ThinkMarkets
Virtual Brokers
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Overview
ThinkMarkets was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Australia & United Kingdom, while Virtual Brokers was established in 2008 and is based in Canada. ThinkMarkets holds licences including the Japanese Financial Services Agency (JFSA) with license no. 0250, while Virtual Brokers is regulated by The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) among others. ThinkMarkets serves 475,000+ clients worldwide; Virtual Brokers has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at ThinkMarkets and $1000 at Virtual Brokers.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| 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 | The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) |
| Founded | 2010 | 2008 |
| Country | Australia & United Kingdom | Canada |
| Clients | 475,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between ThinkMarkets and Virtual Brokers, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. ThinkMarkets has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1000 at Virtual Brokers). Virtual Brokers charges withdrawal fees while ThinkMarkets does not, giving ThinkMarkets an edge for frequent withdrawers. ThinkMarkets applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Virtual Brokers does not. Virtual Brokers charges deposit fees; ThinkMarkets does not. Overall, ThinkMarkets scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
ThinkMarkets offers MT4, MT5, a proprietary platform, while Virtual Brokers supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. Virtual Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| 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,Desktop,iPhone/iOS |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how ThinkMarkets and Virtual Brokers 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. Virtual Brokers scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Virtual Brokers supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). ThinkMarkets uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. ThinkMarkets scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Skrill | Yes | No |
| Neteller | Yes | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both ThinkMarkets and Virtual Brokers offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. ThinkMarkets supports 13 languages and Virtual Brokers supports 2, giving ThinkMarkets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | ThinkMarkets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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, and Chinese |