Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of BlackBull Markets vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
BlackBull Markets, founded in 2014, operates as a private online brokerage but is not listed on any stock exchange. While it is not a bank, the broker holds one Tier-1 license, marking it as highly trusted within the industry. However, with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 78, BlackBull Markets falls in the average risk category. This might be an important consideration for traders looking for a more secure platform, especially since the company does not possess any Tier-2 licenses.
Established in 2001, ActivTrades is likewise a private operating online broker and is not publicly traded or a bank. The company stands out with two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, reflecting a significant trust level within the industry. Boasting a Trust Score of 81 on ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is classified as a trusted broker, offering traders additional assurance. This comparison shows that, while both brokers are not publicly listed or banks, ActivTrades holds a slight edge in trustworthiness based on license holdings and trust score.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When it comes to comparing BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades in terms of commissions and fees, there are distinct differences based on their respective account options and spreads. BlackBull Markets offers three account types: Standard, Prime, and ECN Institutional, with trading costs varying accordingly. The Prime account stands out with its competitive average EUR/USD spread of 0.16 pips as of March 2024, and an all-in cost of 0.76 after commissions. While the Prime account requires a $2,000 minimum deposit, it offers relatively lower spreads compared to the commission-free Standard account, which comes with higher spreads. Their most exclusive option, the ECN Institutional account, caters to active traders with a minimum deposit threshold of $20,000, and benefit from commissions as low as $4 per round turn.
On the other hand, ActivTrades provides a primary Individual Account along with Professional and Islamic account variants, although it lacks a dedicated high-volume pricing option. Traders should be aware that spreads remain consistent regardless of the account type and might fluctuate during trading sessions, particularly during rollover periods. The average EUR/USD spread at ActivTrades was reported to be 0.98 pips in May 2024. However, the offering is tailored more towards individual asset trading, with spreads typically better than industry average but not as competitive as the leading low-cost brokers.
In terms of ratings, BlackBull Markets excels with a 4.5-star rating and holds the 18th position out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees. Meanwhile, ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranks 28th out of the same pool of 63 brokers. This suggests that while both brokers offer competitive options, BlackBull Markets may provide a slightly better value in terms of trading costs for those who can meet the Prime or ECN account requirements.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades, BlackBull Markets stands out with an impressive selection of investment options. Offering 26,000 tradeable symbols, including 72 forex pairs, it provides a wide array of choices for those interested in forex, which can be traded as both CFDs and spot contracts. BlackBull Markets also enables clients to engage in the buying and selling of exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing purchases of well-known stocks like Apple and Vodafone. This extensive range of offerings has earned BlackBull Markets a 5-star rating and a sixth-place ranking out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades, on the other hand, offers a smaller, yet still significant, selection of 1,267 tradeable symbols, including 49 forex pairs, available as CFDs or spot contracts. While not providing access to U.S. exchange-traded securities, ActivTrades does offer options for international trading, such as Vodafone shares. Both brokers offer the opportunity for copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives, though not actual cryptocurrency purchases. ActivTrades' range of investments has garnered a 4-star rating and ranks at number 31 in ForexBrokers.com's evaluation, showcasing a commendable but more limited selection compared to BlackBull Markets.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, both BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades offer a variety of features that cater to different trading preferences. Both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to engage in simulated trading before diving into live markets. While BlackBull Markets does not develop its own proprietary platform, it offers popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, along with support for ZuluTrade. ActivTrades, on the other hand, boasts a proprietary platform, further complemented by MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, though it doesn't support ZuluTrade. Both brokers provide access to Windows-based and web-based trading platforms, making it easy for traders to manage their accounts from various devices.
Charting tools and other features offer further points of differentiation. BlackBull Markets provides an impressive 60 drawing tools for charting needs, while ActivTrades offers 15. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, enhancing the user experience. When it comes to personalizing watch lists, BlackBull Markets offers six columns, whereas ActivTrades provides eleven, giving users more customization options. In terms of ratings, both brokers are evenly matched with four out of five stars for trading platforms and tools. However, BlackBull Markets holds a slightly better ranking, positioned at 29th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to ActivTrades, which sits at 30th.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 109 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 60 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades provide versatile mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android devices. Traders using these apps can benefit from features such as stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines, view multiple time frames, and auto-save chart drawings. Both platforms also offer 30 technical studies for chart analysis, and users can create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, BlackBull Markets stands out by offering watchlist symbol syncing, which allows changes made in either the app or online account to automatically sync, unlike ActivTrades.
Both mobile trading apps are rated four out of five stars, indicating a positive user experience, though ActivTrades holds a higher rank at #19 compared to BlackBull Markets at #31 among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. This suggests that while both brokers provide a solid mobile trading platform, ActivTrades might offer a more refined experience overall. Nonetheless, the choice will largely depend on individual preferences and the specific features that traders prioritize.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades provide traders with daily market commentary and an economic calendar to help them stay informed about global news events. However, when it comes to offering forex news from top-tier sources, BlackBull Markets falls short, while ActivTrades has access to reputable providers like Bloomberg and Reuters. On the flip side, BlackBull Markets supports traders with tools from Autochartist, which ActivTrades does not offer. Both brokers also provide a sentiment-based trading tool to visualize trader positions across various instruments.
Neither BlackBull Markets nor ActivTrades utilizes research tools from Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Despite these differences, both earn a 4-star rating for research. However, BlackBull Markets ranks higher in research at #18 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades holds the #30 spot. This suggests that while both brokers offer valuable research tools, BlackBull Markets may have a slight edge in overall market analysis offerings.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners from online brokers BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades, both offer a comprehensive range of materials designed to help new traders learn the ropes of forex and CFDs. BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades each provide more than 10 educational pieces that cover critical trading topics through articles, videos, and archived webinars. Both brokers also conduct monthly online educational webinars and maintain searchable archives of past sessions, which are valuable tools for ongoing learning.
BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades both cater to beginners by offering over 10 beginner-friendly educational videos. Additionally, they both provide advanced videos for more experienced traders seeking deeper knowledge. While BlackBull Markets includes an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms to aid novices in understanding trading jargon, ActivTrades does not offer this resource. Despite these slight differences, both brokers have received a solid 4-star rating for their education offerings. However, BlackBull Markets is ranked higher at #29 out of 63 brokers in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, compared to ActivTrades, which is ranked #38.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that BlackBull Markets is better than ActivTrades. BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
BlackBull Markets is a plain-vanilla MetaTrader broker with a growing range of products and support for a handful of third-party social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 81 |
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Both BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades enable the purchase of cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency.
In comparing online brokers BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades regarding fund deposit and withdrawal options, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, nor do they offer PayPal; however, both brokers are equipped with Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 78 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 109 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 60 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
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