Core Spreads
ThinkMarkets
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Overview
Core Spreads was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in London, while ThinkMarkets was established in 2010 and is based in Australia & United Kingdom. Core Spreads holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while ThinkMarkets is regulated by the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA) with license no. 0250 among others. Core Spreads serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; ThinkMarkets has 475,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Core Spreads and $0 at ThinkMarkets.
| Feature | Core Spreads | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $0 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA) with license no. 0250, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with license no. 215/13, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA 629628) in the UK, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC 424700), the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa and the Financial Services Authority (FSA SD060) Seychelles. TF Global Markets (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 629628. TF GLobal Markets (Aust) Limited is the holder of Australian Financial Services Licence number 424700. TF GLobal Markets (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider (FSP No 49835). TF Global Markets Int Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, Firm Reference Number SD060 Seychelles |
| Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
| Country | London | Australia & United Kingdom |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 475,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Core Spreads and ThinkMarkets, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ThinkMarkets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1 at Core Spreads). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. ThinkMarkets applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Core Spreads does not. Core Spreads charges deposit fees; ThinkMarkets does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | Core Spreads | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
Core Spreads offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while ThinkMarkets supports MT4, MT5, a proprietary platform. Core Spreads offers a mobile trading app; mobile availability for ThinkMarkets is limited. ThinkMarkets supports social and copy trading features, which Core Spreads does not offer. Core Spreads edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Core Spreads | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Windows App | Yes | No |
| iOS App | Yes | No |
| Android App | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5 and ThinkTrader |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Core Spreads and ThinkMarkets compare. ThinkMarkets runs regular live webinars; Core Spreads does not. Both provide video tutorials. ThinkMarkets publishes daily market commentary; Core Spreads does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. ThinkMarkets maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. ThinkMarkets scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | Core Spreads | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Core Spreads accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while ThinkMarkets supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). ThinkMarkets uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. ThinkMarkets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Core Spreads | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Core Spreads and ThinkMarkets offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Core Spreads supports 2 languages and ThinkMarkets supports 13, giving ThinkMarkets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Core Spreads | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Czech, Greek, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Italian, Arabic, German, Spanish and Japanese |