ThinkMarkets
tradestation
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Overview
ThinkMarkets was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Australia & United Kingdom, while tradestation was established in 2014 and is based in Cyprus. ThinkMarkets holds licences including the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA) with license no. 0250, while tradestation is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. ThinkMarkets serves 475,000+ clients worldwide; tradestation has 3,500,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at ThinkMarkets and $250 at tradestation.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | tradestation |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Regulation | 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 | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F329 |
| Founded | 2010 | 2014 |
| Country | Australia & United Kingdom | Cyprus |
| Clients | 475,000+ | 3,500,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ThinkMarkets and tradestation, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ThinkMarkets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $250 at tradestation). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. ThinkMarkets applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; tradestation does not. Overall, ThinkMarkets scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | tradestation |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
ThinkMarkets offers MT4, MT5, a proprietary platform, while tradestation supports MT5, cTrader. ThinkMarkets supports social and copy trading features, which tradestation does not offer. tradestation edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | tradestation |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Windows App | No | Yes |
| iOS App | No | Yes |
| Android App | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5 and ThinkTrader | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how ThinkMarkets and tradestation compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. tradestation scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | tradestation |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. ThinkMarkets accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while tradestation supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | tradestation |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill | Yes | Yes |
| Neteller | Yes | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both ThinkMarkets and tradestation offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. ThinkMarkets supports 13 languages and tradestation supports 8, giving ThinkMarkets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | tradestation |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Czech, Greek, Indonesian, Thai, Malay, Italian, Arabic, German, Spanish and Japanese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |