In this head-to-head, Exness and ThinkMarkets clash over regulation depth, pricing, and platform options. The edge isn't obvious until you parse the details.
Exness edges ThinkMarkets on overall score, driven by lower deposits and stronger pricing. ThinkMarkets offers a much larger instrument universe.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Exness if…
Choose Exness if you want a $1 minimum deposit and tight commissions.
Choose ThinkMarkets if…
Choose ThinkMarkets if you want $0 minimum deposit and the ThinkTrader app.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Exness offers tighter spreads from 0.30 pips vs 0.40 pips for ThinkMarkets, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
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)
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 |
The scores are close: Exness rates 4.4/5 and ThinkMarkets rates 4.2/5. Exness has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Exness starts from 0.3 pips, tighter than ThinkMarkets's 0.4 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
ThinkMarkets has no minimum deposit, 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. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: ThinkMarkets has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Exness lists maximum leverage of 2000:1, while ThinkMarkets lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
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 5, MetaTrader 4, while ThinkMarkets supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. ThinkMarkets has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile and TradingView.
Equally matched; both hold top-tier regulators and segregated funds.
ThinkMarkets wins for active traders due to a broader instrument universe.
Exness is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($3.5/lot), tighter spreads from 0.30 pips.
ThinkMarkets wins with ThinkTrader plus MT4/MT5 and TradingView integration.
ThinkMarkets wins for instrument variety with about 4000 options.
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▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.3 pips▼ lower | 0.4 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $3.5/lot▼ lower | $7/lot |
|---|
| 0.65 pips▼ lower | 1.1 pips |
| Max Leverage | 2,000:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCryptoP2P | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA FSCA OJK CySEC | FCA ASIC FSCA JFSA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
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