Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers and BlackBull Markets, regulatory information plays a crucial role. Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers holds a top-tier Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, showcasing high trust and credibility. As a publicly traded company, Interactive Brokers boasts 9 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, reinforcing its strong regulatory standing. Despite not being a bank, Interactive Brokers' extensive licensing provides clients with confidence in its security and reliability.
In contrast, BlackBull Markets, established in 2014, holds a Trust Score rating of 78 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating an average risk level. While it is not publicly traded, BlackBull Markets operates under 1 Tier-1 license and does not have any Tier-2 licenses. Like Interactive Brokers, it is not a bank, but its fewer licenses and lower trust score suggest a different level of regulatory assurance compared to its competitor. This distinction helps potential investors understand the varying degrees of safety and trust these brokers offer.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Interactive Brokers offers competitive forex trading fees, although determining an exact comparison is challenging due to the lack of published average spreads. Nevertheless, the EUR/USD spread in Q3 2024 was about 0.19 pips at Interactive Brokers, with an all-in cost of 0.59 pips including commission. The broker charges a commission starting at 0.2 basis points of the trade value in U.S. dollars, with discounts for high volume traders. Interactive Brokers' minimum charge per trade is $2 per side, which may render smaller trades relatively costly. This firm receives a strong five-star rating for commissions and fees from ForexBrokers.com, ranking second out of 63 brokers.
In contrast, BlackBull Markets' trading costs are average and depend on the chosen account type. The best option for reduced spreads is the Prime account, offering an average EUR/USD spread of 0.16 with a total cost of 0.76 pips after including the $6 per 10,000 traded commission. The Standard account is commission-free with higher spreads and no deposit minimum, while the ECN Institutional account offers competitive commissions for substantial traders, with a $20,000 deposit. BlackBull Markets is rated at 4.5 stars for commissions and fees, standing 18th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
Both brokers excel in their offerings but cater to different trading appetites. Interactive Brokers is ideal for those executing large volumes, given its discounted rates and five-star rating. Meanwhile, BlackBull Markets provides diverse account types suitable for various trading strategies, receiving a respectable 4.5-star rating. As traders evaluate their options, these factors, as well as each broker's rankings, could play a pivotal role in decision-making.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.71 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.71 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Interactive Brokers and BlackBull Markets in terms of available investment options, both platforms excel in offering a wide range of choices with top ratings. Interactive Brokers provides access to 8500 tradeable symbols, including 90 forex pairs, while BlackBull Markets boasts an impressive 26000 tradeable symbols, albeit with fewer forex pairs at 72. Forex trading is available as both CFD and spot contracts on both platforms. In addition to forex, Interactive Brokers and BlackBull Markets allow clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, making it possible to purchase shares of companies like Apple and Vodafone. Both brokers also support the trading of cryptocurrency derivatives, though only Interactive Brokers offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
One area where BlackBull Markets sets itself apart is the availability of copy trading, a feature not offered by Interactive Brokers. Despite this, Interactive Brokers claims the top spot for Range of Investments, according to ForexBrokers.com, while BlackBull Markets ranks sixth in the same category. With both platforms rated 5 stars for their investment offerings, traders can choose either Interactive Brokers or BlackBull Markets with confidence depending on their specific needs and trading strategies.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 72 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
Interactive Brokers and BlackBull Markets both provide a range of trading platforms and tools catering to different needs. Interactive Brokers stands out with its proprietary platform developed in-house, offering a comprehensive Windows-based desktop platform and a web-based trading option. Traders can simulate trades using their free virtual demo account. Known for its advanced charting capabilities, Interactive Brokers provides 85 drawing tools with the option to trade directly from stock charts. However, it lacks support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and does not offer copy trading. With an impressive 659 columns for watch lists, it ranks high in trading features, earning a 5-star rating from ForexBrokers.com and standing 3rd among 63 brokers for trading platforms and tools.
