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NYS Markets vs ThinkCapital: Head-to-Head Comparison (2026)

NYS Markets

6.2 B+
Saint Lucia CFD
VS

ThinkCapital

6.3 B
United Kingdom CFD
Key Differences
Safety B+ vs B Payouts Weekly vs Bi-Weekly Split 100% vs 90%

Verdict: Who Wins?

NYS Markets 6 wins Decisive Win
6 - 2
ThinkCapital 2 wins
Overall Rating 6.3 vs 6.2 Narrow
TrustPilot 4.5 vs 4 Clear
Starting Price $36 vs $39 Narrow
Profit Split 80% (scales up to 100%) vs 80% (90% with scaling or add-on) Decisive
Safety Grade B+ vs B Narrow
Trust Score 61.6/100 vs 59.9/100 Narrow
Challenge Variety 20 vs 6 options Decisive
Platform Choice 3 vs 1 platforms Narrow

Best For:

Budget-conscious traders NYS Markets
Maximum profit potential NYS Markets
Trust & reputation NYS Markets
Fast payouts NYS Markets

Visual Comparison

NYS Markets ThinkCapital

Head-to-Head Comparison

NYS Markets Metric ThinkCapital
6.2/10 PFM Score 6.3/10
4.5/5 (107) TrustPilot 4/5 (609)
B+ Safety Grade B
61.6 B Trust Score 59.9 C
80% (scales up to 100%) Profit Split 80% (90% with scaling or add-on)
Instant: 3% daily / 5% trailing. Step 1: 3% daily / 6% max. Step 2: 5% daily / 10% max. Daily Drawdown Balance based for Lightning and Nexus; Equity based for Dual-Step Intraday
Weekly Payout Frequency Bi-weekly
$36 Starting Price $39
White-Label Technology White-Label
Trading View, Match Trader, MT5 Platforms Trading View
No Direct Path to Funded No
Saint Lucia Country United Kingdom
Jan 2015 Established -
6 options Challenge Options 20 options

Price Comparison by Account Size

Cheapest challenge price at each account size (where both firms offer the same size)

Account Size NYS Markets ThinkCapital Savings
$5K $36 $39 Save $3
$10K $79 $79 Same price
$50K $299 $199 Save $100
$100K $529 $349 Save $180

NYS Markets vs ThinkCapital: Detailed Analysis

NYS Markets and ThinkCapital are both CFD firms.

Pricing

In terms of pricing, NYS Markets is more affordable with challenges starting at $36, which is $3 less than ThinkCapital's starting price of $39. NYS Markets offers 6 challenge options, while ThinkCapital offers 20.

Account Sizes

On account sizing, NYS Markets offers account sizes from $5 to $150 across 6 funding tiers, while ThinkCapital offers account sizes from $5 to $100 across 5 funding tiers. Picking the right tier matters because both the entry cost and the maximum capital you can scale to are tied to the account size you start with.

Trading Platforms

For trading platforms, NYS Markets supports Trading View, Match Trader and MT5, while ThinkCapital runs on Trading View. If you already trade on a specific platform, this can be the deciding factor between the two.

Profit Split & Payouts

NYS Markets offers 80% (scales up to 100%) profit split, while ThinkCapital offers 80% (90% with scaling or add-on). NYS Markets pays out Weekly, and ThinkCapital pays out Bi-weekly.

Risk & Drawdown Rules

Risk rules are a key difference for funded traders: NYS Markets lists its daily drawdown as "Instant: 3% daily / 5% trailing. Step 1: 3% daily / 6% max. Step 2: 5% daily / 10% max.", while ThinkCapital lists "Balance based for Lightning and Nexus; Equity based for Dual-Step Intraday". Always confirm the drawdown type before buying, since a trailing rule behaves very differently from a static end-of-day one.

Payout Methods

ThinkCapital supports withdrawals via Rise, Crypto and Crypto (USDT TRC-20).

Trust & Safety

For trust and reputation, NYS Markets has a 4.5/5 TrustPilot rating with 107 reviews, while ThinkCapital has 4/5 with 609 reviews. Safety grades: NYS Markets B+, ThinkCapital B.

Who Should Choose Which

Across the use cases we scored, NYS Markets is the stronger choice for budget-conscious traders, maximum profit potential, trust & reputation and fast payouts.

Overall, NYS Markets edges ahead winning 6 out of 8 categories we compared. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs - both firms have their strengths.

Pros & Cons

NYS Markets
Pros
Three programs (Instant, 1-Step, 2-Step). Up to $150,000 simulated capital. 80% profit split scaling to 100%. Weekly payouts within 24h. Available in 190+ countries. MT5, Match Trader and TradingView. NYS Academy education + Smart Journal + NYS GPT. Premium Programme scaling to $2M. Spin & Trade reward feature.
Cons
Instant program enforces 15% consistency rule and 1% max open risk. 2-Step required reaching 8% then 5% with tight risk caps. Founders/UBO not publicly listed. Saint Lucia tech entity (NYS Markets Ltd) + Hong Kong operator (NYS Corp Limited) — offshore structure, unregulated.
ThinkCapital
Pros
Powered by ThinkMarkets, a multi-regulated globally trusted broker. Three evaluation paths: one-step Lightning, two-step Dual-Step (Intraday or Swing), three-step Nexus. 80% profit split upgradeable to 90% with scaling or add-on. Bi-weekly payouts with 7-day add-on option. TradingView integration and ThinkTrader platform. Maximum allocation up to $1,000,000.
Cons
Lightning uses 6% trailing drawdown that locks at initial balance only after account grows by 6%. 90% profit split requires scaling or paid add-on. News trading not allowed on Dual-Step Intraday and restricted on Nexus. Swing Dual-Step costs ~40% more than Intraday.

Active Deals & Promo Codes

NYS Markets

No active deals

ThinkCapital
25% OFF 25% off all challenges

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, NYS Markets or ThinkCapital?

NYS Markets scores higher overall, winning 6 out of 8 comparison categories including TrustPilot, Starting Price, Profit Split. However, the best choice depends on your trading goals and priorities.

Which is cheaper, NYS Markets or ThinkCapital?

NYS Markets has the lower starting price at $36. NYS Markets offers 6 challenge options starting from $36, while ThinkCapital offers 20 options starting from $39.

Which has better reviews, NYS Markets or ThinkCapital?

NYS Markets has a higher TrustPilot rating of 4.5/5. NYS Markets has 107 reviews while ThinkCapital has 609.

Which offers a higher profit split, NYS Markets or ThinkCapital?

NYS Markets offers a higher maximum profit split. NYS Markets offers 80% (scales up to 100%) while ThinkCapital offers 80% (90% with scaling or add-on).

How fast do NYS Markets and ThinkCapital pay out?

NYS Markets has Weekly payouts while ThinkCapital offers Bi-weekly payouts. Payout speed can be an important factor when choosing a prop firm.

Are NYS Markets and ThinkCapital legit?

Both firms have been independently verified by PropFirmMap. NYS Markets holds a B+ safety grade and a 4.5/5 TrustPilot rating. ThinkCapital holds a B safety grade and a 4/5 TrustPilot rating. Safety grades are based on payout history, community trust signals, and regulatory transparency.

Which is better for beginners, NYS Markets or ThinkCapital?

NYS Markets may be more accessible for beginners due to its lower entry price. When starting out, consider challenge cost, drawdown rules, and profit split. Use the comparison table above to find which firm fits your experience level and risk tolerance.

Not sold on either? Explore alternatives

See the closest-matched prop firms ranked head-to-head against each contender, with live 2026 prices and safety grades.