Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of BlackBull Markets vs IFC 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.
BlackBull Markets, established in 2014, is a non-bank online broker that isn't publicly traded. It holds a Tier-1 license, indicating a high level of trust, helping it achieve a Trust Score of 78 out of 99, which places it within the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. This broker provides clients with a balance of credibility and experience, supported by a decade of market presence.
IFC Markets, founded in 2006, also operates as a non-bank entity and is not listed on any stock exchange. Although it doesn't have a Tier-1 license, it possesses a Tier-2 license, marking it as a trusted broker, with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 73. With a longer history than BlackBull Markets, IFC Markets remains a viable choice for users seeking a trusted broker that has stood the test of time.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
If you’re comparing commissions and fees, BlackBull Markets tends to deliver lower all-in trading costs than IFC Markets on popular pairs like EUR/USD—especially with BlackBull’s Prime account. In March 2024, the Prime account averaged a 0.16-pip spread; once you add the $3 per side ($6 round turn) commission, the effective cost was about 0.76 pips. By contrast, IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, which is higher than the 1.08-pip industry average. IFC’s new ECN account narrows that gap with an effective 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides. For commissions and fees, BlackBull Markets is rated 4.5/5 stars and ranked #19 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 4/5 stars and ranked #40 out of 63.
BlackBull Markets offers three account types: Standard (commission-free, no minimum deposit, but wider spreads), Prime (lower spreads with a $2,000 minimum and $3 per side commission), and ECN Institutional (for larger balances with a $20,000 minimum and $2 per side commission). IFC Markets counters with no inactivity fees and active trader discounts that can help frequent traders reduce costs. If you value the lowest all-in spreads and can meet a deposit minimum, BlackBull’s Prime account is compelling; if you want simpler pricing with perks like no inactivity fees, IFC Markets may appeal—especially if you qualify for its ECN pricing.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.71 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing the range of investments at BlackBull Markets vs IFC Markets: both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot, offer copy trading, and provide cryptocurrency CFDs (but neither lets you buy actual crypto). Where they diverge is scale. BlackBull Markets lists about 26,000 tradeable symbols and 72 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers around 630 symbols and 49 pairs, giving BlackBull a much larger menu of markets and currency pairs.
For exchange-traded securities, BlackBull Markets lets clients buy real shares on U.S. exchanges and on international markets, whereas IFC Markets offers real shares on international exchanges only (no access to U.S. stocks like Apple). Reflecting this breadth, ForexBrokers.com rates BlackBull Markets 5 stars and ranks it 6th out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments; IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars and ranks 44th out of 63. If you want the widest selection and access to U.S. shares, BlackBull Markets stands out; if you’re fine with a smaller lineup without U.S. stocks, IFC Markets covers the essentials.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
BlackBull Markets vs IFC Markets: both brokers check the key boxes for everyday traders. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, plus Windows desktop and web platforms with MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) support. Copy trading is available at both, and you can place orders directly from charts. These shared features make it easy to get started, test ideas safely, and trade on the go or from a PC.
The main platform difference is that IFC Markets also provides its own proprietary (in‑house) trading platform, while BlackBull Markets does not. For Trading Platforms and Tools, both earn 4 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 rankings, BlackBull Markets is placed #31 out of 63 brokers, and IFC Markets is #37. Details like the exact number of chart indicators and watchlist fields weren’t specified, but if you want an in-house platform option, IFC Markets has it; if you prefer a familiar MetaTrader setup with copy trading and demo access, both brokers fit the bill.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| 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) | 109 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
BlackBull Markets and IFC Markets both deliver capable mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each supports stock and forex price alerts, synced watchlists between mobile and your online account, and charting with 30 technical indicators. You can draw trendlines on charts in both apps, and any drawings or notes are saved automatically.
Both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. The main difference is their standing in third‑party rankings: according to ForexBrokers.com, BlackBull Markets ranks 33rd out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while IFC Markets ranks 53rd. If you value the same on-the-go tools but prefer a higher industry ranking, BlackBull Markets has a slight edge; otherwise, their mobile feature sets are closely matched.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
BlackBull Markets vs IFC Markets: both brokers publish daily market commentary and offer an economic calendar with upcoming events. Each also includes a sentiment tool that shows the share of long vs. short positions. Neither streams premium forex news from Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and neither provides tools from Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. The big difference is Autochartist: BlackBull Markets integrates Autochartist for pattern and signal screening, while IFC Markets does not.
These features are reflected in ratings. ForexBrokers.com rates BlackBull Markets 4 out of 5 for research and ranks it 18th out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 out of 5 and ranks 41st. If you want built-in automated chart scanning alongside daily commentary and an events calendar, BlackBull has the edge. If you only need the basics with sentiment and a calendar, IFC Markets keeps pace.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing BlackBull Markets and IFC Markets, both brokers deliver forex and CFD education that meets the 10-piece benchmark, including sizable on-demand libraries. Each offers at least 10 beginner-focused videos plus 10 advanced videos, so you can move from basics to more advanced topics at your own pace.
The main difference is live training: BlackBull Markets runs client webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not. Reflecting this, BlackBull earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #29 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, edging IFC Markets’ 3.5-star score and #30 ranking. If you want ongoing live sessions to reinforce what you learn, BlackBull has the advantage; if you’re fine with self-paced videos, either broker can work.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 BlackBull Markets is better than IFC Markets. BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
BlackBull Markets is a plain-vanilla MetaTrader broker with a growing range of products and support for a handful of third-party social copy trading platforms.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
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IFC Markets
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 78 | 73 |
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Online brokers BlackBull Markets and IFC Markets do not allow buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing BlackBull Markets vs IFC Markets: neither supports ACH/SEPA or PayPal, both support bank wire transfers, BlackBull Markets additionally supports Skrill while IFC Markets does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 78 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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). |
| Cost | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.71 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Tools | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 109 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | BlackBull Markets | IFC 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 | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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