Written by ForexBrokers.com
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.
FXCM vs BlackBull Markets: FXCM was founded in 1999 and is publicly traded, while BlackBull Markets launched in 2014 and is not publicly traded; neither is a bank. On the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score (out of 99), FXCM scores 95 (highly trusted: 90–99) and BlackBull Markets scores 77 (average risk: 70–79). For context, 80–89 is trusted, 60–69 is high risk, and below 59 should not be trusted.
Regulation highlights the difference. FXCM holds 4 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted regulators) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted regulators). BlackBull Markets holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. If heavier regulatory coverage and a public listing matter to you, FXCM offers stronger credentials, while BlackBull Markets provides a leaner regulatory profile.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
FXCM and BlackBull Markets both earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but BlackBull ranks higher overall in this category. FXCM is ranked #17 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while BlackBull Markets is ranked #9 out of 36. In simple terms, both brokers are fairly competitive, but BlackBull’s pricing structure is generally the better fit for traders who want lower trading costs.
FXCM’s forex pricing is slightly above the industry average. On its standard account, EUR/USD spreads averaged 0.78 pips in May 2024 for its EU, U.K., and Australia entities, while its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity averaged 1.38 pips. FXCM’s commission-based accounts were cheaper, with average spreads of 0.28 pips before commissions, though the all-in cost was closer to 0.74 pips after fees. FXCM also offers Active Trader rebates for high-volume clients, but these discounts are not available in the U.K. or EU and are less competitive than some rivals.
BlackBull Markets offers average overall trading costs, with the best value typically found in its Prime account. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 0.16 pips in March 2024, which worked out to an all-in cost of about 0.76 pips after commission. The Standard account has no commission and no minimum deposit, but spreads are wider, while the Prime account requires a $2,000 deposit and charges $3 per side. For more active traders, the ECN Institutional account offers even lower commissions, but it requires at least a $20,000 deposit.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing FXCM and BlackBull Markets for range of investments, both brokers let clients trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, offer copy trading, and provide cryptocurrency CFDs rather than access to actual crypto coins. FXCM gives traders 440 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs, which is a solid selection for many retail traders. BlackBull Markets offers a much larger list, with about 26,000 tradeable symbols and 72 forex pairs, making it the broader choice for those who want more markets to explore.
The biggest difference is in stock access. FXCM does not offer exchange traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, while BlackBull Markets does, allowing clients to buy real shares from both U.S. and overseas markets. That wider asset mix helps explain why BlackBull Markets scores higher for range of investments, with 5 out of 5 stars and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #7 out of 36, compared with FXCM’s 4.5 stars and #21 ranking.
| Feature |
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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
FXCM and BlackBull Markets both give traders access to a wide range of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web trading, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. FXCM also stands out with its own in-house platform, while BlackBull Markets does not offer a proprietary platform. One key difference is MetaTrader 5: BlackBull Markets supports MT5, but FXCM does not. For traders who want to test strategies first, both brokers make simulated trading available.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, FXCM has the edge overall. ForexBrokers.com rates FXCM 5 out of 5 stars in this category and ranks it #4 out of 36 brokers, while BlackBull Markets earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #25. In simple terms, both brokers cover the basics well, but FXCM offers a stronger platform lineup overall, while BlackBull Markets may appeal more to traders who want MT5 alongside the other standard tools.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 make mobile trading easy for iPhone and Android users, and each app includes key tools like price alerts, watchlist syncing, trendline drawing, and automatic saving for chart drawings. That means traders can track markets and keep their lists updated across mobile and online accounts without much hassle. Both brokers also give users a familiar, user-friendly mobile experience for trading forex and other markets on the go.
When it comes to charting and overall app quality, FXCM has the edge. Its mobile app offers 59 technical studies, compared with 30 at BlackBull Markets, which may matter more to traders who like deeper chart analysis. FXCM is also rated higher for mobile trading apps at 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while BlackBull Markets holds a 4-star rating and ranks #27. For traders who want stronger mobile charting and a better-rated app, FXCM stands out, while BlackBull Markets still covers the basics well.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
FXCM and BlackBull Markets both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, and each is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for research. That means both brokers make it fairly easy to track market events, see how traders are positioned, and stay updated on important news releases. FXCM, however, stands out for its access to top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus research from TipRanks and Trading Central, which can be useful for traders looking for extra market insight.
BlackBull Markets has its own strengths in market research, especially with Autochartist, a tool that helps spot chart patterns and trading ideas. But unlike FXCM, it does not offer top-tier news, Trading Central, or TipRanks. Based on ForexBrokers.com rankings for the research category, FXCM places higher at #11 out of 36 brokers, while BlackBull Markets is ranked #17, making FXCM the stronger choice overall for market research.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 give beginners a strong start with a wide range of learning materials on forex and CFDs. Each broker offers at least 10 education pieces focused on these markets, along with monthly client webinars and plenty of beginner videos, plus advanced videos for traders who want to keep learning. Both also earn a 4.5 out of 5 rating for Education, showing that each platform puts real effort into helping new traders build confidence and learn the basics.
Where they differ is in their overall Education ranking with ForexBrokers.com. FXCM places higher at #13 out of 36 brokers, while BlackBull Markets ranks #24 out of 36. For beginners comparing online broker education, that means both brokers are a solid choice, but FXCM has the edge if you want the stronger overall learning setup and a slightly better-rated educational experience.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 95 | 77 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
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: both support ACH/SEPA transfers, Skrill, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals; only FXCM accepts PayPal; and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 95 | 77 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | FXCM | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 77 | |
| 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 CMA 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 | Yes |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 95 | 77 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill