ThinkMarkets Review 2024


4 / 5
ThinkMarkets is #49 in our CFD broker rankings.

With its diverse asset list, competitive fees and superb charting software, ThinkMarkets maintains its position as a top choice for most CFD traders. That said, experienced traders will particularly appreciate the range of advanced tools, including forex signals and VPS solutions.

- Daytrading Review Team
71.89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Founded in 2010, ThinkMarkets is a reputable CFD and forex broker with regulation from several top-tier bodies including the FCA and ASIC. The broker provides services to over 450,000 accounts from 11 global offices. 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.

$0
ThinkTrader, MT4, MT5, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Futures, Commodities, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK Only)
-
USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CHF
Mastercard, POLi, BPAY, Credit Card, Visa, Skrill, Neteller, Wire Transfer, Google Wallet, Apple Pay

Forex Trading

ThinkMarkets offers 46 currency pairs, which is around the industry average. Forex traders can benefit from tight 0.0-pip spreads for EUR/USD during peak market hours. Additionally, the ThinkTrader proprietary platform offers an impressive 125+ technical indicators - ideal for complex forex strategies.

Stock Trading

Although the broker doesn’t offer real stocks, clients can trade CFDs on an impressive list of 3000+ shares with low commissions from $3.50 per side and no hidden fees. Spreads are also competitive, coming in at 0.08 pips for the Apple stock.

CFD Trading

ThinkMarkets continues to offer an excellent range of around 3500 CFD instruments covering forex, indices, stocks and commodities. Leverage is available up to 1:30 in the EU and UK, while global clients can access up to 1:500.

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, with 30+ forex pairs, 8 indices, gold, silver and energies. Spread bets are available 24/5 Monday to Friday. ThinkMarkets also enhanced its spread betting offering in 2024 by making it available on the award-winning ThinkTrader platform, in addition to MT4 and MT5.

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.

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)
  • Advanced charting package from TradingView in ThinkTrader Web - ideal for day traders
  • 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.

We’re also pleased to see that ThinkMarkets has bolstered its web platform by integrating TradingView, providing a powerful charting package for serious day traders. Users can track 8 charts simultaneously, create custom views, set up shortcuts for a smoother trading experience, and adjust settings across multiple charts in one click.

Additionally, ThinkMarkets bolstered its ThinkTrader platform in 2024 by introducing spread betting on popular markets, including currencies, stock indices, metals and energies. The desktop, web and mobile platform now offers a complete trading environment for serious spread betters.

ThinkMarkets trading platform
ThinkTrader Platform

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 4 platform
MetaTrader 4 platform

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.

thinkmarkets MetaTrader 5 platform
MetaTrader 5 platform

Platform Options:

Markets

ThinkMarkets has a 3500+ list of tradable instruments, covering:

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.

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.

ThinkTrader Mobile App From ThinkMarkets
ThinkTrader Mobile App From ThinkMarkets

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):

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:

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:

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.

Top 3 Alternatives to ThinkMarkets

Compare ThinkMarkets with the top 3 similar brokers that accept traders from your location.

  1. IG – Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.
    Go to IG
  2. Interactive Brokers – Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage for experienced traders, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
    Go to Interactive Brokers
  3. FOREX.com – Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
    Go to FOREX.com

ThinkMarkets Comparison Table

Compare ThinkMarkets With Similar Brokers
ThinkMarkets IG Interactive Brokers FOREX.com
Rating 4 4.4 4.3 4.5
Markets CFDs, Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Futures, Commodities, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK Only) CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies Forex, Spot Metals
Demo Account Yes Yes Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit $0 $0 $0 $100
Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots $100 0.01 Lots
Regulators FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, JFSA, FSA Seychelles FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA FCA, SEC, FINRA, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB NFA, CFTC
Bonus Active Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs
Education No Yes Yes Yes
Platforms ThinkTrader, MT4, MT5, AutoChartist, TradingCentral Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, AutoChartist, TradingCentral Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Leverage 1:500 1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro) 1:50 1:50
Payment Methods 10 6 6 8
Visit Visit Visit Visit
Review IG
Review
Interactive Brokers
Review
FOREX.com
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.

Compare ThinkMarkets Trading Instruments
ThinkMarkets IG Interactive Brokers FOREX.com
CFD Yes Yes Yes No
Forex Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stocks Yes Yes Yes Yes
Commodities Yes Yes Yes Yes
Oil Yes Yes No Yes
Gold Yes Yes Yes Yes
Copper Yes Yes No No
Silver Yes Yes No Yes
Corn No No No No
Crypto Yes Yes Yes No
Futures No Yes Yes No
Options No Yes Yes Yes
ETFs No Yes Yes No
Bonds No Yes Yes No
Warrants No Yes Yes 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.

 

Customer Reviews

  5 / 5

This average customer rating is based on 1 ThinkMarkets customer reviews submitted by our visitors.

If you have traded with ThinkMarkets we would really like to know about your experience - please submit your own review. Thank you.

  5

I’ve been day trading with ThinkMarkets for about a year and it’s a reliable broker. ThinkZero account has very low spreads. Order execution is fast and reliable. The charting tools are great. Traders’ Gym is also good for testing day trading strategies. I did have to deposit $500 for the ThinkZero account though which is pretty steep.

✍ Dom | 🌐 United Kingdom | January 3, 2024

Submit Your Own Review of ThinkMarkets

If you have experience trading with ThinkMarkets please share your personal review of the broker and what you think are strong and weak points. Thank you.

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Founded in 2010, ThinkMarkets is a reputable CFD and forex broker with regulation from several top-tier bodies including the FCA and ASIC. The broker provides services to over 450,000 accounts from 11 global offices. 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.
71.89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

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.