Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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 comparing IG and ThinkMarkets, IG emerges as a more established player in the online brokerage space, having been founded in 1974 versus ThinkMarkets' 2010 inception. IG is publicly traded and operates as a bank, enhancing its credibility and reputation further. With a perfect Trust Score rating of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, IG is considered highly trusted, boasting 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, underscoring its commitment to stringent regulatory oversight. In contrast, ThinkMarkets holds a commendable Trust Score of 92, with 5 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, indicating a strong but slightly lesser regulatory framework than IG.
Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, ThinkMarkets maintains a reputable presence in the financial markets. IG's broad regulatory coverage and higher trust rating provide an added layer of security for investors, making it a preferred choice for individuals seeking long-term stability and reliability. Nonetheless, ThinkMarkets is still a solid option for traders looking for a trusted broker, benefiting from its multiple licenses and a history that, while shorter than IG, is still substantial in the world of online trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When comparing commissions and fees, IG stands out with a diverse range of execution methods and competitive pricing for active traders, especially through its Forex Direct accounts. Notably, IG offers average spreads that are slightly better than the industry standard, particularly evident in its main Forex Direct account where average spreads were 0.62 with an all-in cost of 0.82 pips during July 2023. For CFD accounts, average spreads were 0.69 pips during peak trading hours, with the potential for higher returns through its active trader rebate program, allowing discounts up to 20% for high-volume traders. Furthermore, IG’s DMA account offers lower commission rates for larger trading volumes, granting savvy traders significant savings.
In contrast, detailed average spread data for ThinkMarkets is unavailable. However, ThinkMarkets is recognized for offering competitive spendings with services aimed at delivering quality execution. Despite this, it holds a lower rating in commissions and fees compared to IG. IG is rated an impressive 5 out of 5 stars, while ThinkMarkets scores 4 out of 5 stars. This translates into both brokers having different appeal points in terms of trading costs and benefits, depending on the trading methodologies and volume levels preferred by traders.
According to ForexBrokers.com, IG ranks 8th out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, reflecting its robust approach to cost-effective trading strategies for active and professional traders. Conversely, ThinkMarkets is positioned at 48th, indicating that while it maintains quality trading services, it might not match IG’s offerings in terms of commission-related advantages. For traders focused on minimizing costs and maximizing trading efficiency, IG arguably provides a more favorable platform.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 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.
IG and ThinkMarkets both offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, but IG stands out with a significantly larger array of tradeable symbols, totaling 19,537 compared to ThinkMarkets’ 4,000. When it comes to forex pairs, IG again offers more variety, providing access to 97 pairs, while ThinkMarkets offers 46. One of IG's key advantages is its provision for trading exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, where clients can purchase shares in prominent companies like Apple. In contrast, ThinkMarkets limits this option to international exchanges, such as the London Stock Exchange.
While IG does not support copy trading, ThinkMarkets offers this feature, appealing to those who prefer to follow other traders' strategies. Neither platform allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, but both provide opportunities to trade cryptocurrency derivatives. In terms of recognition, IG is rated five stars for its range of investments and holds a strong position, ranked 4th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. ThinkMarkets, with a 4.5-star rating, ranks 21st, suggesting that both platforms are esteemed choices, yet IG may offer more diversity for investors seeking a broader range of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 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.
When comparing IG and ThinkMarkets, both brokers offer a range of trading platforms and tools designed for diverse trading needs. IG provides a proprietary platform along with support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4), although it does not support MetaTrader 5 (MT5) or copy trading features like ThinkMarkets. Both brokers offer web-based and Windows desktop trading platforms, along with free virtual demo accounts for simulated trading. While IG allows trading directly from charts and offers 20 drawing tools, ThinkMarkets provides 15 drawing tools but expands its technical offerings with copy trading and support for MT5. Both traders can enjoy chart-based trading, yet IG edges slightly ahead with an additional five watchlist fields.
