This comparison pits Pepperstone and ThinkMarkets across regulation, pricing and platforms. The axis of tension centers on trust versus instrument breadth.
Pepperstone outperforms ThinkMarkets on editorial score and regulator breadth, with 4.7 vs 4.2 and broader oversight across six authorities.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Pepperstone if…
Choose Pepperstone if you value a broad regulator footprint across FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, FMA, and DFSA.
Choose ThinkMarkets if…
Choose ThinkMarkets if you want a larger instrument universe and a proprietary ThinkTrader app.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Pepperstone offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.40 pips for ThinkMarkets, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.7/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Pros
FCA, ASIC, BaFin, CySEC, DFSA licensed
Razor account: tight spreads + transparent commission
TradingView + MT4 / MT5 / cTrader
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Pepperstone | 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 | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Pepperstone rates 4.7/5 versus 4.2/5 for ThinkMarkets. Pepperstone edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Pepperstone starts from 0 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 Pepperstone nor ThinkMarkets requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Pepperstone 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.
Pepperstone lists maximum leverage of 500:1, 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.
Both Pepperstone and ThinkMarkets charge the same commission of $7 per lot on applicable accounts.
Pepperstone supports cTrader, IRESS, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while ThinkMarkets supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and MetaTrader 4. Pepperstone has exclusive access to cTrader and IRESS. ThinkMarkets has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Pepperstone is best for safety and regulation, with six regulators and segregated client funds.
Pepperstone is best for active traders, due to low spreads starting at 0 pips and a transparent $7/lot commission.
Pepperstone is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
Pepperstone wins for platform choice, offering MT4/MT5, cTrader, TradingView and IRESS.
ThinkMarkets is best for beginners, with no minimum deposit on standard ThinkForex account.
ThinkMarkets wins instrument variety with 4000 instruments versus Pepperstone's 1200.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2010 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia | London, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips▼ lower | 0.4 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | $7/lot |
|---|
| 0.7 pips▼ lower | 1.1 pips |
| Max Leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrill | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA FMA BaFin CySEC | FCA ASIC FSCA JFSA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader IRESS MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
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
Not available to US residents
No proprietary platform
Cons
ThinkZero account requires $500 minimum deposit
Standard account is spread-only and not competitive for scalpers
Not available to US residents
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
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