CMC Markets

⭐ 4.5 / 5

ThinkMarkets

⭐ 4.5 / 5

CMC Markets vs ThinkMarkets — which broker is better in 2026?

Q: Is CMC Markets more regulated than ThinkMarkets?

CMC Markets is regulated by FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS, FMA NZ, IIROC, MA Poland. ThinkMarkets is regulated by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, SCB Bahamas, JFSA.

Q: What are the spreads at CMC Markets vs ThinkMarkets?

CMC Markets spreads start from 0.7 pips (Next Generation). ThinkMarkets spreads start from 0.0 pips (ThinkZero) / 0.4 pips (Standard).

We compared CMC Markets and ThinkMarkets across five core criteria: regulation, minimum deposit, spreads, platform choice, and overall user rating. ThinkMarkets wins on more criteria (2 categories vs 1), making it the stronger default for most traders. Both brokers remain reputable, independently tier-1 regulated options.

	CMC Markets	ThinkMarkets	Winner
Rating	⭐ 4.5 / 5	⭐ 4.5 / 5	Tie
Regulators	FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS, FMA NZ, IIROC, MA Poland	FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, SCB Bahamas, JFSA	CMC Markets
Min. deposit	$0 (no minimum)	$0 (no minimum)	Tie
Spreads from	0.7 pips (Next Generation)	0.0 pips (ThinkZero) / 0.4 pips (Standard)	ThinkMarkets
Max. leverage	Up to 1:30 (EU retail) / 1:500 (Professional)	Up to 1:30 (EU retail) / 1:500 (offshore)	—
Platforms	CMC Next Generation, MT4, CMC Mobile	MT4, MT5, ThinkTrader, TradingView	ThinkMarkets
Founded	1989	2010	—
HQ	London, United Kingdom	London, UK / Melbourne, Australia	—

Pros & cons compared

CMC Markets pros

✓ Founded 1989 — among the oldest CFD brokers (LSE: CMCX)
✓ FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS — tier-1 regulators across major financial centres
✓ 12,000+ instruments — one of the broadest catalogues in retail CFDs
✓ Award-winning proprietary 'Next Generation' platform
✓ No minimum deposit

Cons

✗ Proprietary platform has a learning curve vs. MT4
✗ Spread on FX 'Standard' account (0.7 pips) wider than ECN brokers
✗ Limited cryptocurrency CFD coverage

ThinkMarkets pros

✓ FCA + ASIC + CySEC + JFSA tier-1 regulation
✓ ThinkZero account: 0.0 pips + $3.50/lot commission
✓ No minimum deposit
✓ Proprietary ThinkTrader platform with advanced charting
✓ Native TradingView integration

Cons

✗ Brand smaller than IC Markets / Pepperstone
✗ ThinkTrader platform has learning curve vs. MT4
✗ Limited social trading vs. eToro / Naga

Which one should you choose?

Choose CMC Markets if you want…

Discretionary traders wanting deep instrument coverage and a sophisticated proprietary platform from a publicly-listed UK broker.

Choose ThinkMarkets if you want…

EU + Australian traders wanting a tier-1 regulated ECN broker with proprietary platform options.

Frequently asked questions

Which is better — CMC Markets or ThinkMarkets?

Based on five comparison criteria (regulation, deposit, spreads, platforms, overall rating), ThinkMarkets wins 2 categories. That makes it the stronger default choice — though both brokers remain reputable, independently tier-1 regulated options.

Is CMC Markets more regulated than ThinkMarkets?

CMC Markets holds licenses from: FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS, FMA NZ, IIROC, MA Poland. ThinkMarkets holds licenses from: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, SCB Bahamas, JFSA. CMC Markets has more regulatory licenses, giving it broader geographic coverage.

What are the spreads at CMC Markets vs ThinkMarkets?

CMC Markets spreads start from 0.7 pips (Next Generation). ThinkMarkets spreads start from 0.0 pips (ThinkZero) / 0.4 pips (Standard). Actual spreads vary by account type and market conditions.

Which has a lower minimum deposit, CMC Markets or ThinkMarkets?

CMC Markets: $0 (no minimum). ThinkMarkets: $0 (no minimum). Both require the same minimum.