ThinkMarkets vs CMC Markets | Fees, Features, Safety & More for 2024

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ThinkMarkets and CMC Markets are Forex and CFD brokers offering online trading services to traders and investors worldwide. Both brokers are regulated by top-tier regulatory authorities. ThinkMarkets is regulated by 8 regulatory authorities , including the ASIC, CySEC, FMA, JFSA, FSA-S, FSCA , FCA , DFSA.On the other hand, CMC Markets is regulated by 5 regulatory authorities , including the FCA, ASIC, BaFin, IIROC, FMA, MAS. These two brokers offer almost similar services. However, each broker has its strengths and weaknesses.

In this article, we will compare ThinkMarkets with CMC Markets regarding trading platforms, regulations, tradable assets, fees, customer support, and overall trading experience score. We will also explore if ThinkMarkets is better than CMC Markets. This comparison lets you understand which broker is better for your trading style and preferences.

ThinkMarkets vs CMC Markets: In a Nutshell

ThinkMarkets

Founded in 2010 by Nauman and Faizan Anees, ThinkMarkets is an Australian-based forex and CFD broker that offers online trading services worldwide.  The company has offices in London, Tokyo, Chicago, Melbourne, Limassol, Dubai, Sofia, and Johannesburg. On its MetaTrader and ThinkTrader platforms, clients can trade over 4,000 instruments. Real stock trading is available on the ThinkTrader app. Traders are supported with free VPS, Signal Centre, Dynamic leverage, Traders’ Gym, etc. To learn more about Think Markets, read our review on Think Markets

ThinkMarkets At a Glance

ThinkMarkets At a Glance
  • Founded In: 2010
  • Founder: Nauman and Faizan Anees
  • Headquarters: London, England
  • Minimum Deposit: $0 (Standard Account), $500 (ThinkZero account).
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:500
  • Regulations: ASIC, CySEC, FMA, JFSA, FSA-S, FSCA , FCA , DFSA
  • Trading platform: MT5, ThinkTrader, ThinkCopy
  • Account Types: Demo ,Standard Account, Think Zero, Mini Account
  • Payment Options: Bank Wire (BankTransfer/SWIFT), VISA, MasterCard, BPAY, Cryptocurrency, Neteller, PayPal, PayRetailers, Skrill
  • US Clients : Not Accepted

CMC Markets

Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is a publicly traded broker (Ticker: CMCX). The broker is regulated in the UK, Australia, Canada, and Singapore. It offers over 9800 trading instruments, including Forex, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, Shares & ETFs, and Commodities. There is no minimum deposit requirement on IC Markets; you may deposit as low as $1. CMC Markets allows EA trading and news trading. The broker uses the most popular trading platform, MetaTrader (MT4), as its trading platform.

CMC Markets Overview
  • Founded In: 1989
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:500
  • Regulations: ASIC
  • Trading platform: MT4 , Share trading platforms
  • Account Types: SPREAD BETTING, Fx Active, CFD Trading
  • Payment Options: Bank Wire (BankTransfer/SWIFT), VISA, MasterCard
  • US Traders: Not Accept

ThinkMarkets vs: CMC Markets Features

ThinkMarkets

  • Trading Instruments: 4000+ trading instruments including including forex, cryptocurrencies, shares CFDs, indices, metals, and commodities. 
  • Maximum leverage: The maximum leverage of ThinkMarkets is as high as 2000:1. Leverage may vary based on jurisdiction and tradable assets. 
  • Minimum Deposit: The minimum deposit is as low as $0. However, the minimum deposit varies based on account type. ( Standard account: $0, Mini Account: $10, ThinkZero Account: $500)
  • Account Types: Three ( Standard account, ThinkZero Account, Mini Account) 
  • Trading Fees: Spread starting from 1 pip for Standard Account or Commission 3.00 to 3.50 per lot for Razor Account on a Single Trip. 
  • Trading Fees: Spreads start from 0.4 pips for the standard account (No commission), and 2.52 pips for the Mini Account (no commission). The ThinkZero account has a spread of 0.0 pips with a commission of $3.5 per lot per side.
  • PAMM/ MAM:  Available 
  • Scalping: Allowed 
  • News Trading: Allowed
  • EA/ Robot Trading: Allowed

CMC Markets

  • Trading Instruments: 12000+ trading instruments including forex, indices, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities, Shares, Share baskets, Treasuries, etc 
  • Maximum leverage:  Up to 30:1 ( FCA, ASIC), up to 1:50 (IIROC), and up to 500:1 for a professional account.
  • Minimum Deposit: No Minimum Deposit. However, Pepperstone recommends $200 or equivalent for the margin requirement. 
  • Account Types: Three (Spread Betting Account, CFD Account, Corporate Account)
  • Trading Fees: only Spread is charged (Commission is only for Shares account). Variable spreads from 0.3 pips. A rollover commission is applied on open positions overnight. For the Shares account commission starts from $7. 
  • PAMM/ MAM:  Not Available 
  • Scalping: Allowed 
  • News Trading: Allowed
  • EA/ Robot Trading: Allowed

