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CMC Markets vs BlackBull Markets 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs BlackBull Markets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

CMC Markets
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 12029
BlackBull Markets
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 78
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 26000

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.

Regulation

Founded in 1989, CMC Markets boasts a long history in the financial trading industry, and is a publicly traded entity. It holds an impressive 6 Tier-1 licenses and an additional Tier-2 license, earning it the highest Trust Score rating of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This score categorizes CMC Markets as a highly trusted broker. Although it is not a bank, its comprehensive regulatory backing provides strong assurance for traders seeking security and credibility in an online broker.

In comparison, BlackBull Markets was established more recently in 2014 and is not publicly traded. It offers a singular Tier-1 license, without Tier-2 credentials, which reflects its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score rating of 78 out of 99. This places BlackBull Markets within the average risk category. Though it is not considered high risk, traders might find greater peace of mind with brokers that possess more extensive regulatory oversight.

Feature CMC Markets logoCMC Markets
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Year Founded info 1989 2014
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 6 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1

Fees

Looking at commissions and fees, CMC Markets is the clear price leader: it’s rated 5 stars and ranked #1 of 63 brokers for this category, while BlackBull Markets earns 4.5 stars and ranks #19 of 63. In practice, this means CMC Markets tends to deliver lower all-in trading costs across account types, whereas BlackBull’s pricing sits closer to the industry average and varies more by account.

CMC Markets posts tight average spreads, with the EUR/USD around 0.61 pips (Aug 2023). Its FX Active plan uses commission-based pricing at $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of zero, producing an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD (and several other major pairs). High-volume traders can also unlock spread discounts via the Price Plus Scheme, which rewards monthly trading activity. Notably, CMC’s average spreads have historically stayed close to its advertised minimums, supporting its top ranking for low costs.

BlackBull Markets’ pricing depends on account choice. The Standard account is commission-free with no minimum deposit but comes with higher spreads. The Prime account requires a $2,000 minimum and charges $3 per side ($6 round turn) in commission; its average EUR/USD spread was 0.16 pips in March 2024, for an all-in cost near 0.76 pips—making Prime the better value versus Standard. Active traders can opt for the ECN Institutional account (minimum $20,000) with commissions of $2 per side ($4 round turn). Overall, BlackBull’s costs are competitive but generally higher than CMC Markets’ best pricing.

Feature CMC Markets logoCMC Markets
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Minimum Deposit info $0 $0
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.3 info 0.71 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.65 info 0.71 info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets both deliver broad access to the markets. Each supports forex trading as CFDs or spot, offers real shares on U.S. and international exchanges, enables copy trading, and provides cryptocurrency exposure via CFDs (but not actual coins). That makes both platforms appealing for traders who want stocks, forex, and crypto CFDs in one place.

BlackBull Markets lists about 26,000 tradeable instruments, while CMC Markets offers 12,029. If your priority is currency choice, CMC Markets has 141 forex pairs versus 72 at BlackBull. Both earn 5 stars for Range of Investments, with ForexBrokers.com ranking BlackBull Markets #6 and CMC Markets #9 out of 63 brokers. In short, choose BlackBull for sheer instrument count, or CMC if you value a wider selection of forex pairs.

Feature CMC Markets logoCMC Markets
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 12029 26000
Forex Pairs (Total) info 141 72
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets both cover the basics well: each offers a free demo account for paper trading, web and Windows desktop platforms, copy trading, and access to MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). The key difference is that CMC Markets also provides its own in-house platform, adding another way to trade alongside MetaTrader. Both brokers support chart trading, so you can place orders directly from price charts.

When it comes to quality of platforms and tools, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while BlackBull Markets scores 4 stars and ranks #31. If you want an in-house platform plus MT4/MT5, CMC Markets has the edge. If you prefer a MetaTrader-focused setup with web and desktop access and copy trading, BlackBull Markets delivers a straightforward choice.

Feature CMC Markets logoCMC Markets
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 73 109
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets both offer iPhone and Android trading apps. Each app supports price alerts and syncs watchlists with your online account, so changes carry across devices. For charting, both apps let you draw trendlines and automatically save your drawings. As for technical studies, CMC Markets includes 29, while BlackBull Markets offers 30.

Independent ratings favor CMC Markets for mobile: it earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com. BlackBull Markets holds 4 stars and ranks #33. Choose CMC Markets if you want a higher-rated mobile experience; pick BlackBull Markets if you value having one extra built-in study while still getting a capable app.

Feature CMC Markets logoCMC Markets
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 29 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

When comparing market research offerings, CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets both provide daily market commentary and valuable tools from Autochartist, making them strong options for traders keen on market analysis. CMC Markets, however, sets itself apart with forex news from premium sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which BlackBull Markets does not offer. Both brokers deliver sentiment-based trading tools, helping traders understand the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments. Additionally, they both feature an economic calendar to keep traders informed of current and future global economic events.

Despite some similarities, CMC Markets' comprehensive offering earns it a higher research rating of 5 stars compared to BlackBull Markets' 4 stars. This higher rating is further reflected in their rankings, with CMC Markets placing 6th and BlackBull Markets 18th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. These rankings underscore CMC Markets' superior market research capabilities, making it a preferable choice for those seeking in-depth market insights.

Feature CMC Markets logoCMC Markets
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes Yes
Trading Central info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets both give beginners plenty to learn from. Each broker offers a sizable catalog of trading videos—with at least 10 aimed at newcomers and another 10 for advanced topics—covering core forex and CFD concepts. For overall quality, CMC Markets takes the lead: it’s rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers for Education by ForexBrokers.com, while BlackBull Markets holds 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29.

If live teaching matters to you, BlackBull Markets offers monthly educational webinars so beginners can learn in real time and ask questions. CMC Markets does not host monthly client education webinars, but its on-demand library is stronger by rating. In short, choose CMC Markets for top-rated self-paced forex and CFD lessons, or go with BlackBull Markets if live webinars are a priority alongside a solid beginner video lineup.

Feature CMC Markets logoCMC Markets
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Webinars info No Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that CMC Markets is better than BlackBull Markets. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24.

CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.

Feature CMC Markets logoCMC Markets
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 78
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with CMC Markets or BlackBull Markets?

In the CMC Markets vs BlackBull Markets comparison, neither broker offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide access to trading cryptocurrency CFDs.

What funding options does each broker offer?

For deposit and withdrawal options, CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers, while BlackBull Markets offers Skrill and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.

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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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Overall Rating CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 78
Winner check_circle
Review CMC Markets Review BlackBull Markets Review
Broker Screenshots CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
CMC Markets Next Generation mobile trade ticket order. CMC Markets Next Generation web platform layout light theme CMC Markets research weekly outlook detail. CMC Markets OPTO Podcast.
BlackBull Markets MT5 mobile trading app BlackBull Markets MetaTrader 5 MT5 desktop platform. BlackBull Markets economic calendar. BlackBull Markets Trading Podcasts playlist.
Regulation CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Trust Score info 99 78
Year Founded info 1989 2014
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info No info
Tier-1 Licenses info 6 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info Yes Yes
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info No info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No No
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 12029 26000
Forex Pairs (Total) info 141 72
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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 CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.3 info 0.71 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.65 info 0.71 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info No No
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Minimum Deposit info $0 $0
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
Trading Platforms CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
cTrader info No Yes
Trading Tools CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 73 109
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 29 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes Yes
Trading Central info No No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Webinars info No Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review CMC Markets Review BlackBull Markets Review
Overall CMC Markets BlackBull Markets
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 78
Winner check_circle
Review CMC Markets Review BlackBull Markets Review
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