Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers, established in 1977, and ThinkMarkets, founded in 2010, are both competitive online trading platforms, but they differ significantly in their trust assessments and regulatory credentials. Interactive Brokers boasts a superb ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, indicating a high level of trust. This trust is reinforced by its possession of 9 Tier-1 licenses, which underscores a strong regulatory standing. In addition to its Tier-1 credentials, Interactive Brokers holds 2 Tier-2 licenses. Furthermore, it is publicly traded, allowing for additional transparency and scrutiny.
In comparison, ThinkMarkets has a commendable ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 92, which also signifies high trust, although slightly lower than Interactive Brokers. ThinkMarkets holds a solid number of regulatory credentials, including 5 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses. Unlike Interactive Brokers, ThinkMarkets is not publicly traded. Neither of the firms operate as banks, focusing solely on brokerage services, thus providing a pure trading experience. When choosing between the two, Interactive Brokers offers a slightly higher trust score and more regulatory licenses, catering to users who prioritize these aspects. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets presents a strong but slightly different appeal with its impressive trust score and regulatory framework.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
Interactive Brokers and ThinkMarkets both target forex traders, yet their commission structures and fees differ significantly. Interactive Brokers stands out with a star rating of 5 in the commissions and fees category, ranking an impressive #2 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. They offer competitive pricing with forex trading commissions starting at 0.2 basis points of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a $2 minimum charge per order. This can drop even further, to as low as 0.08 basis points, for highly active traders. Interactive Brokers is distinct in charging commissions instead of marking up spreads, offering effective costs that make it a frontrunner in low-cost trading.
In comparison, ThinkMarkets has a slightly lower star rating of 4 and is ranked #47 by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees. Unfortunately, detailed average spread data for ThinkMarkets is not readily available, making direct comparison challenging. Despite this, ThinkMarkets is recognized for providing a straightforward pricing structure, though it does not reach the competitive levels of Interactive Brokers. For traders who prioritize transparent pricing and lower costs, Interactive Brokers presents a compelling option.
For traders handling large volumes, Interactive Brokers offers additional incentives. Achieving monthly trading volumes exceeding $1 billion can lower the minimum charge from $2 to $1.5 per order, and reaching $5 billion per month can reduce it further to $1. These benefits, combined with their capability to efficiently manage large trades, ensure Interactive Brokers remains an attractive platform for high-volume traders looking for comprehensive execution solutions. In contrast, ThinkMarkets offers a steady broker service but lacks the advanced pricing tiers available at Interactive Brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and ThinkMarkets both provide a broad spectrum of investment options, catering to a variety of trading preferences. With Interactive Brokers, investors can access an impressive lineup of 8,500 tradeable symbols and 90 forex pairs, offering greater diversity for those keen on exploring more global opportunities. It also allows trading in actual cryptocurrencies and U.S exchange-traded securities, including prominent companies like Apple. This versatility has earned Interactive Brokers a commendable five-star rating for range of investments, ranking it first out of 63 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, ThinkMarkets presents a solid option with 4,000 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs, though it lacks the breadth of its competitor. Unlike Interactive Brokers, it does not provide the ability to trade U.S. exchange-traded securities or buy actual cryptocurrency, but it does support cryptocurrency derivatives and offers copy trading, enhancing its appeal to some traders. ThinkMarkets holds a respectable 4.5-star rating in range of investments and is ranked 22nd out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. While both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, they cater to slightly different needs, with Interactive Brokers appealing to those seeking a wider investment array.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
Interactive Brokers and ThinkMarkets both provide traders with a full array of trading platforms and tools, catering to diverse trading styles and preferences. Each broker offers the convenience of simulated or paper trading through free virtual demo accounts, which are ideal for beginners looking to hone their skills without any financial risk. Both platforms have developed proprietary trading software and are compatible with Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based interfaces, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for users who prefer trading across different devices. Where they differ significantly is in features like copy trading and compatibility with popular platforms. ThinkMarkets supports MetaTrader 4 and 5, along with copy trading options, enhancing its appeal for users seeking these functionalities. Conversely, Interactive Brokers does not offer MetaTrader platform support or copy trading. Instead, they focus on other advanced charting tools, boasting 85 drawing tools, though lacking in technical indicators when compared to some peers.
