Interactive Brokers vs ThinkMarkets Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of Interactive Brokers and ThinkMarkets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Score 4.6 / 5
2 bonusesListed broker with global market access, lowest financing rates we benchmark, and the powerful TWS workstation.
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
Interactive Brokers winsby 0.4 pts
Interactive Brokers edges ahead with a score of 4.6/5 vs ThinkMarkets's 4.2/5. 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
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.2 pips vs 0.4 pips for ThinkMarkets, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Best for active traders
Recommended
Interactive Brokers has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0.2 pips, lower commission ($2/lot).
Best for platform choice
Recommended
ThinkMarkets offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
Interactive Brokers edges out ThinkMarkets with a higher editorial score (4.6/5 vs 4.2/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
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 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 1978 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Greenwich, United States | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.2 pips | 0.4 pips |
| Commission / lot | $2/lot | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 50:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMF SEC FINRA ASIC JFSA SEBI AMF SFC DFSA CMVM NFA IIROC CNV FSC CBI CNB MFSA | FCA FSCA ASIC JFSA |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile Trader Workstation (TWS) | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Interactive Brokers | Visit ThinkMarkets |
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
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
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
Steeper learning curve on TWS
No MT4 / MT5
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Cons
ThinkZero account requires $500 minimum deposit
Standard account is spread-only and not competitive for scalpers
Not available to US residents
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
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Interactive Brokers ranks higher with a score of 4.6/5 vs 4.2/5 for ThinkMarkets. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Interactive Brokers and ThinkMarkets may each suit different trader profiles.
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads starting from 0.2 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.
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. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Interactive Brokers offers maximum leverage of 50:1, 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.
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 Proprietary Web/Mobile, Trader Workstation (TWS) and ThinkMarkets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support Proprietary Web/Mobile; Interactive Brokers exclusively offers Trader Workstation (TWS); ThinkMarkets exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView.
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Score 4.2 / 5
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