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IG vs ThinkMarkets 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

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.

IG
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £250.00
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 19537
ThinkMarkets
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $50 info
  • Trust Score: 92
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 4000

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.

Regulation

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 logoIG
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Year Founded info 1974 2010
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Tier-1 Licenses info 8 5
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 2
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 3

Fees

When comparing commissions and fees between IG and ThinkMarkets, IG emerges as a strong contender for active traders, thanks to its specialized Forex Direct accounts that offer attractive pricing plans. With average spreads on its Forex Direct account approximating the industry standard, IG maintains a competitive edge with spreads averaging 0.62 pips in July 2023, translating to an all-in cost of 0.82 pips after including a commission equivalent of 0.2 pips. It offers rebates for high-volume traders, providing significant discounts up to 20% based on forex volume. Additionally, IG's Direct Market Access (DMA) account caters to savvy traders seeking deeper discounts, with spreads as low as 0.82 pips when trading volumes exceed $1 billion per month. IG's robust offerings earn it a 5-star rating for commissions and fees, securing the #8 ranking out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.

ThinkMarkets, while offering competitive options, does not provide average spread data, making direct comparison with IG challenging. With a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ThinkMarkets holds the #47 position in ForexBrokers.com's category ranking. This suggests it may offer reasonable value but may not match the specialized pricing and rebates available through IG, which could be crucial for those engaging in high-frequency forex trading.

Overall, IG's various pricing structures and rebate programs place it ahead for traders looking for cost-effective trading solutions, especially in forex markets. While ThinkMarkets provides solid brokerage services, potential traders should assess their specific needs regarding spread and volume-based discounts before making a choice between the two.

Feature IG logoIG
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Minimum Deposit info £250.00 $50 info
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.98 info 1.1 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.82 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

When comparing the range of investments offered by IG and ThinkMarkets, IG generally provides a broader selection. IG offers a staggering 19,537 tradeable symbols, significantly more than ThinkMarkets' 4,000. For forex enthusiasts, IG features 97 tradeable forex pairs compared to ThinkMarkets' 46. Both platforms allow forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. However, IG goes further by providing access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, letting investors purchase big names like Apple directly, a feature ThinkMarkets lacks. On international exchanges, both platforms allow investments in companies such as Vodafone.

ThinkMarkets does offer some advantages, such as copy trading, which IG does not provide. However, IG maintains its lead by allowing the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas ThinkMarkets sticks to crypto derivatives only. With a 5-star rating and a commendable 4th place ranking out of 63 brokers for its range of investments, IG edges out ThinkMarkets' 4.5-star rating and 22nd place ranking. These distinctions make IG a comprehensive option for those seeking diverse investment possibilities.

Feature IG logoIG
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 19537 4000
Forex Pairs (Total) info 97 46
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes info
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info Yes Yes info
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.

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing the trading platforms and tools of IG and ThinkMarkets, both brokers offer a range of user-friendly options. IG stands out with a perfect 5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools. It provides a proprietary platform, a Windows-based desktop option, and a web-based trading platform, all of which offer simulated trading through a free virtual demo account. IG also supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), but not MetaTrader 5 (MT5) nor copy trading features like ZuluTrade or DupliTrade. Charting tools include 20 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from stock charts, with watch lists offering five columns for customization.

ThinkMarkets, rated 4 stars for its trading platforms and tools, also presents a strong offering with a proprietary platform, a Windows-based desktop platform, and a web-based option, each including a free virtual demo account. Though it offers both MT4 and MT5, a feature advantage over IG, ThinkMarkets also supports copy trading, unlike IG. However, its charting options include slightly fewer drawing tools at 15, though it matches IG in allowing trading directly from charts. ThinkMarkets excels in watch list customization with fifteen columns, despite being ranked #28 by ForexBrokers.com compared to IG's #2. Overall, both platforms cater well to traders, with specific features appealing to different trading needs.

Feature IG logoIG
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes info
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 33 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 20 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 5 15

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

Both IG and ThinkMarkets offer highly compatible trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, catering to stock and forex traders on the go. Both platforms enable users to receive price alerts and draw trendlines on charts with multiple time frames such as daily, weekly, or intraday. However, when it comes to syncing watchlists between the mobile app and the online account, IG has a clear advantage. Syncing allows traders to update their watchlists seamlessly across devices, a feature not present in ThinkMarkets' app.

