FBS vs ThinkMarkets Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of FBS and ThinkMarkets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Offshore broker with CySEC and IFSC licensing, dominant in Southeast Asia and MENA through heavy localised marketing and generous bonuses - best evaluated on regulatory strength rather than promotion value.
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
ThinkMarkets winsby 0.3 pts
ThinkMarkets edges ahead with a score of 4.2/5 vs FBS's 3.9/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
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
FBS offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.4 pips for ThinkMarkets, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
ThinkMarkets has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Best for active traders
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers offer equivalent trading costs across spreads, commissions, and account types.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
ThinkMarkets offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
ThinkMarkets edges out FBS with a higher editorial score (4.2/5 vs 3.9/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
FBS vs ThinkMarkets: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 3.5 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Belize City, Belize | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | $1 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.4 pips |
| Commission / lot | $20/lot | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 3000:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FSCA CySEC IFSC | FCA FSCA ASIC JFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit FBS | Visit ThinkMarkets |
FBS vs ThinkMarkets Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
Very low $1 minimum deposit on Cent accounts
MT4 and MT5 on all account types
Multiple account types including Cent, Zero Spread, and ECN
Widely available across Southeast Asia, MENA, and Africa
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
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
Primary entity uses IFSC Belize - offshore, limited investor protection
Bonus turnover requirements are onerous
Very high leverage (3000:1) is a significant risk factor for retail clients
No top-tier regulatory licence
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Limited charting capabilities
Cons
ThinkZero account requires $500 minimum deposit
Standard account is spread-only and not competitive for scalpers
Not available to US residents
FBS vs ThinkMarkets: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
0
FBS
criteria wins
4
ThinkMarkets
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | FBS | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
FBS vs ThinkMarkets: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, ThinkMarkets ranks higher with a score of 4.2/5 vs 3.9/5 for FBS. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; FBS and ThinkMarkets may each suit different trader profiles.
FBS offers tighter spreads starting from 0 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 FBS requires at least $1. This makes ThinkMarkets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
ThinkMarkets holds top-tier regulation (FCA, FSCA, ASIC), providing stronger investor protections. FBS may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Always verify regulatory status with the broker directly before depositing funds.
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.
FBS offers maximum leverage of 3000:1, 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, lower than FBS's $20 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
FBS 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.
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