A head-to-head comparison of Admirals and ThinkMarkets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Multi-regulated broker with extensive account range, competitive Zero account spreads, strong EU regulation and quality webinar and education content.
No minimum deposit on standard account, a highly rated ThinkTrader mobile app, and JFSA regulation for Japanese clients.
Admirals 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.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ThinkMarkets offers tighter spreads from 0.4 pips vs 0.5 pips for Admirals, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Both brokers offer equivalent trading costs across spreads, commissions, and account types.
ThinkMarkets offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Admirals edges out ThinkMarkets with a higher editorial score (4.3/5 vs 4.2/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | $100 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.4 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC KNF | FCA FSCA ASIC JFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Admirals | Visit ThinkMarkets |
Pros
Extensive range of accounts including Zero, Trade, and Invest
Strong FCA and CySEC regulation covering EU and UK traders
High-quality educational content including live webinars
Zero account offers spreads from 0.5 pips with $6 round-turn commission
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app 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
Platform-heavy - MT4 and MT5 only, no proprietary platform
Customer support quality varies by region
Not available to US clients
Inactivity fee applies
Cons
ThinkZero account requires $500 minimum deposit
Standard account is spread-only and not competitive for scalpers
Not available to US residents
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Admirals | 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 | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | 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 |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Admirals 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; Admirals and ThinkMarkets may each suit different trader profiles.
ThinkMarkets offers tighter spreads starting from 0.4 pips, compared to Admirals's spreads from 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
ThinkMarkets has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Admirals requires at least $100. This makes ThinkMarkets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Admirals 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: ThinkMarkets has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Admirals offers maximum leverage of 500:1, 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.
Admirals charges $6 per lot, lower than ThinkMarkets's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Admirals supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and ThinkMarkets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; ThinkMarkets exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView.
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