In contrast, BlackBull Markets is highlighted by its support for third-party platforms such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are popular among forex traders. It also offers a web-based trading platform and Windows-based desktop download options, along with a free virtual demo account. While BlackBull doesn't have its own proprietary platform, it supports copy trading through ZuluTrade. BlackBull's offerings in charting tools include 60 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from charts, though it offers only six columns for watch lists. With a 4-star rating and a ForexBrokers.com rank of 29th, it provides solid options for traders seeking familiar third-party platforms and copy trading features.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 109 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 60 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and BlackBull Markets both offer comprehensive mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, providing a range of features for on-the-go trading. Both apps deliver price alerts and sync watchlists across devices, ensuring that your account changes are reflected seamlessly. They also enable you to draw trendlines and view charts across multiple time frames, like daily or intraday. However, Interactive Brokers offers a more extensive array of technical studies, with 97 options compared to BlackBull Markets' 30. This could be a significant advantage for those who rely heavily on technical analysis. When it comes to saving drawings, BlackBull Markets leads with auto-save capabilities, whereas Interactive Brokers does not offer this feature.
Both platforms allow users to set up watchlists with real-time quotes, enriching the trading experience. Despite these similarities, user ratings and rankings set them apart: Interactive Brokers has a higher mobile app rating of five stars and secures the #4 spot out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. BlackBull Markets maintains a strong presence with a four-star rating but ranks at #31. For traders who value charting tools and high-rated app performances, Interactive Brokers may be more appealing, while BlackBull Markets offers some unique advantages like auto-saving chart drawings. Overall, both apps cater well to traders looking for flexibility and comprehensive features in their mobile trading solutions.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Interactive Brokers and BlackBull Markets both provide daily market commentary and economic calendars, but there are notable differences in their research offerings. Interactive Brokers stands out with its access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, whereas BlackBull Markets does not provide such premium news sources. For traders who rely on technical analysis, BlackBull Markets offers tools from Autochartist, while Interactive Brokers offers tools from Trading Central. Both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools to assist traders in making informed decisions.
The research capabilities of Interactive Brokers are comprehensive, with additional resources like TipRanks and Acuity Trading, which are not available at BlackBull Markets. As a result, Interactive Brokers has earned a higher research rating of 5 stars and is ranked #3 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, BlackBull Markets holds a solid 4-star rating and is ranked #18, making it a respectable choice but less extensive in research tools compared to Interactive Brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Interactive Brokers and BlackBull Markets provide extensive offerings designed to help newcomers gain confidence in trading. Both platforms feature over 10 educational pieces on forex and CFDs, providing a range of articles, videos, and archived webinars. They also hold regular monthly webinars, contributing to a solid foundation for learning. Added to these, both brokers maintain a searchable archive of past webinars for easy access to previous knowledge sessions. New traders can also find a wealth of beginner-specific videos to better understand trading strategies and techniques, ensuring they are well-prepared for their trading journey.
For more advanced education, Interactive Brokers and BlackBull Markets continue catering to traders' needs with over 10 advanced educational videos dedicated to the seasoned trader. They both offer investor dictionaries with comprehensive definitions of more than 50 terms to improve understanding. When ranked by ForexBrokers.com on educational quality, Interactive Brokers is esteemed with a 5-star rating and ranks 3rd out of 63 brokers, setting a high standard for educational resources. In comparison, BlackBull Markets holds a 4-star rating and ranks 29th, indicating a respectable but slightly lesser offering in the educational materials provided to clients.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Interactive Brokers is better than BlackBull Markets. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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BlackBull Markets
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 |
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Interactive Brokers allows direct purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, whereas BlackBull Markets does not; however, both platforms offer cryptocurrency derivatives, enabling traders to engage in crypto markets without buying the actual assets.
Interactive Brokers stands out by offering ACH and SEPA transfers along with bank wire options for deposits and withdrawals, while BlackBull Markets, offering bank wires, distinguishes itself by accepting Skrill and Visa or Mastercard payments, but lacks ACH and SEPA transfer options.
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 | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 72 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.71 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.71 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 109 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 60 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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