ThinkMarkets Review 2023
United States not accepted.- DayTrading Review TeamThinkMarkets is a reliable, multi-regulated broker that will suit most CFD traders thanks to its large asset list, competitive fees and excellent platform options.
ThinkMarkets is a reputable CFD and forex broker with regulation from several top-tier bodies including the FCA and ASIC. Traders can use a bespoke platform, MT4 or MT5 to access a wide variety of assets including 3500+ stocks and ETFs, 46 forex pairs and over 20 cryptocurrencies. Fees are competitive, particularly for the ThinkZero account with spreads starting at zero.
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Forex Trading
ThinkMarkets offers 46 forex pairs, including a decent variety of minors and exotics as well the majors. Forex traders also benefit from very tight spreads starting from 0.0 pips for the EUR/USD in the Zero account.
Stock Trading
ThinkMarkets clients can trade CFDs on an impressive list of more than 3000 shares with low commissions and no hidden fees, plus fast execution speeds. The broker does not support trading of physical company shares.
CFD Trading
ThinkMarkets offers CFDs on a good range of instruments, the most extensive being stocks and ETFs with 3500+ assets, as well as indices and commodities, amongst others. Leverage is available up to 1:30 in the EU and UK, while clients of the offshore branch can access up to 1:500 leverage.
Crypto Trading
With 20+ cryptocurrencies available to trade via CFDs, traders can securely speculate on crypto markets with up to 1:10 leverage. ThinkMarkets does not directly trade crypto assets, meaning you will not own the tokens, and crypto trading is not available in some jurisdictions.
Spread Betting
Spread betting is available to UK traders of ThinkMarkets, which offers contracts on 30+ forex pairs, eight indices, gold, silver and energies. Spread bets are available around the clock Monday to Friday.
Copy Trading
The Signal Centre is FCA-regulated and offers insights into forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Users can receive up to 40 signals before the trading day starts to plan setups.
Awards
- Best CFD Provider 2021 - City of London Wealth Management Awards (COLWMA)
- Best Value Broker in Asia at the 2020 - Global Forex Awards
- Best Forex Trading Experience 2017 - UK Forex Awards
- Best Forex Trading Innovation 2017 - UK Forex Awards
- Best Customer Service 2013 - UK Forex Awards
✓ Pros
- Low fees with competitive spreads on the commission-free account and very tight spreads and a low $3.5 commission on ThinkZero
- Unique Traders' Gym simulation tool for testing out strategies on real historical data, with multiple timeframes and custom features
- In-depth educational resources for beginner, intermediate and advanced level traders, plus live webinars
- Three stable and award-winning platforms plus seamless integration with the broker's Signal Centre
- Top-tier regulation from the FCA, ASIC and CySEC plus offshore branches with high leverage
- Free VPS hosting available for MT4 and MT5, ideal for traders using Expert Advisors (EAs)
- Reliable 24/7 multilingual support via telephone, email or live chat
- Quick and easy to open a ThinkMarkets account
✗ Cons
- $500 minimum deposit for ThinkZero account
- Not many payment methods available for UK traders
- Limited bonus offers, refer-a-friend schemes or trading competitions
ThinkMarkets is a trustworthy broker offering trading in forex and CFDs. Users can choose between MT4 and MT5, plus the broker’s ThinkTrader platform. This, along with low trading fees and over 4000 instruments makes the ThinkMarkets group an attractive proposition. Our review will unpack the login process, client portal features, and more.
71.89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
ThinkMarkets Overview
ThinkMarkets was founded in 2010 by CEO – Nauman Anees. The group has headquarters in Melbourne and London and forms part of Think Capital Limited, a company registered in Bermuda.
Since 2010, the online broker has expanded its trading operations, attracting 550,000 users in 180 countries, including Indonesia, Egypt, the UAE, and Bulgaria. In 2018 ThinkMarkets made the news for allowing Australian investors to invest in an emerging financial technology market with a £100 million initial public offering (IPO) on the ASX.
The broker is regulated by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), South Africa’s Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA) and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) Seychelles.
Additionally, the broker has obtained two additional regulatory licenses; the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) in Europe as well as the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA).
Trading Platforms
Three trading platforms are available; the broker’s own ThinkTrader, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and MetaTrader 5 (MT5).
