Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
XTB and ThinkMarkets are both prominent online brokers established in 2002 and 2010, respectively. While XTB stands out as a publicly traded company, ThinkMarkets remains privately owned. Neither firm operates as a bank. Looking at regulatory standing, XTB holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are among the most trustworthy according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas ThinkMarkets boasts five of these high-tier licenses. Additionally, both brokers hold two Tier-2 licenses, also recognized for their dependability.
In terms of trust ratings, XTB achieves an impressive Trust Score of 96 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, signifying a highly trusted status. ThinkMarkets follows closely with a Trust Score of 92, also considered to be highly trusted. Both companies assure a safe trading environment, though XTB’s slightly higher trust score may offer a small edge in terms of perceived reliability.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
Comparing commissions and fees, XTB is the clearer pick on transparency and published data. XTB earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12 of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees on ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #48 of 63. ThinkMarkets does not provide average spread figures, which makes direct cost comparisons tougher.
XTB offers a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account (the Pro option is reserved for elective professionals in the U.K. and EU and is being phased out, with limited availability for legacy clients). Using Q4 2023 data, the average EUR/USD spread on XTB’s Standard account was 1.0 pip. For smaller trade sizes, the Standard account tends to be cheaper; at higher volumes, Standard and Pro pricing are similar. The minimum deposit is 250 in your base currency (GBP, EUR, or USD). Active traders can access XTB’s Lower Spread Group, which rebates 5% to 30% of the spread once monthly volume thresholds are met (from 20 up to 1,000 lots).
Bottom line: XTB’s pricing sits around the industry average—not the absolute lowest—but it publishes clear spread data and offers volume-based rebates that can help frequent traders. If you don’t qualify as a professional, you’ll likely use the Standard account. With ThinkMarkets, verify current spreads and any commission plans directly, since average spread data isn’t available.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB vs ThinkMarkets: both brokers offer forex trading (available as CFDs or spot). XTB lists 7,184 tradeable instruments with 71 forex pairs, while ThinkMarkets offers about 4,000 instruments and 46 forex pairs. XTB lets you buy real shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas ThinkMarkets supports real shares on international exchanges but not the U.S. market. Both brokers provide access to cryptocurrency via derivatives, but neither lets you buy the actual coins. For social features, ThinkMarkets includes copy trading; XTB does not.
For range of investments, XTB earns 5 stars and ranks 15th out of 63 brokers, compared to ThinkMarkets at 4.5 stars and 24th. Choose XTB if you want a larger instrument list and direct share dealing on U.S. and global exchanges. Pick ThinkMarkets if copy trading matters to you and you’re comfortable with a smaller, still diverse, lineup of markets.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | 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.
In the XTB vs ThinkMarkets comparison for trading platforms and tools, both brokers provide a free demo (paper) account, their own proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Each broker also lets you trade directly from charts. The key differences come down to third-party tools and automation: ThinkMarkets supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and offers copy trading, while XTB does not offer MT4, MT5, or copy trading. If you rely on MetaTrader or want to mirror other traders, ThinkMarkets is the better match; if you prefer a broker’s in-house platform without MetaTrader, XTB fits that preference.
Independent ratings also separate them: ForexBrokers.com scores XTB 4.5/5 stars and ranks it #9 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while ThinkMarkets earns 4/5 stars and ranks #28. In short, pick ThinkMarkets for MT4/MT5 plus copy trading on desktop and web, and choose XTB for a higher-rated proprietary platform experience with demo access and chart trading.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and ThinkMarkets both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. In each app, you can build watchlists with real-time quotes and set price alerts for stocks and forex. One caveat: watchlists you create in the mobile app don’t sync with your online account, so changes made on your phone won’t automatically appear on the web platform.
For charting, XTB includes 39 technical studies, while ThinkMarkets offers 94, giving indicator-focused traders more choices. Both apps let you draw trendlines and automatically save your chart drawings. Based on independent ratings, XTB earns 4.5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while ThinkMarkets scores 4 stars and ranks #20. If you value a higher-rated experience, XTB stands out; if you want more built-in indicators, ThinkMarkets has the edge.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 94 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and ThinkMarkets both cover the essentials for market research. Each offers daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning across instruments. Both also stream forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Trading Central. A key difference: ThinkMarkets adds Acuity Trading tools (e.g., Signal Centre), while XTB does not.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, XTB earned a 5-star Research score and ranked #7 out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets scored 3.5 stars and ranked #51. If you want higher-rated in-house research and news coverage, XTB is the stronger pick; if you prefer access to Acuity Trading signals alongside standard research features, ThinkMarkets may fit your style.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | 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.
Comparing XTB vs ThinkMarkets for beginner trading education: both brokers host monthly educational webinars and offer plenty of videos, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos. According to ForexBrokers.com, XTB earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #52. If you want more depth and structure, XTB tends to stand out, but ThinkMarkets still covers the basics with frequent live sessions and video lessons.
Some details are not confirmed for either broker, such as whether they publish at least 10 non-video forex/CFD education pieces, keep a searchable archive of past webinars, or offer an investor dictionary with 50+ terms. For the latest specifics, check each broker’s education center. In short, both are beginner-friendly, but XTB’s higher ratings suggest a stronger overall learning path, while ThinkMarkets remains a workable choice if you mainly want live webinars and straightforward videos.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than ThinkMarkets. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 92 |
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Both XTB and ThinkMarkets do not provide the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both offer the capability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives instead.
XTB vs ThinkMarkets: both lack ACH/SEPA transfers, both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, XTB uniquely offers PayPal while ThinkMarkets does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability for either broker 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 | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | XTB | 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 | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | 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 | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 94 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review |
| Overall | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review |
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