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 | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
When comparing XTB and ThinkMarkets, both brokers offer competitive fee structures, though XTB stands out slightly with a 4.5-star rating for its commissions and fees. XTB provides two main account types: a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, with the latter only available to selected professional clients in Europe and the U.K. Generally, XTB's pricing aligns with industry averages. However, its standout offering comes from the active trader discounts available through the Lower Spread Group program, where traders can receive rebates from 5% to 30% of spreads depending on trading volume. This flexibility helps XTB compete with other brokers like FXCM and FOREX.com, positioning it as a strong choice for retail traders with larger trade volumes.
ThinkMarkets, on the other hand, does not provide detailed average spread data, which makes a direct cost comparison challenging. Nonetheless, it holds a solid 4-star rating in the commissions and fees category. Its placement at #47 out of 63 brokers indicates that while its fee structure is reliable, it doesn't quite match the competitiveness of XTB's offerings. This might make XTB the more appealing choice for those who prioritize cost efficiency based on spread rebates and active trading bonuses.
In terms of broker rankings by ForexBrokers.com specifically for commissions and fees, XTB impressively ranks #11 out of 63 brokers, indicating a favorable reputation and client satisfaction in this area. ThinkMarkets, however, ranks #47, suggesting there may be more cost-effective options available for traders seeking to minimize trading costs. Ultimately, the choice between XTB and ThinkMarkets will depend on individual trading needs and priorities, with XTB's active trader incentives possibly tipping the scales for frequent traders.
| 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 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | 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 comparing the investment offerings of XTB and ThinkMarkets, both brokers allow clients to trade forex either as contracts for difference (CFDs) or spot contracts. However, XTB stands out with a significantly larger selection of tradeable symbols, boasting 7,184 compared to ThinkMarkets' 4,000. As for forex pairs, XTB also offers more choices with 71 pairs available, while ThinkMarkets provides 46. Additionally, XTB provides access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling clients to buy shares like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) directly. ThinkMarkets, on the other hand, only offers exchange-traded securities on international exchanges.
In terms of additional features, ThinkMarkets supports copy trading, a service not available with XTB. Both brokers offer trading in cryptocurrency derivatives but do not allow the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Despite these differences, XTB receives a higher rating for the range of investments with a perfect five-star rating, compared to ThinkMarkets' 4.5 stars. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, XTB holds the 14th position out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category, whereas ThinkMarkets ranks 22nd.
| 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 (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.
XTB and ThinkMarkets both provide traders with comprehensive tools to enhance their trading experience. Both brokers offer simulated or paper trading through free virtual demo accounts, giving users the chance to practice without financial risk. When it comes to trading platforms, both have developed proprietary platforms in-house and support Windows-based desktop downloads as well as web-based browser platforms. However, diverging in platform compatibility, ThinkMarkets supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while XTB does not. Furthermore, ThinkMarkets offers copy trading capabilities, adding a social element to trading, unlike XTB. XTB, nonetheless, stands out with a more extensive offering of drawing tools, providing 32 compared to ThinkMarkets' 15.
Traders might appreciate XTB's higher rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, compared to ThinkMarkets, which holds a 4-star rating. ForexBrokers.com also ranks XTB significantly higher at #9 among 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets sits at #28. Both brokers allow traders to execute trades directly from stock charts, enhancing convenience. Moreover, XTB offers eight columns for watch lists, while ThinkMarkets provides fifteen, allowing for a more comprehensive overview of the market. Ultimately, while both brokers deliver a strong offering, XTB shines in its charting tools, while ThinkMarkets holds an edge in compatibility with third-party trading platforms.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary 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 |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both XTB and ThinkMarkets provide iPhone and Android apps, making them accessible on a variety of devices for those constantly on the move. With both platforms, traders can set up stock or forex price alerts, ensuring they never miss crucial market movements. While neither XTB nor ThinkMarkets sync changes made to watchlists between the mobile app and the online account, they both offer the convenience of creating watchlists featuring real-time quotes. Additionally, both brokers make it easy to apply trendlines on charts and to save those drawings automatically for future reference.
When it comes to technical analysis tools, ThinkMarkets takes the lead with 94 technical studies available on its mobile app compared to XTB's 39. Both platforms support viewing multiple time frames, allowing traders to tailor their analysis to daily, weekly, or intraday observations. Despite the slight edge in charting tools for ThinkMarkets, XTB shines in user satisfaction, boasting a rating of 4.5 stars out of five for its mobile app versus ThinkMarkets' four stars. Reflecting this difference, XTB ranks 8th out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets holds the 20th position.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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 it comes to market research, both XTB and ThinkMarkets offer daily market commentary and provide forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, neither broker integrates technical analysis tools from Autochartist or Trading Central. They do share capabilities in offering sentiment-based trading tools that display the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments. They also both provide economic calendars to keep traders informed of global news events that might impact markets.
Where XTB and ThinkMarkets diverge is in their additional research tools. ThinkMarkets offers resources from Acuity Trading, such as the Signal Centre, while XTB does not. Despite this, XTB outshines ThinkMarkets in overall research offerings, earning a 5-star rating compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. XTB is also ranked more favorably, securing the #7 spot out of 63 brokers for research according to ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets is listed at #50.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | 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 the educational resources for beginners offered by XTB and ThinkMarkets, both online brokers provide a substantial array of learning materials. Each platform delivers a minimum of 10 educational resources focused on forex or CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Furthermore, both brokers host at least one online educational client webinar per month and maintain searchable archives of previously recorded sessions, making it easy for users to access past content. Additionally, for those newly venturing into trading, the two brokers offer at least 10 beginner educational videos designed to introduce fundamental trading topics.
However, there are differences to consider. XTB shines with its extensive educational offerings, as indicated by its impressive 5-star rating for education and a strong #11 rank in the education category by ForexBrokers.com. Despite offering the same number of advanced educational videos for seasoned traders as XTB, ThinkMarkets falls behind with a 3.5-star education rating and a significantly lower rank of #52. Notably, ThinkMarkets does provide an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, a feature XTB lacks. Overall, for beginners seeking a well-rounded educational experience, XTB appears to be the superior choice based on ratings and rankings.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 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
|
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.
When comparing deposit and withdrawal options between online brokers, XTB and ThinkMarkets both support Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers, but XTB stands out by offering PayPal, unlike ThinkMarkets, whereas neither broker provides ACH or SEPA transfer options.
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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| 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 | 0 | 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) | 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). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No |
| 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 (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 | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $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 | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary 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 | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 15 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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 | 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 | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | 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 | XTB | 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 | XTB Review |
| Overall | XTB | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review |
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