Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of BlackBull Markets vs Alpari, 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 and Alpari are both online brokers catering to a wide range of traders, but they differ notably in their regulatory standings and perceived trustworthiness. Founded in 2014, BlackBull Markets, though young, has secured one Tier-1 license, which is a mark of high trust according to ForexBrokers.com. It holds a Trust Score rating of 78, placing it in the average risk category, suggesting a moderate level of confidence for users engaging with their services.
In contrast, Alpari, established in 1998, has more experience but no Tier-1 licenses under its belt. This absence could be a significant point of consideration for potential investors seeking credible protection measures. With a Trust Score rating of 68, Alpari falls into the high-risk bracket, indicating the need for heightened caution when choosing to trade through this platform. Neither BlackBull Markets nor Alpari is publicly traded, and neither functions as a bank, two factors prospective clients may want to consider when evaluating their options.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 1998 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the online brokers BlackBull Markets and Alpari, understanding their commissions and fees is key to determining which might better suit your trading needs. BlackBull Markets stands out with a 4.5-star rating, ranking 18th out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category. Their trading costs vary across three account types, and although they are about average for the industry, the Prime account is particularly noteworthy with an average spread of 0.16 on the EUR/USD and an all-in cost of 0.76 when the commission is considered. The Prime account requires a $2,000 minimum deposit and charges a $6 round turn commission per lot, while the Standard account is commission-free but features higher spreads. For those with substantial capital, the ECN Institutional account offers even lower commission rates at $4 per round turn for deposits of $20,000 or more.
In contrast, Alpari is rated with 4 stars and ranks 41st out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for Commissions and Fees. Unfortunately, precise average spread data for Alpari isn't readily available, which may be a consideration for traders focused on transparent cost structures. However, Alpari's star rating and rank suggest they offer a competitive fee structure, although perhaps not as well-suited for cost-sensitive traders as BlackBull Markets.
Ultimately, BlackBull Markets tends to appeal to those who prefer tighter spreads and are willing to meet specific account requirements, making them a strong contender for traders focused on minimizing fees. Conversely, Alpari might serve more general needs without the commitment to minimum deposits, though with less clarity on spreads, making them a potential fit for a broader range of traders. As always, choosing the right broker depends on individual trading strategies and financial goals.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Alpari in terms of available investment options, BlackBull Markets stands out with a considerable edge. Offering a choice of 26,000 tradeable symbols, BlackBull Markets eclipses Alpari's 105 symbols. Forex traders might find BlackBull Markets more appealing, providing access to 72 forex pairs compared to Alpari's 46. Furthermore, BlackBull Markets lets investors buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas Alpari only supports international exchanges for such trades.
Both platforms facilitate CFD and spot forex trading and grant access to cryptocurrency derivatives. Additionally, copy trading is available on each platform, offering more opportunities for strategic investments. In recognition of its extensive options, BlackBull Markets receives a 5-star rating for its range of investments, ranking 6th out of 63 brokers. Conversely, Alpari holds a more modest 3-star rating, positioned at 63rd in the same category, underscoring a more limited range of investment choices.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 105 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 46 |
| 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 comparing the trading platforms and tools of BlackBull Markets and Alpari, both brokers offer valuable services but differ in some key areas. BlackBull Markets and Alpari provide simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to practice and hone their strategies without financial risk. While Alpari boasts a proprietary platform developed in-house, BlackBull Markets does not, relying instead on popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), both of which are also supported by Alpari. Both brokers offer Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, complete with copy trading features. However, BlackBull Markets distinguishes itself by providing ZuluTrade for social trading, a feature not available with Alpari.
For technical analysis, BlackBull Markets offers a more comprehensive set of 60 drawing tools compared to Alpari's 15, with both brokers supporting direct trading from stock charts. In terms of custom watch list features, Alpari slightly edges out with seven columns available compared to six at BlackBull Markets. Both brokers share a four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, yet BlackBull Markets is ranked higher at 29th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Alpari's position at 55th. This suggests that while both offer strong platform options, BlackBull Markets may have a slight edge in user satisfaction and broader tool offerings.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading platforms, both BlackBull Markets and Alpari provide solid options for traders using iPhones and Android devices. Each offers comprehensive applications to facilitate trading on the go, including stock and forex price alerts. BlackBull Markets and Alpari equip their apps with the ability to draw trendlines on charts and support multiple time frame views, ranging from daily to intraday charts. Additionally, traders can access 30 technical studies for chart analysis on both platforms, offering plenty of analytical depth for the average user.
However, there are some notable differences that set them apart. BlackBull Markets stands out with the ability to sync watchlists between mobile apps and the user's online account, offering seamless updates across devices. It further distinguishes itself by allowing automatic saving of chart drawings, a feature absent in Alpari's app. While both platforms let users create watchlists with real-time quotes, these added conveniences give BlackBull Markets a competitive edge. Despite these advantages, both apps receive a four-star rating for mobile trading. Still, BlackBull Markets ranks higher at 31st compared to Alpari's 56th position on ForexBrokers.com's list of 63 brokers.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
BlackBull Markets and Alpari both provide research features for traders, but they cater to slightly different needs. BlackBull Markets stands out with its daily market commentary and sentiment-based trading tool, offering traders a constant stream of insights and a unique perspective on the market’s mood. In contrast, Alpari shines by delivering forex news from high-profile sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, giving users access to reliable and up-to-date information that’s crucial for making informed trades. Additionally, both brokers have partnered with Autochartist to enhance technical analysis capabilities, offering tools that are appreciated by many traders.
In terms of research tools, BlackBull Markets provides an economic calendar, a feature that is also available at Alpari, to keep traders informed about important economic events around the world. Both brokers have similarities in their offerings but differ in the unique features they provide, resulting in BlackBull Markets receiving a higher research rating of four stars compared to Alpari's three. Overall, BlackBull Markets ranks 18th out of 63 brokers in the Research category according to ForexBrokers.com, while Alpari ranks 57th, indicating BlackBull Markets may offer a more comprehensive research experience for competitive trading.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| 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 to beginners at BlackBull Markets and Alpari, BlackBull Markets stands out as a more comprehensive option. Both platforms provide more than 10 educational materials focused on forex and CFDs, blending articles, videos, and more. However, BlackBull Markets offers monthly online webinars and maintains a searchable archive of these sessions, making it easier for beginners to revisit past content. This is not a feature offered by Alpari, which can limit access to continuous learning. Both platforms cater to beginners with specialized video content, but BlackBull Markets extends its offerings to include advanced topics—a resource Alpari lacks.
Further enhancing the learning experience, BlackBull Markets provides an investor dictionary with over 50 term definitions, matching Alpari in this aspect. When rating their overall educational quality, BlackBull Markets earns 4 out of 5 stars, while Alpari receives 3 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, BlackBull Markets secures a higher position at 29th out of 63 brokers compared to Alpari’s 48th spot. This comparison highlights that for beginners, BlackBull Markets offers a more thorough educational platform, beneficial for both newcomers wanting foundational knowledge and those looking to advance their trading skills.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
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 Alpari. BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24, while Alpari finished with an overall rank of #58.
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
|
Alpari
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 68 |
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Both BlackBull Markets and Alpari do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both BlackBull Markets and Alpari lack options for ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but they do provide Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires as payment methods.
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 | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | BlackBull Markets | Alpari | |
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| Regulation | BlackBull Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 78 | 68 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 1998 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 105 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 46 | |
| 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | BlackBull Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 | |
| 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 | |
| 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 | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | BlackBull Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | BlackBull Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | BlackBull Markets | Alpari | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | BlackBull Markets | Alpari | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 68 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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