Written by ForexBrokers.com
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.
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.
CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets are prominent online brokers, yet they differ significantly in their regulatory standings and trust credentials. Established in 1989, CMC Markets boasts a high level of regulatory backing, holding five top-tier licenses and a commendable trust score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. It's also noteworthy that CMC Markets is publicly traded, underscoring its transparency and commitment to investor trust. In contrast, BlackBull Markets, founded in 2014, holds just one Tier-1 license and has a trust score of 78, categorizing it as average risk on the ForexBrokers.com scale. While it provides a solid trading platform, it is not publicly traded, which may be a consideration for those prioritizing institutional transparency.
Neither CMC Markets nor BlackBull Markets functions as a bank, focusing instead on providing trading platforms for a range of financial instruments. The significant disparity in regulatory licenses highlights CMC Markets' stronger emphasis on compliance and oversight, making it potentially more reassuring for investors prioritizing safety and longevity in a broker. Whether you lean towards the longstanding reliability of CMC Markets or the contemporary approach by BlackBull Markets, understanding these regulatory differences can help guide your choice in the diverse world of online trading.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When it comes to online brokers, both CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets offer attractive commissions and fees, but they cater to different trading preferences. CMC Markets boasts a top-ranked position, snatching the #1 spot in the Commissions and Fees category in our 2025 Annual Awards. Their consistently low spread offerings, available across all customer segments and account types, make them a standout choice for traders looking to minimize costs. On the other hand, BlackBull Markets provides competitive pricing with three distinct account types, securing the #18 ranking in the same category with a 4.5-star rating compared to CMC Market's top-rated 5 stars.
CMC Markets presents a compelling option through its Price Plus Scheme, an active trader program that allows for significant discounts based on trading volume and activity. For example, achieving Tier 4 in this program with 1,250 standard lots traded can yield a 20% spread discount. Additionally, their FX Active pricing structure combines very tight spreads with a churn-based commission, starting at $2.50 per side. This results in an all-in cost as low as 0.5 pips on currency pairs like EUR/USD. This competitive pricing strategy has earned CMC Markets high praise and solidified their stature as a leader in this segment.
BlackBull Markets, meanwhile, offers three account types to suit varying trading needs. The Prime account, in particular, stands out with an average spread of 0.16 on the EUR/USD, leading to an all-in cost of 0.76 once the commission is considered. While the Standard account offers a commission-free experience with higher spreads, it caters well to those with no minimum deposit requirement. For more active traders, the ECN Institutional account provides low commissions at $2 per side for an account balance starting at $20,000. This variety allows traders to select the most cost-efficient option for their trading strategy within BlackBull Markets' framework.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.71 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.71 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When exploring online brokers, both CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets offer impressive selections for investors looking at forex and CFD trading. CMC Markets provides access to 11,925 tradeable symbols, including a notable 156 forex pairs, which caters well to forex enthusiasts. In comparison, BlackBull Markets boasts a more extensive range with 26,000 tradeable symbols, though with a narrower offering of 72 forex pairs. Both brokers allow trading in exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, offering opportunities to invest in popular stocks like Apple and Vodafone. They also support copy trading and provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, although neither offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
Despite their differences, both CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets have earned a 5-star rating for their range of investments, reflecting their strong appeal to diverse investor needs. Their rankings by ForexBrokers.com further highlight their prowess, with BlackBull Markets edging slightly ahead at 6th place, while CMC Markets is ranked 9th among 62 brokers. This comparison showcases that both platforms offer solid frameworks for accessing a wide variety of trading products, suitable for both beginners and seasoned investors looking to diversify their portfolios.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 72 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets, both brokers provide a comprehensive range of trading platforms and tools aimed at enhancing the trading experience. Each offers a free virtual demo account for those interested in simulated trading. CMC Markets stands out with its proprietary platform, a feature not available with BlackBull Markets, which relies on popular third-party platforms such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both brokers offer platforms that are accessible via Windows desktop and web browsers, catering to different trading preferences. In terms of innovation, CMC Markets edges ahead, offering copy trading alongside its proprietary platform, while BlackBull Markets enriches the user experience with the addition of ZuluTrade for enhanced social trading capabilities. CMC Markets also excels with more in-depth watchlists, offering 11 fields compared to BlackBull’s 6, emphasizing its comprehensive approach to platform customization.
