FXCM vs BlackBull Markets 2025
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs BlackBull Markets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of FXCM 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.
When comparing online brokers FXCM and BlackBull Markets, several factors can help traders make informed decisions. Established in 1999, FXCM is a publicly traded company, while BlackBull Markets, founded in 2014, remains privately held. Neither of the companies operates as a bank. A key consideration in their comparison is their regulatory standing: FXCM holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, reflecting a strong presence in highly trusted and trusted regulatory environments. In contrast, BlackBull Markets has 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses.
The ForexBrokers.com Trust Score provides a clear picture of each broker's reliability, with FXCM scoring an impressive 95 out of 99, placing it in the highly trusted category. On the other hand, BlackBull Markets has a Trust Score of 78, indicating an average risk broker. These trust scores, alongside their regulatory licenses and company specifics, offer potential clients important insights into each broker's security and accountability levels.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, both FXCM and BlackBull Markets deliver competitive pricing, with a slight edge shifting depending on account type. On EUR/USD, FXCM’s commission-based accounts averaged an effective cost near 0.74 pips in May 2024, while BlackBull’s Prime account came in around 0.76 pips in March 2024. For spread-only trading, FXCM’s Standard account averaged 0.78 pips in the EU, U.K., and Australia (and 1.38 pips via its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity), whereas BlackBull’s Standard account is commission-free but carries higher spreads. Overall ratings: FXCM earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #17 of 63 for Commissions and Fees; BlackBull Markets earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 of 63.
FXCM offers two main pricing paths. Its Standard account features time-weighted average spreads of 0.78 pips (EU/U.K./Australia) on EUR/USD in May 2024, while its commission-based accounts averaged 0.28 pips before commission, translating to about 0.74 pips all-in. FXCM also advertises an Active Trader Rebate Program with five tiers paying $5 to $25 per million traded (not available in the U.K. or EU). Requirements and discounts vary by region and entity; for example, in the U.K., a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume can reduce commissions to $2.50 per side (about $5 round turn), which has produced effective costs near 0.78 pips in past data. As with most brokers, spreads can widen during rollover or volatile markets.
BlackBull Markets’ pricing depends on account choice. The Standard account has no commission or minimum deposit but uses wider spreads. The Prime account, which many cost-focused traders prefer, requires a $2,000 minimum and charges $3 per side ($6 round turn) with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.16 pips; the all-in cost works out to about 0.76 pips. For higher-volume traders, the ECN Institutional account requires a $20,000 deposit and lowers commissions to $2 per side ($4 round turn). Given this structure and typical all-in costs, BlackBull Markets is slightly ahead on our scorecard at 4.5/5 stars and #9 of 63, compared with FXCM’s 4/5 stars and #17 of 63.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.16 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.76 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Choosing between FXCM and BlackBull Markets comes down to how much variety you want. BlackBull offers about 26,000 tradeable symbols and 72 forex pairs, far more than FXCM’s 440 symbols and 46 pairs. Both brokers support forex trading (CFD/spot), offer copy trading, and let you speculate on crypto via CFDs; neither lets you buy actual cryptocurrency. A key difference: BlackBull lets you buy exchange-traded shares directly on both U.S. and international exchanges, while FXCM does not.
For range of investments, ForexBrokers.com rates BlackBull Markets 5 stars and ranks it 7th out of 63 brokers, while FXCM earns 3.5 stars and ranks 21st. If you want access to a very large selection, plus real share dealing, BlackBull stands out; if you mainly need a focused set of forex and CFD markets with copy trading, FXCM can fit the bill.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 72 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
FXCM and BlackBull Markets both make it easy to get started with a free demo account and offer web and Windows desktop platforms, along with copy trading. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and both let you place trades directly from charts. A key difference: FXCM also provides its own in-house platform, while BlackBull Markets does not. On the flip side, BlackBull Markets supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which FXCM does not.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, FXCM earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while BlackBull Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #25. If you want an in-house platform experience, FXCM is appealing; if MT5 access matters, BlackBull Markets stands out. Both let you practice with a demo before committing real funds.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 109 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and BlackBull Markets both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps on iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, syncs watchlists between mobile and your online account, and lets you draw trendlines on charts. Your chart drawings auto-save, so edits persist across sessions.
For charting depth, FXCM stands out with 59 technical studies compared to BlackBull Markets’ 30. FXCM also earns a higher mobile app rating (4.5 stars) and a better placement in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category (#16 out of 63) versus BlackBull Markets’ 4-star rating and #27 ranking. If you want more built-in indicators and a higher-rated experience, FXCM has the edge, while BlackBull Markets still covers the key mobile trading basics.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at online brokers FXCM and BlackBull Markets, FXCM has the edge with a 4.5-star Research rating and a #11 ranking out of 63 brokers, versus BlackBull’s 4 stars and #16 ranking. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, and an economic calendar.
FXCM stands out for forex news from top-tier sources (such as Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones) and adds Trading Central analytics and TipRanks research. It does not offer Autochartist. BlackBull Markets lacks top-tier news, Trading Central, and TipRanks, but it does include Autochartist for pattern recognition and signals. Neither broker offers Acuity Trading’s tools. Choose FXCM if you want integrated news and multi-source analysis; pick BlackBull if Autochartist is your priority.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM and BlackBull Markets both deliver beginner-friendly forex and CFD education. Each broker easily meets the 10-piece benchmark for educational content and offers monthly client webinars. New traders will find sizable video libraries at both brands, with 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos that explain trading basics, strategies, and platform tips in plain language.
Where they differ is in overall quality and recognition. FXCM earns a 4.5-star education rating and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, edging out BlackBull Markets, which holds a 4-star rating and a #24 ranking. If you want the stronger all-around learning experience, FXCM has the advantage; if you’re comparing options that still provide plenty of lessons and regular webinars, BlackBull Markets remains a capable choice.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FXCM is better than BlackBull Markets. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #22.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
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| Trust Score | 95 | 78 |
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In an FXCM vs BlackBull Markets comparison, neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.
FXCM vs BlackBull Markets: FXCM supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, while BlackBull Markets supports Skrill and bank wire only, with no ACH/SEPA 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 78 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 72 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.16 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 109 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FXCM Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | BlackBull Markets Review |