Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Vantage 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 Vantage and ThinkMarkets, both brokers share some common traits but also exhibit distinct regulatory profiles. Founded in 2009, Vantage has been in the market slightly longer than ThinkMarkets, which was established in 2010. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. However, what sets them apart is their level of regulatory oversight, which is vital for ensuring a secure trading environment.
Looking at their Trust Scores from ForexBrokers.com, ThinkMarkets scores 92 out of 99, indicating a higher level of trust compared to Vantage, which scores 90. ThinkMarkets holds an impressive five Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its strong regulatory backing, while Vantage holds two Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license. ThinkMarkets also possesses two Tier-2 licenses, giving it a slight edge in regulatory support. This comparative analysis reveals that both brokers are highly trusted, but ThinkMarkets offers a more extensive regulatory framework, potentially appealing more to those prioritizing stringent oversight.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Vantage is more transparent and offers multiple pricing paths, while ThinkMarkets provides less published spread data. Vantage is rated 4.5/5 stars and ranks 20th out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees on ForexBrokers.com; ThinkMarkets is rated 4/5 stars and ranks 48th out of 63. Overall, Vantage’s pricing sits near the industry average and doesn’t beat pricing leaders like Saxo, IG, or CMC Markets, but it can be compelling if you qualify for its lower-commission accounts.
At Vantage, costs vary by account type and the entity that holds your account. The Standard STP account is spread-only with typical EUR/USD spreads of 1.30 pips (March 2023). The RAW ECN account averaged 0.15 pips plus a $3 commission per side ($6 round turn), for about 0.75 pips all-in over the same period. The PRO ECN account charges $2 per side ($4 round turn) and is Vantage’s best-priced option, though access depends on where your account is opened: Australia generally requires wholesale-client status, while the Cayman Islands entity requires at least $10,000 to fund. Vantage also offers an active-trader program with $2–$8 per standard lot in rebates based on balance and monthly volume, but it only applies to the Standard account, which has the highest spreads.
For ThinkMarkets, average spread data was not available, limiting a like-for-like comparison on typical pricing. Given the ratings and rankings above, Vantage appears stronger on commissions and fees—especially on its RAW and PRO ECN tiers—while ThinkMarkets may be less competitive; however, total costs still depend on your platform, account type, and the entity you choose. Always confirm current spreads, commissions, and eligibility requirements before opening an account.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.30 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | 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.
Vantage and ThinkMarkets both let you trade forex (CFD or spot) and support copy trading. Each also offers cryptocurrency CFDs, but not direct, delivered crypto. If you want exchange-traded shares, neither broker offers U.S.-listed stocks; however, ThinkMarkets does provide access to some international exchange-traded shares, while Vantage does not.
In terms of breadth, ThinkMarkets lists about 4,000 tradeable symbols versus Vantage’s roughly 1,000. Vantage counters with more forex pairs (61 vs 46). For Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com rates Vantage 3.5/5 (ranked 51st of 63) and ThinkMarkets 4.5/5 (ranked 24th of 63). In short, ThinkMarkets suits traders who want a wider selection of markets, while Vantage appeals if your priority is a larger lineup of currency pairs.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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.
Vantage and ThinkMarkets line up closely on trading platforms and tools. Both offer a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Windows desktop software and a browser-based web platform, copy trading, and order placement directly from charts.
Each broker earns 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools. That said, Vantage holds a higher placement—ranked #21 out of 63 brokers—while ThinkMarkets is #28, according to ForexBrokers.com. If ranking is a tie-breaker, Vantage edges ahead; otherwise, the two appear similar on core platform access. Note: specific counts for built-in indicators and watch list fields were not provided.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Vantage and ThinkMarkets both deliver mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto‑saving of chart annotations. Neither app supports watchlist symbol syncing between mobile and web. The main differentiator is charting depth: Vantage offers 30 technical studies, while ThinkMarkets provides 94. Both earned 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, but in ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, ThinkMarkets placed #20 and Vantage ranked #29.
If you want a wider range of built-in indicators for technical analysis, ThinkMarkets’ mobile app has the edge. If your needs are more straightforward, Vantage covers the essentials with alerts and drawing tools on both iPhone and Android. Just note that watchlists won’t sync across devices on either platform.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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.
Vantage and ThinkMarkets both keep traders informed with daily market commentary and real-time forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each broker also includes a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions and an economic calendar covering upcoming global events.
The key differences are in research tools. Vantage adds Autochartist and Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights, while ThinkMarkets does not offer those but does include Acuity Trading (Signal Centre) content that Vantage lacks. Neither broker provides TipRanks. For research, Vantage earns 4 stars and ranks #22 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com; ThinkMarkets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #51. Choose Vantage if you want more built-in analysis tools, or ThinkMarkets if you prefer Acuity’s trading signals alongside standard news and commentary.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | 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.
Comparing Vantage vs ThinkMarkets for beginner education, both brokers make it easy to start learning. Each provides a forex/CFD education hub with 10+ pieces of content, runs client webinars at least once a month, and offers at least 10 beginner video lessons to cover the basics. When you’re ready to go deeper, both also deliver 10+ advanced videos to help you progress beyond entry-level topics.
Where they differ is overall quality and recognition. Vantage earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #24 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #52. If you want the stronger, better-rated education track, Vantage has the edge; if you just need the essentials—webinars plus beginner and advanced videos—ThinkMarkets still fits the bill.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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 Vantage is better than ThinkMarkets. Vantage finished with an overall rank of #26, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
Vantage rounds out its MetaTrader platform suite offering with support for multiple social trading platforms, content powered by Trading Central and a proprietary mobile app. However, Vantage trails industry leaders in key areas such as research and education.
| Feature |
Vantage
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ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 92 |
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Vantage vs ThinkMarkets: Both online brokers support cryptocurrency CFD trading, but neither offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
Vantage vs ThinkMarkets: Among online brokers’ deposit and withdrawal methods, both do not support ACH or SEPA; Vantage supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers; ThinkMarkets’ availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard cards, and bank wire options is 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Regulation | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 90 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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 | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.30 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Vantage Review |
| Overall | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
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