ThinkMarkets vs CMC Markets: Pros and Cons

ThinkMarkets

Pros
  • Regulated by ASIC, FCA, CySEC, JFSA, FSA-S, DFSA 
  • The minimum deposit is as low as $1 
  • The Maximum Leverage is as high as 2000:1 
  • Allows scalping, EA trading, Copy trading
  • Offers social trading options PAMM, MAM Accounts
  • Negative balance protections for EU, UK, and Australian clients
  • Tight Spreads Starting From 0 pips 
  • MT4, MT5, and Thinktrader trading platforms are offered 
Cons
  • Only Forex and CFDs are offered (not real assets).
  • There is no investment protection scheme for Global traders.
  • Ctrader and TradingView are not offered.
  • No bonuses or promotional offerings are available.
  • Conditions may vary according to regulation and entity.
  • Offshore Entity for international traders 

CMC Markets

Pros
  • Regulated by FCA, ASIC, IIROC, MAS, FMA
  • Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is publicly traded company
  • The minimum deposit is as low as $1 
  • Comparatively low spread starting from 0.7 pips
  • Allows news trading, EA/Robot trading
  • Extensive range of tradable assets 
  • Excellent education and research resources
Cons
  • Offered only MT4, no MT5, cTrader trading platforms 
  • Maximum leverage is only 1:300
  •  No passive investment programme or social trading platforms ( No PAMM, MAM accounts) 
  •  Does not accept US clients
  • Only CFD Trading 
  • High CFD spreads for certain Indices 
  • Spread betting only for UK residents

ThinkMarkets vs CMC Markets: Side-by-Side Comparison

Thinkmarkets
CMC Markets
Product
Product
Thinkmarkets
CMC Markets
Founded In
Founded In
2010
1989
Founded By
Founded By
Nauman and Faizan Anees
Peter Andrew Cruddas, Baron Cruddas
Headquarters
Headquarters
London, England
London, United Kingdom
Regulations
Regulations
ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSA, FSC, NZFMA, DFSA, JFSA, FSCA, CIMA
FCA, ASIC, BaFin, IIROC, FMA, MAS
Min Deposit
Min Deposit
None (Standard Account), $500 (ThinkZero account)
None
Max Leverage
Max Leverage
1:2000
1:500
Tradable Assets
Tradable Assets
Forex, Futures, Commodities, Indices, ETFs, Crypto, Stocks
Forex Major, Forex Crosses, Forex Minor, Metals, Oil , CFD, Stock indices
Fees
Fees
Spread from 0.4 pips (Standard Account) or Commission $3.5 per side
Spread starting from 0.3 pips or commission $10
Platforms and Tools
Platforms and Tools
MT4, MT5, ThinkTrader, ThinkCopy
MT4 , Share trading platforms
US Traders
US Traders
Not Allowed
Not Allow

ThinkMarkets Vs CMC Markets: Our Scores and Ratings

We rated both brokers, ThinkMarkets and CMC Markets, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 0.1 increments. To achieve a comprehensive rating, we broadly grouped all services offered by brokers into 6 macro categories and assigned percentage weights to them. Each macro category is subdivided into several data points which contributes to the total score of 1.0-10.0 assigned to each macro category. Since all categories are not equally important, our weight percentage plays a significant role in assessing the broker accurately. For example, Regulation and Security contributes a total weight of 40% to the whole ratings because this is the most important rating category. To learn more, read our methodology.

ThinkMarkets :

9.2
Total Score
Regulation and Security (40%)9.8
Fees and Commissions (20%)8.4
Trading (15%)9
Trading tools (10%)8
Customer Support (10%)9.5
Trading Education (5%)9

CMC Markets

9.0
CMC Markets Score
Regulation and Security (40%)9.7
Fees and Commissions (20%)8
Trading (15%)9
Trading tools (10%)8
Customer Support (10%)9.5
Trading Education (5%)9

Final Verdict :

ThinkMarkets and CMC Markets are regulated forex and CFD brokers in the industry. They offer similar trading services. Both brokers allow scalping, hedging, EA trading, and Copy trading. The minimum order size for both of them is 0.01. 

However, there are a few areas where you may find some differences. For example, the minimum deposit for ThinkMarkets is $0., whereas the minimum deposit for CMC Markets is $0 Additionally, the maximum leverage for ThinkMarkets is 1:2000. In contrast, the maximum leverage for CMC Markets is 30:1 (retail clients), 500:1 (Professional Clients). ThinkMarkets offers passive investment programs like MAM and PAMM, while CMC Markets does not have any passive investment programs.

Our score for ThinkMarkets is 9.2, and for CMC Markets, it is 9 So, if you are looking for the most trusted forex brokers with MAM and PAMM services, you may choose ThinkMarkets. However, if you prefer another forex brokers that offer similar services, you may choose CMC Markets.

Written by

Jason Paine is a forex trader, researcher, and tech enthusiast. He is passionate about financial markets and cutting-edge technology. With a dynamic 16-year trading career, he's on a mission to guide fellow traders. Having navigated diverse forex brokers, Jason shares his insights at Brokersway to bridge the gap between traders and the right brokerage.

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