A head-to-head comparison of Saxo Bank and ThinkMarkets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Danish-licensed bank with the deepest multi-asset coverage we cover, premium SaxoTraderGO/PRO platforms, and tiered pricing for active traders.
No minimum deposit on standard account, a highly rated ThinkTrader mobile app, and JFSA regulation for Japanese clients.
Saxo Bank edges ahead with a score of 4.7/5 vs ThinkMarkets's 4.2/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ThinkMarkets offers tighter spreads from 0.4 pips vs 0.6 pips for Saxo Bank, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
ThinkMarkets has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0.4 pips.
ThinkMarkets offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Saxo Bank edges out ThinkMarkets with a higher editorial score (4.7/5 vs 4.2/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.7/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.9 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 1992 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Copenhagen, Denmark | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.6 pips | 0.4 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 30:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC JFSA MAS SFC DFSA ACPR CNMV FINMA Finansinspektionen Finanstilsynet CMA FSC CBI KNF Finanstilsynet MFSA | FCA FSCA ASIC JFSA |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile SaxoTraderGO | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Saxo Bank | Visit ThinkMarkets |
Pros
Licensed bank (Denmark)
Best-in-class multi-asset platform
Tiered active-trader pricing
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
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
Higher minimums on classic accounts than ECN brokers
No MT4 / MT5
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Saxo Bank | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | 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 |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Saxo Bank ranks higher with a score of 4.7/5 vs 4.2/5 for ThinkMarkets. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Saxo Bank and ThinkMarkets may each suit different trader profiles.
ThinkMarkets offers tighter spreads starting from 0.4 pips, compared to Saxo Bank's spreads from 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither Saxo Bank nor ThinkMarkets requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Saxo Bank 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.
Saxo Bank offers maximum leverage of 30:1, 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.
ThinkMarkets charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Saxo Bank supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, SaxoTraderGO and ThinkMarkets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support Proprietary Web/Mobile; Saxo Bank exclusively offers SaxoTraderGO; ThinkMarkets exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView.
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