A head-to-head comparison of Global Prime and ThinkMarkets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ASIC-regulated NDD/ECN broker with raw spreads from 0.0 pips and one of the most transparent execution reports in retail forex - a strong choice for active traders who prioritise verified execution quality over marketing.
No minimum deposit on standard account, a highly rated ThinkTrader mobile app, and JFSA regulation for Japanese clients.
Global Prime 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.
Global Prime offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.4 pips for ThinkMarkets, reducing trading costs.
ThinkMarkets has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Global Prime has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0 pips.
ThinkMarkets offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 5, 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 $200 for Global Prime), 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 | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.1 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 2010 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | $200 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.4 pips |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | ASIC VFSC | FCA FSCA ASIC JFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 cTrader | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Global Prime | Visit ThinkMarkets |
Pros
ASIC regulated with published quarterly execution quality reports
Raw spreads from 0.0 pips with $7 round-turn commission
True NDD execution - no internal position matching
MT4 and cTrader available
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
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
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
$200 minimum deposit
Limited product range - forex and major CFD classes only
No proprietary platform or copy trading
No investor compensation scheme
No 24/5 live chat
No phone support
Support available in limited languages
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 | Global Prime | 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) | 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 | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Fail | Pass |
Global Prime 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.
Global Prime 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 Global Prime requires at least $200. This makes ThinkMarkets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Global Prime 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.
Global Prime 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.
Both Global Prime and ThinkMarkets charge the same commission of $7 per lot on applicable accounts.
Global Prime supports MetaTrader 4, cTrader and ThinkMarkets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support MetaTrader 4; Global Prime exclusively offers cTrader; ThinkMarkets exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView.
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Score 4.2 / 5
Score 4.2 / 5
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