ThinkTrader
The broker’s proprietary ThinkTrader platform is slick and intuitive. Users get over 125 indicators, 50 drawing tools, plus 20 different chart types. Clients also benefit from close to 200 free cloud-based notifications. Direct chart trading is also available, along with standard risk management tools and multiple order types.
MetaTrader 4
The MT4 platform can be downloaded to your PC free of charge. The platform promises fast trade execution, over 100 indicators, and one-click-trading. The MT4 system also comes with a host of superb apps and additional features, including free access to Trading Central, a VPS, and FXWirePro.
MetaTrader 5
The MT5 platform is the latest version of the popular MT4 software. It appeals to seasoned traders, in particular, offering more advanced trading tools and analysis features. Users benefit from additional technical indicators and timeframes, plus an enhanced strategy tester for EAs, as well as a built-in economic calendar.
Platform Options:
- MT4: Mobile (Android, iOS, iPad), MT4 Web, MT4 Desktop download for Windows and Mac.
- MT5: Mobile (Android, iOS, iPad), MT5 Web, MT5 Desktop download for Windows.
- ThinkTrader: Mobile, Tablet, Desktop, ThinkTrader Web.
Markets
ThinkMarkets has a 3500+ list of tradable instruments, covering:
- Forex – 46 majors, minors, and exotics
- Stocks – 3500+ shares & ETFs available
- Indices – 15+ global indices
- Commodities – Oil, gas, & agricultural
- Precious metals – Gold, silver, platinum & copper
- Cryptocurrencies – 20+ including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash & more
(As per regulation Crypto CFDs are not offered to retail traders in the UK) - Futures – 10+ including BRENT, WTI and COTTON
Spread betting is also available for UK clients only.
Spreads & Commissions
ThinkMarkets scored highly in terms of trading fees. Spreads are variable and start from zero pips on major FX pairs, such as the EUR/USD and GBP/USD.
With the ThinkZero spread account, there is a $3.5 commission per side of 100,000 (£2.5 units per side in the UK). This commission applies to FX and Metals only and ThinkZero accounts are available on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms.
ThinkMarkets reserve the right to charge an inactivity fee.
Traders will be pleased to see there are no swap rates.
Leverage
The maximum leverage available depends upon the type of account (retail /professional) and the ThinkMarkets entity.
- Forex – leverage up to 1:500
- Indices – leverage up to 1:200
- Commodities – leverage up to 1:200
- Cryptocurrency – leverage up to 1:10
To avoid a margin call, make sure you have enough capital in your account.
Note, due to regulations, the maximum leverage available to traders from Europe, the UK and Australia is 1:30.
Mobile App
ThinkMarkets offer a full-service mobile app called ThinkTrader, which is available to download for iOS and Android devices. Previously Trade Interceptor, ThinkMarkets has enhanced the platform to provide a superior mobile trading experience. The app has since been rated five stars by over 15,000 users.
The award-winning mobile program offers thousands of markets, in-app chat support, plus a breadth of analysis tools and technical indicators.
Payment Methods
Funding your account is available via several deposit methods (which may vary depending on the client’s country of residence and the ThinkMarkets entity):
- Bank transfer – available currencies: AUD, GBP, EUR, CHF, USD. Estimated processing time: 1 – 3 business days
- Credit & debit card – available currencies: AUD, GBP, EUR, CHF, USD. Estimated processing time: instant
- Skrill – available currencies: AUD, GBP, EUR, CHF, USD. Estimated processing time: up to 10 minutes
- Neteller – available currencies: AUD, GBP, USD, JPY, EUR. Estimated processing time: up to 10 minutes
- Bitpay – available currencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum and Bitcoin Cash. Estimated processing time: up to 10 minutes
- Google Pay & Apple Pay – available currencies: USD, EUR, GBP, AUD. Estimated processing time: up to 10 minutes
There is no minimum deposit with the Standard account, but the ThinkZero account requires a minimum deposit of $/£500.
For security reasons, the withdrawal and deposit method must be the same. Withdrawals are normally processed within 24 hours but may take up to seven working days. For withdrawals via bank transfer, the minimum withdrawal amount is $/£100. There are no deposit or withdrawal fees at ThinkMarkets.
Demo Account
ThinkMarkets offers a demo account with $/£25,000 in practice cash. Users can refine strategies and test the MT4, MT5, and ThinkTrader platforms while getting familiar with the available instruments.
