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Plus500 vs ThinkMarkets 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

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.

Plus500
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: €100
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 5500 info
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 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 logoPlus500
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Year Founded info 2008 2010
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 6 5
Tier-2 Licenses info 3 2
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 3

Fees

When comparing Plus500 and ThinkMarkets in terms of commissions and fees, Plus500's pricing is slightly above the industry average and performs below some of the leading forex brokers for active trader pricing, such as IG or Saxo. Although Plus500 does not offer discounts to retail clients, it does provide cash rebates similar to an active trader program if you qualify as a Professional client. Spreads for EUR/USD at Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry standard. Plus500 earns a 4.0-star rating for its commissions and fees and ranks 25th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.

On the other hand, while specific average spread data for ThinkMarkets is not available, it also achieves a 4.0-star rating for commissions and fees, similar to Plus500. However, ThinkMarkets is ranked lower at 48th out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com.

In summary, both Plus500 and ThinkMarkets offer competitive pricing with a 4.0-star rating for their commissions and fees. However, Plus500 is ranked higher than ThinkMarkets according to ForexBrokers.com, placing them among the top 25 brokers, whereas ThinkMarkets sits at 48th place.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Minimum Deposit info €100 $50 info
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 1.5 info 1.1 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.5 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info No Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes 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 between Plus500 and ThinkMarkets, both online brokers offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, providing traders with flexible options to engage in currency markets. Plus500 stands out with a formidable 5,500 tradeable symbols and access to 65 forex pairs, whereas ThinkMarkets offers 4,000 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Additionally, Plus500 enables clients to buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, broadening the investment landscape significantly, while ThinkMarkets only offers securities on international exchanges.

For investors interested in cryptocurrency, both brokers allow the trading of cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither provides access to actual cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, while Plus500 does not support copy trading, ThinkMarkets offers this feature, catering to those who prefer following seasoned traders. Despite these differences, both brokers achieve an impressive 4.5-star rating for their range of investments, with ThinkMarkets ranking slightly higher at 22 out of 63 brokers compared to Plus500's rank of 24. This ranking indicates strong investment offerings but highlights subtle distinctions in what each broker brings to the table for their clients.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes info Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 5500 info 4000
Forex Pairs (Total) info 65 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 No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info Yes info 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). 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.

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing Plus500 and ThinkMarkets, both brokers offer access to a free virtual demo account, making it easy for users to practice without risk. Each has its own proprietary platform, but Plus500 distinguishes itself with a web-based platform only, while ThinkMarkets additionally provides a Windows-based desktop platform. MetaTrader fans might lean towards ThinkMarkets, as it supports both MT4 and MT5, whereas Plus500 does not. For those interested in copy trading, ThinkMarkets offers this feature while Plus500 does not. Both brokers do not support DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.

In terms of charting and customization options, Plus500 provides 22 drawing tools compared to ThinkMarkets' 15. However, ThinkMarkets enhances usability by allowing trades directly from the stock chart, a feature Plus500 lacks. ThinkMarkets also offers more comprehensive watch lists with 15 fields compared to Plus500’s 10. Despite the differences, Plus500 receives a higher rating for Trading Platforms and Tools at 4.5 stars over ThinkMarkets’ 4 stars and is ranked #14 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets comes in at #28. Overall, Plus500 is a strong contender for those who prefer simplicity and web-based trading, while ThinkMarkets caters well to traders seeking more traditional and varied trading tools.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info No Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes info
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 114 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 22 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info No Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 10 15
View More

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

Forex trading apps

Both Plus500 and ThinkMarkets provide comprehensive mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, catering to a wide range of trader needs. Users of both platforms can enjoy features like stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and access to varying time frames on their charts. While ThinkMarkets offers an autosave feature for chart drawings that Plus500 does not, Plus500 makes up for this with enhanced watchlist features, allowing seamless syncing between mobile and online accounts, a convenience ThinkMarkets lacks. Furthermore, Plus500 shines in charting capabilities, offering 110 technical studies compared to ThinkMarkets’ 94, providing a more substantial toolbox for technical analysis enthusiasts.

Regarding user ratings and overall ranking, Plus500 holds a slight edge with a 4.5-star rating and a #14 ranking out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets is rated 4 stars and sits at #20 in the same category. Both apps facilitate the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, ensuring traders have up-to-date information at their fingertips. For those prioritizing a broader range of technical tools and seamless syncing capability, Plus500 might be the preferred choice, while users who appreciate an autosave feature for chart annotations might favor ThinkMarkets.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 110 94
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info No Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

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 logoPlus500
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info No Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info No Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

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 logoPlus500
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes info Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes info Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info No Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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 logoPlus500
ThinkMarkets logoThinkMarkets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 92
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.0/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.0/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Plus500 or ThinkMarkets?

Both Plus500 and ThinkMarkets do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.

What funding options does each broker offer?

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.




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 Plus500 ThinkMarkets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.0/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.0/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 92
Winner check_circle
Review Plus500 Review
Broker Screenshots Plus500 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 Plus500 ThinkMarkets
Trust Score info 99 92
Year Founded info 2008 2010
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 6 5
Tier-2 Licenses info 3 2
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 3
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) Plus500 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 No No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No 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) Plus500 ThinkMarkets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info Yes 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 Plus500 ThinkMarkets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes info Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 5500 info 4000
Forex Pairs (Total) info 65 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 No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info Yes info 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). 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 info 1.5 info 1.1 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.5 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info No Yes
Inactivity Fee info Yes Yes
Execution: Agency Broker info No Yes
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding Plus500 ThinkMarkets
Minimum Deposit info €100 $50 info
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info No No
Trading Platforms Plus500 ThinkMarkets
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info No Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No Yes info
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools Plus500 ThinkMarkets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 10 15
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 114 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 22 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info No Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading Plus500 ThinkMarkets
Android App info Yes 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 110 94
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info No Yes
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research Plus500 ThinkMarkets
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info No Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education Plus500 ThinkMarkets
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes info Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes info Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info No Yes
Major Forex Pairs Plus500 ThinkMarkets
GBP/USD info Yes info Yes
USD/JPY info Yes info Yes
EUR/USD info Yes info Yes
USD/CHF info Yes info Yes
USD/CAD info Yes info Yes
NZD/USD info Yes info Yes
AUD/USD info Yes info Yes
Review Plus500 Review
Overall Plus500 ThinkMarkets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.0/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.0/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 92
Winner check_circle
Review Plus500 Review
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