A head-to-head comparison of Exness and ThinkMarkets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Exceptional value for developing-market traders - instant withdrawals, $1 minimum deposit, and ultra-competitive raw spread pricing.
No minimum deposit on standard account, a highly rated ThinkTrader mobile app, and JFSA regulation for Japanese clients.
Exness edges ahead with a score of 4.4/5 vs ThinkMarkets's 4.2/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Exness offers tighter spreads from 0.3 pips vs 0.4 pips for ThinkMarkets, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Exness has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0.3 pips, lower commission ($3.5/lot).
ThinkMarkets offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Exness edges out ThinkMarkets with a higher editorial score (4.4/5 vs 4.2/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | $1 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.3 pips | 0.4 pips |
| Commission / lot | $3.5/lot | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 2000:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA FSCA CySEC OJK | FCA FSCA ASIC JFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Exness | Visit ThinkMarkets |
Pros
Near-unlimited leverage on offshore entity
Extremely low $1 minimum deposit on Standard account
Instant withdrawals available 24/7 including weekends
One of the world's highest-volume retail FX brokers
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
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
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
Not available to US residents
EU clients face significant leverage restrictions
Unlimited leverage carries extreme risk for inexperienced traders
No proprietary platform
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 | Exness | 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 | Pass | 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, Exness ranks higher with a score of 4.4/5 vs 4.2/5 for ThinkMarkets. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Exness and ThinkMarkets may each suit different trader profiles.
Exness offers tighter spreads starting from 0.3 pips, compared to ThinkMarkets's spreads from 0.4 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 Exness requires at least $1. This makes ThinkMarkets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Exness 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.
Exness offers maximum leverage of 2000:1, 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.
Exness charges $3.5 per lot, lower than ThinkMarkets's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Exness supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and ThinkMarkets offers MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; ThinkMarkets exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView.
Open an account directly with the broker that suits you best.
Score 4.2 / 5
Personalised recommendation
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