ThinkMarkets vs XM 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 XM?
Our pick: XM
Based on multiple factors - spreads and fees, available assets and instruments, execution quality, platform usability, support level, and educational resources - XM looks preferable to ThinkMarkets.
XM scored 4.7/5 and ranks 2 in our all Forex brokers list, whereas ThinkMarkets has 4/5 and ranks 49.
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 XM suitable for?
Broker XM is suitable for both novice traders, thanks to educational materials, and experienced traders who value a variety of instruments.
Comparison Table of ThinkMarkets and XM
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2009 | 2009 |
| Regulated in Countries | Seychelles, United Kingdom, Australia, Cyprus, South Africa, Japan, Cayman Islands | Belize, Cyprus, Australia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, Seychelles |
| Minimum Deposit |
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| Spread | from 0 points | from 0 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:500 | 1:1000 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
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| Trading Platforms |
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| Review | ThinkMarkets Review | XM 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.
XM Review
XM broker offers a wide range of services, making it an attractive option for various traders. With over 1500 trading instruments, extensive educational resources, and numerous trading platforms, XM is ideally suited for beginners and experienced traders. Novice traders will particularly appreciate the accessible educational materials and low entry threshold, while professionals will find the competitive spreads and diversity of instruments appealing.
Pros and Cons of XM
Pros
- Wide range of trading assets.
- Extensive educational resources.
- Tight spreads on the Ultra Low account.
- Many analytical materials.
- Commission-free deposits and withdrawals.
Cons
- Inactivity fee.
- Standard account has a higher spread than the market average.
XM is in the top 10 of the following ratings:
Reliability
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2009 | 2009 |
| Regulated in Countries | Seychelles, United Kingdom, Australia, Cyprus, South Africa, Japan, Cayman Islands | Belize, Cyprus, Australia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, Seychelles |
| Regulators |
ThinkMarkets
The presence of licenses from authoritative regulators and a good reputation speak to the reliability of ThinkMarkets.
XM
XM is a reliable and well-regulated broker with licenses in key jurisdictions. Segregated accounts, negative balance protection, and a compensation fund make it a safe choice for traders.
Pros
- Licenses from ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, and other regulators
- Segregation of client funds
- Negative balance protection and compensation scheme
Account Opening
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Account Opening | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Minimum Deposit |
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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.
XM
Opening an account with XM is fast and convenient: registration takes only a few minutes, the interface is intuitive, and document requirements are standard.
Pros
- Fast online registration
- Clear and straightforward KYC process
- Ability to open demo and additional accounts
Account Types
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Account Types | 3.3/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Trading Accounts |
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| Minimum Deposit |
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| Spread | from 0 points | from 0 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:500 | 1:1000 |
| 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
XM
XM broker offers various account types to satisfy the needs of different traders, from beginners to professionals.
Pros
- A wide choice of accounts for different experience levels
- Flexible trading conditions (leverage, deposit)
- Specialized accounts for stock trading
Cons
- No ECN or STP accounts
Commissions
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions | 2.3/5 | 4/5 |
| Spread | from 0 points | from 0 points |
| Average Spread (EURUSD) | 1.2 | 1.7 |
| 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.
XM
XM’s fees can be considered competitive: the Ultra Low account offers reduced spreads, while the absence of deposit and withdrawal fees lowers overall costs. With active trading, the conditions are attractive.
Pros
- Reduced spreads on the Ultra Low account
- No deposit or withdrawal fees
- Ability to lower costs through rebates
Cons
- Above-average spreads on the Standard account
- Inactivity fee applies
Deposit and Withdrawal
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| 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
XM
The broker offers convenient deposit and withdrawal methods with zero commission but lacks cryptocurrency support.
Pros
- Zero commission for deposits and withdrawals
- A minimum limit of only 5 dollars
- Quick processing of withdrawal requests
Cons
- No cryptocurrency deposit/withdrawal options
Markets and Products
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Markets and Products | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Forex | 46 | 55 |
| Precious Metals | 10 | 3 |
| Energy Carriers | 3 | 3 |
| Soft Commodities | 3 | 8 |
| Indices | 15 | 50 |
| Stocks | 3305 | 1307 |
| ETF | 364 | - |
| Cryptocurrency | 21 | 58 |
ThinkMarkets
ThinkMarkets offers a highly diverse range of trading instruments.
XM
The broker offers a wide range of markets and products, including over 1500 items.
Pros
- A large selection of currency pairs
- Access to CFDs on various assets
- The ability to trade cryptocurrencies
Trading Platforms
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| 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.
XM
XM offers various versions of MT4 and MT5 platforms, providing flexibility in trading.
Pros
- Availability on various devices (PC, Mac, mobile)
- MultiTerminal for managing multiple accounts
- WebTrader for browser-based trading
Cons
- No alternatives to MetaTrader
Analytics
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 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.
XM
XM’s analytics are well structured and deeply integrated into the platform. Trading Central, market sentiment tools, calendars, and calculators make them useful for both active trading and careful pre-trade analysis.
Pros
- Trading Central integration and XM in-house analysis
- Economic calendar, corporate events, and calculators
- Clear market sentiment tools
Education
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | 5/5 |
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.
XM
XM's educational materials are extensive and varied, suitable for all experience levels.
Pros
- A wide range of materials: webinars, videos, seminars
- Available in different languages
- Daily online sessions with experts
Customer Support
| Broker | ThinkMarkets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Email Support |
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| Hotline Phones |
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| 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.
XM
XM’s customer support operates reliably 24/7, offering multiple contact channels and multilingual assistance. Most issues are resolved quickly and professionally, which supports the broker’s high service rating.
Pros
- 24/7 support via chat, email, phone, and messengers
- Multilingual assistance
- Strong knowledge of products and procedures
Comparisons of ThinkMarkets and XM with other brokers
Conclusion
XM stands out as the better overall pick, while ThinkMarkets trails on aggregate criteria.
XM scored 4.7/5 and ranks 2 in our rating; ThinkMarkets has 4/5 and ranks 49.
We explain the reasons above in detail — fees, platforms, reliability, support, and more.
FAQ
Which broker is better: ThinkMarkets or XM?
XM comes out ahead by overall rank (score 4.7/5, position 2) versus ThinkMarkets (score 4/5, position 49).
Which broker is better for beginners: ThinkMarkets or XM?
XM 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 XM?
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 XM?
ThinkMarkets: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ThinkTrader. XM: MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, WebTrader. See the “Platforms” section for details and selection tips.
What markets can you trade with ThinkMarkets and XM?
ThinkMarkets: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, ETF, Cryptocurrency. XM: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, Cryptocurrency. Full lists and differences are in the “Markets” section.
What account types are offered by ThinkMarkets and XM?
ThinkMarkets: Standard, ThinkZero. XM: Standard, Micro, XM Ultra Low, Shares. See “Account Types” for a side-by-side comparison.
What deposit and withdrawal methods are supported by ThinkMarkets and XM?
ThinkMarkets: Neteller, Skrill, Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard. XM: Neteller, Skrill, SticPay, Swift, Visa, Mastercard. Check method-specific fees/settlement times.
Which broker is safer — ThinkMarkets or XM — and how was this assessed?
We consider regulation, corporate transparency, fund protection, and incident history. See the “Reliability” section for our findings.
