Two established forex brokers face off on regulation, pricing, and platforms. The tension centers on support access and instrument breadth.
Skilling and ThinkMarkets are closely matched across regulation, pricing, and platforms. ThinkMarkets provides phone support, a differentiator Skilling lacks, while both offer client protections and segregated funds.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Skilling if…
Choose Skilling if you want a modern proprietary platform with strong UX.
Choose ThinkMarkets if…
Choose ThinkMarkets if you want no minimum deposit and a well-regarded mobile app.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ThinkMarkets offers tighter spreads from 0.40 pips vs 0.70 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
Pros
Clean modern Skilling Trader platform, excellent UX for new-to-intermediate traders
cTrader available with raw spreads from 0.0 pips
CySEC and FCA regulation with EU and UK investor protections
Growing Latin American presence with local-language support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Skilling | 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 | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Skilling rates 4.1/5 and ThinkMarkets rates 4.2/5. ThinkMarkets 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.
ThinkMarkets starts from 0.4 pips, tighter than Skilling's 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
ThinkMarkets has no minimum deposit, while Skilling requires at least $100. This makes ThinkMarkets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Skilling 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, two factors stand out: ThinkMarkets has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Skilling 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.
ThinkMarkets charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Skilling are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Skilling supports cTrader, Skilling Trader, MetaTrader 4, while ThinkMarkets supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. Skilling has exclusive access to cTrader and Skilling Trader. ThinkMarkets has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and Proprietary Web/Mobile and TradingView.
ThinkMarkets has broader regulatory coverage with FCA, ASIC, FSCA, and JFSA.
ThinkMarkets wins with lower starting spreads and a larger instrument universe.
ThinkMarkets is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.40 pips.
ThinkMarkets provides MT4/MT5, TradingView, and ThinkTrader for diverse platforms.
Skilling delivers a polished UX ideal for new-to-intermediate traders.
ThinkMarkets offers a wider instrument universe with 4000 options.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.1 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Valletta, Malta | London, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.7 pips | 0.4 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $7/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 1.1 pips |
| Max Leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 90 days) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA FSCA CySEC | FCA ASIC FSCA JFSA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader Skilling Trader MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
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
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
Newer broker, less track record than IG or Pepperstone
Product range narrower than multi-asset brokers
No phone support
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 4.1 / 5
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