Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Vantage 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 Vantage and ThinkMarkets, both brokers share some common traits but also exhibit distinct regulatory profiles. Founded in 2009, Vantage has been in the market slightly longer than ThinkMarkets, which was established in 2010. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. However, what sets them apart is their level of regulatory oversight, which is vital for ensuring a secure trading environment.
Looking at their Trust Scores from ForexBrokers.com, ThinkMarkets scores 92 out of 99, indicating a higher level of trust compared to Vantage, which scores 90. ThinkMarkets holds an impressive five Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its strong regulatory backing, while Vantage holds two Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license. ThinkMarkets also possesses two Tier-2 licenses, giving it a slight edge in regulatory support. This comparative analysis reveals that both brokers are highly trusted, but ThinkMarkets offers a more extensive regulatory framework, potentially appealing more to those prioritizing stringent oversight.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers Vantage and ThinkMarkets, Vantage offers more detailed and competitive pricing across its various account types. With three account options, Vantage caters to different trading preferences whether through their spread-only Standard account or the commission-based RAW ECN and PRO ECN accounts. The Standard account typically features spreads of 1.30 pips on the EUR/USD pair. Alternatively, the RAW ECN account averages at 0.15 pips with a $6 commission per round turn, totaling 0.75 pips. The PRO account stands out with a per-side commission of just $2, or $4 per round turn, offering lower costs for those qualifying as wholesale clients in Australia or investing at least $10,000 in the Cayman Islands entity. Active traders might also benefit from Vantage’s rebates, yet they're limited to the Standard account.
ThinkMarkets, on the other hand, lacks the same transparency in average spread data, potentially making it harder for traders to gauge potential costs upfront. Despite this absence of specific spread insights, ThinkMarkets still commands respectable attention. Although it's clear the broker maintains competitive prices, the exact structure and potential savings remain less clear when compared to Vantage's clearly outlined fee structures.
In terms of ratings, Vantage stands at 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, reflecting its competitive offerings, and secures the 18th spot among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets, although slightly behind with a 4-star rating, is still a decent choice, ranking 48th. For traders prioritizing lower fees and well-defined pricing structures, Vantage presents itself as the more transparent and potentially cost-effective choice over ThinkMarkets.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | 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.
Vantage and ThinkMarkets both cater to Forex traders, providing access to both CFDs and spot contracts, with Vantage offering a slightly higher number of forex pairs at 57 compared to ThinkMarkets' 46. However, when it comes to the overall range of tradeable symbols, ThinkMarkets outshines Vantage with an impressive offering of 4000 compared to Vantage's 1000. While neither platform supports purchasing US exchange-traded securities like Apple shares directly, ThinkMarkets stands out by enabling clients to invest in international stocks such as Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange, a feature not available with Vantage.
Both Vantage and ThinkMarkets support copy trading, allowing users to replicate the trades of successful investors. When it comes to cryptocurrency investment, these brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives but do not allow for buying actual cryptocurrencies. In terms of their investment offerings, ThinkMarkets earns a higher rating with 4.5 stars, whereas Vantage holds 3.5 stars. Furthermore, according to ForexBrokers.com, ThinkMarkets ranks significantly higher at #21 out of 62 brokers for the range of investments, compared to Vantage's position at #50.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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 of Vantage and ThinkMarkets, both brokers provide strong offerings. Each offers simulated trading with free demo accounts, allowing users to practice with virtual currency. They both feature proprietary platforms, along with Windows-based desktop and web-based platforms, ensuring versatility for different trading needs. Copy trading is available with both companies, and they support popular platforms MetaTrader 4 and 5. However, Vantage stands out by including DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, which ThinkMarkets does not offer.
For charting, Vantage and ThinkMarkets offer 15 drawing tools, and both allow trading directly from stock charts. When it comes to watch lists, ThinkMarkets provides more customization options with 15 columns versus Vantage’s seven. Despite these differences, both brokers receive a four-star rating for their platforms and tools. In terms of rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Vantage holds a significant edge, placing 15th as compared to ThinkMarkets' 27th position out of 62 brokers.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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 | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Vantage and ThinkMarkets offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, supporting modern traders on the go. These apps provide essential features such as stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and the option to view multiple time frames for enhanced analysis. Both platforms let users create watchlists with real-time quotes and automatically save chart drawings, enhancing user convenience. However, a notable difference is in charting capabilities: Vantage offers 30 technical studies, while ThinkMarkets offers an impressive 94, giving ThinkMarkets users broader analytical options.
Despite their competitive similarities, neither Vantage nor ThinkMarkets supports watchlist symbol syncing, meaning users must manually update their lists across devices. When it comes to user ratings, both apps score a solid 4 out of 5 stars. However, ForexBrokers.com ranks ThinkMarkets slightly higher at #20, compared to Vantage's #26 ranking among 62 brokers analyzed. This ranking suggests a slight preference for ThinkMarkets in the category of mobile trading functionality, although both provide highly rated services.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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.
Both Vantage and ThinkMarkets provide valuable insights for traders, offering daily market commentary and forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. While neither broker integrates tools from Autochartist, Vantage distinguishes itself with research tools from Trading Central, offering technical analytics that are not available with ThinkMarkets. Additionally, both platforms provide sentiment-based trading tools that track long and short positions across currencies, helping traders make informed decisions about market trends.
When it comes to market research tools, ThinkMarkets includes offerings from Acuity Trading, which is absent in Vantage's suite. Both brokers supply an economic calendar to keep traders updated on global events. Reflecting their features, Vantage garners a research rating of 4 stars, contrasted with ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, this results in Vantage being ranked 24th out of 62 brokers in research categories, while ThinkMarkets is positioned at 50th.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners at Vantage and ThinkMarkets, both online brokers provide a solid foundation for new traders looking to learn about forex and CFDs. Each offers over ten educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on these topics, ensuring a wealth of information is accessible at your fingertips. Monthly online educational webinars keep clients engaged, and both brokers maintain a searchable archive of past webinar recordings. Additionally, beginner traders can benefit from more than ten introductory videos offered by both Vantage and ThinkMarkets, providing an easy way to grasp trading concepts.
For those looking to expand beyond the basics, both brokers also offer over ten advanced educational videos, catering to experienced traders who wish to deepen their understanding. Each platform includes an investor dictionary with definitions for at least 50 trading terms, further aiding the educational journey. In terms of ratings, Vantage offers a slightly higher educational value with a 4-star rating, compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Vantage is ranked 27th in education out of 62 brokers, whereas ThinkMarkets stands at 52nd, highlighting a difference in their educational offerings and overall effectiveness for learners.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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 Vantage is better than ThinkMarkets. Vantage finished with an overall rank of #26, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
Vantage rounds out its MetaTrader platform suite offering with support for multiple social trading platforms, content powered by Trading Central and a proprietary mobile app. However, Vantage trails industry leaders in key areas such as research and education.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 92 |
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Both Vantage and ThinkMarkets do not provide the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Vantage and ThinkMarkets, neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers, but Vantage supports PayPal while ThinkMarkets does not; both brokers allow Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transactions for depositing or withdrawing funds.
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 | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Regulation | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 90 | 92 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.30 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.75 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $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 | Vantage | 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 | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 15 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | 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 | Vantage Review |
| Overall | Vantage | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review |
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