Demo accounts on MT4/MT5 will expire after 90 days of inactivity and demo accounts on the ThinkTrader platform do not expire but ThinkMarkets do reserve the right to close them.
Welcome Bonus & Promotions
ThinkMarkets do not currently have any active promotions or offers.
Regulation & Licensing
TF Global Markets UK Ltd is FCA registered while the group also holds licenses with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), South Africa’s Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Japan’s Financial Services Agency (JFSA) and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) Seychelles.
The broker offers negative balance protection to stop clients from losing more than their deposits. Also, ThinkMarkets has a £1 million insurance protection plan.
Overall, we’re satisfied the broker is highly regulated and trustworthy.
Additional Features
ThinkMarkets has a pretty good library of educational resources. For beginners, there are free video tutorials and a trading glossary. Tutorials aimed at intermediate and advanced traders are also available. Additionally, trend PDFs, market news, and blogs from industry experts can be found on the broker’s website.
Our favorite solution is the partnership with Signal Centre. This provides actionable trading signals directly into the broker’s platforms. Traders can receive up to 40 signals each day spanning popular financial markets, including forex, equities, commodities and indices.
The multitude of tools are all designed to help traders boost revenue and minimise losses.
Account Types
ThinkMarkets has two popular retail accounts:
- Standard account – Average FX spread is 1.2 pips, no commission or minimum deposit, and maximum trade size is 50 lots. The Standard account has VPS access available via MT4 and MT5 but no access to an account manager.
- ThinkZero – Average FX spread is 0.1 pips, $3.5 / £2.5 unit commission per side, $/£500 minimum deposit, and maximum trade size is 100 lots. ThinkZero is best suited to traders looking for zero spreads and large position sizes.
Islamic trading accounts and joint accounts are also available.
Note the broker does not use an ECN model and is primarily a market maker.
Trading Hours
ThinkMarkets trading hours follow standard opening and closing times of respective markets. So, for forex and indices, most trading will take place Monday to Friday. Contract specific opening hours can be found on the broker’s website.
Customer Support
ThinkMarkets multilingual customer support team is available 24/7. They can be contacted through:
- Email – support@thinkmarkets.com
- Telephone – UK: +44 203 514 2374, AUS: +61 3 9093 3400 Italy: +39 023 057 9033, Spain: +34-911829975, South Africa: +27 10 446 5933
- Live chat – chat support available on the website and mobile app
A self-service FAQ client portal and online query form are also available on the broker’s website.
Use ThinkMarkets social media channels to keep up to date with the latest product and promotional news:
ThinkMarkets have global offices in London, Chicago, Melbourne and South Africa.
Security
The ThinkMarkets website is secured using industry-standard encryption protocols. Also, the MetaTrader platforms use a one-time-password to provide an additional layer of security.
ThinkMarkets Verdict
ThinkMarkets is an excellent forex and CFD broker. A choice of trading platforms, thousands of instruments, and low fees make the group suitable for beginners and veterans. The broker is also highly regulated with a long list of positive reviews from customers worldwide.
Accepted Countries
ThinkMarkets accepts traders from Australia, Thailand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Qatar and most other countries.
Traders can not use ThinkMarkets from United States, Canada, Belgium, Russian Federation.
Payment Methods
ThinkMarkets Details
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
|---|---|
| Regulated By | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, JFSA, FSA Seychelles |
| Account Types |
|
| Islamic Account | Yes |
| Mobile Apps | iOS & Android |
| Margin Trading | Yes |
| Volatility Index | No |
| Spot Trading | No |
| Perpetual Swaps | No |
| ELWs | No |
| REITs | No |
| AI / Machine Learning | No |
| Robo Advisor | No |
| P2P Trading | No |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes |
| VPS Hosting | Yes |
| Tournaments | No |
| Demo Competitions | No |
| Managed Accounts | No |
| Market Maker | No |
| Auto Trading | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader |
| Social Trading | Yes |
| Trade Signals | Signal Centre |
| Inactivity Fee | $0 |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | No |
| Stock Exchanges |
|
| Commodities |
|
CFD Trading Details
| FTSE Spread | 0.7 |
|---|---|
| GBPUSD Spread | 0.4 |
| Oil Spread | 0.03 |
| Stocks Spread | From 0.4 |
| Leverage | 1:500 |
Forex Trading Details
| GBPUSD Spread | 0.3 |
|---|---|
| EURUSD Spread | 0.0 |
| EURGBP Spread | 0.0 |
| Assets | 45+ |
Cryptocurrency Trading Details
| Crypto Spread | BTC 25, ETH 6 (Variable) |
|---|---|
| Crypto Lending | No |
| Crypto Staking | No |
| Crypto Mining | No |
| Crypto Auto Market Maker | No |
| Crypto Coins |
|
Compare ThinkMarkets
Compare ThinkMarkets with similar brokers that accept traders from your location. Among available brokers these are the most similar to ThinkMarkets:
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IG Group – IG is an award-winning broker that has an excellent reputation globally. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across a comprehensive suite of markets. IG is also multi-regulated, provides a great trading app and has 50 years experience.
