Broker to Trading

Both these brokers support the use of automated trading strategies and provide platforms allowing the trader to run and build online trading robots. Each offers MT4 and MT5, while RoboForex also provides cTrader.

ThinkMarkets also offers a user friendly web trader, ThinkTrader, designed for the human trader who executes their own trades. RoboForex also provides a web trader (R StocksTrader) which allows the trader to build and run robots on the cloud, as well as supporting trader who execute their own trades. On R StocksTrader, RoboForex has considerably more markets, but on MT5, ThinkMarkets has more compared with RoboForex's MT5.

While RoboForex has a low minimum deposit, ThinkMarkets has no minimum deposit for its Standard account. However for its ThinkZero account (which has spreads from 0, plus a commission charge), ThinkMarkets has a minimum deposit of $500. RoboForex offers a Cent account, which allows the trade to trade with trade sizes smaller than micro lots. Thus it is possible at RoboForex for the trader to trade with a small account size on a live account.

RoboForex is regulated by the IFSC in Belize. ThinkMarkets is regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom and the ASIC in Australia and is licensed by the FSCA in South Africa.

Quick comparison

Both offer MT4, MT5 and web traders. RoboForex also offers cTrader. Each allows automated and non-automated trading. ThinkMarkets has no minimum deposit, while RoboForex offers a Cent account.

Minimum deposit and key account features

The minimum deposit for RoboForex is $10. There is no minimum deposit for ThinkMarkets's Standard account, but a minimum deposit of $500 for its ThinkZero account.

RoboForex offers accounts based around its four platforms, MT4, MT5, cTrader and R StocksTrader. cTrader has ECN and Pro-Standard accounts. MT4 and MT5 each offer Pro-Standard, Pro-Cent and ECN accounts. MT4 additionally offers MT4 and MT5 Prime accounts. RoboForex's R StocksTrader is a web trading platform, which has many more markets available than the other accounts. RoboForex also offers a CopyFX account (which supports transaction copying) and a RAMM account (which supports strategy copying).
RoboForex's minimum deposit for all accounts except R StocksTrader is $10. The minimum deposit for R StocksTrader is $100. The Prime account is an ECN account with lower commission charges. RoboForex offers an Islamic (Swap Free) version for some of these accounts. The minimum trade size is 0.0001 lots.
RoboForex provides a range of tools including Analysis, Webinars, Education and an Economic Calendar. It offers the R StocksTrader Strategy Builder for building robots. RoboForex allows EAs and scalping.
ThinkMarkets offers both CFD trading and spread betting. It offers the Standard account and the ThinkZero account. An Islamic account is available. ThinkMarkets utilises Equinix data centers for all account types, namely LD4 (London) and HK4 (Hong Kong). There is no minimum deposit for the Standard account. The minimum deposit for the ThinkZero account is $/£500. The Standard account does not charge commissions, ThinkZero account does charge a commission. EAs and scalping are allowed. The minimum trade size is 0.01 standard lots.
ThinkMarkets account types provide 24/6 Live Support and a Free VPS Service, T&Cs apply. The ThinkZero account also offers AutoChartist and an account manager. ThinkMarkets offers Market News, Webinars, an Economic Calendar and Tutorials on its website.

Markets

• RoboForex offers Forex, Indices, Stocks, Energy, Metals, Soft Commodities, Cryptocurrencies and ETFs, with 12,000+ available.
• ThinkMarkets provides Forex, Indices, Stocks, Energy, Metals, Soft Commodities and Cryptocurrencies, with 3500+ available.

Spreads

• Both brokers may offer very low Forex spreads for the most liquid Forex pairs, plus a commission charge. RoboForex also offers Forex spreads without a commission charge from 1.3 and ThinkMarkets offers Forex spreads from 0.4 without a commission charge.

Leverage

Maximum leverage for RoboForex is 2000:1. Maximum leverage for ThinkMarkets (Bermuda) is 500:1.

Commission charge

• RoboForex's commissions are $2 per lot per side for its ECN accounts except for its Prime account where they are $1.5 per lot per side.
• ThinkMarkets does not charge a commission on the Standard account and charges a commission of $3.5 per lot per side for its ThinkZero account.

Online trading platforms

RoboForex offers MT4, MT5, cTrader and R StocksTrader. ThinkMarkets provides MT4, MT5 and ThinkTrader.

Why RoboForex or ThinkMarkets ?

Traders who want to trade on MT4 and MT5 may do so at either RoboForex or ThinkMarkets. Those who want to trade on a user friendly platform with a relatively large number of Stocks CFDs can find ThinkTrader at ThinkMarkets and R StocksTrader at RoboForex. Those who want to trade with robots or copy trade can do so at either. Traders who want to trade on a Cent account with low minimum trade sizes can do so at RoboForex.

Comparison summary

• Both offer CFD trading
• In the UK, ThinkMarkets has MT4 and MT5 spread betting
• Each provides MT4 and MT5
• RoboForex additionally offers cTrader
• ThinkMarkets has the ThinkTrader online platform
• RoboForex offers R StocksTrader, with more markets to trade
• RoboForex has a Cent account and a $10 minimum deposit