while ThinkMarkets does not.
For overall app quality, ForexBrokers.com rates FXCM at 4.5 stars and ranks it #16 out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets earns 4 stars and ranks #20. If cross‑device watchlist syncing is important, FXCM is the better pick; if you want more built‑in indicators for technical analysis, ThinkMarkets has the edge.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 94 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM vs ThinkMarkets: both brokers cover the basics of market research with daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier outlets (e.g., Bloomberg or Reuters), a trader sentiment tool, and an economic calendar. The key differences are in added tools. FXCM includes Trading Central for technical analysis and TipRanks for stock and market insights, while ThinkMarkets does not. In turn, ThinkMarkets offers research from Acuity Trading (such as Signal Centre), which FXCM doesn’t. Neither broker provides Autochartist.
Based on ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns 4.5/5 for Research and ranks #11 of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets scores 3.5/5 and ranks #51. If you want Trading Central and TipRanks alongside strong news and commentary, FXCM is the better pick. If you prefer Acuity Trading signals within a simple research setup, ThinkMarkets is worth considering. Both give you core research features for staying on top of the markets.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing FXCM and ThinkMarkets for forex and CFD education for beginners: both brokers host at least one educational webinar per month and each provides 10+ beginner videos plus 10+ advanced videos that explain trading topics in plain language. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns a 4.5/5 Education rating and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets scores 3.5/5 and ranks #52 out of 63—giving FXCM the edge for overall education quality.
Details not specified in the available data include whether either broker offers a searchable archive of recorded webinars, an investor dictionary with 50+ terms, or a confirmed library of 10+ forex/CFD articles and similar materials. If your priority is higher-rated education with a strong track record, FXCM is the more compelling choice. If you prefer a provider with regular webinars and a video-first approach that still supports beginners, ThinkMarkets remains a viable option.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FXCM is better than ThinkMarkets. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 92 |
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Both FXCM and ThinkMarkets provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer options for purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrency.
FXCM vs ThinkMarkets: FXCM offers ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire options for deposits and withdrawals, whereas ThinkMarkets supports Skrill and bank wires but does not offer ACH/SEPA or PayPal.
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 | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 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 | 4 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 94 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FXCM Review |
| Overall | FXCM | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
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