Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ThinkMarkets vs IFC Markets, 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.
ThinkMarkets and IFC Markets offer online brokerage services but differ in terms of regulatory standing and trust scores. Established in 2010, ThinkMarkets is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank. It holds an impressive five Tier-1 licenses, deemed highly trusted, and two Tier-2 licenses, which are trusted by ForexBrokers.com. This strong regulatory foundation earns ThinkMarkets a high Trust Score of 92, indicating it is highly trusted in the industry.
In contrast, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, also remains privately held and is not a bank. However, it holds no Tier-1 licenses and just one Tier-2 license, resulting in a more moderate Trust Score rating of 73, categorized as average risk. Comparing these factors, ThinkMarkets appears to offer a stronger level of trust and regulatory oversight than IFC Markets.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
ThinkMarkets and IFC Markets both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, IFC Markets places higher at #40 out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets sits at #48. ThinkMarkets does not publish average spread data, which makes a direct, apples-to-apples comparison harder for cost-focused traders.
IFC Markets discloses that its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, above the industry average of 1.08 pips, so standard pricing is slightly less competitive. Active traders may find better value through IFC’s new ECN account, where the effective spread is about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides of the trade. IFC Markets also skips inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which can help trim overall trading costs. (IFC Markets: 4/5 stars, ranked #40/63; ThinkMarkets: 4/5 stars, ranked #48/63.)
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
ThinkMarkets delivers a much larger overall product lineup than IFC Markets, offering about 4,000 tradeable symbols versus 630 at IFC Markets. Both brokers support forex trading (available as CFDs or spot), with IFC Markets listing slightly more currency pairs (49 vs 46). Each broker offers copy trading and cryptocurrency exposure through derivatives, but neither allows buying actual crypto. For shares, neither provides access to U.S.-listed stocks as real, exchange-traded securities; both, however, let you buy international shares on overseas exchanges (not as CFDs).
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com for Range of Investments, ThinkMarkets earned 4.5/5 stars and ranked 24th out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets received 3.5/5 stars and ranked 44th. If the size of the instrument list matters most, ThinkMarkets has the edge; if you just need slightly more forex pairs, IFC Markets has a minor lead.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
ThinkMarkets and IFC Markets both check key platform boxes: each offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, plus both web and Windows desktop platforms. You can trade directly from charts with either broker, use copy trading, and access 15 drawing tools for charting. DupliTrade and ZuluTrade aren’t supported by either. The number of built‑in technical indicators wasn’t specified for both brokers.
For tools and usability, both earn 4 stars, but ForexBrokers.com ranks ThinkMarkets higher (#28 of 63) than IFC Markets (#37 of 63) in the Trading Platforms and Tools category. A standout difference is watchlists: ThinkMarkets offers 15 columns versus 7 at IFC Markets, which could matter if you want more fields to track your markets. Otherwise, platform coverage and key features like copy trading, chart trading, and MetaTrader access are closely matched.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 15 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
ThinkMarkets and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, trendline drawing, multiple time frames, and auto‑saved chart annotations. Whether you trade stocks or forex, each app covers the basics for charting and monitoring markets on the go.
The key differences are depth and syncing. ThinkMarkets packs in 94 technical studies versus 30 at IFC Markets, making it better for traders who rely on a wide range of indicators. IFC Markets, however, offers watchlist symbol syncing between mobile and web, while ThinkMarkets does not. Both earn 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, but according to ForexBrokers.com rankings, ThinkMarkets sits at #20 out of 63 brokers, compared to IFC Markets at #53. In short: choose ThinkMarkets for richer chart tools, or IFC Markets if seamless watchlist syncing across devices matters most.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 94 | 30 |
| 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.
In a ThinkMarkets vs IFC Markets research comparison, both brokers cover the basics: you get daily market commentary, an economic calendar for global events, and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long and short positions. The key difference is news and extra research. ThinkMarkets includes premium forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and adds third‑party insights from Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). IFC Markets does not include these premium news feeds and doesn’t offer Acuity tools.
Neither broker provides Autochartist, Trading Central, or TipRanks. For overall quality, both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for research. That said, ForexBrokers.com ranks IFC Markets higher at #41 out of 63 brokers, compared with ThinkMarkets at #51, suggesting IFC Markets holds a slight edge in the category despite ThinkMarkets’ stronger news coverage.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing ThinkMarkets and IFC Markets in terms of educational resources for beginners, both brokers offer a substantial amount of learning materials with a focus on forex and CFDs. Each provides at least ten educational pieces, such as articles and videos, to help newcomers grasp trading concepts. However, ThinkMarkets distinguishes itself by hosting monthly online client webinars, which IFC Markets does not provide. Additionally, ThinkMarkets offers a searchable archive of past webinars for users to revisit at their convenience, a feature absent from IFC Markets' offerings. Both brokers cater to different experience levels, providing a range of beginner and advanced educational videos, and also offer an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms.
Despite the comprehensive resources available from both ThinkMarkets and IFC Markets, their education ratings are tied at 3.5 stars out of five. However, IFC Markets holds a higher standing compared to ThinkMarkets in the education category, ranked #30 out of 63 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets is positioned at #52. This ranking may influence beginner traders seeking a platform with a stronger emphasis on educational support. Overall, both brokers present valuable resources for novice traders, but those prioritizing interactive webinars and easier access to archived educational content may prefer ThinkMarkets.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 ThinkMarkets is better than IFC Markets. ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
ThinkMarkets has multiple regulatory license and offers a proprietary trading platform, as well as the entire MetaTrader suite. The broker has made progress in key areas, such as research and education, and the range of markets available, although trails behind the best brokers in these categories.
| Feature |
ThinkMarkets
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 73 |
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Both ThinkMarkets and IFC Markets do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, focusing instead on cryptocurrency derivatives trading, allowing investors to engage in cryptocurrency markets without owning the underlying assets.
In comparing online brokers ThinkMarkets and IFC Markets regarding their deposit and withdrawal options, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers nor PayPal, while ThinkMarkets offers Skrill and both platforms support Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers.
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 | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
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| Broker Screenshots | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 92 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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). |
| Cost | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 15 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 94 | 30 | |
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
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| Overall | ThinkMarkets | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review |
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