Interactive Brokersvs
ThinkMarketsForex Broker Comparison
Two regulated brokers square off on access, costs, and platform choices. Interactive Brokers emphasizes broad market reach and low financing, while ThinkMarkets leans on MT4/MT5 support and mobile apps.
Our Verdict
Interactive Brokers winsby 0.4 pts
Interactive Brokers edges ThinkMarkets on the editorial score (4.6 vs 4.2) and broader regulator coverage.
No commercial relationship. The verdict and scores are entirely editorial. No payment influences this comparison.
Key Differences
- 1Interactive Brokers lists 17000 instruments, far more than ThinkMarkets.
- 2ThinkMarkets supports MT4/MT5 and ThinkTrader mobile app.
- 3ThinkMarkets provides 24/5 live chat support.
Who should choose Interactive Brokers vs ThinkMarkets?
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Interactive Brokers if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you want broad instrument access and extensive regulator coverage.
Choose ThinkMarkets if…
Choose ThinkMarkets if you want MT4/MT5 access and 24/5 live chat support.
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
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.20 pips vs 0.40 pips for ThinkMarkets, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
It’s a tie
Both equally suited
Interactive Brokers vs ThinkMarkets: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Interactive Brokers vs ThinkMarkets Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
Available to US residents
Lowest margin rates in industry
150+ global markets
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Interactive Brokers vs ThinkMarkets: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
0
Interactive Brokers
criteria wins
2
ThinkMarkets
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Interactive Brokers vs ThinkMarkets: Frequently Asked Questions
The scores are close: Interactive Brokers rates 4.6/5 and ThinkMarkets rates 4.2/5. Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers starts from 0.2 pips, tighter than ThinkMarkets's 0.4 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither Interactive Brokers nor ThinkMarkets requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Interactive Brokers 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, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Interactive Brokers lists maximum leverage of 50:1, 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.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 per lot, lower than ThinkMarkets's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile, while ThinkMarkets supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS). ThinkMarkets has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and MetaTrader 4.
