A head-to-head comparison of FXOpen and ThinkMarkets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Triple-regulated ECN specialist (FCA, CySEC, ASIC) and early cTrader adopter with one of the lowest commission structures in retail ECN - $1.5 per side per lot - making it highly cost-effective for active traders.
No minimum deposit on standard account, a highly rated ThinkTrader mobile app, and JFSA regulation for Japanese clients.
FXOpen and ThinkMarkets are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.2/5 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.
FXOpen offers tighter spreads from 0 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.
FXOpen has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0 pips, lower commission ($3/lot).
ThinkMarkets offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.2/5, but ThinkMarkets requires a lower minimum deposit ($0 vs $100 for FXOpen), making it more accessible for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 2003 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | $100 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.4 pips |
| Commission / lot | $3/lot | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC | FCA FSCA ASIC JFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit FXOpen | Visit ThinkMarkets |
Pros
FCA, CySEC, and ASIC triple regulation
$3 round-turn ECN commission - one of the lowest in retail forex
Early cTrader adopter with mature integration
MT4, MT5, and cTrader all available
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
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
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
$100 minimum deposit on ECN accounts
Less brand recognition than larger competitors
Customer support coverage narrower than global tier-1 brokers
No proprietary platform
No phone support
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 | FXOpen | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
FXOpen and ThinkMarkets share the same editorial score of 4.2/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
FXOpen 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 FXOpen requires at least $100. This makes ThinkMarkets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both FXOpen 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.
FXOpen 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.
FXOpen charges $3 per lot, lower than ThinkMarkets's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
FXOpen supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and ThinkMarkets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; FXOpen exclusively offers cTrader; ThinkMarkets exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView.
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Score 4.2 / 5
Score 4.2 / 5
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