ThinkCapital discount code: DS60
Why Trade with ThinkCapital
One of the greatest appeals of ThinkCapital is that it’s one of a handful of prop firms in the industry that’s directly powered by a multi-regulated global broker: ThinkMarkets. That’s not just for show, for traders it means actual institutional-grade execution, licensed liquidity, access to proprietary tools like ThinkTrader, and ironclad security with up to 10 global licenses behind it. This isn’t another back-alley MetaTrader white label—it’s the real deal.
But it’s not just the backing that caught our attention, what really stood out for us was how they’re approaching funding. They’re building what they call your personal account. What that means in practice is that every trader starts with access to up to $600K, scales up to $1.5M, and earns up to 90% of profits. U.S. traders can request to withdraw those profits directly into a personal trading account of their choice. (Coming soon for non-US users.)
Another notable feature is the flexibility. Whether you prefer fast-track one-phase (Lightning), two-step classic (Dual), or the three-step mastery mode (Nexus)—you’re covered. You even get to trade directly on TradingView charts, a slick touch that we’d love to see elsewhere.
In short? ThinkCapital is quietly building the most institutionalized retail prop ecosystem we’ve seen yet—minus the bureaucracy.
Pros
Broker-Backed Credibility
Multiple Challenge Formats
ThinkTrader Platform Access
Scaling Potential up to $1.5M
Real Account Profit Transfer (Coming Soon for Non-U.S. Users)
Weekly or Bi-Weekly Payouts
Up to 90% Profit Split
Global Access + U.S. Friendly
Lightning-Fast Execution
Cons
No Instant Funding Option
New in the Prop Trading Space
Add-Ons for News Trading, 90% Profit Split and Weekly Payouts
Reputation: Institutional-Grade
Score 4.8/5
ThinkCapital has quickly built a strong reputation for trustworthiness and transparency. Being backed by ThinkMarkets, a broker regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA in the UK, ASIC in Australia, etc.), gives ThinkCapital instant credibility. This means the prop firm’s liquidity and tech infrastructure are powered by an established broker – a big plus in an industry where many firms operate without oversight. Traders can take comfort that “you are in good hands,” supported by a team with decades of experience and a well-capitalized parent ensuring smooth operations and timely payouts. In practical terms, this reduces the risk of scams or sudden shutdowns that have plagued many prop firms in the past.
More Importantly, we used our Verified Feedback™ tool, which filters out fake reviews, to analyze more than 300 trader testimonials and user feedback so far is highly positive. These early reviews suggest traders feel the firm “does what it says on the tin,” without hidden catches. Also, unlike many prop firms that exclude U.S. residents, ThinkCapital is open to U.S. traders by design. This inclusivity not only broadens its talent pool but also signals confidence in its model (since many competitors avoid U.S. clients due to regulatory complexities).
Overall, ThinkCapital brings outstanding credibility for a young firm and earned a rightly deserved near-perfect reputation score, with just the caveat of limited long-term history.
What Traders Loved
Weekly Payouts: Traders widely praised how smooth and fast payouts were processed. No Strategy Bans: Running EAs and news scalping is always a trader favorite. Global Accessibility: Open to U.S. traders (a rarity) and supported in 10+ languages. They were praised for their inclusive approach. Experienced Team: Traders praised reliable operations and on-time payouts. ThinkCapital is operated by industry veterans, so this is expected.
- ThinkTrader Platform: Chart focused traders praised the seamless integration with TradingView.
What Traders Hated
Fees Pile Up: Complaints of high fees for add-ons which can spike costs in the long term. Scaling Hurdles: Some argued that a 10% quarterly target feels steep during choppy markets.
- Botched Account Closures: One user cited mismatched dashboard metrics during termination.
Additional Website Audit
While ThinkCapital is rapidly building an institutional-grade prop trading model, its online footprint is still playing catchup to its ambitions. We ran a full audit of the website using Ahrefs to get a clearer picture of their current digital performance, visibility, and organic reach—and the results are promising, but still early-stage.
ThinkCapital currently sits at:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Domain Rating (DR) | 27 |
| URL Rating (UR) | 22 |
| Backlinks | 1.5K+ |
| Referring Domains | 284+ |
| Organic Keywords | 438 |
| Monthly Organic Traffic | 245 visits |
| Top Country | United States |
Despite being powered by ThinkMarkets (a broker with over a decade of brand equity), ThinkCapital itself is still in visibility build mode, with just over 400 ranking keywords and an estimated 245 monthly organic visitors.
On the positive side, it’s clearly indexed and climbing rapidly with the domain attracting more than 280 referring domains, and backlinks that include some authoritative sites (mostly niche financial and affiliate blogs). The presence of a verified sitemap, optimized blog content, and active Discord and social links suggest ThinkCapital’s team is investing in long-term SEO rather than buying fake traffic like most offshore prop firms. We expect its search visibility to increase steadily over the coming months as traders begin to talk about the firm more organically on social media and review platforms.
