Advertiser disclosure: some links on this page may be affiliate links, meaning BrokerCatalogue may earn a commission if you open an account. This never affects the data shown here, which is drawn from our catalogue and compared mechanically. How we make money.
Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan
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
Trust rank #24 · Editorial rating 9 / 10 · Founded 1982
TradeStation forex broker offers forex trading on a well-regarded platform with advanced charting, customizable order tools, and API-driven automation. Users can analyze currency pairs, execute trades, and streamline workflows within a technology-focused…
Read the TradeStation reviewThinkMarkets (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. TradeStation (United States, founded 1982) holds 3 regulatory licences (CFTC, FCA, NFA), 3 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 197 countries; ThinkMarkets is available in 2 countries where TradeStation is not, and TradeStation in 36 where ThinkMarkets is not.
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.
| Criteria | ThinkMarkets | TradeStation |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial rating | Not verified | 9 / 10 |
| Trust rank | #20 | #24 |
| Founded | 2010 | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Australia | United States |
| Regulators | ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA | CFTC, FCA, NFA |
| Broker type | ECN, STP | Market Maker |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Instruments | Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals | Forex |
| Countries accepted | 199 countries | 233 countries |
| Fee level | Low | Low |
| Trading types | CFD Trading, Spot Trading | Spot Trading |
| Best-for use cases | Copy Trading, Professional Trading, Retail 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.
Available at both (197): 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 157 more.
Only ThinkMarkets (2): Iraq, Libya.
Only TradeStation (36): Antarctica, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Southern Territories, Germany, Greece, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and 11 more.
Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.
ThinkMarkets holds more regulatory licences: ThinkMarkets (ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA) versus TradeStation (CFTC, FCA, NFA). Tier-1 licences: ThinkMarkets 2, TradeStation 3.
ThinkMarkets offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary; TradeStation offers Proprietary.
Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.
TradeStation is the older of the two, founded in 1982; ThinkMarkets was founded in 2010.
They overlap in 197 countries. ThinkMarkets is additionally available in 2 countries (Iraq, Libya) and TradeStation in 36 countries (Antarctica, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory and 30 more).
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.