Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
Founded in 2008, Plus500 has built a solid reputation as a highly trusted online broker. It boasts a top-tier Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating a high level of trustworthiness. As a publicly traded company, Plus500 is not a bank but holds an impressive six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, emphasizing its strong regulatory standing and customer confidence. This status is bolstered by its listings on a stock exchange, providing an additional layer of transparency and reliability for its clients.
In contrast, BlackBull Markets, established in 2014, presents a different profile. While not publicly traded, it holds one Tier-1 license. It has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 78 out of 99, positioning it at average risk. Despite being a relatively newer entrant in the trading arena and not a bank, BlackBull Markets aims to offer its clients a dependable trading experience but without the extensive regulatory backing seen with Plus500.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Plus500 stands with a 4.0-star rating, ranked at #25 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Although Plus500's pricing tends to be above the industry average, it lacks extra savings for retail clients but does offer cash rebates for those who qualify as Professional clients. The spread for the EUR/USD pair averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than many of its competitors.
BlackBull Markets, on the other hand, earned a slightly better rating of 4.5 stars and ranks #18 out of 63 brokers for their commissions and fees. With costs averaging around the industry norm, BlackBull Markets offers different advantages based on its three account tiers. The Prime account, a standout option, delivers a competitive total cost of 0.76 pips for EUR/USD trades, including a 0.16 pip spread and a $6 commission per 10,000 traded.
When choosing an account with BlackBull Markets, there are clear distinctions: the Standard account is commission-free but features higher spreads, requiring no minimum deposit. For traders able to deposit $2,000, the Prime account offers more competitive spreads with a $3 per side commission. For those committing $20,000 or more, the ECN Institutional account promises even lower commissions at $4 per round turn, making it an attractive choice for frequent traders.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 0.71 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.71 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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.
Plus500 and BlackBull Markets both offer a variety of investment opportunities for traders, including forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. Plus500 comes with a selection of around 5,500 tradeable symbols and offers 65 forex pairs to choose from. On the other hand, BlackBull Markets boasts an impressive array of 26,000 symbols, providing 72 forex pairs. Both platforms offer access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, allowing users to purchase shares like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Vodafone (London Stock Exchange). Though neither broker permits the direct purchase of cryptocurrencies, they both facilitate trading of cryptocurrency derivatives.
When it comes to specialized trading features, Plus500 lacks a copy trading option, whereas BlackBull Markets does provide this feature, enhancing its appeal to those interested in mimicking strategies of successful traders. Plus500 is rated at 4.5 stars for its range of investments, ranking 24th among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, BlackBull Markets achieves a 5-star rating and is ranked notably higher at 6th place. This distinction is reflective of BlackBull Markets' broad spectrum of tradeable assets and investment options that cater to diverse trader needs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 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) | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 it comes to trading platforms and tools, Plus500 and BlackBull Markets both provide unique offerings tailored to different trading preferences. Plus500 excels in offering a proprietary platform with a web-based interface but lacks a Windows-based desktop option. Traders have access to a free virtual demo account, allowing them to simulate trades without any financial risks. Plus500 also shines with a notable array of 36 drawing tools for charting, and it supports custom watch lists with up to 10 columns. Yet, it misses out on popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader and does not support copy trading or direct trading from charts. Despite these limitations, Plus500 receives a high rating of 4.5 stars out of five for its platforms and tools, securing its rank as #14 out of 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, BlackBull Markets caters to traders who prefer third-party platforms by providing access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, along with a Windows-based desktop platform and web-based trading options. It stands out with comprehensive copy trading options including ZuluTrade, offering a more communal trading experience. BlackBull Markets also provides a robust 60 drawing tools for charting and allows direct trading from the stock chart, enhancing the overall user experience. While BlackBull Markets’ watch lists accommodate six columns and do not include a proprietary platform, it still holds a respectable 4-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, ranking as #29 by ForexBrokers.com. Both brokers cater to specific needs, with Plus500 focusing on a streamlined proprietary platform and BlackBull Markets offering extensive customization through third-party integrations.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | 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) | 115 | 109 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 60 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Plus500 and BlackBull Markets, both brokers offer comprehensive tools for traders on the go. Each has iPhone and Android apps, with features such as real-time stock and forex price alerts and watchlist syncing with online accounts. Both platforms enable users to draw trendlines and view charts in various time frames, like daily, weekly, or intraday. However, Plus500 stands out with 115 technical studies for charting, offering a richer analytical environment compared to BlackBull Markets' 30 studies. While both allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, BlackBull Markets has a slight edge in convenience, thanks to its auto-save feature for chart drawings, a functionality Plus500 lacks.
Overall, Plus500's mobile app is rated higher at 4.5 stars against BlackBull Markets' 4 stars, reflecting a stronger user satisfaction. In the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 ranks #14 out of 63 brokers, while BlackBull Markets comes at #31. This rank difference highlights Plus500's broad functionality and advanced features in mobile trading, making it a potentially more appealing choice for traders seeking comprehensive mobile solutions.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 | 115 | 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.
Both Plus500 and BlackBull Markets provide daily market commentary, offering traders consistent insights into market movements. However, when it comes to additional services, the two brokers diverge. Plus500 features tools from Trading Central, providing traders with technical analytics for a deeper understanding of market trends, whilst BlackBull Markets stands out by incorporating research tools from Autochartist, which are favored for technical analysis. Each broker also equips traders with sentiment-based trading tools, displaying the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments.
Neither Plus500 nor BlackBull Markets supplies forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, and currently, neither offers market research reports from companies like TipRanks or research tools from Acuity Trading. Yet, they both provide an economic calendar, helping traders keep track of significant global news events. Ranked at #19 and #18 respectively by ForexBrokers.com in the Research category, both brokers achieve a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars, demonstrating their proficiency in offering helpful market research resources to their clients.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
In comparing the educational resources available for beginners at Plus500 and BlackBull Markets, both brokers stand out for their comprehensive offerings tailored to new traders. Plus500 meets the need for foundational knowledge by providing a wide array of over 10 educational items focused on forex and CFDs. They host regular online webinars and maintain an extensive archive of recorded webinars for easy access to previously held sessions. To aid novice traders, Plus500 also has more than 10 beginner-friendly educational videos and offers advanced educational content for more seasoned investors.
BlackBull Markets mirrors Plus500 in delivering a strong educational support system, similarly offering more than 10 pieces of educational content centered on forex and CFDs and frequent online webinars. Additionally, BlackBull Markets provides an easily searchable webinar archive and over 10 videos specifically designed for beginners. This broker also extends its educational offerings to seasoned traders with a collection of advanced educational videos. Notably, BlackBull Markets distinguishes itself by including an investor dictionary with definitions of at least 50 investing terms. Both brokers receive a 4-star rating for their educational services, with Plus500 ranked as #31 and BlackBull Markets as #29 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Plus500 is better than BlackBull Markets. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 |
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Both Plus500 and BlackBull Markets do not allow purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both Plus500 and BlackBull Markets support Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing funds, Plus500 exclusively offers PayPal, whereas neither platform provides ACH or SEPA transfers as funding methods.
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 | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 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) | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 0.71 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.71 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | 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 | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 109 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 60 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | 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 | 115 | 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 | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | 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 | Plus500 Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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