Account Types and Fees: Diverse and Competitive
CLEAR™ Score 4.5/5
ThinkCapital scores high for offering diverse challenges to suit every trader’s risk profile or strategies, with fair pricing and an overall cost structure that’s competitive. One of their key advantages is no time limitations and fee refund on success. However, the complex add-ons and tighter loss limits on some accounts resulted in a slight points deduction and cost ThinkCapital a perfect score in this category, as overall, the value for money is excellent. There are three main challenge models: Lightning (1-step), Dual Step (2-step), and Nexus (3-step)—we’ll compare what they bring to the table.
ThinkCapital Funding Challenges Comparison
| Challenge Type | Phases | Profit Targets | Drawdown Limits | Drawdown Type | Price (100K) | Profit Split | Time Limit | Scaling Potential | Add-Ons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | 1 | 10% | 3% Daily / 6% Max | Trailing | $499 | 80% (90% w/ add-on) | None | Up to $1M | Weekly payouts, EA use, news trading |
| Dual Step | 2 | 8% (P1) + 5% (P2) | 4% Daily / 8% Max | Fixed (Balance-based) | $499 | 80% (90% w/ add-on) | None | Up to $1M | Weekly payouts, EA use, news trading |
| Nexus | 3 | 7% + 6% + 5% | 3% Daily / 6% Max | Fixed (Balance-based) | $349 | 80% (90% w/ add-on) | None | Up to $1.5M | Weekly payouts, EA use, news trading |
What We Liked:
Multiple Challenge Options: The One-step, two-step, and three-step programs are more choices than most prop firms offer and it provides important flexibility where traders can pick a fast pass or a slower, cheaper evaluation. Unlimited Time to Pass: No time limit in all challenges removes the pressure cooker element. You can trade at your own pace which is a huge advantage over the 30-day deadlines many firms impose. Competitive Pricing: Fees from$39 (for smallest Nexus) and up to $1,399 (largest Lightning/Dual) are mostly on par or lower than industry averages for the account sizes offered. Fee Refund: Successful traders get their money back on the first payout. Reasonable Profit Targets: 10% one-phase, 8%+5% two-phase, 7%/6%/5% three-phase – all achievable percentages and easier when compared to most competitors’ 10%+10% models.
- Scaling Up and Large Caps: Offers up to $300K starting accounts and a clear path to scale to up to $1.5M in funding aligns with the caps of the best in the prop industry.
What We Didn’t Like:
Trailing Drawdown (Lightning): The one-step challenge uses a trailing 6% max loss and can be restrictive as your account grows since the buffer doesn’t widen by much. We prefer static drawdowns for more breathing room. Strict Daily Loss on Some Accounts: A 3% daily loss limit on Lightning and Nexus is quite tight (industry standard is often 5%) and demands disciplined risk per trade. The Dual step’s 4% is a bit more lenient but still below some competitors’ limits. Add-Ons for Features: It can get costly really fast since important features such as 90% profit share, EAs, or unrestricted news trading, require you to fork out more cash. Many prop firms offer some of these features as standard.
- New Program = Fewer Case Studies: Since ThinkCapital is new, there’s not a wealth of community data on which challenge type yields the best outcomes. Traders may have to experiment to see which program fits them, without years of user anecdotes to draw on yet.
Trading Conditions: Solid Trading Environment
CLEAR™ Score 4.5/5
ThinkCapital provides one of the most solid trading environments we’ve tested. The slight points deductions in its CLEAR™ score come from the stricter risk limits on certain programs such as 3% daily loss, which can feel tight, and 1:30 leverage on Lightning, which might frustrate heavy scalpers. However, the positives like no time pressure, raw spreads, and flexible strategy rules outweigh those constraints for most. It’s a professional-grade setup, just be sure to choose the program that matches your trading style—choose Lightning for quick funding with conservative leverage vs. Dual/Nexus for higher leverage and longer evaluations.
ThinkCapital Trading Conditions Snapshot
| Feature | Lightning (1-Step) | Dual Step (2-Step) | Nexus (3-Step) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leverage (Forex) | 1:30 | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Leverage (Indices / Commodities) | 1:5 / 1:10 | 1:15 / 1:15 | 1:15 / 1:15 |
| Spreads | Raw spreads from ThinkMarkets (0.0–0.4 pip typical) | Same | Same |
| Commission | $7–$8 per round-turn lot (standard ECN-style) | Same | Same |
| Daily Drawdown | 3% | 4% | 3% |
| Max Drawdown | 6% (Trailing) | 8% (Fixed) | 6% (Fixed) |
| Profit Consistency Rule |
What We Liked
No Time Limit: Unlimited days to hit targets encourages steady trading and reduces reckless behavior, which is a huge plus for trading conditions overall. Tight Spreads and Low Commissions: ThinkCapital offers raw market spreads with about $4/lot commission, which is considered minimal trading costs and on par with top ECN brokers. This is obviously a key advantage for scalping or high-volume strategies. High Leverage on 2-Phase/3-Phase: Up to 1:100 leverage on Forex (and 1:15 indices, etc.) for Dual and Nexus challenges which gives you plenty of buying power for aggressive strategies when needed. Wide Instrument Selection: Trade Forex majors/minors/exotics, indices (US30, NAS100, DAX, etc.), metals, oil, and crypto all on the same account. This diversity lets you apply strategies to many markets and few prop firms offer all these classes in the same ecosystem. Swing and Strategy Freedom: Overnight and weekend holding is allowed; use of Expert Advisors and news trading allowed with appropriate account settings (or add-ons). No strategy is outright banned as long as risk rules are respected.
- Execution: We tested the execution and it’s faster and deeper than typical prop firms, which is not surprising sinceit’s backed by ThinkMarkets liquidity.
What We Didn’t Like
Lower Leverage on 1-Phase: The Lightning challenge is limited to 1:30 leverage on FX and 1:5 on indices. This is less than 1:100 standard and will limit profits of short term traders. Strict Loss Limits: The 3% daily drawdown means you can’t afford any major mistakes on any single day and you should apply strict risk management from the start. The average in the prop industry right now is around 4-5% daily loss. Trailing Max Drawdown (Lightning): The 6% max loss in the one-step challenge trails your equity, which means it locks in your highest profit. Many prop firms offer a fixed 8-10% drawdown which would offer more cushion as the account grows. Pay for Advanced Privileges: If you don’t purchase add-ons then you’re stuck with tthe default rules that prohibit trading around major news and using certain high-frequency EA strategies. Many prop firms nowadays allow news and EAs as standard.
- Ambiguity for Novices: The different sets of rules (one for each program) can be extremely confusing for beginners and will be prone to mistakes such as thinking they have 5% daily loss when it’s actually 3%.
Platforms: All Round Excellence
Score 4.7/5
In this category, ThinkCapital is hard to fault. By providing both MT5 and ThinkTrader (with TradingView integration), they cater to virtually all preferences. The technology is modern but stable, and the inclusion of mobile and web trading covers all bases. ThinkCapital is at the cutting edge here compared to typical prop firms (many of which only offer MetaTrader or a single platform). Unless you’re transitioning from the popular cTrader or NinjaTrader platforms that are used by many prop firms such as BrightFunded, for example, then you won’t feel like you’re lacking anything. One drawback worth noting is that due to U.S. regulations, clients from the U.S. cannot use MT5 and are instead directed to use ThinkTrader. According to our research this is likely because MetaQuotes stopped allowing U.S. accounts or perhaps compliance issues.
Lighting Challenge
Dual Step Challenge
Nexus Challenge –
| ThinkCapital Challenge | Lightning | Dual Step | Nexus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation Process | One Step | Two Step | Three Step |
| Fees (Min – Max) | $59 – $949 | $59 – $949 | $39 – $649 |
| Account Sizes | $5,000 – $200,000 | $5,000 – $200,000 | $5,000 – $200,000 |
| Total Profit Target (%) | 10% | 13% | 18% |
| Daily Loss Limit (%) | 3% | 4% | 4% |
| Max Loss Limit (%) | 6% | 8% | 8% |
| Profit Split | Up to 90% | Up to 90% | Up to 90% |
| Payout Frequency | 14 days | 14 days | 14 days |
| Leverage | 1:30 | 1:100 | 1:100 |
Lighting Challenge
The Lightning Challenge is ThinkCapital’s simplest option, designed for traders who want a direct path to funding with minimal complexity.
This single-step evaluation focuses on achieving a 10% profit target, with conservative leverage of 1:30 to encourage careful trade management. It’s a great choice for those who prefer a slower pace or are just starting in the prop trading world.
| Account Size | One-Time Fee | Profit Target | Daily Loss Limit | Max Loss Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $59 | $500 | $150 | $300 |
| $10,000 | $99 | $1,000 | $300 | $600 |
| $25,000 | $199 | $2,500 | $750 | $1,500 |
| $50,000 | $299 | $5,000 | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| $100,000 | $499 | $10,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| $200,000 | $949 | $20,000 | $6,000 | $12,000 |
Dual Step Challenge
The Dual Step Challenge is ideal for traders seeking a balance between structure and flexibility. This two-phase evaluation requires you to achieve an 8% profit target in Phase 1 and a 5% target in Phase 2, for a total of 13%.
The leverage of 1:100 allows for more significant positions, making it well-suited for active day traders or swing traders aiming to grow their accounts.
| Account Size | One-Time Fee | Phase 1 Target | Phase 2 Target | Daily Loss Limit | Max Loss Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $59 | $400 | $250 | $200 | $400 |
| $10,000 | $99 | $800 | $500 | $400 | $800 |
| $25,000 | $199 | $2,000 | $1,250 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $299 | $4,000 | $2,500 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| $100,000 | $499 | $8,000 | $5,000 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| $200,000 | $949 | $16,000 | $10,000 | $8,000 | $16,000 |
Nexus Challenge
The Nexus Challenge offers the most comprehensive evaluation, with three phases designed to test your trading consistency and adaptability. The total profit target is set at 18%, divided across three steps, making it the most demanding of ThinkCapital’s challenges.
With 1:100 leverage, this program gives you the flexibility to execute diverse strategies while emphasising balance-based risk management.
| Account Size | One-Time Fee | Phase 1 Target | Phase 2 Target | Phase 3 Target | Daily Loss Limit | Max Loss Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $39 | $350 | $300 | $250 | $200 | $400 |
| $10,000 | $79 | $700 | $600 | $500 | $400 | $800 |
| $25,000 | $139 | $1,750 | $1,500 | $1,250 | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $199 | $3,500 | $3,000 | $2,500 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| $100,000 | $349 | $7,000 | $6,000 | $5,000 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| $200,000 | $649 | $14,000 | $12,000 | $10,000 | $8,000 | $16,000 |
CLEAR™ Execution Tracker Insights
We ran multiple live and demo environment test trades through ThinkCapital MT5 and ThinkTrader platforms during both low-volatility sessions and major news events. We conducted these tests using our proprietary CLEAR™ execution auditing tool that tracks latency, slippage, and execution stability across regions. Since ThinkCapital is backed by ThinkMarkets—a broker with established global data centers—we expected institutional-grade fills, and for the most part, we got them.
| Platform | Avg. Order Execution | Slippage (Volatile Markets) | Stability During News Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| MT5 | 80–140 ms | 0.3 – 0.6 pips | Stable but with rare minimal delay |
| ThinkTrader | 70–130 ms | 0.2 – 0.5 pips | Very stable with no major freezes observed |
Note: All execution results were based on our internal testing. We trading conditions on both funded and challenge-phase demo accounts. Actual trader results may vary slightly depending on location, device, and internet speed.
What We Liked
TradingView Integration: You can execute trades directly from TradingView charts, which delivers a superior trading experience. MetaTrader 5 Available: Full MT5 support for those who prefer traditional platforms or want to run EAs with stable, fast execution using ThinkMarkets’ servers. User-Friendly ThinkTrader: ThinkCapital’s own platform is intuitive and comes with native mobile apps and web trading, providing a smooth, modern interface for manual trading. Mobile Trading Ready: Dedicated mobile apps (ThinkTrader) and reliable mobile access means you can manage trades from anywhere and you’re not bound to your desktop.
- U.S. Trader Support: U.S. clients can trade via ThinkTrader without issue (circumventing MetaTrader’s limitations in the US), so the platform offerings truly cover a global user base without forcing workarounds.
What We Didn’t Like
No MetaTrader 4: MT4 is not available and although this may not be an issue for most, there are traders with legacy MT4-only tools that will need to migrate to MT5 or TradingView. Learning Curve for New Platform: Traders unfamiliar with ThinkTrader might need a short adjustment period (though it’s quite intuitive). Some advanced order or script features of MT5 won’t directly translate to TradingView, so very specific workflows might need tweaking. Portal Lacks Mobile App: While trading itself is well-covered on mobile, the account management portal doesn’t have a standalone app. You’ll use a web browser for things like checking challenge status or support tickets.
- Limited Third-Party Integrations: Aside from TradingView, other third-party trading tool integrations aren’t explicitly mentioned. For instance, if someone uses cTrader or NinjaTrader, they’d have to adapt to the provided platforms (most prop firms only offer MT4/5 anyway, so this is not unusual).
Payout Process: Rapid Cycles
CLEAR™ Score 4.6/5
Rapid payouts is one the most important considerations for prop traders, and ThinkCapital doesn’t disappoint. Traders start with an 80% profit split by default, which is already industry-standard, but you can bump that to 90% with an add-on—matching the best in the business. Payouts are issued every 14 days, or weekly if you’ve unlocked the faster cycle. That means you can withdraw profits regularly without long waiting periods, and on your first payout, they even refund your challenge fee—so the whole evaluation effectively costs you nothing if you succeed. No minimum trading days are required between payouts once funded, and scaling plans are tied to actual withdrawals: earn consistently, withdraw consistently, and they’ll increase your account balance by 20% every three months.