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

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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan

Markets.com

Trust rank #18 · Founded 2008

Markets.com is a well‐regarded forex and CFD broker offering broad access to currency pairs and multi‐asset CFDs on intuitive web and mobile platforms. It provides built‐in research, education, and risk management tools…

Read the Markets.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

Markets.com (Cyprus, founded 2008) holds 5 regulatory licences (ASIC, BVI FSC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA), 2 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary 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 146 countries; Markets.com is available in 29 countries where ThinkMarkets is not, and ThinkMarkets in 53 where Markets.com is not.

Verdict at a glance

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

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.

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

CriteriaMarkets.comThinkMarkets
Trust rank#18#20
Founded20082010
HeadquartersCyprusAustralia
RegulatorsASIC, BVI FSC, CySEC, FCA, FSCAASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA
Broker typeMarket MakerECN, STP
PlatformsMT4, MT5, ProprietaryMT4, MT5, Proprietary
InstrumentsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, MetalsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals
Countries accepted175 countries199 countries
Fee levelLowLow
Trading typesCFD TradingCFD Trading, Spot Trading
Best-for use casesRetail 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

Markets.com

  • Multi-jurisdiction tier-1 regulation (FCA/ASIC) + segregated client funds
  • MT4/MT5 and proprietary platforms with advanced analytics
  • 2,000+ instruments including 50+ forex pairs
  • Integrated research, sentiment, and economic calendar tools
  • Negative balance protection for retail clients

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

Markets.com

  • No raw/commission pricing; wider spreads
  • Not available to U.S. clients
  • Protections vary by entity; weaker safeguards offshore
  • No cTrader or DMA/ECN access
  • Currency conversion fees apply

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

Markets.com

  • Multi jurisdiction regulation and client fund segregation
  • Forex and CFD trading across major asset classes
  • Proprietary web and mobile platforms with MT4 and MT5
  • Advanced research sentiment and event tools
  • Negative balance protection and risk management
  • Spread betting for UK clients

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: Markets.com vs ThinkMarkets

Available at both (146): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Benin, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador and 106 more.

Only Markets.com (29): Austria, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Lucia and 4 more.

Only ThinkMarkets (53): American Samoa, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Guam, Haiti, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Macao, Maldives, Mali, Micronesia, Mongolia, Montserrat and 28 more.

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

Markets.com vs ThinkMarkets: common questions

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

Markets.com holds more regulatory licences: Markets.com (ASIC, BVI FSC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA) versus ThinkMarkets (ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA). Tier-1 licences: Markets.com 2, ThinkMarkets 2.

Which trading platforms do Markets.com and ThinkMarkets offer?

Markets.com offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary; ThinkMarkets offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary.

Which has lower fees, Markets.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, Markets.com or ThinkMarkets?

Markets.com is the older of the two, founded in 2008; ThinkMarkets was founded in 2010.

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

They overlap in 146 countries. Markets.com is additionally available in 29 countries (Austria, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia and 23 more) and ThinkMarkets in 53 countries (American Samoa, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belize and 47 more).

Keep comparing

Markets.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.