ThinkMarkets and LQDFX are online forex brokers that offer their trading services to traders and investors. ThinkMarkets is a highly regulated and trusted forex broker. It is regulated by multiple regulatory authorities including FSA- Seychelles, ASIC, CySEC, FCA, JFSA, FSA in Japan, FSCA, CIMA, FSC-Maritius, NZFMA, DFSA. On the other hand, LQDFX is an offshore forex broker which is not regulated by any regulatory bodies. Both the brokers have their own strengths and weaknesses.
In this article, we will review and compare the brokerage services offered by ThinkMarkets and LQDFX. We will explore options such as regulations, reputations, fees, features, leverage, and more. Additionally, we will analyze and rate the brokers based on macro and micro categories and options. By reviewing these aspects, you will get a clear idea of which broker suits you best for your trading journey.
ThinkMarkets vs LQDFX: 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
- 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
LQDFX
Established in 2015, LQDFX boasts of low spreads, fast order executions, and security through client funds segregation, zero balance implementation, etc. Newbies are encouraged with multiple trading resources, demo account contests, and even micro accounts. Investors can choose the MAM/PAMM accounts and pros can open VIP accounts.
- Founded In: 2015
- Minimum Deposit: $20
- Maximum Leverage: 1:300
- Regulations: None
- Trading platform: MT4
- Account Types: VIP Account, ECN , Gold, Micro, Islamic
- Payment Options: (5+) VISA MASTER
- US Traders: Accepted
ThinkMarkets vs LQDFX: 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
LQDFX
- Trading Instruments: FX, Indices, Commodities, Metals, Cryptos
- Maximum leverage: 1000:1
- Minimum Deposit: $20
- Account Types:Â 4 (Standard, Pro, Var, Mini)
- Trading Fees: Commissions on Fx apply, $2.50 per 100,000
- PAMM/ MAM:Â Not Available
- Scalping: AllowedÂ
- News Trading: Allowed
- EA/ Robot Trading: Allowed
ThinkMarkets vs LQDFX: Pros and Cons
ThinkMarkets Pros & Cons
- 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
- 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
LQDFX Pros & Cons
- ECN broker with spreads from 0.0 pips and full STP execution.
- The minimum deposit required to start live trading is $20.
- Zero-balance protection and segregated funds.
- A 100% deposit bonus is given to traders who deposit from $250 to $20,000.
- Variety of Account Types including Swap Free Islamic Account
- Training resources in the form of video lessons, eBooks, etc.
- More than 30 video lessons are provided to train beginner traders.
- Accept multiple deposit methods such as debit/credit cards, cryptos, bank transfers, and PayRedeem eCards.
- An Economic Calendar, trading calculators, and chart analysis are some of the trading tools provided by the broker.
- No regulation from any regulatory authority.
- MT4 is the only platform available for traders.
- VIP accounts have a very high opening deposit.
- No daily market news and analysis.
- No MAM Managed Account
- Withdrawal fees for Visa and MasterCard
ThinkMarkets vs LQDFX: Side-by-Side Comparison
ThinkMarkets Vs LQDFX: Our Scores and Ratings
We rated both brokers, ThinkMarkets and LQDFX, 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 :
LQDFX
Final Verdict :
Both ThinkMarkets and LQDFX offer similar trading services worldwide. However, there are differences in their regulations, reputation, and operation. ThinkMarkets is a highly regulated and trusted forex broker. It is regulated by top-tier regulatory authorities, including FCA, DFSA, FSCA,CySEC, FSA- Labuan, FSA-S. On the other hand, LQDFX is an unregulated offshore forex broker. ThinkMarkets provides Multiple trading platforms including MT5, ThinkTrader, ThinkCopy. On the Contrary, LQDFX does not offer MT4/MT5. It uses only TradeLocker as its trading platform.
As ThinkMarkets is not licensed in the USA, it cannot accept US clients. Being an unregulated offshore forex broker, LQDFX can onboard clients from anywhere in the world, including the USA. Therefore, non-US traders may opt for ThinkMarkets, while US traders looking for offshore forex brokers may consider LQDFX. Trading with offshore forex brokers is always risky
