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 |
When comparing the online brokers Vantage and ThinkMarkets for their commissions and fees, Vantage generally offers more detailed pricing structures across its various account types. Vantage provides three account options: the Standard STP account with only spreads, and the RAW ECN and PRO ECN accounts, which include commissions. While Vantage's spreads and fees align with industry averages, they fall short when compared to leaders like Saxo, IG, and CMC Markets. Notably, the PRO ECN account stands out as its most cost-effective choice, with a per-side commission of $2, making it competitive among brokers like FP Markets and Tickmill.
ThinkMarkets lacks readily available data on average spreads and relies more on its straightforward fee structure. Despite this, both brokers offer competitive pricing, though Vantage seems to provide a more comprehensive breakdown of costs, potentially offering greater transparency for traders looking to understand their expenses better. Vantage's active trader program further incentivizes higher trading volumes with rebates on its Standard account, a feature that may appeal to frequent traders seeking to optimize costs.
In terms of ratings, Vantage is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees while ThinkMarkets carries a rating of 4 stars. Ranking-wise, Vantage is positioned at #19 and ThinkMarkets at #47 out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. These differences reflect Vantage’s more intricate fee structure and potentially greater cost-saving opportunities for traders, especially those with higher trading volumes or balances.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | 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 available range of investments, both Vantage and ThinkMarkets allow traders to participate in forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. However, ThinkMarkets offers a broader scope with 4,000 tradeable symbols compared to Vantage's 1,000. Conversely, Vantage provides a slightly larger selection of forex pairs, with 61 pairs versus the 46 pairs available with ThinkMarkets. If your focus is on trading individual company shares, Vantage may not meet your needs as it doesn't offer exchange-traded securities. On the other hand, ThinkMarkets does enable investing in international shares, though not those listed on U.S. exchanges.
If you're interested in experimenting with copy trading or cryptocurrency derivatives, you'll find both options available through each of these platforms. However, neither Vantage nor ThinkMarkets supports buying actual cryptocurrencies. Based on user feedback, ThinkMarkets scores higher in the Range of Investments category, receiving 4.5 stars compared to Vantage's 3.5 stars. Moreover, ThinkMarkets is ranked 22nd out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for investment range, which surpasses Vantage's ranking at number 50.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Vantage and ThinkMarkets, both brokers offer a comprehensive range of features to enhance the trading experience. They each provide a proprietary platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), alongside user-friendly simulated trading options through free virtual demo accounts. Traders using either broker can access a Windows-based desktop download platform or a web-based trading environment. When it comes to copy trading, both brokers offer similar services, yet only Vantage provides the DupliTrade feature. Unfortunately, neither broker offers ZuluTrade.
Charting capabilities are essential for informed trading decisions, and both Vantage and ThinkMarkets equip traders with 15 drawing tools while also allowing trades directly from stock charts. However, ThinkMarkets surpasses Vantage in flexibility, offering 15 watch list columns compared to Vantage's 7. Both brokers receive a solid rating of 4 stars for their platforms and tools, but Vantage's edge is reflected in its higher ForexBrokers.com rank at #21, while ThinkMarkets sits at #28 among 63 brokers. This makes Vantage slightly more appealing for those prioritizing platforms and tools in their trading journey.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Vantage and ThinkMarkets provide mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, catering to the needs of traders on the go. These apps include essential features like stock and forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts, catering well to both beginners and experienced traders. Furthermore, both platforms ensure that traders can access different time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday, enhancing the charting experience. However, neither app currently supports watchlist symbol syncing, meaning any changes made on the mobile app won't automatically update on the client's online account.
When it comes to technical analysis, ThinkMarkets stands out by offering 94 technical studies for charting, while Vantage provides 30. Both platforms allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes and ensure drawings on charts are saved automatically for future reference. In terms of user satisfaction, both Vantage and ThinkMarkets receive a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. However, ThinkMarkets holds a higher ranking (#20) compared to Vantage (#28) in a survey by ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, indicating a slight edge in user preference.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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.
When comparing Vantage and ThinkMarkets for their market research features, both brokers stand out in providing daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, Vantage edges ahead with its inclusion of technical analysis and research tools from companies such as Autochartist and Trading Central, which ThinkMarkets does not offer. Both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools and a comprehensive economic calendar, helping traders stay informed about the latest market trends and global news events.
While ThinkMarkets offers research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, Vantage does not, providing a slightly different set of resources for their users. In terms of overall research ratings, Vantage scores higher with four stars, compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars, according to expert reviews. Furthermore, Vantage ranks 21st among 63 brokers in the research category on ForexBrokers.com, a notable advantage over ThinkMarkets, which ranks 50th. This comparison indicates that Vantage may be a more suitable choice for traders seeking a broader range of research tools and resources.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | 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 looking for an online broker with solid educational resources for beginners, both Vantage and ThinkMarkets offer a wealth of materials to help you learn the ropes of forex and CFDs trading. Both brokers deliver a collection of over ten educational articles, videos, and webinars specifically focused on forex or CFDs. They conduct monthly online webinars to engage and educate users and provide a searchable archive of past sessions for easy access. Beginner traders can find more than ten videos tailored to their needs on both platforms, and advanced traders can also benefit from a similar number of specialized resources. Each broker also features an investor dictionary to clarify over 50 trading terms, making it easier for newcomers to get acquainted with trading jargon.
While both Vantage and ThinkMarkets shine in providing resources for traders at all experience levels, there are some differences in how they are rated and ranked. Vantage edges ahead with a 4-star rating for education, compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. When ranked against 63 other brokers, Vantage holds the 24th spot, whereas ThinkMarkets sits at 52nd according to ForexBrokers.com. This suggests that Vantage might offer a slightly better educational experience, making it a potentially more attractive choice for beginners eager to deepen their understanding of trading.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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 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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Both Vantage and ThinkMarkets do not provide the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Vantage and ThinkMarkets, neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers, but Vantage supports PayPal while ThinkMarkets does not; both brokers allow Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transactions for depositing or withdrawing funds.
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 |
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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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 15 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | 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 | Vantage Review |
| Overall | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
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