Choose Saxo Bank if you want…
Serious traders with $10K+ deposits wanting institutional-grade market access from a regulated Danish bank.
Saxo Bank
⭐ 4.7 / 5
VS
ThinkMarkets
⭐ 4.5 / 5
Saxo Bank vs ThinkMarkets — which broker is better in 2026?
We compared Saxo Bank and ThinkMarkets across five core criteria: regulation, minimum deposit, spreads, platform choice, and overall user rating. Saxo Bank 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.
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| Saxo Bank | ThinkMarkets | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | ⭐ 4.7 / 5 | ⭐ 4.5 / 5 | Saxo Bank |
| Regulators | FSA Denmark, FCA, ASIC, MAS, FINMA, DFSA, JFSA, SFC HK | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, SCB Bahamas, JFSA | Saxo Bank |
| Min. deposit | $0 (Classic) / $200K (Platinum) / $1M (VIP) | $0 (no minimum) | Tie |
| Spreads from | 0.6 pips (Classic) / 0.4 pips (Platinum) / 0.3 pips (VIP) | 0.0 pips (ThinkZero) / 0.4 pips (Standard) | ThinkMarkets |
| Max. leverage | Up to 1:30 (EU retail) / 1:100 (Pro) | Up to 1:30 (EU retail) / 1:500 (offshore) | — |
| Platforms | SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO, TradingView, API | MT4, MT5, ThinkTrader, TradingView | Tie |
| Founded | 1992 | 2010 | — |
| HQ | Copenhagen, Denmark | London, UK / Melbourne, Australia | — |
Pros & cons compared
Saxo Bank pros
- ✓ Founded 1992 — Danish bank with full banking license
- ✓ Eight tier-1 regulators globally including FSA Denmark, FCA, ASIC
- ✓ 70,000+ instruments — broadest single-broker market access in retail
- ✓ Award-winning SaxoTraderPRO desktop platform
- ✓ Real stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, mutual funds + FX/CFD
Cons
- ✗ Volume-tier pricing means small traders get worse terms
- ✗ Premium platforms have a learning curve vs. MT4
- ✗ Inactivity fee of $25/quarter after 6 months dormant
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
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Which one should you choose?
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 — Saxo Bank or ThinkMarkets?
Based on five comparison criteria (regulation, deposit, spreads, platforms, overall rating), Saxo Bank wins 2 categories. That makes it the stronger default choice — though both brokers remain reputable, independently tier-1 regulated options.
Is Saxo Bank more regulated than ThinkMarkets?
Saxo Bank holds licenses from: FSA Denmark, FCA, ASIC, MAS, FINMA, DFSA, JFSA, SFC HK. ThinkMarkets holds licenses from: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, SCB Bahamas, JFSA. Saxo Bank has more regulatory licenses, giving it broader geographic coverage.
What are the spreads at Saxo Bank vs ThinkMarkets?
Saxo Bank spreads start from 0.6 pips (Classic) / 0.4 pips (Platinum) / 0.3 pips (VIP). 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, Saxo Bank or ThinkMarkets?
Saxo Bank: $0 (Classic) / $200K (Platinum) / $1M (VIP). ThinkMarkets: $0 (no minimum). Both require the same minimum.