Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group 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 considering online brokers, XM Group and ThinkMarkets stand out for their credibility. Founded in 2009, XM Group holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93 out of 99, placing it in the highly trusted category. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets, established in 2010, holds a slightly lower Trust Score of 92 but still remains highly trusted. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank, focusing solely on providing trading services.
In terms of regulatory standing, XM Group holds four Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust, alongside one Tier-2 license. ThinkMarkets surpasses in this aspect with five Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, showcasing a particularly strong regulatory framework. These licenses play a crucial role in building trust and ensuring trader confidence in both platforms.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When comparing online brokers XM Group and ThinkMarkets based on their commissions and fees, both receive a solid four-star rating. However, it's important to note that XM Group ranks higher, coming in at #33 out of 63 brokers, whereas ThinkMarkets sits at #47 in the same category according to ForexBrokers.com. This subtle ranking difference may suggest a slight edge in favor of XM Group, though both brokers are well-regarded for their pricing structures.
XM Group offers a variety of account options, but potential clients should be aware that its standard account comes with expensive spreads. Additionally, XM Group doesn't publish average spread data for its XM Zero account, which operates on a commission-based model. This lack of transparency might be a consideration for traders who prioritize clear pricing details in their investment decisions.
ThinkMarkets, on the other hand, does not provide average spread data, which can leave potential clients seeking additional information to gauge the broker's cost-effectiveness fully. Despite this, ThinkMarkets maintains a competitive four-star rating in the commissions and fees category, indicating that, like XM Group, it offers a respectable trading environment. Clients who prioritize cost should weigh these factors when deciding between the two brokers.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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.
XM Group and ThinkMarkets both offer a comprehensive range of investment options, including the ability to trade forex as contracts for difference (CFDs) or spot transactions. XM Group boasts an impressive selection of 1,394 tradeable symbols, including 55 forex pairs, while ThinkMarkets offers a larger variety with 4,000 tradeable symbols but slightly fewer forex pairs, totaling 46. Both brokers provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. For investors interested in exchange-traded securities, XM Group has the edge, offering shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas ThinkMarkets only provides access to international exchanges.
Both XM Group and ThinkMarkets support copy trading, adding another dimension to their investment offerings. Despite their differences, both brokers receive a commendable rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars for their range of investments. XM Group ranks 24th, while ThinkMarkets is slightly ahead at 23rd out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category as rated by ForexBrokers.com. Each broker offers unique advantages, catering to different investor needs, making them both worthy of consideration for those seeking diverse trading opportunities.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by XM Group and ThinkMarkets, both brokers deliver a comprehensive range of options for traders of varying levels. XM Group and ThinkMarkets provide free virtual demo accounts for simulated trading, which is a valuable feature for beginners and those wanting to practice strategies without risk. While both brokers support widely-used platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ThinkMarkets also brings its own proprietary platform to the table, giving it an edge for those seeking bespoke features. Both brokers offer platforms accessible through Windows-based desktop downloads and web browsers, enhancing convenience for different trading environments.
For those interested in copy trading, both XM Group and ThinkMarkets provide this service, but neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. In terms of charting capabilities, both brokers supply 15 drawing tools, allowing for detailed technical analysis, and support trading directly from stock charts, a feature that streamlines the trading experience. Watch list features differ slightly, with ThinkMarkets offering 15 columns as opposed to XM Group's 7, providing more flexibility in monitoring trades. Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for their trading platforms and tools. However, within ForexBrokers.com's ranking, ThinkMarkets is slightly ahead, placed at #28 compared to XM Group's #32, among 63 brokers.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | No | 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.
When it comes to mobile trading, both XM Group and ThinkMarkets offer apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility for traders on the go. Both platforms provide essential features like stock or forex price alerts and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, a notable difference is that XM Group supports syncing watchlists with the client's online account, allowing seamless updates between devices, a feature not available with ThinkMarkets. Additionally, while both brokers allow drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts, ThinkMarkets offers more extensive charting options with 94 technical studies compared to XM Group's 30.
Each broker has its strengths, with XM Group receiving a four-star rating and a #30 ranking for mobile trading apps, while ThinkMarkets boasts a slightly higher #20 ranking, also with a four-star rating. One area where ThinkMarkets stands out is its auto-save functionality for drawings on charts, a convenience that XM Group lacks. Overall, both brokers provide solid mobile trading experiences, but your choice may hinge on specific tools and features that align with your trading needs.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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.
Both XM Group and ThinkMarkets provide daily market commentary and offer forex news from high-profile sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders have access to timely information. However, XM Group holds an edge in technical analysis resources with offerings from Trading Central, whereas ThinkMarkets lacks this particular feature. Sentiment-based trading tools are available from both, allowing traders to gauge market trends efficiently. Furthermore, both brokers support their users with economic calendars to track important global events, though only ThinkMarkets collaborates with Acuity Trading for additional insights.
Although both brokers bring valuable tools to the table, XM Group is rated higher for market research, earning 5 out of 5 stars compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. This is reflected in their ForexBrokers.com rankings where XM Group stands at a commendable 8th position out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets finds itself ranked significantly lower at 50th place. This substantial difference in ratings indicates XM Group's stronger commitment and resource provision in the research sector, offering traders a more comprehensive analytical advantage.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | 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 XM Group to ThinkMarkets, both online brokers offer a solid range of educational resources for beginners interested in forex or CFDs. Each provides at least 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, making it easier for new traders to get started. Monthly online client webinars are available through both brokers, and these are supplemented by searchable archives of recorded sessions, ensuring that valuable information is easily accessible at any time. Additionally, XM Group and ThinkMarkets each offer at least 10 beginner-focused educational videos, catering specifically to new traders, as well as advanced videos for those seeking more in-depth knowledge.
Despite these similarities, XM Group distinguishes itself with a superior education rating of 5 stars compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. While both platforms provide comprehensive resources, XM Group's offerings have earned a higher ranking, coming in at #7 out of 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com, significantly ahead of ThinkMarkets' #52 ranking. However, ThinkMarkets has an advantage in providing an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, which XM Group does not offer. This feature rounds out ThinkMarkets' educational tools, although it still trails behind in overall educational resource quality and accessibility.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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 XM Group is better than ThinkMarkets. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 92 |
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Both XM Group and ThinkMarkets provide investors with the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the ability to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
Both XM Group and ThinkMarkets do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, but they both offer Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options, ensuring efficient fund management through popular financial methods.
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 | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | 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) | No | 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) | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 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 | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | 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 | XM Group | 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 | 30 | 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 | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | 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 | XM Group | 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 | XM Group Review |
| Overall | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
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