Admirals and ThinkMarkets square off over regulation, platforms, and global stock access. Their choices shape ownership, trading tools, and reach, inviting a closer look.
Admirals edges ThinkMarkets overall, driven by zero-commission real shares and broader exchange access.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose Admirals if…
Choose Admirals if you want real stock ownership via Invest.MT5 with zero commission, alongside leveraged share CFDs and broad access to 4,500+ stocks and ETFs. You also benefit from no minimum deposit on standard accounts and UK FSCS protection, plus FCA, CySEC, and ASIC oversight.
Choose ThinkMarkets if…
Choose ThinkMarkets if you want a proprietary platform with ThinkTrader and ThinkCopy social trading across a 3,000+ stock CFD universe. Regulated by FCA and ASIC with broad access but no real shares, you rely on CFDs for equity exposure.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Admirals wins with zero-commission real shares via Invest.MT5.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 3.8/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.4 pips▼ lower |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot▼ lower | $7/lot |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Admirals | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Pass | Fail |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Admirals rates 4/5 and ThinkMarkets rates 3.8/5. Admirals 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 lists tighter spreads from 0.4, compared with Admirals's 0.5. For stock trading, also factor in any per-trade or per-share commissions — spreads and commissions together determine the true cost per trade.
Neither Admirals nor ThinkMarkets requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Admirals 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.
Admirals lists maximum leverage of 20:1, while ThinkMarkets lists up to 20:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Admirals charges $6 per trade, lower than ThinkMarkets's $7 per trade. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
Admirals supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while ThinkMarkets supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. ThinkMarkets has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile and TradingView.
Admirals offers commission-free stock trading while ThinkMarkets does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
Both Admirals and ThinkMarkets are covered by a compensation scheme according to our data, providing an additional safety net for your stock investments. Confirm the specific scheme and coverage limit that applies to your account before depositing.
Admirals benefits from FSCS protection and FCA/CySEC/ASIC oversight.
ThinkMarkets offers ThinkTrader and ThinkCopy for those seeking social trading and a proprietary platform.
Admirals has no minimum deposit on standard accounts and real stock options.
Admirals provides access to 15 exchanges, more than ThinkMarkets.
Admirals enables real share ownership without minimum deposits.
| 1.1 pips |
| 1.1 pips |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month (after 24 months) | 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 |
|---|
| Commission-free | Yes | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC KNF | FCA ASIC FSCA JFSA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.8 / 5
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