Charting tools form a vital part of both brokers' platform offerings, with both allowing trade execution directly from the stock chart, supporting the swift actions required by active traders. While both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, BlackBull Markets provides 60 drawing tools compared to CMC Markets' 40, offering a slightly broader range of technical visualizations. Despite these strengths, CMC Markets receives a top rating of 5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, whereas BlackBull Markets garners a respectable 4-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets ranks in the impressive 4th place out of 62 brokers for trading platforms and tools, while BlackBull Markets is positioned at 29th, making CMC Markets a leader for traders prioritizing advanced tools and tailored platform experiences.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 109 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 60 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading, both CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets offer solid apps for iPhone and Android users, providing a variety of features that cater to on-the-go traders. Both platforms allow users to set up price alerts for stocks and forex, ensuring you stay informed about market changes. Additionally, each app offers watchlist symbol syncing, syncing all changes made to watchlists across devices, ensuring your preferences are always up to date. While BlackBull Markets offers 30 technical studies for charting, CMC Markets comes slightly behind with 29, yet both provide the essential tools for drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on stock and forex charts. Both applications also auto-save your drawings and support creating real-time watchlists, which is crucial for active traders.
Though CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets share many features, CMC Markets receives a slight edge with a 5-star rating for its mobile trading app, compared to BlackBull Markets’ 4-star rating. Furthermore, CMC Markets boasts an impressive #5 ranking out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas BlackBull Markets is placed at #31. This difference in ratings and rankings highlights CMC Markets’ reputation for delivering a more highly regarded mobile trading experience, making it a preferred choice for traders prioritizing higher-rated capabilities in their trading apps.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 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.
Certainly, both CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets provide daily market commentary and technical research tools like Autochartist, supporting their users with regular updates and insights. However, CMC Markets takes the lead with its integration of forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, offering traders a comprehensive view of the market landscape. This edge contributes to CMC Markets being rated 5 stars for research, placing it at #6 among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
BlackBull Markets, while providing similar essential services like sentiment-based trading tools and an economic calendar for global events, lacks access to high-profile news sources in comparison. This results in a slightly lower research rating of 4 stars and a rank of #18. While both brokers offer valuable resources, CMC Markets garners a higher reputation due to its enriched data sources, making it a preferred choice for traders prioritizing in-depth market news and analysis.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| 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 CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets for educational resources geared towards beginners, both brokers offer a solid foundation in forex and CFDs education. Each platform provides more than 10 educational pieces, such as articles and videos, ensuring that newcomers to trading have access to significant learning materials. Additionally, both brokers boast a collection of at least 10 beginner-focused videos alongside advanced content, catering to a wide range of experience levels. Furthermore, they offer searchable archives of recorded webinars and comprehensive investor dictionaries with over 50 terms explained, helping users better understand the trading world.
A notable difference arises with webinars: BlackBull Markets delivers ongoing monthly online webinars to its clients, whereas CMC Markets does not. Despite this, CMC Markets boasts a higher educational rating of five stars compared to BlackBull Markets' four stars. This is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, with CMC Markets securing the 10th spot out of 62 brokers, while BlackBull Markets is positioned at 29th. These ratings underscore CMC Markets' slightly stronger educational offerings, providing a comprehensive experience for those venturing into trading.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 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
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both CMC Markets and BlackBull Markets provide opportunities to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
CMC Markets provides a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options compared to BlackBull Markets, offering ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, while BlackBull Markets supports Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires but does not offer ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 72 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.71 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.71 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 109 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 60 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 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 | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | CMC Markets Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill