ThinkMarkets vs Trading 212 Comparison: Which Is Better for Traders?
ThinkMarkets
We test brokers on real accounts using our own methodology, evaluating the quality of order execution, trading conditions, platforms and customer support.
Who is better - ThinkMarkets or Trading 212?
Our pick: Trading 212
Based on multiple factors - spreads and fees, available assets and instruments, execution quality, platform usability, support level, and educational resources - Trading 212 looks preferable to ThinkMarkets.
Trading 212 scored 4.3/5 and ranks 34 in our all Forex brokers list, whereas ThinkMarkets has 4/5 and ranks 53.
This is not financial advice. See the full comparison below.
Who is ThinkMarkets suitable for?
ThinkMarkets suits traders who value attractive trading conditions, a wide range of products, analytical tools, and educational materials.
Who is Trading 212 suitable for?
Trading 212 is suitable for beginners thanks to educational materials and a low minimum deposit, and for experienced traders looking for affordability and simplicity
Comparison Table of ThinkMarkets and Trading 212
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2009 | 2003 |
| Regulated in Countries | Seychelles, United Kingdom, Australia, Cyprus, South Africa, Japan, Cayman Islands | United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Australia, Germany |
| Minimum Deposit |
|
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| Spread | from 0 points | from 0 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:500 | 1:30 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
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| Trading Platforms |
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| Review | ThinkMarkets Review | Trading 212 Review |
ThinkMarkets Review
ThinkMarkets is a highly regulated broker with licenses from the FCA and ASIC, confirming its reliability and operations transparency. The broker offers a wide range of trading platforms suitable for beginners and experienced traders. Extensive analytical resources and educational materials help traders to develop their skills and improve trading efficiency. Round-the-clock support ensures that help is always available, no matter the time of day.
ThinkMarkets is ideal for traders who are looking for a reliable and well-regulated broker with a variety of technological solutions and analytical tools. The broker is especially suitable for active traders who are willing to invest time in learning the market through the training materials offered.
Pros and Cons of ThinkMarkets
Pros
- Wide range of trading platforms.
- Strong analytical support.
- Extensive educational materials.
- 24/7 technical support.
Cons
- Limited choice of trading accounts.
- Withdrawal fees and account inactivity fees.
Trading 212 Review
Trading 212 is a convenient and modern broker primarily aimed at retail investors and beginner traders. The platform combines ease of use, a low entry threshold, and zero commissions on stocks and ETFs, making it attractive for long-term investing and gradual portfolio building.
The broker is best suited for:
- beginner investors
- users with limited capital
- those who invest in stocks and ETFs
- traders who value a simple interface
Trading 212 is less suitable for active traders and professionals who need tight spreads, advanced platforms (MetaTrader, cTrader), and a wider selection of derivatives.
Pros and Cons of Trading 212
Pros
- Zero commissions on stocks and ETFs.
- Low minimum deposit.
- Convenient and easy-to-use platform.
- Fractional shares.
- No deposit and withdrawal fees.
- Regulation in leading financial jurisdictions.
Cons
- Wide spreads on CFDs.
- No MetaTrader or cTrader.
- Limited analytics.
- No live chat or phone support.
- Currency conversion fee.
Reliability
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2009 | 2003 |
| Regulated in Countries | Seychelles, United Kingdom, Australia, Cyprus, South Africa, Japan, Cayman Islands | United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Australia, Germany |
| Regulators |
ThinkMarkets
The presence of licenses from authoritative regulators and a good reputation speak to the reliability of ThinkMarkets.
Trading 212
Trading 212 demonstrates a high level of reliability thanks to regulation in the EU, Australia, and the UK, as well as participation in an investor compensation scheme.
Pros
- Regulated by FCA, ASIC, BaFin, CySEC
- Participation in the FSCS compensation scheme
- Transparent terms and oversight by regulators
Account Opening
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Account Opening | 4/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Minimum Deposit |
|
|
ThinkMarkets
The account opening process at ThinkMarkets is simple and convenient. However, due to the possible verification process taking up to 2 days, the account opening process may not be as fast as desired.
Trading 212
Opening an account with Trading 212 is a quick and simple process: registration is fully online, verification takes up to 1 day, and the low minimum deposit makes getting started highly accessible.
Pros
- Fully online registration
- Fast verification
- Low minimum deposit
Cons
- Mandatory KYC verification
- Verification delays are possible
Account Types
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Account Types | 3.3/5 | 4/5 |
| Trading Accounts |
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| Minimum Deposit |
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| Spread | from 0 points | from 0 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:500 | 1:30 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
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| Trading Platforms |
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| Demo Account | ||
| Swap-free Account |
ThinkMarkets
ThinkMarkets offers two main types of accounts, but the variety of accounts is limited, and there are no accounts for certain groups of traders.
Pros
- Free VPS
- Ability to copy trades of successful traders
Cons
- Lack of cent accounts and fixed spread accounts
- No Islamic account
Trading 212
Trading 212 account types cover the main use cases—trading and investing. The lineup is simple and convenient, but it lags behind competitors in flexibility and lacks specialized accounts.
Pros
- CFD and Invest accounts are available
- Suitable for beginners and investors
- Demo account available
Cons
- Limited account variety
- ISA is available only in the UK
Commissions
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions | 2.3/5 | 4/5 |
| Spread | from 0 points | from 0 points |
| Average Spread (EURUSD) | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Commission per Lot | $3.5 |
ThinkMarkets
ThinkMarkets has average market commissions, making it accessible for most traders. However, it should be noted that the broker charges some non-trading commissions.
Pros
- Transparent commission structure.
Cons
- Conversion fee for withdrawals in a currency other than the base currency.
- Inactivity fee.
Trading 212
Trading 212's fees are below average thanks to zero commissions on Invest, but spreads and currency conversion reduce the overall attractiveness, especially for active CFD trading.
Pros
- Zero commissions on Invest/ISA
- No deposit/withdrawal fees
- Transparent fee structure
Cons
- CFD spreads are above average
- Currency conversion fee
Deposit and Withdrawal
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Account Funding Methods |
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ThinkMarkets
The broker offers convenient methods for depositing and withdrawing funds, most of which are commission-free, however, there may be delays in withdrawals.
Pros
- Wide selection of deposit and withdrawal methods.
- No commission for most deposit and withdrawal cases.
Cons
- Conversion fee for withdrawals in a currency other than the base currency.
- Potential long withdrawal times due to meticulous transaction verification
Trading 212
Deposits and withdrawals at Trading 212 are convenient and cost-effective: a wide range of methods with no fees and fast processing. A minor drawback is the lack of cryptocurrencies.
Pros
- No deposit/withdrawal fees
- Convenient methods (cards, PayPal, Apple Pay)
- Fast transactions
Cons
- No cryptocurrencies
- Bank transfers are slower
Markets and Products
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Markets and Products | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Forex | 46 | 35 |
| Precious Metals | 10 | 3 |
| Energy Carriers | 3 | 2 |
| Soft Commodities | 3 | 3 |
| Indices | 15 | 8 |
| Stocks | 3305 | 51 |
| ETF | 364 | 5 |
| Cryptocurrency | 21 | 22 |
ThinkMarkets
ThinkMarkets offers a highly diverse range of trading instruments.
Trading 212
Trading 212's markets and products cover key assets—stocks, ETFs, Forex, and CFDs. The offering is broad enough for most needs, but the lack of futures and options reduces versatility.
Pros
- Large selection of stocks and ETFs
- Access to international exchanges
- Suitable for investing and trading
Cons
- No futures or options
Trading Platforms
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Trading Platforms |
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|
ThinkMarkets
ThinkMarkets offers a wide selection of platforms, including popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, as well as proprietary developments such as ThinkTrader and ThinkCopy.
Trading 212
Trading 212's platforms are convenient and easy to understand, suitable for most users. The functionality is sufficient for trading, but the limited choice lowers the score.
Pros
- Simple and user-friendly interface
- Web and mobile versions available
- Suitable for beginners
Cons
- No MetaTrader/cTrader
- Limited features for professionals
Analytics
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
ThinkMarkets
ThinkMarkets provides high-quality analytical tools, making trading informative and productive.
Pros
- Extensive set of market analysis tools.
- Availability of Traders' Gym for strategy testing.
- Daily trading signals and market news.
Cons
- Some tools are only available for certain types of accounts.
Trading 212
Trading 212's analytics are suitable for self-directed analysis: there are charts and data. But the lack of news and signals makes this section limited.
Pros
- Convenient charts
- Fundamental data available
- Suitable for basic analysis
Cons
- No news feed
- No expert analysis
Education
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | 3.7/5 |
ThinkMarkets
ThinkMarkets offers high-quality educational materials covering a wide range of topics.
Pros
- Wide range of topics in articles.
- Webinars from experts.
- Materials for traders of all levels.
Cons
- Lack of video tutorials.
Trading 212
Trading 212's education is at a good level: plenty of videos and basic materials. It suits beginners, but it lacks depth and advanced content.
Pros
- Many educational videos
- FAQ and articles available
- Active forum
Cons
- No webinars
- Few advanced materials
Customer Support
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Email Support |
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| Hotline Phones |
| — |
| Social Media |
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
LinkedIn
InstagramThinkMarkets
ThinkMarkets offers a wide range of communication channels with support, including phone numbers in different countries, email, and online chat. Additionally, support is available 24/7, ensuring prompt assistance at any time of the day.
Trading 212
Trading 212 support works 24/7 and is generally effective, but the lack of live chat and a phone line reduces the speed of resolving urgent issues.
Pros
- 24/7 support
- High-quality answers
Cons
- No live chat
- No phone support
Comparisons of ThinkMarkets and Trading 212 with other brokers
ThinkMarkets Comparisons
Conclusion
Trading 212 stands out as the better overall pick, while ThinkMarkets trails on aggregate criteria.
Trading 212 scored 4.3/5 and ranks 34 in our rating; ThinkMarkets has 4/5 and ranks 53.
We explain the reasons above in detail — fees, platforms, reliability, support, and more.
FAQ
Which broker is better: ThinkMarkets or Trading 212?
Trading 212 comes out ahead by overall rank (score 4.3/5, position 34) versus ThinkMarkets (score 4/5, position 53).
Which broker is better for beginners: ThinkMarkets or Trading 212?
Trading 212 is often a smoother start thanks to simpler onboarding and stronger baseline metrics. Still, your tools and budget should drive the final choice.
Who has lower typical trading costs (spreads/commissions) — ThinkMarkets or Trading 212?
It depends on the instrument and account type. Compare the live conditions in the “Commissions” section on this page — we break down the nuances category by category.
What trading platforms are available with ThinkMarkets and Trading 212?
ThinkMarkets: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ThinkTrader. Trading 212: Trading 212. See the “Platforms” section for details and selection tips.
What markets can you trade with ThinkMarkets and Trading 212?
ThinkMarkets: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, ETF, Cryptocurrency. Trading 212: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, ETF, Cryptocurrency. Full lists and differences are in the “Markets” section.
What account types are offered by ThinkMarkets and Trading 212?
ThinkMarkets: Standard, ThinkZero. Trading 212: INVEST, ISA, CFD. See “Account Types” for a side-by-side comparison.
What deposit and withdrawal methods are supported by ThinkMarkets and Trading 212?
ThinkMarkets: Neteller, Skrill, Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard. Trading 212: Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Bank Transfer, Credit and Debit Cards, Giropay, Dotpay, iDeal. Check method-specific fees/settlement times.
Which broker is safer — ThinkMarkets or Trading 212 — and how was this assessed?
We consider regulation, corporate transparency, fund protection, and incident history. See the “Reliability” section for our findings.
