Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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 the online brokers Plus500 and ThinkMarkets, both platforms offer reliable trading options but differ in some key areas. Plus500, established in 2008, is publicly traded and holds six Tier-1 licenses, contributing to its exceptional Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. ThinkMarkets, founded in 2010 and not publicly traded, holds five Tier-1 licenses and achieves a commendable Trust Score of 92. Neither broker operates as a bank, yet they are prominently regulated, reflecting their commitment to providing secure trading environments.
The higher number of Tier-1 licenses held by Plus500 indicates a stronger regulatory foundation, which can be particularly appealing to traders prioritizing trust and security. ThinkMarkets, while slightly behind in licenses, maintains a solid reputation with its impressive regulatory measures. Despite their differences, both brokers are considered highly trusted by industry standards, offering traders peace of mind when engaging in financial markets.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Plus500’s pricing sits slightly above the industry average and trails top choices for active traders, whereas ThinkMarkets lacks published average spread data for a direct apples-to-apples view. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 earns 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks 24th out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while ThinkMarkets is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 48th out of 63.
For traders focused on spreads, Plus500’s EUR/USD averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry average. Plus500 does not offer retail discounts, but eligible Professional clients can access cash rebates similar to an active trader program. Active traders may find sharper pricing at leaders like IG or Saxo, while ThinkMarkets’ lack of average spread data makes direct fee comparisons harder.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Plus500 vs ThinkMarkets: For range of investments, both brokers support forex trading and offer cryptocurrency CFDs (but not actual crypto). Plus500 lists about 5,500 tradable symbols and 65 forex pairs, while ThinkMarkets offers roughly 4,000 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Each earns a 4.5/5 rating for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com, with Plus500 ranked #22 out of 63 brokers and ThinkMarkets close behind at #24.
If stock access matters, Plus500 lets you buy exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas ThinkMarkets offers exchange-traded shares on international markets only. Prefer social features? ThinkMarkets supports copy trading; Plus500 does not. In short, Plus500 suits traders who want more symbols, more forex pairs, and U.S. share dealing, while ThinkMarkets appeals to those who value copy trading alongside a wide, but slightly smaller, lineup.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
Plus500 and ThinkMarkets both offer free demo (paper) trading and their own in-house platforms. Plus500 focuses on a clean, browser-based experience and does not provide a Windows desktop app, copy trading, or MetaTrader. ThinkMarkets, by contrast, offers both a web platform and a downloadable Windows platform, supports copy trading, and works with MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). If you like placing orders straight from a chart, ThinkMarkets includes that feature; Plus500 does not.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates Plus500 at 4.5/5 stars and ranks it #14 out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets scores 4/5 stars and ranks #28. In short, Plus500 suits traders who want a simple web platform and an easy demo, whereas ThinkMarkets is better if you want a desktop option, MetaTrader compatibility, copy trading, and chart trading.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and ThinkMarkets both offer iPhone and Android trading apps with price alerts. Plus500 supports watchlist syncing between the mobile app and your online account, while ThinkMarkets does not sync watchlists. For charting, Plus500 includes 115 technical studies compared to 94 on ThinkMarkets. Both apps let you draw trendlines; however, ThinkMarkets auto-saves drawings, whereas Plus500 does not.
Plus500’s mobile app is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets is rated 4 stars and ranks #20. Choose Plus500 if you want more indicators and seamless watchlist sync across devices; pick ThinkMarkets if auto-saving your chart drawings matters more for your workflow.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 94 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 and ThinkMarkets both cover the basics for market research: each offers daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and sentiment tools that show the ratio of long vs. short positions. Neither broker includes Autochartist or TipRanks. The key differences are in premium add‑ons and news: ThinkMarkets streams forex news from top‑tier sources (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters, Dow Jones) and provides Acuity Trading tools like Signal Centre, while Plus500 counters with Trading Central analytics—features ThinkMarkets doesn’t include.
Overall, Plus500 earns 4.0 stars for research and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with ThinkMarkets at 3.5 stars and a #51 ranking. Choose Plus500 if you want Trading Central’s technical and fundamental insights built into the platform. Pick ThinkMarkets if real-time premium news and Acuity Trading signals matter more to your workflow.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Plus500 and ThinkMarkets both cater to beginners with live learning and video-based training. Each broker runs monthly client webinars and offers 10+ beginner videos that explain trading basics in plain language, along with 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. The data provided did not confirm whether either broker has at least 10 forex- or CFD-focused articles or similar written pieces, but both do deliver education that covers forex and CFDs.
When it comes to third-party ratings for education, Plus500 is scored 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks 31st out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks 52nd. If your priority is education alone, Plus500 holds the edge based on its higher score and placement, though ThinkMarkets still offers steady webinars and a solid library of beginner and advanced videos.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 Plus500 is better than ThinkMarkets. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
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ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 |
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In the Plus500 vs ThinkMarkets comparison for cryptocurrency, neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) coins, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal options, Plus500 does not support ACH or SEPA but does support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers while providing no stated details on Visa/Mastercard, whereas ThinkMarkets also does not support ACH or SEPA and has no stated details on PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, or bank wire options.
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 | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | 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) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | 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 | 115 | 94 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
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