Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IC 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.
IC Markets (founded 2007) and BlackBull Markets (founded 2014) are online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. On ForexBrokers.com’s 99-point Trust Score, IC Markets scores 83 (trusted), while BlackBull Markets scores 77 (average risk). For context, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 should not be trusted.
Looking at regulation, IC Markets holds two Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com), compared with one Tier-1 license for BlackBull Markets; neither broker holds any Tier-2 licenses. This gives IC Markets a slight edge in top-tier oversight, which may appeal to traders who prioritize licensing and safety.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees review, IC Markets comes out ahead of BlackBull Markets for traders who want lower overall trading costs. IC Markets earns a 5-star rating and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers, helped by very tight spreads and low commission-based pricing on its Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts. Its EUR/USD pricing can be especially competitive, and the broker also offers a commission-free Standard account for traders who prefer simpler pricing.
BlackBull Markets is still a solid low-cost choice, but its pricing is a bit higher on average. It holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers. BlackBull’s Standard account has no commission and no minimum deposit, but spreads are wider. Its Prime account, which is better for active traders, offers lower spreads with a $2,000 minimum deposit and a $3 per side commission. The ECN Institutional account is aimed at larger-volume traders with a $20,000 minimum deposit and even lower commissions.
Overall, IC Markets is the better pick for traders focused on commissions and fees, especially if you want some of the lowest all-in trading costs available. BlackBull Markets is competitive, but it tends to suit traders who are comfortable paying a bit more for flexibility across its account types.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.8 | 1.16 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.72 | 0.76 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 IC Markets and BlackBull Markets for range of investments, both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, offer copy trading, and support cryptocurrency CFDs. IC Markets provides 7,435 tradeable symbols and 61 forex pairs, while BlackBull Markets offers a much wider list with 26,000 tradeable symbols and 72 forex pairs. Neither broker lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, so crypto access is limited to CFDs only.
BlackBull Markets also stands out for share investing, since it offers exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, while IC Markets does not offer these non-CFD stocks. Reflecting that broader product range, BlackBull Markets is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers for Range of Investments, compared with IC Markets at 4.5 stars and #22 out of 36.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7435 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 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.
IC Markets and BlackBull Markets are closely matched when it comes to trading platforms and tools. Both brokers offer free demo accounts for simulated trading, along with Windows desktop and web-based platforms, copy trading, and the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. Neither broker has its own in-house platform, but both let traders place orders directly from charts, which can make trading easier for beginners and active traders alike.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both IC Markets and BlackBull Markets are rated 4 out of 5 stars. IC Markets ranks higher overall at #17 out of 36 brokers, while BlackBull Markets sits at #26. Based on these features, the two brokers offer very similar trading toolsets, with IC Markets holding the edge in the category ranking.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 32 | 109 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IC Markets and BlackBull Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts for stocks and forex. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves those drawings, making it easier to track ideas while trading on the go. Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so they each deliver a solid experience for everyday mobile use.
The main difference is in watchlist syncing and chart tools. BlackBull Markets supports watchlist symbol syncing between its mobile app and online account, while IC Markets does not. IC Markets does, however, offer more technical studies in its mobile charting tools, with 32 compared with BlackBull Markets’ 30. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps ranking, IC Markets places higher at #22 out of 36 brokers, while BlackBull Markets ranks #29.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 32 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing IC Markets vs BlackBull Markets for market research, both brokers give traders useful day-to-day insights. Each offers daily market commentary, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar for tracking global events. IC Markets also stands out for forex news from top sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus research from Trading Central and TipRanks, which may be helpful for traders looking for more in-depth market ideas.
BlackBull Markets takes a different approach, with support from Autochartist for chart-based trading signals, but it does not include top-tier forex news, Trading Central, or TipRanks. Still, it shares daily commentary, sentiment data, and an economic calendar with IC Markets. Based on ForexBrokers.com, BlackBull Markets scores higher for research at 4.5 out of 5 and ranks #17 out of 36 brokers, while IC Markets is rated 4 out of 5 and ranks #21, making BlackBull the stronger pick overall for market research.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
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.
For beginners looking for trading education, both IC Markets and BlackBull Markets provide a good range of learning materials. Each broker offers more than 10 forex or CFD education pieces, holds online educational webinars at least once a month, and has at least 10 beginner videos as well as 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders. This means either platform can give new traders a solid starting point, with plenty of content to help them learn the basics and keep building their skills over time.
There are some differences in how these brokers are rated for education. IC Markets receives 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers in the Education category at ForexBrokers.com, while BlackBull Markets scores 4.5 out of 5 stars but ranks #25 out of 36. In simple terms, both brokers offer plenty of beginner-friendly learning tools, but BlackBull Markets gets the higher star rating, while IC Markets places better in the overall ranking.
| Feature |
IC Markets
|
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 IC Markets is better than BlackBull Markets. IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #21, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #22.
IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.
| Feature |
IC Markets
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BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 77 |
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In the IC Markets vs BlackBull Markets comparison, neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer trading via cryptocurrency CFDs.
IC Markets supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA (Visa/Mastercard info not provided), while BlackBull Markets supports ACH/SEPA, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not PayPal (Visa/Mastercard info not provided).
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 | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 77 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Regulation | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 83 | 77 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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) | No | 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) | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7435 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 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 | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.8 | 1.16 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.72 | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 32 | 109 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 32 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IC Markets | 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 | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IC Markets Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 83 | 77 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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