Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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.
When comparing IG and ThinkMarkets, IG emerges as a more established player in the online brokerage space, having been founded in 1974 versus ThinkMarkets' 2010 inception. IG is publicly traded and operates as a bank, enhancing its credibility and reputation further. With a perfect Trust Score rating of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, IG is considered highly trusted, boasting 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, underscoring its commitment to stringent regulatory oversight. In contrast, ThinkMarkets holds a commendable Trust Score of 92, with 5 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, indicating a strong but slightly lesser regulatory framework than IG.
Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, ThinkMarkets maintains a reputable presence in the financial markets. IG's broad regulatory coverage and higher trust rating provide an added layer of security for investors, making it a preferred choice for individuals seeking long-term stability and reliability. Nonetheless, ThinkMarkets is still a solid option for traders looking for a trusted broker, benefiting from its multiple licenses and a history that, while shorter than IG, is still substantial in the world of online trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When comparing online brokers IG and ThinkMarkets, IG stands out for its competitive pricing structure, particularly for active traders. Although not classed as a discount broker, IG's Forex Direct accounts offer pricing that appeals to the active trader. In July 2023, IG's main Forex Direct account reported spreads averaging 0.62 pips, with an all-in cost of 0.82 pips after factoring in a commission. Additionally, IG provides a three-tier active trader rebate program in some regions, which can reduce costs significantly for professionals, offering up to a 20% rebate on spreads.
IG, with an impressive five-star rating for commissions and fees, ranks 8th out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com. The broker's DMA account offers further savings, with a commission-based pricing structure available through the L2 Dealer platform. With a £1,000 minimum deposit, the average spread for the DMA account in July 2023 was 0.62 pips on the EUR/USD, providing an effective spread of 0.82 pips for high-volume traders. In comparison, ThinkMarkets does not currently offer average spread data, making a direct cost analysis difficult.
ThinkMarkets holds a four-star rating, ranking 48th in the Commissions and Fees category according to ForexBrokers.com, positioning it behind IG. While specific spread data for ThinkMarkets is unavailable, the broker's lower ranking suggests a less competitive fee structure. As such, traders looking for more transparent and potentially lower trading costs might prefer IG, especially if they engage in high-volume trading or qualify for its rebate programs.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG vs ThinkMarkets: for range of investments, IG delivers far more choice. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols versus ThinkMarkets’ 4,000, and offers 97 forex pairs compared with 46 at ThinkMarkets. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot. IG provides exchange-traded shares in both U.S. and international markets, while ThinkMarkets supports international shares but not U.S. listings. For crypto, IG lets you buy actual coins and trade crypto CFDs; ThinkMarkets limits crypto to CFDs. Copy trading is available at ThinkMarkets, but not at IG.
Independent ratings reflect the gap in breadth. IG earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. ThinkMarkets scores 4.5 stars and ranks #24 out of 63. If you want maximum market coverage—including U.S. shares and the option to own crypto—IG has the wider lineup. If copy trading matters and you’re comfortable without U.S. share dealing or delivered crypto, ThinkMarkets is a solid alternative.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
IG and ThinkMarkets both make it easy to get started with simulated (paper) trading via free demo accounts. Each broker offers its own proprietary platform alongside a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform, plus MetaTrader 4 (MT4). You can place trades straight from charts with both. Key differences: ThinkMarkets supports copy trading and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while IG does not. The exact counts of built-in chart indicators and watchlist fields aren’t specified here.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates IG at 5 stars and ranks it #2 out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets earns 4 stars and ranks #28. If you want one of the highest-rated platform experiences, IG stands out. If MT5 access and copy trading matter to you, ThinkMarkets may be the better fit.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG vs. ThinkMarkets: both brokers offer iPhone and Android trading apps with stock and forex price alerts. Each app lets you draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves your drawings. A key difference is watchlists: IG syncs your watchlist across mobile and web so changes carry over between devices, while ThinkMarkets does not support watchlist syncing.
For charting tools, ThinkMarkets lists 94 technical studies compared with IG’s 33. Even so, IG’s mobile app earns a higher score: 5 stars and a #1 ranking out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com. ThinkMarkets is rated 4 stars and ranks #20. Choose IG if you value top-rated usability and seamless watchlist syncing, or pick ThinkMarkets if having a larger set of built-in indicators matters more to you.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 94 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG vs ThinkMarkets: both brokers deliver daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources (e.g., Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones), sentiment tools that show long/short positioning, Acuity Trading research (Signal Centre), and a full economic calendar. Key differences: IG includes Autochartist for technical and fundamental screening, while ThinkMarkets does not; neither broker offers Trading Central. IG also adds TipRanks equity research, which ThinkMarkets lacks.
For research quality, IG stands out with a 5-star rating and a #2 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared to ThinkMarkets’ 3.5-star rating and #51 ranking. If you want wider third-party tools and equity insights alongside forex research, IG is the stronger pick; ThinkMarkets covers the essentials but with fewer add-ons.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing IG vs ThinkMarkets for beginner education: both brokers run monthly educational webinars and each offers at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. These resources can help you build core trading skills and progress into more complex ideas, with content that touches on forex and CFD topics and practical how-to guidance.
Independent ratings back up the difference in overall quality: IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #52. If top-tier beginner education and ongoing learning are priorities, IG is the stronger choice; ThinkMarkets provides helpful materials but trails IG in overall standing.
| Feature |
IG
|
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 IG is better than ThinkMarkets. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 |
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IG offers both actual (delivered) cryptocurrency purchases and cryptocurrency CFD trading, whereas ThinkMarkets does not support delivered crypto but does offer crypto CFDs.
IG supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals (but not Skrill), while ThinkMarkets does not support ACH/SEPA and its availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires is not specified.
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 | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | 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 | 33 | 94 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review |
| Overall | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
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