ActivTrades vs ThinkMarkets Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and ThinkMarkets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Score 4.3 / 5
2 bonusesFCA-regulated UK broker with 23 years of history, SMSG membership, and a proprietary ActivTrader platform featuring built-in volatility protection - strong in southern European markets.
VS
Score 4.2 / 5
2 bonusesNo minimum deposit on standard account, a highly rated ThinkTrader mobile app, and JFSA regulation for Japanese clients.
Our Verdict
Too close to call0.1 pts apart
ActivTrades and ThinkMarkets are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.3/5 and 4.2/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
ThinkMarkets offers tighter spreads from 0.4 pips vs 0.5 pips for ActivTrades, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Best for active traders
Recommended
ThinkMarkets has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0.4 pips.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
ThinkMarkets offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
ActivTrades edges out ThinkMarkets with a higher editorial score (4.3/5 vs 4.2/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
ActivTrades vs ThinkMarkets: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.4 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | FCA FSCA ASIC JFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit ThinkMarkets |
ActivTrades vs ThinkMarkets Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
FCA regulated with supplemental insurance up to GBP 1,000,000 per client
ActivTrader's volatility protection feature is a genuine risk management differentiator
No minimum deposit
Strong southern European presence - Italian, Spanish, Portuguese support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
No minimum deposit on standard ThinkForex account
ThinkTrader proprietary app is well-reviewed for mobile trading
JFSA regulation for Japanese clients
Strong multi-region regulatory coverage
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Product range narrower than IG or Saxo
No cTrader or raw ECN account option
Less known outside Europe compared to global competitors
Cons
ThinkZero account requires $500 minimum deposit
Standard account is spread-only and not competitive for scalpers
Not available to US residents
ActivTrades vs ThinkMarkets: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
0
ActivTrades
criteria wins
1
ThinkMarkets
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | ActivTrades | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
ActivTrades vs ThinkMarkets: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, ActivTrades ranks higher with a score of 4.3/5 vs 4.2/5 for ThinkMarkets. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ActivTrades and ThinkMarkets may each suit different trader profiles.
ThinkMarkets offers tighter spreads starting from 0.4 pips, compared to ActivTrades's spreads from 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither ActivTrades nor ThinkMarkets requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and ThinkMarkets hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
ActivTrades offers maximum leverage of 400:1, while ThinkMarkets offers up to 500:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
ThinkMarkets charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader and ThinkMarkets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support MetaTrader 4; ActivTrades exclusively offers ActivTrader; ThinkMarkets exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView.
Ready to get started?
Open an account directly with the broker that suits you best.
Score 4.2 / 5
More Broker Comparisons
More ActivTrades comparisons
More ThinkMarkets comparisons
Personalised recommendation
Not sure which broker is right for you?
Answer 6 quick questions and we'll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
Find my broker