Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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 looking at online brokers, Swissquote and ThinkMarkets stand out as reputable choices, each with unique characteristics catering to different needs. Founded in 1996, Swissquote boasts a long-standing presence in the financial industry and is a publicly traded company, doubling as a bank. It holds an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, marking it as highly trusted. Swissquote is secured by five Tier-1 licenses, known for their high reliability, along with one Tier-2 license, reinforcing its credibility in the market.
In comparison, ThinkMarkets, founded in 2010, is a newer player with a commendable ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 92, also indicating a high level of trust. Unlike Swissquote, it is not publicly traded nor operates as a bank, yet it holds five Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, showcasing its commitment to maintaining a trusted operation. Despite the differences in structure and experience length, both brokers offer secure and reliable trading platforms suitable for various traders' preferences.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
When evaluating Swissquote and ThinkMarkets for their commissions and fees, there are key differences to consider. Swissquote, known for its Swiss banking heritage, offers trading accounts in three regions: U.K., Luxembourg, and Switzerland. In the U.K., Swissquote presents four account types with varying costs. The Elite account, best for active traders with deposits over $10,000, provides competitive spreads with a $5 per round-turn trade commission. However, the Standard and Prime accounts feature slightly higher spreads, starting from 1.3 pips and 0.6 pips respectively. Swissquote’s Luxembourg accounts mirror the U.K. in structure, with spreads ranging from 0.8 to 1.5 pips depending on the account. The Swiss accounts, while not offering forex or CFDs, have a Prime account requiring a significant $50,000 deposit for spreads beginning at 1.1 pips.
ThinkMarkets, rated higher than Swissquote, provides a more competitive edge in terms of commissions and fees. Although specific average spread data from ThinkMarkets is unavailable, the broker is noted for having lower trading costs overall. With a four-star rating in commissions and fees, ThinkMarkets ranks at 48th out of 62 brokers, indicating more favorable pricing for traders compared to Swissquote's 52nd place ranking. Clients may find value in ThinkMarkets' more attractive fee structure, especially if seeking an efficient trading experience with lower associated costs.
In summary, while Swissquote offers an account backed by the credibility of a Swiss banking institution, the trading costs are not its most appealing feature, especially when compared to lower-cost forex brokers. Conversely, ThinkMarkets stands out with a higher rating and ranking in the commissions and fees category, which may be beneficial for traders focused on cost-effectiveness. This comparison highlights the importance of assessing each broker’s fee structure in alignment with your trading strategy and needs.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | 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 between Swissquote and ThinkMarkets, both platforms provide a comprehensive range. However, Swissquote edges ahead with several distinct advantages. Swissquote offers a total of 472 tradeable symbols, while ThinkMarkets boasts a more extensive selection with 4000 symbols. When it comes to forex trading, Swissquote provides 80 tradeable forex pairs, whereas ThinkMarkets offers 46. Swissquote clients can trade exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, like Apple shares, a feature not available with ThinkMarkets. Both platforms provide access to international exchange-traded securities, such as shares of Vodafone.
In addition, Swissquote supports purchasing actual cryptocurrencies alongside cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas ThinkMarkets only allows for trading in these derivatives. Copy trading is available on both platforms, catering to those interested in mirroring the trades of experienced investors. For their range of investments, Swissquote has earned a prestigious five-star rating, ranked second out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Conversely, ThinkMarkets has a respectable 4.5-star rating, placing it 21st in the same ranking category.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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) | Yes | 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 evaluating Swissquote and ThinkMarkets for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers emerge as strong contenders in the online trading arena. Both Swissquote and ThinkMarkets offer simulated trading options with free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice their trading strategies without financial risks. They each provide proprietary platforms developed in-house, along with Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, thereby catering to various user preferences. Swissquote and ThinkMarkets also seamlessly integrate the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, enabling traders to access a wide array of tools and resources. Furthermore, both brokers facilitate copy trading, providing users with opportunities to replicate the trades of successful investors.
Despite their similarities, some differences set these brokers apart. Swissquote offers a more comprehensive suite of drawing tools with 75 options compared to ThinkMarkets' 15, which may be an advantage for traders who rely heavily on technical analysis. Conversely, ThinkMarkets provides more comprehensive watch list features, boasting 15 columns for fields versus Swissquote's 11. Swissquote outshines ThinkMarkets in terms of overall platform rating, scoring 4.5 stars against ThinkMarkets' 4 stars. It is also ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #11 out of 62 brokers, whereas ThinkMarkets is placed at #27. These factors suggest that while both platforms have a strong offering, Swissquote's tools might cater better to traders focusing on extensive technical analysis.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Swissquote and ThinkMarkets provide excellent mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. They offer essential features for investors, including price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Users can view multiple timeframes for stock or forex charts, and the apps automatically save these drawings to ensure no information is lost. Both mobile apps allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, although they fall short when it comes to synchronizing watchlist symbols across devices, meaning updates made on mobile apps are not reflected on other devices.
One area where a significant difference emerges is in the number of technical studies available for charting; Swissquote provides 30, while ThinkMarkets impressively offers 94. In terms of ratings, Swissquote scores 4.5 out of 5 stars, slightly higher than ThinkMarkets at 4 stars. This difference is mirrored in their rankings from ForexBrokers.com, where Swissquote holds the 10th position out of 62 brokers for mobile trading apps, whereas ThinkMarkets ranks 20th. These distinctions may influence your choice depending on the importance you place on technical charting tools and overall app performance.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 the market research offerings between Swissquote and ThinkMarkets, both online brokers provide vital resources for traders. They both offer daily market commentary to keep investors updated with the latest insights. Additionally, each broker delivers forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring high-quality information. However, Swissquote has the edge with its integration of Autochartist for technical analysis, while ThinkMarkets does not. On the flip side, ThinkMarkets provides a sentiment-based trading tool that gives a glimpse into the long and short positions across various instruments, which Swissquote does not offer.
Neither broker includes market research from TipRanks or tools from Trading Central. However, ThinkMarkets incorporates Acuity Trading tools like Signal Centre, not offered by Swissquote. Both brokers feature an economic calendar for tracking global economic events. In terms of
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing Swissquote and ThinkMarkets, both online brokers offer comprehensive educational resources aimed at equipping beginners with forex and CFD knowledge. Each platform provides over ten educational materials, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars, specifically focused on these trading topics. Monthly online educational webinars are also available, and users can access a searchable archive of previous sessions to learn at their own pace. Furthermore, both brokers provide over ten beginner-friendly videos, helping to demystify trading concepts for newcomers.
In addition to supporting beginners, Swissquote and ThinkMarkets cater to more experienced traders with an array of advanced educational videos. They also offer investor dictionaries with over 50 investing terms, ensuring both novices and seasoned traders have access to key definitions. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote achieves a higher rating of 4 stars for its educational services, ranking it 21st out of 62 brokers, while ThinkMarkets follows with a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 52nd. This makes Swissquote a slightly more favored choice for those prioritizing educational content in their trading journey.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than ThinkMarkets. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 |
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When comparing Swissquote and ThinkMarkets for cryptocurrency trading, Swissquote provides the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency and also offers cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas ThinkMarkets only provides the ability to trade in cryptocurrency derivatives without the option to buy the actual cryptocurrency.
When comparing Swissquote and ThinkMarkets, Swissquote stands out by offering a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas ThinkMarkets, though accepting Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, does not provide ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal as funding 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 | Swissquote | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 15 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | 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 | 30 | 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 | Swissquote | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review |
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