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 |
Comparing commissions and fees, both XM Group and ThinkMarkets earn 4 out of 5 stars. However, XM Group ranks higher at #34 out of 63 brokers for the Commissions and Fees category on ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets sits at #48 out of 63. That suggests XM Group edges out ThinkMarkets overall in this area despite sharing the same star rating.
XM Group’s Standard account spreads are expensive, and the broker does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account—making it harder to predict total costs. ThinkMarkets also does not provide average spread data, which limits price comparisons. In practice, traders considering either broker may need to rely on live quotes or their own testing to gauge real-world pricing, with XM’s pricier Standard spreads standing out as a key factor.
| 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 [DELETED] | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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 let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. ThinkMarkets lists about 4,000 tradeable symbols, topping XM Group’s 1,394. XM Group counters with 55 forex pairs versus ThinkMarkets’ 46. Both brokers support copy trading and let you speculate on cryptocurrency via derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual coins.
For exchange-traded shares, XM Group stands out by offering U.S. stocks like Apple alongside international shares; ThinkMarkets offers international shares but not U.S. listings. Both earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com, with ThinkMarkets ranked #24 of 63 brokers and XM Group at #25. In short, choose ThinkMarkets for the biggest overall menu of instruments, or pick XM Group if you want access to U.S. stocks plus a slightly larger selection of forex pairs.
| 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.
XM Group and ThinkMarkets both check key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo (paper) account, web-based and Windows desktop platforms, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Both brokers support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). The main difference: ThinkMarkets also provides a proprietary platform built in-house, while XM Group focuses on the MetaTrader suite.
Ratings are identical—both earn 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools—yet ThinkMarkets ranks a bit higher (#28 of 63) than XM Group (#33 of 63) on ForexBrokers.com. If you want MetaTrader plus an extra in-house platform to try, ThinkMarkets may appeal. If you prefer a MetaTrader-centered setup with broad availability, XM Group is a straightforward pick.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XM Group and ThinkMarkets both offer iPhone and Android mobile trading apps with real-time quotes, price alerts, and customizable watchlists. A key difference is syncing: XM keeps your watchlists aligned between the mobile app and your online account, while ThinkMarkets does not.
For charting, ThinkMarkets stands out with 94 built-in indicators and auto-saving for drawings, while XM includes 30 indicators and does not auto-save drawings. Both apps let you draw trendlines and switch among multiple time frames (intraday, daily, weekly). Each earns 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, but ThinkMarkets ranks higher on ForexBrokers.com (#20 of 63) than XM Group (#31 of 63). Choose ThinkMarkets if you want more indicators and saved drawings; pick XM if synced watchlists matter most.
| 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.
Comparing the market research of XM Group vs ThinkMarkets: both brokers publish daily market commentary and stream forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each provides an economic calendar and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs short positions across instruments. However, neither broker includes Autochartist or TipRanks.
Key differences: XM Group integrates Trading Central (e.g., Technical Analytics), while ThinkMarkets offers Acuity Trading tools (including Signal Centre). These choices show in the scores—XM Group earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas ThinkMarkets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #51. If you want broader technical and fundamental insight powered by Trading Central, XM Group stands out; if you prefer Acuity Trading signals within a simpler research lineup, ThinkMarkets can fit.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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.
For beginners comparing XM Group vs. ThinkMarkets, both brokers make it easy to start learning with at least 10 beginner-focused trading videos, plus a library of advanced videos once you’re ready to go deeper. Each also runs educational client webinars at least once a month. Details weren’t provided on whether either broker meets a broader minimum of 10 total forex/CFD education pieces across articles and other formats, whether they maintain a searchable archive of past webinars, or whether they offer an investor dictionary with 50+ terms.
Independent ratings lean in XM Group’s favor for education. XM Group holds a 5-star Education rating and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #52. If you’re a new trader seeking a stronger overall education experience, XM Group is the clearer pick, though ThinkMarkets still covers key basics with videos and live sessions. For specifics like archived webinars or a glossary, check each broker’s website.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | ||
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
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
|
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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, FSRA, or SCA 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 [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 [DELETED] | |||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | |||
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | |||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
| 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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