FOREX.com vs ThinkMarkets (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared

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Data refreshed 25 Sep 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan

FOREX.com

Trust rank #1 · Editorial rating 10 / 10 · Founded 2001

FOREX.com is a well-regarded forex broker offering broad access to forex markets through web, desktop, and mobile platforms, with research, education, and risk management tools. It operates under applicable regulatory oversight in…

Read the FOREX.com review

ThinkMarkets

Trust rank #20 · Founded 2010

ThinkMarkets is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering broad market access via MetaTrader and its proprietary ThinkTrader platform. It provides research, education, and risk management tools to support analysis and platform…

Read the ThinkMarkets review

FOREX.com (United States, founded 2001) holds 4 regulatory licences (ASIC, CFTC, FCA, NFA), 4 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary, TradingView and sits in our low-fee bracket. ThinkMarkets (Australia, founded 2010) holds 4 regulatory licences (ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA), 2 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 199 countries; FOREX.com is available in 32 countries where ThinkMarkets is not, and ThinkMarkets in 0 where FOREX.com is not.

Verdict at a glance

  • FOREX.com leads on trust rank, track record, platform choice, country coverage and tier-1 licences.
  • ThinkMarkets leads on instrument range.
  • Level on regulatory coverage and fee level.

Scored on 8 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.

FOREX.com vs ThinkMarkets: side-by-side data

CriteriaFOREX.comThinkMarkets
Editorial rating10 / 10Not verified
Trust rank#1#20
Founded20012010
HeadquartersUnited StatesAustralia
RegulatorsASIC, CFTC, FCA, NFAASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA
Broker typeDMA, Market Maker, STPECN, STP
PlatformsMT4, MT5, Proprietary, TradingViewMT4, MT5, Proprietary
InstrumentsCommodities, Forex, Indices, MetalsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals
Countries accepted231 countries199 countries
Fee levelLowLow
Trading typesCFD Trading, Spot TradingCFD Trading, Spot Trading
Best-for use casesProfessional Trading, Retail TradingCopy Trading, Professional Trading, Retail Trading

Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.

Pros

FOREX.com

  • Multi-jurisdiction regulation (US/UK/CA)
  • Accepts US clients
  • Proprietary platform + MT4/MT5 support
  • Competitive spreads with raw/commission pricing options
  • Extensive FX pair offering

ThinkMarkets

  • FCA & ASIC regulation
  • MT4/MT5 and ThinkTrader platforms
  • Raw-spread ThinkZero; commission-free Standard
  • Negative balance protection; segregated funds
  • Hedging, scalping, EAs allowed; high leverage options

Cons

FOREX.com

  • No CFDs for U.S. clients
  • FIFO and no-hedging rules on U.S. accounts
  • No negative balance protection in the U.S.
  • Inactivity fee after 12 months of no trading
  • High minimum balance for STP Pro/DMA accounts

ThinkMarkets

  • - Offshore entity for many clients with weaker investor protections
  • - No guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLO)
  • - Not available to U.S. residents
  • - No cTrader platform support
  • - CFDs only (no physical shares/ETFs)

Key features

FOREX.com

  • Spot forex and multi asset CFD trading
  • Top tier regulation and segregated client funds
  • MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 and Advanced Trading platform
  • TradingView integration and advanced charting tools
  • API trading via REST and FIX plus VPS support
  • Raw pricing with commission and standard spread only accounts

ThinkMarkets

  • Multi Asset CFD Trading Forex Indices Commodities Shares
  • MT4 MT5 and ThinkTrader Platforms
  • Multi Jurisdiction Regulation ASIC FCA FSCA FSA and Segregated Client Funds
  • Negative Balance Protection
  • Standard and ThinkZero Raw Spread Accounts
  • VPS Hosting and Algorithmic EA Support

Country availability: FOREX.com vs ThinkMarkets

Available at both (199): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros and 159 more.

Only FOREX.com (32): Austria, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and 7 more.

Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.

FOREX.com vs ThinkMarkets: common questions

Which broker is more regulated, FOREX.com or ThinkMarkets?

FOREX.com holds more regulatory licences: FOREX.com (ASIC, CFTC, FCA, NFA) versus ThinkMarkets (ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA). Tier-1 licences: FOREX.com 4, ThinkMarkets 2.

Which trading platforms do FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets offer?

FOREX.com offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary, TradingView; ThinkMarkets offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary.

Which has lower fees, FOREX.com or ThinkMarkets?

Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.

Which is older, FOREX.com or ThinkMarkets?

FOREX.com is the older of the two, founded in 2001; ThinkMarkets was founded in 2010.

Are FOREX.com and ThinkMarkets available in the same countries?

They overlap in 199 countries. FOREX.com is additionally available in 32 countries (Austria, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus and 26 more) and ThinkMarkets in 0 countries ().

Keep comparing

FOREX.com

ThinkMarkets

Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.