In terms of overall ratings for trading platforms and tools, IG is rated highly with five stars, standing out significantly as the second-ranked platform among 62 brokers. This is mainly due to its comprehensive tools, including a proprietary platform and support for MT4. On the other hand, ThinkMarkets earns a respectable four-star rating and sits at a 27th place ranking, indicating solid performance, particularly benefiting those interested in features like MT5 and copy trading. Ultimately, the choice between these two brokers may depend on the specific features and trading styles a user prioritizes, given their different offerings and market rankings.
| Feature |
IG
|
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) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of IG and ThinkMarkets, both platforms provide essential features for iPhone and Android users, including stock and forex price alerts, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Both apps allow traders to view multiple time frames on stock or forex charts and ensure that drawings are auto-saved, making them handy tools for traders on the go. Meanwhile, the ability to create a watchlist with real-time quotes is available on both platforms, enhancing the user experience for active investors.
However, there are differences worth noting. IG offers a seamless experience with watchlist symbol syncing across digital platforms, ensuring a unified experience as users switch between devices, a feature not currently available with ThinkMarkets. On the other hand, ThinkMarkets excels by providing 94 technical studies for charting, almost triple the 33 studies offered by IG, catering to more chart analysis needs. Despite this, IG's app is rated higher, earning 5 out of 5 stars compared to ThinkMarkets' 4 stars. IG also ranks as the top mobile trading app out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas ThinkMarkets stands at the 20th position.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 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 comparing IG and ThinkMarkets for market research capabilities, both brokers provide daily market commentary and forex news from esteemed sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. They also offer sentiment-based trading tools that track long and short positions across various instruments, along with economic calendars to keep traders informed of upcoming global events. However, where IG shines is in its partnership with Autochartist, offering users advanced technical and fundamental analysis tools. ThinkMarkets, in contrast, does not provide Autochartist tools, although it presents some Acuity Trading resources, similar to IG.
IG also distinguishes itself with market research from TipRanks, a service not available through ThinkMarkets. This array of research offerings contributes to IG's impressive 5-star research rating and its #2 ranking among 62 brokers in the Research category according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets holds a solid 3.5-star research rating but is positioned at #50 in the same category. Overall, traders looking for comprehensive market research may find IG's offerings more compelling if cutting-edge analysis tools and diversified research sources are a priority.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available to beginners from IG and ThinkMarkets, both brokers excel in offering a rich array of learning materials. For those new to forex and CFDs, IG provides over ten educational pieces through diverse formats such as articles, videos, and webinars. ThinkMarkets matches this effort, ensuring beginners have access to similar comprehensive materials. Both platforms offer monthly client webinars and maintain a searchable archive of past sessions, allowing users to learn at their own pace. Additionally, each provides at least ten beginner videos to help novices grasp key trading concepts, supplemented by advanced videos for those looking to deepen their understanding. Furthermore, investors can make use of dictionaries provided by both brokers, featuring over fifty trading terms, aiding in demystifying complex jargon.
Although both IG and ThinkMarkets deliver on various educational fronts, IG distinguishes itself by receiving a perfect 5-star rating for education and securing the top spot among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. ThinkMarkets, meanwhile, garners a 3.5-star rating and is ranked at 52, indicating a notable difference in user satisfaction and perceived value. Ultimately, while both brokers offer ample educational support to beginners, those seeking an extensively acclaimed learning experience might find IG to be the superior choice.
| Feature |
IG
|
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 IG is better than ThinkMarkets. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 |
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Both IG and ThinkMarkets do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers IG and ThinkMarkets, IG supports ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers for both deposits and withdrawals, while ThinkMarkets offers Visa, Mastercard, bank wire transfers, and Skrill 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 | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Regulation | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | 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 | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 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 | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $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 | IG | 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) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 15 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | 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 | 33 | 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 | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | 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 | IG | 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 | IG Review |
| Overall | IG | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review |
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