Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com 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.
FOREX.com, established in 1999, and ThinkMarkets, founded in 2010, are two prominent names in the online trading industry. Both are not banks, but while FOREX.com is publicly traded, ThinkMarkets is not. FOREX.com holds an impressive seven Tier-1 licenses, indicating its high level of trust and reliability. ThinkMarkets, on the other hand, possesses five Tier-1 licenses. In addition to Tier-1 licenses, FOREX.com holds one Tier-2 license, while ThinkMarkets holds two, demonstrating a solid level of trust for both brokers.
According to ForexBrokers.com, FOREX.com has achieved a Trust Score of 99 out of 99, making it highly trusted and reliable for investors. ThinkMarkets follows closely with a Trust Score of 92, positioning it as a trusted choice for traders. Both brokers offer distinct advantages, with FOREX.com leading in trust ratings and public visibility, while ThinkMarkets offers a competitive and trusted environment for its clients.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When it comes to trading costs, FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets offer unique structures for commissions and fees. FOREX.com, with a rating of 4.5 stars, stands as a compelling choice for traders despite being slightly more expensive on average. Its Standard account, primarily for MetaTrader users, features higher spreads, averaging 1.4 pips for EUR/USD in the U.S. However, FOREX.com’s RAW account provides more competitive pricing with typical spreads of 0.13 pips, although it involves a commission of $7 per Standard lot. For high-volume traders, rebates ranging from $2 to $9 per million can further reduce costs.
FOREX.com is ranked at #13 among 62 brokers for its commission and fee structure, and it extends special benefits like active trader discounts on its Advanced Trading platform. For those trading outside the U.S., spreads have been observed to be more favorable, with a time-weighted average of 0.74 for EUR/USD in July 2023. Essentially, unless a trader is highly active, the costs for the Commission account in the U.S. align closely with those of the Standard account.
ThinkMarkets, rated at 4 stars and ranking #48 in the same category, does not disclose average spread data, which can be a limitation for potential users assessing trading costs. Although not as highly ranked as FOREX.com, ThinkMarkets still provides a solid trading experience. Overall, traders need to weigh the comprehensive, albeit slightly higher, costs of FOREX.com against the more ambiguous fee structure of ThinkMarkets when making their choice.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the available range of investments between FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets, both platforms offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. However, FOREX.com impressively provides a larger selection of 5,500 tradeable symbols, including 91 forex pairs, while ThinkMarkets offers 4,000 symbols with 46 forex pairs. Neither broker allows you to purchase exchange traded securities directly on U.S. exchanges, such as buying Apple shares. Nonetheless, ThinkMarkets stands out by offering access to international exchanges, enabling you to buy shares like Vodafone. Additionally, ThinkMarkets facilitates copy trading, a feature not available with FOREX.com. For both platforms, you can engage with cryptocurrency derivatives rather than buying the actual cryptocurrencies.
FOREX.com earns a rating of five stars for its range of investments, ranking 7th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ThinkMarkets has a 4.5-star rating and ranks 21st in the same category. While FOREX.com has a broader array of tradeable instruments overall, ThinkMarkets offers specific features, such as access to international exchanges and copy trading, potentially appealing to investors with varied interests and strategies.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets, both brokers ensure traders have access to a wide range of options to suit their needs. FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets both provide a free virtual demo account, allowing traders to gain experience without financial risk. Each broker also offers proprietary platforms for a personalized trading experience. The presence of MetaTrader 4 and 5 across both platforms indicates a commitment to industry-standard tools. Both brokers offer desktop and web-based trading platforms, providing flexibility for different trading preferences. However, only ThinkMarkets offers copy trading, which might appeal to traders looking to mimic the strategies of successful traders.
When it comes to trading tools, FOREX.com stands out with 239 drawing tools for charting compared to ThinkMarkets' 15, providing more options for technical analysis enthusiasts. Additionally, FOREX.com offers 20 columns for watchlists, making it easier for traders to customize their experience. Both brokers enable trading directly from stock charts, simplifying the trading process. In terms of ratings, FOREX.com receives a perfect five-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, ranking 7th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets holds a four-star rating and ranks 27th. This ranking is a testament to FOREX.com's feature-rich platform, which might be more suitable for traders looking for comprehensive tools and customization options.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
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) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets offer solid options for traders who use iPhone and Android devices. Each platform provides price alerts and allows users to draw trendlines on charts, while also supporting multiple time frames for comprehensive analysis. Both apps include the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, a key feature for active traders. However, a notable difference lies in watchlist syncing capabilities; FOREX.com offers full syncing between mobile and web accounts, giving it an edge in terms of flexibility.
FOREX.com users can also take advantage of 88 technical studies for charting purposes, whereas ThinkMarkets slightly surpasses this number with 94 available technical studies. Both services automatically save chart drawings, ensuring continuity across sessions. Despite ThinkMarkets' more extensive technical study options, FOREX.com is rated higher, earning 5 stars compared to ThinkMarkets' 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com rankings, FOREX.com also enjoys a superior position, ranking third among 62 brokers for mobile trading apps, whereas ThinkMarkets is positioned at number 20. This highlights FOREX.com's strong reputation in the mobile trading app landscape.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 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.
Both FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets provide daily market commentary alongside forex news sourced from reputable agencies like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, FOREX.com stands out by offering technical analysis tools from Trading Central, which ThinkMarkets lacks. While both brokers offer sentiment-based trading tools and maintain comprehensive economic calendars, only ThinkMarkets integrates research options from Acuity Trading, more specifically, the Signal Centre tool. Despite this, FOREX.com still outshines in market research thanks to its enhanced analytical features.
When it comes to ratings, FOREX.com is positioned favorably with a 4.5-star rating for research quality, compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5-star rating. This distinction places FOREX.com at rank #9 in the research category among 62 brokers, while ThinkMarkets trails significantly at #50. These ratings reflect the broader array of research tools and insights available through FOREX.com, making it a preferred choice for those seeking comprehensive market research options.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
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.
For those new to trading, both FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets provide a solid foundation of educational resources to help beginners on their journey. Each offers a wealth of material including articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. They both conduct at least one monthly webinar, which is fantastic for ongoing learning, and maintain searchable archives of past sessions, allowing users to revisit previous lessons. Furthermore, they deliver a suite of educational videos tailored to both beginner and advanced traders, enabling users to learn at their own pace and according to their level of expertise. Both platforms also provide an investor dictionary with over 50 terms, ensuring that newcomers can quickly get up to speed with the necessary jargon.
Despite these similarities, there's a notable difference in their educational ratings. FOREX.com is rated highly with 4.5 stars for education and ranks #4 out of 62 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com, making it an excellent choice for those who prioritize educational support. On the other hand, ThinkMarkets receives a 3.5-star rating and is ranked #52 in the same category. This suggests that while both platforms are equipped to educate beginners effectively, FOREX.com edges out with superior educational offerings, making it a more compelling choice for novice traders eager to learn.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
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 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FOREX.com is better than ThinkMarkets. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 |
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Both FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets do not provide the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do offer cryptocurrency derivatives for trading.
FOREX.com offers a range of flexible deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while ThinkMarkets provides Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wire services but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal 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 | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | 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 | 88 | 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 | FOREX.com | 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 | FOREX.com | 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 | FOREX.com | 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 | FOREX.com Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
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