Go to IG Group -
Just2Trade – Just2Trade is a reliable multi-regulated broker registered with FINRA, NFA and CySEC. The company has 155,000 clients from 130 countries and stands out for its huge suite of instruments and additional features, including a social network, robo advisors and a funded trader programme.
Go to Just2Trade -
World Forex – World Forex is an offshore broker registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines, offering commission-free trading with a $1 minimum deposit and 1:1000 leverage. Digital contracts are also available, offering beginners a straightforward way to speculate on popular financial markets.
Go to World Forex
ThinkMarkets Comparison Table
| ThinkMarkets | IG Group | Just2Trade | World Forex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4 | 4.4 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Markets | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Futures, Commodities, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK Only) | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting | Stocks, ADRs, ETFs, Futures, Options, Commodities, Bonds | Forex, CFD Stocks, Metals, Energies, Cryptos, Digital Contracts |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | $100 | $1 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots |
| Regulators | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, JFSA, FSA Seychelles | FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA | CySEC, NFA, FINRA, Bank of Russia | SVGFSA |
| Bonus | – | – | Up to $2,000 for professional accounts | 100% Deposit Bonus |
| Education | No | Yes | No | No |
| Platforms | ThinkTrader, MT4, MT5, AutoChartist, TradingCentral | MT4, AutoChartist, TradingCentral | MT4, MT5, TradingCentral | MT4, MT5 |
| Leverage | 1:500 | 1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro) | 1:20 | 1:1000 |
| Payment Methods | 10 | 6 | 20 | 10 |
| Visit | – | Visit | Visit | Visit |
| Review | ThinkMarkets Review |
IG Group Review |
Just2Trade Review |
World Forex Review |
Compare Trading Instruments
Compare the markets and instruments offered by ThinkMarkets and its competitors. Please note, some markets may only be available via CFDs or other derivatives.
| ThinkMarkets | IG Group | Just2Trade | World Forex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFD | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Oil | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gold | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Copper | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Silver | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Corn | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| ETFs | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Warrants | No | Yes | No | No |
| Spreadbetting | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Volatility Index | No | Yes | No | No |
ThinkMarkets vs Other Brokers
Compare ThinkMarkets with any other broker by selecting the other broker below.
FAQ
What instruments can I trade at ThinkMarkets?
Tradable assets at ThinkMarkets include forex, CFDs on metals, indices, equities, cryptocurrencies, commodities and futures, and for UK residents – spread betting.
What is the minimum deposit at ThinkMarkets?
With the Standard trading account, there is no minimum deposit. However, the ThinkZero account comes with a $/£500 minimum deposit requirement.
Does ThinkMarkets have a demo account?
ThinkMarkets offers a demo account with $/£25,000 in virtual cash.
Traders can try the MT4, MT5, and ThinkTrader platforms. Note, the demo account on MT4 / MT5 will expire after 90 days of inactivity.
Is ThinkMarkets a trustworthy broker?
ThinkMarkets is a highly regulated and trustworthy broker. The company holds licenses with some of the most respected regulatory bodies, including the UK’s FCA. Customer reviews also show the broker can be trusted.
Who is the ThinkMarkets owner?
ThinkMarkets was founded in 2010 by Nauman Anees, following years of experience in financial services. Nauman is still the CEO today.
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| ThinkMarkets is a reputable CFD and forex broker with regulation from several top-tier bodies including the FCA and ASIC. Traders can use a bespoke platform, MT4 or MT5 to access a wide variety of assets including 3500+ stocks and ETFs, 46 forex pairs and over 20 cryptocurrencies. Fees are competitive, particularly for the ThinkZero account with spreads starting at zero. 71.89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. |
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