Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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 IG and BlackBull Markets, key differences in trust and regulatory backing become apparent. IG, established in 1974, is a publicly traded firm that doubles as a bank, enhancing its credibility. It boasts a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating its excellent reliability. This high level of trust is supported by IG's holding of 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, marking it as a highly trusted organization globally.
On the other hand, BlackBull Markets, which was founded in 2014, is privately held and not a bank. It has a Trust Score of 78, placing it in the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. In terms of regulatory licenses, BlackBull Markets holds 1 Tier-1 license, signaling a significantly lower level of regulatory assurance compared to IG. These differences highlight the contrast in the level of trust each broker provides to potential clients.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG and BlackBull Markets both deliver competitive pricing, but they take different paths. IG earns 5/5 stars and ranks #7 of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while BlackBull Markets earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #9 of 63. On EUR/USD, BlackBull’s Prime account posts an all-in cost around 0.76 pips (spread 0.16 plus $3-per-side commission), which is sharp for a commission account. IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) pricing averages about 0.82 pips all-in based on July 2023 data (0.62 spread plus commission), and qualified high-volume traders can push costs even lower with rebates.
IG offers two main routes. Its spread-only CFD account averaged 0.69 pips during the main session in July 2023 (0.98 pips across all sessions), with spreads widening during thin liquidity. For active traders, the DMA-based Forex Direct account (minimum £1,000) uses tiered commissions: roughly $60 per million at the base tier, falling to $10 per million per side for very high volumes. Using July 2023 averages, that works out to about 0.82 pips all-in on EUR/USD. Professionals in eligible regions can also access an active-trader rebate program: 10% off spreads above £50M monthly volume and up to 20% above £300M, which can drop effective costs toward about 0.60 pips in example scenarios.
BlackBull Markets’ pricing depends on account type. The Standard account is commission-free with higher spreads and no minimum deposit. The Prime account requires $2,000 and adds a $3-per-side commission with a low average EUR/USD spread of 0.16 (March 2024), delivering an estimated 0.76 pips all-in—often the best value for cost-focused traders. The ECN Institutional account targets high-volume clients with a $20,000 minimum and lower commissions ($2 per side, $4 round turn). Overall costs sit around the industry average, but the Prime account stands out for tight day-to-day pricing.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.16 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.76 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG and BlackBull Markets both support forex trading as CFDs or spot. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols with 97 forex pairs, while BlackBull Markets offers 26,000 symbols and 72 forex pairs. Another difference: BlackBull Markets supports copy trading, whereas IG does not.
Both brokers let you buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone in London). For crypto, IG lets you buy actual coins and trade crypto CFDs, while BlackBull Markets offers crypto only via CFDs. Each earns 5 stars for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com; IG is ranked #4 out of 63 brokers, and BlackBull Markets is #7.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 72 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
IG vs BlackBull Markets: both brokers offer a free demo account for paper trading, Windows-based desktop platforms, and web-based platforms. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and both let you place trades directly from charts. IG also provides its own proprietary platform, while BlackBull Markets sticks to third-party platforms.
According to ForexBrokers.com, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while BlackBull Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #25. Pick IG if you want an in-house platform alongside MT4/MT5; pick BlackBull Markets if copy trading is important to you, since BlackBull offers it and IG does not.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 109 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and BlackBull Markets both deliver mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app includes price alerts and watchlists that sync with your online account, so changes carry across devices. Both apps also let you draw trendlines on charts, and they auto-save your drawings for next time.
For charting depth and recognition, IG pulls ahead. IG’s mobile app offers 33 technical studies versus 30 at BlackBull Markets. IG is rated 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while BlackBull Markets holds 4 stars and ranks #27. If you want the most polished mobile experience, choose IG; if you just need all the essentials, BlackBull Markets still delivers.
| Feature |
IG
|
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 | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and BlackBull Markets both cover the basics for market research: daily commentary, a global economic calendar, Autochartist pattern tools, and a sentiment gauge that shows long vs. short positioning. The difference is depth. IG adds premium forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and it integrates extra third‑party research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). BlackBull Markets does not offer those premium news feeds or TipRanks/Acuity. Neither broker includes Trading Central.
Ratings reflect that gap: IG earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while BlackBull Markets scores 4 stars and ranks #16. Pick IG if you want richer third‑party insights and live news alongside core tools. Choose BlackBull Markets if you’re satisfied with essential research features without the premium extras.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG vs BlackBull Markets: both brokers deliver beginner-friendly forex and CFD education. Each offers at least 10+ learning pieces, monthly client webinars, and a full set of videos for all levels (10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos). Where they differ is overall quality and recognition: IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while BlackBull Markets holds 4 stars and ranks #24.
If education is your top priority as a new trader, IG is the stronger pick thanks to its higher rating and ranking. BlackBull Markets still provides plenty for newcomers, with regular webinars and clear beginner videos to build core skills. Either way, both platforms give first-time traders structured content and ongoing sessions to learn the basics of forex and CFD trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
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 IG is better than BlackBull Markets. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #22.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 |
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Comparing online brokers IG and BlackBull Markets: IG allows investors to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade crypto CFDs, whereas BlackBull Markets supports cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not offer direct, delivered coin purchases.
Comparing online broker IG to BlackBull Markets for deposits and withdrawals: IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wires, while BlackBull Markets offers Skrill and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Regulation | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 72 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.16 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 109 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | 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 | 33 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | 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 | IG Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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