IG also impresses with 33 technical studies available for charting in its mobile app, though ThinkMarkets offers significantly more, with 94 options. Despite this, IG's app earns high praise, receiving a five-star rating and ranking first out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, ThinkMarkets garners four stars and is ranked 20th. Traders who prioritize seamless watchlist syncing might lean toward IG, while those needing extensive charting tools might consider ThinkMarkets. Overall, both apps promise a solid trading experience, but IG stands out with its top-rated mobile app features.

Feature IG logoIG
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Android App info Yes info Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 94
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

For traders keen on market research, IG and ThinkMarkets offer valuable resources, but their offerings highlight distinct differences. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and deliver forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring users remain informed with the latest updates. Additionally, both brokers feature sentiment-based trading tools that help users gauge market trends by showing the ratio of long or short positions. Moreover, each platform furnishes an economic calendar, keeping traders abreast of global news events. However, IG distinguishes itself by providing market research via TipRanks and technical analysis tools from Autochartist, resources ThinkMarkets does not offer.

When delving into research tool quality, IG appears to take the lead, securing a 5-star rating for research compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. This is reflected in their standings, with IG ranking #2 out of 63 brokers in the Research category by ForexBrokers.com while ThinkMarkets trails at #50. Both brokers utilize research tools from Acuity Trading to enhance their insights, but the additional resources and higher ratings underscore IG's commitment to comprehensive market analysis, offering traders an edge through its wide array of research tools.

Feature IG logoIG
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central (Recognia) info No No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
TipRanks info Yes No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

IG and ThinkMarkets both provide a variety of educational resources for traders, especially those new to the world of forex and CFDs. Both platforms offer more than 10 educational pieces, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, focusing on forex or CFD topics. They also host online webinars monthly and maintain a searchable archive of past sessions to aid ongoing learning. Each broker offers over 10 videos tailored for beginners, as well as advanced content for seasoned traders. Additionally, both IG and ThinkMarkets provide investor dictionaries featuring more than 50 investing term definitions, making them great learning hubs for understanding trading concepts.

Despite the similarities in educational offerings, there is a noticeable difference in the ratings and rankings of these brokers. IG shines with a perfect 5-star rating for its educational content, securing the top spot as the number one broker for education on ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, ThinkMarkets is rated at 3.5 stars and is ranked 52nd out of 63 brokers in the education category. This disparity suggests that while both platforms supply ample learning materials, IG’s educational resources are regarded more highly by users and industry experts alike.

Feature IG logoIG
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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 logoIG
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 92
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with IG or ThinkMarkets?

While IG allows investors to purchase both actual delivered cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, ThinkMarkets provides the option to trade only cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual cryptocurrencies.

What funding options does each broker offer?

When comparing online brokers IG and ThinkMarkets, IG supports ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers for both deposits and withdrawals, while ThinkMarkets offers Visa, Mastercard, bank wire transfers, and Skrill but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating IG ThinkMarkets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 92
Winner check_circle
Review IG Review
Broker Screenshots IG ThinkMarkets
Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) info
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) info
Research Gallery (click to expand) info
Education Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation IG ThinkMarkets
Trust Score info 99 92
Year Founded info 1974 2010
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 8 5
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 2
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 3
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) IG ThinkMarkets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info Yes Yes
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info Yes No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info Yes Yes
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) IG ThinkMarkets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info Yes Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No No
Investments IG ThinkMarkets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 19537 4000
Forex Pairs (Total) info 97 46
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes info
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info Yes No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info Yes Yes info
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 info 0.98 info 1.1 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.82 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
Inactivity Fee info Yes Yes
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes Yes
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding IG ThinkMarkets
Minimum Deposit info £250.00 $50 info
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms IG ThinkMarkets
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes info
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools IG ThinkMarkets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 5 15
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 33 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 20 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading IG ThinkMarkets
Android App info Yes info Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 94
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research IG ThinkMarkets
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central (Recognia) info No No
TipRanks info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education IG ThinkMarkets
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs IG ThinkMarkets
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review IG Review
Overall IG ThinkMarkets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 92
Winner check_circle
Review IG Review
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