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 |
When comparing Plus500 to ThinkMarkets in terms of commissions and fees, both platforms offer distinct advantages. Plus500's pricing is slightly above the industry average, particularly for active trader pricing. While the broker does not extend discounts to retail clients, Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates, similar to an active trader program. For the popular forex pair EUR/USD, Plus500 averaged spreads of 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry benchmark. Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars out of five for its commission and fee structure and ranks 23rd out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, ThinkMarkets does not provide average spread data, offering limited information on its pricing structure. However, it matches Plus500 with a rating of 4 stars out of five for commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com. Despite this similarity in star rating, ThinkMarkets is positioned lower in the rankings at 47th out of 63 brokers, indicating that other factors might influence its overall rating in comparison to Plus500.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to the variety of investments available, Plus500 and ThinkMarkets both offer impressive options for traders, although with some key differences. Plus500 stands out with a larger selection of tradeable symbols, offering 5,500 compared to ThinkMarkets' 4,000. Forex traders with Plus500 can engage with 65 forex pairs, slightly more than the 46 pairs available at ThinkMarkets. Additionally, Plus500 provides access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, allowing clients to invest in shares like Apple, a feature not available at ThinkMarkets. However, both brokers facilitate trading on international exchanges, so investors can buy shares like Vodafone.
Both brokers extend the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives rather than the actual digital assets, catering to those interested in this volatile market. ThinkMarkets offers the additional feature of copy trading, which Plus500 does not. Despite these differences, both brokers are highly regarded for their range of investments, each earning a 4.5-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 ranks slightly higher at 21st in the Range of Investments category, while ThinkMarkets follows closely at 23rd. This positions both as strong contenders for traders seeking a diverse range of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 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) | No | 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). 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.
Both Plus500 and ThinkMarkets offer traders the advantage of practicing with free virtual demo accounts. While Plus500 impresses with its proprietary, web-based platform offering user-friendly features and advanced drawing tools, it lacks alternative platform support such as MetaTrader 4 or 5. Conversely, ThinkMarkets provides a broader range of platform options, including a proprietary web-based platform and a Windows-based desktop platform. It also supports MetaTrader 4 and 5, catering to traders who prefer these widely-used platforms.
In addition to platform variety, ThinkMarkets stands out with copy trading features and the ability to trade directly from stock charts. It provides more columns for watch list customization compared to Plus500 but offers fewer drawing tools. Overall, Plus500 is rated higher for its trading platforms and tools with a 4.5-star rating, ranking 14th among 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets holds a 4-star rating and ranks 28th. Each broker brings distinct features to the table, allowing traders to choose based on their specific needs and trading styles.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | 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) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Plus500 and ThinkMarkets provide comprehensive iPhone and Android apps, making them accessible for traders on the go. Each app delivers essential features like price alerts for stocks or forex and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. However, Plus500 stands out with its watchlist symbol syncing capability, ensuring that any modifications on the mobile app automatically update the online account as well. Plus500 also offers an impressive 115 technical studies for charting, compared to ThinkMarkets' 94. Although ThinkMarkets' app auto-saves chart drawings, Plus500 does not support this feature.
In terms of user ratings and industry rankings, Plus500 slightly edges out ThinkMarkets. With a 4.5-star rating for its mobile app compared to ThinkMarkets' 4 stars, Plus500 demonstrates a high level of user satisfaction. Furthermore, when ranked by ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 achieves the 14th position out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, while ThinkMarkets is ranked 20th. Both apps enable users to create a watchlist with real-time quotes, but Plus500's combination of seamless watchlist syncing and a broad array of technical studies makes it a favored choice among traders seeking a feature-rich mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 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.
When comparing Plus500 and ThinkMarkets for market research offerings, both brokers provide daily market commentary and a valuable sentiment-based trading tool. However, Plus500 falls short in offering forex news from established sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, a feature that ThinkMarkets provides. On the flip side, Plus500 has the edge with research tools from Trading Central, while ThinkMarkets lacks this specific offering. Additionally, ThinkMarkets enhances its market research with tools from Acuity Trading, which are absent in Plus500's toolbox. Both brokers feature an economic calendar, helping traders stay informed on global news events.
While Plus500 and ThinkMarkets present unique benefits, there is a noticeable difference in their research ratings and rankings. Plus500 garners a 4.0-star rating for its research services, ranking 19th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, showing a stronger position in the market. In contrast, ThinkMarkets receives a 3.5-star rating and holds the 50th position. This comparison highlights Plus500's slightly superior position in providing comprehensive market research tools for traders.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources offered by Plus500 and ThinkMarkets, both online brokers provide a comprehensive learning experience for beginners interested in forex and CFDs trading. Each offers over ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, specifically designed to enhance beginner knowledge. Both platforms also host monthly webinars and provide a searchable archive of past sessions, allowing users to learn at their own pace. This attention to beginner education is reflected in Plus500's slightly higher education rating of 4.0 stars compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars.
In addition to extensive beginner resources, both brokers offer over ten advanced educational videos for more experienced traders. However, Plus500 lacks an investor dictionary, which is something ThinkMarkets provides, offering definitions for over 50 investing terms. Despite this difference, Plus500's more diversified and accessible educational resources place it at 31st in ForexBrokers.com's education category rankings, compared to ThinkMarkets' 52nd position, highlighting Plus500's edge in educational offerings for novices.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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) | No | 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
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 |
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Both Plus500 and ThinkMarkets do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing the online brokers Plus500 and ThinkMarkets, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, but Plus500 uniquely accepts PayPal alongside Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for fund transactions, whereas ThinkMarkets matches only the options for Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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/Central Bank 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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). 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 | 1.3 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | 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 | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 15 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 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 | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | 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 | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
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