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FXCM vs BlackBull Markets 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 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.

FXCM
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: Starts from $50
  • Trust Score: 95
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 440
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

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 FXCM logoFXCM
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Year Founded info 1999 2014
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1

Fees

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 FXCM logoFXCM
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Minimum Deposit info Starts from $50 $0
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 0.9 info 1.16 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.8 info 0.76 info
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

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 FXCM logoFXCM
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 440 26000
Forex Pairs (Total) info 46 info 72
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No 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

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 FXCM logoFXCM
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 No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 115 109
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

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

Forex trading apps

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 FXCM logoFXCM
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 59 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

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

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

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 FXCM logoFXCM
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Webinars info Yes 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 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 logoFXCM
BlackBull Markets logoBlackBull Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 95 78
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with FXCM or BlackBull Markets?

In an FXCM vs BlackBull Markets comparison, neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.

What funding options does each broker offer?

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.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating FXCM BlackBull Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 95 78
Winner check_circle
Review FXCM Review BlackBull Markets Review
Broker Screenshots FXCM BlackBull Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation FXCM BlackBull Markets
Trust Score info 95 78
Year Founded info 1999 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 4 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) FXCM BlackBull Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No 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 No Yes
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info No info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) FXCM BlackBull Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info Yes No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes No
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info No No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments FXCM BlackBull Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 440 26000
Forex Pairs (Total) info 46 info 72
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No 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 FXCM BlackBull Markets
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 0.9 info 1.16 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.8 info 0.76 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info Yes No
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding FXCM BlackBull Markets
Minimum Deposit info Starts from $50 $0
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info Yes No
Trading Platforms FXCM 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 No Yes
cTrader info No Yes
Trading Tools FXCM BlackBull Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 115 109
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading FXCM 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 59 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research FXCM BlackBull Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education FXCM BlackBull Markets
Webinars info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs FXCM 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 FXCM Review BlackBull Markets Review
Overall FXCM BlackBull Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 95 78
Winner check_circle
Review FXCM Review BlackBull Markets Review
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