Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo 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.
Saxo and ThinkMarkets are two well-regarded online brokers, each with its own set of strengths when it comes to trust and regulation. Saxo, established in 1992, operates as a bank and holds an impressive seven top-tier, highly trusted licenses. This contributes to its outstanding Trust Score of 99, as rated by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets, which was founded in 2010, holds five of these top-tier licenses and achieves a strong Trust Score of 92. Although neither company is publicly traded, Saxo's status as a bank sets it apart in terms of regulatory standing.
Additionally, Saxo has one Tier-2 license, while ThinkMarkets has two Tier-2 licenses, indicating their diversified regulatory reach. With Trust Scores that place Saxo in the highest category and ThinkMarkets comfortably in the trusted range, both brokers secure a high level of confidence from their clients. Choosing between the two may depend on whether you value Saxo's long-standing history and banking status, or ThinkMarkets' relatively newer presence with a still impressive license collection.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Saxo delivers competitive pricing particularly favored by active and high-volume traders, as well as those maintaining substantial account balances. Saxo, rated 5 stars by ForexBrokers.com, ranks 9th out of 63 brokers in this category. Saxo's spreads for EUR/USD sit at 1.1 pips for Classic accounts, dropping to 1.0 pips and 0.9 pips for Platinum and VIP accounts, respectively. The Platinum and VIP account spreads align closely with industry averages, while the Classic account is slightly higher. It's important to note that Saxo has set the minimum deposit for its Classic account at $0, the Platinum account at $200,000, and the VIP account at $1,000,000. Furthermore, Saxo’s forex trading is commission-free, though traders dealing with less than 50,000 units monthly incur a $3 ticket fee per side.
In contrast, ThinkMarkets, which is rated 4 stars and ranks 48th by ForexBrokers.com in the same category, does not provide detailed average spread data. This lack of transparency could be a consideration for potential investors looking for specific cost comparisons. Unlike Saxo, which requires significant volume or high deposits to achieve favorable rates through tier upgrades and loyalty rewards, ThinkMarkets' details on spreads and fees remain absent, leaving traders to explore further with the broker directly.
Overall, Saxo offers a more transparent and structured approach with clear account tiers and loyalty rewards leading to reduced costs for elite traders. This places Saxo as a strong contender for serious investors looking for a blend of competitive pricing and premium service. ThinkMarkets, while offering decent service, may provide lesser cost clarity, potentially influencing traders seeking specific fee structures. For those comparing brokers extensively, Saxo emerges strongly due to its favorable ranking and detailed pricing strategies.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
In the Saxo vs ThinkMarkets comparison for range of investments, Saxo offers far more choice: about 70,000 tradeable symbols versus roughly 4,000 at ThinkMarkets, and around 190 forex pairs compared with 46. That wider selection aligns with ratings from ForexBrokers.com, where Saxo earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while ThinkMarkets receives 4.5 stars and ranks #24.
Both brokers support forex trading (CFD/spot) and offer copy trading. Neither lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency derivatives. A key difference is access to exchange-traded shares: Saxo enables direct share dealing on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas ThinkMarkets offers exchange-traded shares on international markets but not on U.S. exchanges. If you want U.S.-listed stocks and the broadest selection, Saxo stands out; if you only need international exchanges and a smaller lineup, ThinkMarkets may suit your needs.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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.
Saxo and ThinkMarkets both check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools: each offers a free demo (paper) account, a proprietary platform, Windows desktop and web-based platforms, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Neither supports ZuluTrade. A major difference is MetaTrader: ThinkMarkets supports both MT4 and MT5, while Saxo does not. Saxo’s platform emphasizes customization, including 60 watchlist columns versus 15 at ThinkMarkets, which may appeal if you like to fine-tune your workspace.
Independent testing from ForexBrokers.com gives Saxo a higher score for Trading Platforms and Tools (5/5 stars, ranked #1 of 63) compared with ThinkMarkets (4/5 stars, ranked #28 of 63). In short, choose ThinkMarkets if you need MT4 or MT5; pick Saxo if you want a highly rated in-house platform with extensive watchlist controls and strong chart-trading features.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 60 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Saxo and ThinkMarkets, both platforms are available on iPhone and Android devices, providing users with convenient access to trading on the go. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, allowing traders to stay updated with market movements. While both apps enable traders to create watchlists with real-time quotes, only Saxo offers syncing of watchlist symbols with the client's online account, providing seamless integration between mobile and desktop platforms. In terms of advanced charting capabilities, Saxo offers 64 technical studies and the ability to draw trendlines, features also available on ThinkMarkets' app, which excels with 94 technical studies. Both apps allow users to view multiple time frames on charts, ranging from daily to intraday, and they auto-save chart drawings, ensuring a user-friendly experience.
Overall, Saxo's mobile app holds a strong reputation with a top-notch rating of 5 stars and an impressive #2 ranking among 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category on ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, ThinkMarkets, while highly functional, is rated with 4 stars and ranks #20 in the same category. This suggests Saxo might offer a more polished and integrated mobile trading experience, particularly due to its syncing capabilities and higher overall rating, making it a better choice for traders seeking a comprehensive mobile trading solution.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 94 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Saxo and ThinkMarkets both deliver daily market commentary and stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Each includes a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning and an economic calendar for upcoming events. Key differences come from add-ons: Saxo integrates Autochartist for pattern and setup ideas, while ThinkMarkets does not; neither broker offers Trading Central or TipRanks. ThinkMarkets counters with Acuity Trading (Signal Centre) tools, which are not available at Saxo.
For overall research quality, Saxo earns 5 stars and ranks #1 of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #51. If you want a more complete research experience with Autochartist and top-tier news, Saxo is the stronger pick; if you prefer essential news and sentiment with added Acuity Trading signals, ThinkMarkets can fit the bill.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | 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 offerings for beginners between Saxo and ThinkMarkets, both online brokers provide a substantial foundation for those new to forex and CFDs trading. They each offer over ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on these subjects. Furthermore, both brokers host regular monthly webinars and provide accessible archives of previously recorded sessions for ongoing learning. There's also a rich selection of over ten beginner-focused trading videos available from each provider, ensuring newcomers have ample resources to hone their skills.
In terms of more advanced educational content and tools, Saxo and ThinkMarkets present a similar selection. Each offers over ten advanced trading videos and a comprehensive investor dictionary with more than 50 investing terms defined. However, when considered from an educational perspective, Saxo edges ahead with a 5-star rating compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. Rankings by ForexBrokers.com further reflect this difference, placing Saxo at #13, while ThinkMarkets falls to #52 out of 63 brokers. This suggests that although both brokers provide educational support, Saxo is perceived as offering a more refined educational experience.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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 Saxo is better than ThinkMarkets. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
Saxo is an exclusive multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 92 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Saxo and ThinkMarkets do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they each provide the option to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Saxo and ThinkMarkets provide Visa or Mastercard and bank wires as options to deposit or withdraw account funds, but unlike Saxo, ThinkMarkets also accepts Skrill; neither broker offers ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transfers.
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 | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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 | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | |||
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 60 | 15 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | 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 | 64 | 94 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | 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 | Saxo | 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 | Saxo Review |
| Overall | Saxo | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill