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.
Plus500 and BlackBull Markets are online brokers with different profiles. Plus500, founded in 2008, is publicly traded, while BlackBull Markets, founded in 2014, is privately held. Neither broker is a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 holds a Trust Score of 99/99 (highly trusted), whereas BlackBull Markets scores 77/99 (average risk based on the 70–79 range).
Regulation also sets them apart. Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, while BlackBull Markets holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses (as defined by ForexBrokers.com, Tier-1 is considered highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted). Traders comparing safety and oversight may favor the broader licensing footprint at Plus500, while those considering BlackBull Markets should weigh its single Tier-1 license against their own comfort with regulatory coverage.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, BlackBull Markets comes out ahead of Plus500 for most traders. BlackBull Markets is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees, while Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars and ranks #26 out of 36. In simple terms, BlackBull’s pricing is closer to the industry average, while Plus500’s costs are a bit higher than average.
At Plus500, the main cost is the spread, and the EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is on the pricey side compared with many brokers. Plus500 does not offer retail discounts, though professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. BlackBull Markets offers different pricing depending on the account you choose: the Standard account has no commission but wider spreads, the Prime account has lower spreads and a commission of $3 per side ($6 round turn), and the ECN Institutional account is aimed at larger active traders with even lower commission rates.
For traders focused on overall value, BlackBull Markets is usually the better pick, especially with its Prime account, which had an all-in EUR/USD cost of about 0.76 pips based on March 2024 data. Plus500 can still work for traders who want a simple pricing setup, but its spreads are generally higher, making it less competitive on fees.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.16 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | 0.76 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Plus500 vs BlackBull Markets for range of investments, both brokers give traders access to forex trading, stock CFDs, and cryptocurrency CFDs, while also allowing clients to buy real shares on U.S. and international exchanges. Plus500 offers 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, which is a solid selection for many retail traders. BlackBull Markets goes further with 26,000 tradeable symbols and 72 forex pairs, giving it a much wider choice overall. BlackBull Markets also offers copy trading, while Plus500 does not.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments category, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #16 out of 36 brokers, while BlackBull Markets earns a full 5 stars and ranks #7. If you want a broker with a larger market selection and extra features like copy trading, BlackBull Markets has the edge. If you prefer a simpler platform with a still-strong list of available investments, Plus500 remains a good option.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 72 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). 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.
Plus500 and BlackBull Markets both give traders a free demo account and a web-based platform, so each broker makes it easy to practice and trade without downloading software. Plus500 stands out for its own in-house platform, which is simple to use and built for traders who want a straightforward browser experience. BlackBull Markets, by contrast, does not offer a proprietary platform but gives traders more platform choice overall, including Windows desktop access, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5.
When it comes to trading tools, BlackBull Markets has the edge for active traders who want extras like copy trading and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Plus500 does not offer those features, but it still earns a stronger overall score for Trading Platforms and Tools, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #14 out of 36 brokers. BlackBull Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26, making Plus500 the better pick for platform simplicity, while BlackBull Markets is better suited to traders who want MT4, MT5, desktop software, and more hands-on tools.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 109 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and BlackBull Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock or forex price alerts and watchlist syncing between the app and online account. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts, which can help with basic technical analysis on the go. For traders who want a wider set of chart tools, Plus500 stands out with 115 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at BlackBull Markets.
There are a few differences that may matter depending on how you trade. BlackBull Markets’ app automatically saves chart drawings, while Plus500 does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers, while BlackBull Markets is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29. Overall, Plus500 appears to offer a more feature-rich mobile trading experience, while BlackBull Markets still covers the essentials well.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 and BlackBull Markets both give traders useful market research features, including daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking major global events. Neither broker offers forex news from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and neither includes market research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. Both also earn a strong 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research, showing that each platform provides solid help for traders who want basic market updates and event tracking.
When it comes to extra research tools, the two brokers differ. Plus500 includes Trading Central tools such as Technical Analytics, while BlackBull Markets does not. BlackBull Markets, however, offers Autochartist, which Plus500 does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s Research rankings, Plus500 places slightly ahead at #16 out of 36 brokers, compared with BlackBull Markets at #17 out of 36. Overall, the research offering is very similar, with each broker standing out in different areas.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning tools, Plus500 and BlackBull Markets are closely matched. Both brokers offer more than 10 forex or CFD education pieces, run online client webinars at least once a month, and provide at least 10 beginner videos as well as 10 advanced videos. Each also earns a 4.5-star Education rating, so new traders can expect a solid range of lessons, videos, and live sessions to help build trading knowledge.
There is only a small difference between the two in ForexBrokers.com’s Education rankings. Plus500 places #27 out of 36 brokers, while BlackBull Markets ranks slightly higher at #25. For beginners comparing online broker education, both platforms offer similar support, but BlackBull Markets has a slight edge in the overall ranking.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 Plus500 is better than BlackBull Markets. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #11, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #22.
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 | 77 |
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In a Plus500 vs BlackBull Markets comparison, neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading for traders seeking crypto exposure without owning the underlying asset.
Comparing online brokers Plus500 and BlackBull Markets: Plus500 supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA, whereas BlackBull Markets offers ACH/SEPA, Skrill, and bank wires but not PayPal.
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 | 77 | |
| 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 | 77 | |
| 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 | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 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) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 72 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). 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) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.16 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 109 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Plus500 Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 77 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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