Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of BlackBull Markets vs IronFX, 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, BlackBull Markets and IronFX offer distinct profiles. Founded in 2014, BlackBull Markets holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 78, which places it within the average risk category. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, BlackBull Markets benefits from having one highly trusted Tier-1 license, enhancing its credibility for potential investors.
On the other hand, IronFX, established in 2010, boasts a higher Trust Score of 83, indicating it is a trusted broker. Like BlackBull Markets, IronFX is neither publicly traded nor a bank. However, IronFX stands out by possessing three Tier-1 licenses, suggesting a stronger regulatory framework. These licenses may offer clients greater confidence in IronFX's operations and protections.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing BlackBull Markets and IronFX in terms of commissions and fees, BlackBull Markets emerges as a more competitive option for traders looking at spread costs. With a 4.5-star rating, BlackBull Markets is ranked #18 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees. Trading costs at BlackBull Markets are average for the industry, but vary depending on the chosen account type. The Prime account, for instance, has an attractive average spread of 0.16 on the EUR/USD pair, leading to an all-in cost of 0.76 after a per-side commission of 0.3 pips or $6 per 10,000 traded. This account requires a $2,000 minimum deposit but offers lower spreads compared to the commission-free Standard account. Meanwhile, the ECN Institutional account targets active traders with a $20,000 deposit and offers reduced commissions of $4 round turn.
IronFX, on the other hand, is rated 4 stars for its commissions and fees and holds a #46 rank, highlighting room for improvement in its pricing structure. The typical spread for IronFX’s Standard variable spread account is 1.8 pips, without specified date ranges, and charges vary with different account types. For example, the zero fixed-spread account offers a zero starting spread but includes a steep $18 per lot commission. Additionally, spreads can increase to 3 pips overnight, marking IronFX's offering as potentially more costly for traders.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the range of investments offered by BlackBull Markets and IronFX, it's clear that both platforms cater to forex traders by allowing trading through CFDs or spot contracts. However, BlackBull Markets distinguishes itself with a vastly broader selection of tradeable symbols, boasting an impressive 26,000 options compared to IronFX's 340. Their forex offerings are slightly different, with IronFX providing 83 tradeable forex pairs, which is just a bit more than BlackBull Markets' 72. Notably, BlackBull Markets excels in offering actual exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, a feature that IronFX does not provide.
Both brokers accommodate cryptocurrency trading through derivatives, while neither supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Additionally, they offer copy trading services to enhance investment strategies. Overall, BlackBull Markets attains a higher rating of five stars for its expansive range of investments, ranking 6th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, IronFX receives a 3.5-star rating and stands at 51st in the same category, indicating a more limited investment offering.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 83 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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.
When considering trading platforms and tools, both BlackBull Markets and IronFX provide a variety of features, though there are differences to note. Both brokers offer simulated paper trading with free virtual demo accounts, which is particularly helpful for newcomers. Neither of them provides a proprietary platform but instead supports popular options like MetaTrader 4 (MT4). BlackBull Markets goes a step further by also offering MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which IronFX does not. Both brokers facilitate trading through Windows-based desktop applications and web-based platforms, ensuring versatile access depending on your preference. Additionally, BlackBull Markets and IronFX both support copy trading; however, only BlackBull Markets offers ZuluTrade as part of its suite, broadening opportunities for social and automated trading enthusiasts.
When focusing on charting tools, BlackBull Markets offers a significantly wider range with 60 drawing tools compared to IronFX’s 15, potentially providing more flexibility and precision for technical analysis. Both brokers allow users to execute trades directly from stock charts, enhancing trading efficiency. For organizing your trades, IronFX provides a slight edge in watch list organization with seven columns compared to BlackBull Markets' six. According to ForexBrokers.com, BlackBull Markets receives a slightly higher rating of 4 stars for its trading platforms and tools, compared to IronFX’s 3.5 stars, placing BlackBull Markets 29th out of 63 brokers in this category, while IronFX ranks at 61st. This suggests that while both brokers have strengths, BlackBull Markets might offer a better array of tools overall.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 109 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 60 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
BlackBull Markets and IronFX both provide iPhone and Android apps, ensuring mobile trading convenience for users. Both platforms offer key features like stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Additionally, they support viewing multiple time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday, and auto-save user drawings on charts. Each app offers 30 technical studies for chart analysis, and they both allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes.
However, a critical difference lies in the syncing of watchlist symbols. BlackBull Markets enables watchlist syncing between its mobile app and online account, allowing seamless changes between the two, whereas IronFX lacks this feature. In terms of user ratings, BlackBull Markets scores four out of five stars, higher than IronFX's 3.5 stars. Notably, in the Mobile Trading Apps category on ForexBrokers.com, BlackBull Markets ranks 31st out of 63 brokers, while IronFX places at 62nd, indicating a stronger overall performance for BlackBull Markets.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
BlackBull Markets and IronFX both provide daily market commentary, keeping traders informed on market trends. However, when it comes to forex news from respected sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, IronFX takes the lead by offering this service, while BlackBull Markets does not. On the other hand, BlackBull Markets supports its users with tools from Autochartist, a company known for providing technical and fundamental research tools, whereas IronFX lacks this feature.
IronFX provides its clients with access to Trading Central, offering technical analytics, which is not available with BlackBull Markets. However, BlackBull Markets compensates with a sentiment-based trading tool to analyze market positions. While both brokers offer economic calendars, neither provides research tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. Despite these differences, both brokers earn a respectable 4-star rating for research, with BlackBull Markets ranked slightly higher at #18 compared to IronFX's #28 on ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing BlackBull Markets and IronFX regarding educational resources for beginners, both brokers offer a solid foundation. They each provide a collection of over 10 educational materials that include articles, videos, and archived webinars on forex and CFD trading. However, BlackBull Markets distinguishes itself by hosting monthly live webinars, whereas IronFX does not offer live sessions for clients. Both companies maintain searchable archives of their previous webinars, facilitating easy access to past educational content.
In terms of video content, BlackBull Markets and IronFX both supply a variety of beginner-friendly educational videos. Advanced traders might find BlackBull Markets more beneficial as it also provides advanced educational videos, unlike IronFX. When it comes to investor dictionaries, both platforms offer a glossary with over 50 trading terms. Despite these offerings, both platforms earned a 4-star rating for education, although BlackBull Markets ranks higher at #29 compared to IronFX at #44, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 BlackBull Markets is better than IronFX. BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
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
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 83 |
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Both BlackBull Markets and IronFX do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both BlackBull Markets and IronFX do not offer ACH or SEPA transfers, nor PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, but they both support Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire transfers as convenient options for managing account funds.
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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
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| Regulation | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 78 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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 | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 109 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 60 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | BlackBull Markets | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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