In terms of trading directly from stock charts, both brokers come well-equipped to facilitate this style of trading. However, Interactive Brokers stands out with a broader customization potential by offering 659 columns for watch lists, far surpassing ThinkMarkets' 15 columns, appealing to those who value in-depth market analyses. As a result, Interactive Brokers receives a commendable five-star rating for their trading platforms and tools and is ranked third among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. ThinkMarkets, despite its stronger focus on popular platforms like MetaTrader and copy trading, earns four stars and ranks 28th in the same category. While both brokers present robust offerings, the choice between them may come down to specific platform preferences and the value placed on broader analytical customization versus the availability of popular trading tools.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
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) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and ThinkMarkets both offer solid mobile trading experiences with dedicated apps available for iPhone and Android devices. Each app provides a set of essential features such as stock or forex price alerts and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes. While both brokers allow users to draw trendlines on charts and view them in multiple timeframes, Interactive Brokers stands out with its ability to sync watchlist symbols across devices, a feature ThinkMarkets lacks.
For technical analysis enthusiasts, Interactive Brokers offers a slightly more extensive toolkit with 97 technical studies compared to ThinkMarkets' 94. However, ThinkMarkets makes up for this by allowing automatic saving of chart drawings, which Interactive Brokers does not support. In terms of overall customer satisfaction, Interactive Brokers is rated higher with five stars and ranks as the fourth best among 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category according to ForexBrokers.com. ThinkMarkets trails behind with a four-star rating, ranked 20th in the same category.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 94 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Interactive Brokers and ThinkMarkets offer valuable market research tools to empower investors with the information needed for informed decision-making. Both platforms provide daily market commentary and forex news sourced from major outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. While neither broker offers tools from Autochartist, Interactive Brokers stands out by integrating tools from Trading Central, offering advanced technical analytics that ThinkMarkets does not. Both brokers supply a sentiment-based trading tool and economic calendars to help traders gauge market trends and upcoming events.
Interactive Brokers further distinguishes itself with exclusive access to market research from TipRanks and tools from Acuity Trading, including Signal Centre. Reflecting these differences, Interactive Brokers earns a stellar 5-star rating for research, ranking 3rd among 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. By contrast, ThinkMarkets, which does not provide TipRanks research, holds a rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 50th in the same category. These ratings highlight the comprehensive and advanced research offerings of Interactive Brokers compared to those available at ThinkMarkets.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
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 | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Interactive Brokers and ThinkMarkets provide a comprehensive suite of offerings. Each platform offers over 10 educational pieces focusing on forex or CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Monthly online educational webinars, along with searchable archives of past sessions, are also available on both platforms. Additionally, they both provide over 10 beginner-friendly educational videos on trading topics. Their commitment to beginner education is evident, making them accessible for individuals new to trading.
However, Interactive Brokers stands out with a top-tier rating of 5 stars for education, compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers ranks 3rd out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets is positioned at 52nd in the education category. Both platforms offer an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, yet the noticeable difference in rankings and ratings suggests that Interactive Brokers provides a more impressive and extensive educational experience for novices looking to navigate the trading landscape.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
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 Interactive Brokers is better than ThinkMarkets. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 |
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Interactive Brokers allows users to buy both actual delivered cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas ThinkMarkets provides the option to purchase only cryptocurrency derivatives.
Interactive Brokers and ThinkMarkets differ in their deposit and withdrawal options: Interactive Brokers supports ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires, while ThinkMarkets additionally offers Visa or Mastercard and Skrill but does not support ACH or SEPA transfers; neither broker offers PayPal as a funding method.
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 | Interactive Brokers | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Interactive Brokers | 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) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | Interactive Brokers | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 15 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | 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 | 97 | 94 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review |
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