Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of OANDA 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.
OANDA, established in 1996, and ThinkMarkets, launched in 2010, are both reputable online brokers in the trading industry. Neither firm is publicly traded nor operates as a bank. OANDA holds a higher number of Tier-1 licenses, with seven, compared to ThinkMarkets' five, indicating a strong commitment to regulatory standards. Furthermore, OANDA has a Trust Score of 93 according to ForexBrokers.com, slightly outperforming ThinkMarkets' score of 92, making both brokers highly trustworthy choices for online trading.
ThinkMarkets possesses two Tier-2 licenses, reflecting an additional level of compliance and trust, whereas OANDA holds none. These regulatory credentials highlight the ongoing dedication both brokers have to meeting industry standards and maintaining trader confidence. Despite these differences, both remain reliable and secure trading platforms for clients seeking a stable and regulated environment.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
Comparing commissions and fees, both OANDA and ThinkMarkets earn 4 out of 5 stars for pricing, but OANDA ranks higher (#35 of 63) than ThinkMarkets (#48 of 63) in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category. A direct, like-for-like spread comparison is tricky: ThinkMarkets does not provide average spread data, while OANDA publishes a trailing average rather than fixed-period averages.
OANDA’s overall trading costs tend to run on the high side versus the cheapest brokers. Its non-core (commission-free) pricing averaged 1.61 pips on EUR/USD in July 2024. The Core Pricing plan lowers the spread but adds a $5 per side commission per $100,000 traded (about $10 per round turn), and requires a $10,000 minimum deposit. In a common example, a 1.6‑pip default spread can come down to about 1.4 pips all-in under Core Pricing (0.4‑pip spread plus ~1 pip commission equivalent). OANDA also allows trade sizes down to 1 unit (0.001 micro lot) and offers active-trader rebates of $5–$17 per million, with potential TradingView subscription reimbursements in select regions.
With ThinkMarkets, the lack of published average spreads makes it hard to estimate typical, all-in costs across market conditions. Given the equal star ratings but different rankings, traders focused on pricing transparency and advanced discount tiers may find OANDA easier to evaluate, while ThinkMarkets’ actual day-to-day costs remain less clear from publicly available data.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.69 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
OANDA and ThinkMarkets both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts. OANDA offers 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, while ThinkMarkets lists about 4,000 symbols and 46 pairs. For Range of Investments, ThinkMarkets is rated 4.5/5 (ranked #24 of 63), edging OANDA’s 4/5 rating (ranked #28).
For traditional investing, OANDA stands out in the U.S.: you can buy exchange-traded securities (not CFDs) on U.S. exchanges like NASDAQ, as well as on international exchanges. ThinkMarkets offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges but not on U.S. markets. In crypto, OANDA supports both actual coins and crypto CFDs, while ThinkMarkets offers crypto via CFDs only. Both brokers also support copy trading.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
Comparing OANDA vs ThinkMarkets on trading platforms and tools, both brokers tick the key boxes: free demo (paper) accounts, proprietary platforms built in-house, and full support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Each offers a Windows desktop download platform and a web-based platform, plus copy trading. You can also place trades directly from charts with either broker, making it easier to act on price action without switching screens.
In terms of recognition, both OANDA and ThinkMarkets earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. According to ForexBrokers.com’s category rankings, OANDA sits at #15 out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets is #28. The feature sets are closely matched, so the best way to decide may be to try their free demo accounts and see which platform workflow you prefer.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing OANDA vs ThinkMarkets for mobile trading: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, stock or forex price alerts, trendline drawing on charts, and auto-saving of chart annotations. Neither app syncs watchlists between mobile and the online account. According to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA’s mobile app earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets earns 4 stars and ranks #20.
For charting tools, OANDA includes 30 technical studies in its mobile app, whereas ThinkMarkets offers 94. Traders who want a larger selection of indicators may favor ThinkMarkets, while those who prioritize a higher-rated overall mobile experience may lean toward OANDA.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 94 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research, OANDA stands out with a 5-star Research rating and a #4 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #51. Both brokers deliver daily market commentary and curated forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, giving traders timely insights across markets.
Feature-wise, both OANDA and ThinkMarkets offer an economic calendar and sentiment tools that show the ratio of long vs. short positions. OANDA adds an edge with Autochartist for technical setups, whereas ThinkMarkets counters with research from Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). Neither broker includes Trading Central or TipRanks. In short: choose OANDA if you value higher-rated research and Autochartist; pick ThinkMarkets if Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre is a priority.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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 | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
OANDA vs ThinkMarkets for beginner education: both brokers make it easy to get started with forex and CFD learning. Each hosts ongoing client webinars at least once a month and offers large video libraries that include 10 or more beginner lessons plus 10 or more advanced lessons, so you can build from basics to more complex strategies over time.
Where they differ is in third‑party evaluations. OANDA earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #52 out of 63. If your priority is higher‑rated educational depth and structure, OANDA stands out, though ThinkMarkets still provides solid webinars and a sizable set of beginner and advanced videos.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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 OANDA is better than ThinkMarkets. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #12, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
A trusted global brand, OANDA stands out for its reputation and quality market research. Its regulatory track record is strong, and its support for third-party features bolsters its overall offering.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 93 | 92 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
OANDA vs ThinkMarkets: OANDA lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, while ThinkMarkets supports only crypto CFDs and does not offer direct crypto purchases.
OANDA vs ThinkMarkets: OANDA supports depositing and withdrawing account funds via ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires, while ThinkMarkets does not support ACH/SEPA transfers (other ThinkMarkets funding options 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 93 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.69 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 94 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | OANDA Review |
| Overall | OANDA | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 93 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill