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IG vs ThinkMarkets 2026

A detailed head-to-head comparison of IG and ThinkMarkets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and more.

IG logo - BrokerAudit
IG

Est. 1974 · London, United Kingdom

FCAASICBaFin
83.7/100
Excellent
ThinkMarkets logo - BrokerAudit
ThinkMarkets

Est. 2010 · Melbourne, Australia

FCAASICCySEC
78.7/100
Good

Score Breakdown

RegulationCostsPlatformsAccountsDepositSupportEducation
IGThinkMarkets

Category-by-Category Winner

Category
IG
ThinkMarkets
Regulation & Trust
98
82
Trading Costs
75
80
Platforms & Tools
82
78
Account Conditions
72
80
Deposit & Withdrawal
80
82
Customer Support
82
75
Education & Research
85
68
Overall Score
83.7
78.7

Detailed Comparison

Overview

Year Founded
1974
2010
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Melbourne, Australia
Publicly Listed
Top Regulators
FCA, ASIC, BaFin
FCA, ASIC, CySEC
Total Instruments
17,000
1,600

Trading Costs

EUR/USD Spread
0.60 pips
0.40 pips
GBP/USD Spread
0.90 pips
0.80 pips
USD/JPY Spread
0.70 pips
0.60 pips
Min. Deposit
$0
$0
Commission/Lot
None
$7.00
Inactivity Fee
$12/month after 24 months
$30 after 6 months

Platforms & Features

MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5
cTrader
TradingView
Copy Trading
API Trading
VPS Hosting
Demo Account
Islamic Account

Instruments

Forex Pairs
80
46
CFD Stocks
12,000
1,500
Indices
40
15
Commodities
35
11
Crypto CFDs
11
26

IG vs ThinkMarkets: Our Analysis

Overall Verdict

With an overall score of 83.7/100 vs 78.7/100, IG edges out ThinkMarkets by 5.0 points. This moderate gap suggests IG has an edge in several key areas.

Trading Costs

On the EUR/USD pair, IG offers an average spread of 0.60 pips commission-free, while ThinkMarkets comes in at 0.40 pips with a $7.00 commission. ThinkMarkets offers tighter pricing on EUR/USD. Minimum deposit is $0 at IG and $0 at ThinkMarkets.

Regulation & Safety

IG holds 6 regulatory licenses with a highest tier of Tier 1 (FCA, ASIC, BaFin), while ThinkMarkets has 6 licenses at Tier 1 (FCA, ASIC, CySEC). Both brokers are equally regulated.

Platform Comparison

IG offers MT4, IG Trading Platform — uniquely offering IG Trading Platform which ThinkMarkets does not have. ThinkMarkets supports MT4, MT5, ThinkTrader, with exclusive access to MT5, ThinkTrader. ThinkMarkets provides a wider platform selection.

Who Should Choose Which?

IG suits beginners seeking education, traders who want advanced tools, traders who prioritize safety, traders wanting a wide instrument range, while ThinkMarkets is better for cost-conscious traders. If copy trading matters, ThinkMarkets has the edge. Both brokers offer demo accounts, so you can test each before committing real funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our testing, IG scores higher overall at 83.7/100 compared to ThinkMarkets's 78.7/100. However, "better" depends on your priorities — ThinkMarkets may be superior in specific categories like trading costs.

ThinkMarkets offers tighter spreads with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.40 pips, compared to 0.60 pips at IG. Check our detailed comparison table above for GBP/USD and USD/JPY spreads as well.

IG scores higher for regulation and trust at 98/100, holding licenses from FCA, ASIC, BaFin. ThinkMarkets scores 82/100 with FCA, ASIC, CySEC.

For beginners, IG is the stronger choice with an education and research score of 85/100. It offers structured trading courses, webinars, and a free demo account. ThinkMarkets scores 68/100 for education.

Yes, there is no restriction on having accounts with both IG and ThinkMarkets simultaneously. Many experienced traders maintain accounts with multiple brokers to take advantage of each broker's strengths — for example, using one for its lower spreads on majors and another for its wider instrument range or better platform features.

NC

Reviewed by

Neil C

Neil C is a financial markets analyst and forex trading specialist with over 10 years of experience evaluating broker platforms, trading conditions, and regulatory frameworks. He has personally tested accounts with dozens of brokers and brings a data-driven methodology to every review.

Last updated: April 2026

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