Since 2009, Thinkorswim has provided forex traders with a robust online trading system that allows them to trade numerous financial products, including Forex, ETFs, futures, options AND stock. The platform is controlled by TD Ameritrade, and it is a clear favourite of experienced investors who know how to navigate through tools and services that make trading easier.

Thinkorswim claims to offer elite-level trading tools and resources with lots of useful insights, trade desks and education to help savvy traders nail even the most complex trading techniques and strategies. Generally, such a claim should be taken with a grain of salt, but given that Thinkorswim is owned and managed by TD Ameritrade – a company with assets worth over 1.2 trillion dollars – you know the broker is doing something right for its more than 11 million customers.

The parent platform, TD Ameritrade, has more than 100 million active clients and its one of the most respected Forex brokers, especially among options and futures traders. Thinkorswim has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Traders who register with this Forex broker access over 8 Fibonacci tools and over 400 technical studies.

In addition to elite tools, Thinkorswim pools together all the tools that day traders need to operate, including charts, technical studies, real-time price data, alerts, and stock scanners. Unbelievably, the software is available to TD Ameritrade customers for free. New traders may have a hard time navigating through this Forex broker because of the advanced tools and resources that are available.

Commissions and Fees

The platform offers users an option to perform commission and non-commission trades. For the non-commissioned trades, the exchange gets its compensation through standard spreads in 10,000 unit increments.

If you don’t want this option, you can go for the commission-based trading and pay a fee for every trade completed. This is the preferred option for traders who have large capital and want to reduce trading cost. New accounts are commission-free for the first 60 days.

Note that bonds and mutual funds cannot be traded via Thinkorswim, but they can be traded through TD Ameritrade. Overall, Thinkorswim fees and commissions are reasonable given this is a 5-star platform that stands unrivalled. Also, the brand does not charge software maintenance fees.

Trust, Security, and Safety

Thinkorswim uses advanced security features that have been tested by professionals to make sure that accounts are as secure as possible. The personal information of clients is fully protected along with their financial assets. There are advanced firewalls that ensure that no unauthorized party breaks in to access client records.

The platform also has the technology for intrusion and anomaly detection in case there is any unusual activity on your account. Personal data cannot be accessed directly through the internet because the web servers are different from the server that stores personal data.

In case these channels are breached, and unauthorized parties access the account, thinksorswim has an Asset Protection Guarantee policy that protects clients assets.

Desktop Experience

The desktop version of the Thinkorswim is intuitive and has several comprehensive options. Traders have access to live feeds, price analysis, and other actionable tips. It offers over 70 currency pairs, putting at ahead of most brokers in the industry.

Like previously mentioned, the user interface is loaded with lots of tools, studies and features, and it might not be ideal for new traders. We recommend using the demo account to learn the ropes of Forex trading before placing real money orders on this platform. There are also other Forex brokers, such as Oanda, that come with user interfaces that are newbie-friendly.

Thinkorswim offers a free platform, but you can also decide to upgrade to the advanced and professional platform to access more trading opportunities and analytics. There are more than 400 technical indicators that you can use to make informed trading decisions.

Mobile Experience

Thinkorswim has a mobile app available for Android and iOS devices. It allows you to make trades on the go. The mobile app has over 180 studies that let you execute technical analysis incredibly fast to find profitable opportunities.

Traders who have used the mobile application acknowledge that they are satisfied with all its features. You can manage all your portfolios from one account.

Opening an Account

Opening an account on Thinkorswim is straightforward. All you have to do is visit the website, click on open an account tab, and fill the required details. Unlike other brokers such as Merrill Edge, Fidelity, and Schwab, thinkorswim does not have a minimum account balance in order for traders to use their advanced trading system.

Also, if you want to master trading without risking your capital, you can register for risk-free trading and enjoy more than $100,000 in virtual cash and IRA funds. The paper money is a great opportunity for you to test your trading strategies and horn them before risking real money.

When you’ve mastered it, you can start trading by opening a real account. Don’t forget to read the terms and conditions before you proceed.

Deposits and Withdrawal Options

Deposits and withdrawals on Thinkorswim can be processed through various channels. You can decide to transfer money from another broker or rollover your 401k.

To deposit, choose the funding option you would like to use. You will see options to transfer money from your bank account electronically, make ACH deposits, deposit checks, perform a wire transfer, deposit external securities, or deposit physical stock certificates.

Deposits are processed instantly and withdrawals within 1-7 days, depending on the withdrawal option you choose.

Investment Products

Apart from forex, Thinkorswim offers stocks. Stocks can either be preferred or common. When you invest in preferred stock, you will not have voting rights to the company, but you’ll have a preferential claim on the assets compared to common stockholders.

Those who invest in common stocks get voting rights and may get dividends for the portion invested. Thinkorswim also allows you to invest in Bonds and CDs. To make your investment in Bonds and CDs more manageable, you can take advantage of the CD Center or the Bond Wizard available on the platform.

If you don’t like any of these options, you can invest in Mutual Funds, ETF, or Futures. To be on the safe side, you can diversify your portfolio by investing in all the products available or in the ones that yield the most results.

Research Tools and Insights

Thinkorswim has a lot of research tools and insights that allow you to stay on top of your game. It offers technical analysis, charts, and technical indicators that can be used to make accurate predictions and increase your chances of gains.

However, these resources are ideal for advanced traders. Beginners might become overwhelmed with the amount of information available.

Education

Apart from the comprehensive insights, there is the Thinkorswim learning centre, which gives clients access to tutorials on how to make the best out of trading. You’ll also have unlimited access to the blog where you can stay up to speed with industry trends. There is also the ThinkMoney magazine that is accessible to all traders.

Special Features

There are many special features on Thinkorswim that you will not see on other platforms. For example, the ThinkScript feature which allows users to create an algorithm for trading is invaluable to experienced traders.

Also, Thinkorswim charts are advanced and sophisticated. A single graph can cover the entire screen. What more, traders have next-generation drawing tools such as cycle brackets and Fibonacci spirals. The platform allows you to complete most actions, such as setting alerts and order placement right on the charts. Traders also get CNBC news highlights related to specific stocks on the graph. Traders who register with this Forex broker access over 8 Fibonacci tools and over 400 technical studies.

Thinkorswim allows traders to place complex orders. The most common in this category include trailing stop limit, market on close, and trailing stop. The platform allows traders to customize order settings and schedule it to be executed at a specific time. Other useful tools on Thinkorswim include position and account information, watchlists, on-demand library, and streaming of CNBC.

The fact that you can control a vast portfolio through one account is also a plus. Many brokers require that clients open individual accounts for managing different assets.

Final Thoughts

Thinkorswim is a fully regulated broker owned by TD Ameritrade. It has many features that make it appealing, but it is not an ideal platform for new investors. Only advanced traders can take full advantage of the platform.

Also, the minimum deposit is on the high side. You can’t trade forex if you don’t have up to $3,500 to add to your portfolio. Also, even if there is an auto trade option, only subscribes to Thinkorswim’s partner advisory newsletters can enjoy this feature. Thinkorswim is the ideal option for experienced forex traders who want an all in one platform for all their investment needs.

ThinkorSwim has carved out a niche for itself in the crowded Forex market as the Forex trading platform with superfast, accurate execution, powerful screening tools, real-time quotes, advanced charting capability, trader-friendly commission structure, and specialised focus on futures and options trading.

Any Forex trader who fancies having the best trading fees and commission, tools, and knowledgable and professional customer support team will feel at home in this platform.