Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of BlackBull Markets vs ThinkMarkets, 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.
BlackBull Markets, established in 2014, and ThinkMarkets, founded in 2010, are both notable players in the online brokerage space. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. When it comes to regulatory oversight, BlackBull Markets holds one Tier-1 license, which offers a high level of trust. However, it lacks any Tier-2 licenses, giving it a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 78, categorizing it as an average risk broker.
ThinkMarkets, on the other hand, has a stronger regulatory standing with five Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, contributing to a more impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 92. This positions ThinkMarkets as a highly trusted broker by these ratings. While BlackBull Markets offers a credible option for traders, ThinkMarkets appears to provide more robust regulatory assurances, making it potentially more appealing to those placing a premium on regulatory trust.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of two online brokers, BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets, key differences emerge. BlackBull Markets is rated 4.5 stars and ranks 18th out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com. Their trading costs align with the industry average and vary across three account types. The Prime account offers a competitive average spread of 0.16 for the EUR/USD, translating to an all-in cost of 0.76 pips after accounting for the per-side commission of 0.3 pips or $6 per 10,000 traded. While the Standard account is commission-free with higher spreads, the Prime account, favored for its lower spreads, requires a $2,000 minimum deposit. Additionally, the ECN Institutional account targets active traders with deposits starting at $20,000, offering a commission rate of $2 per side.
In contrast, ThinkMarkets, which does not provide specific average spread data, is rated four stars and ranks 47th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. While further specific fee details for ThinkMarkets are not disclosed, the available ratings suggest that their fee structure might not be as competitive as BlackBull Markets in this category. The absence of detailed spread information can be a consideration for traders who prioritize transparency and cost-effectiveness in their trading decisions.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | 1.1 |
| 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 BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets for their range of investments, BlackBull Markets offers a significantly broader portfolio. With up to 26,000 tradeable symbols, including 72 forex pairs, it provides an impressive selection for traders. This diversity is complemented by their ability to offer exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing clients to invest in iconic companies like Apple and Vodafone. Moreover, BlackBull Markets supports forex trading as both CFDs and spot contracts, catering to different trading preferences. Additionally, they offer copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives, though not the actual cryptocurrencies, rounding out their extensive offerings.
On the other hand, ThinkMarkets provides 4,000 tradeable symbols, which, while substantial, is more modest in comparison. Of these, 46 are forex pairs available as CFDs or spot contracts. Though ThinkMarkets does not offer exchange traded securities on U.S. exchanges, they do provide access to international markets like the London Stock Exchange. Similar to BlackBull, ThinkMarkets includes copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives, ensuring a diverse range but slightly less expansive selection. Consequently, BlackBull Markets earns a better rating of five stars for Range of Investments compared to ThinkMarkets' 4.5 stars, further highlighted by their higher rank by ForexBrokers.com in this category.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 4000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 comparing the trading platforms and tools of BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets, both brokers provide numerous features that cater to different trading needs. BlackBull Markets offers a demo account for beginners to practice trading with simulated funds, similar to ThinkMarkets. However, ThinkMarkets stands out by providing its own proprietary platform, enhancing its unique appeal. Both brokers offer Windows-based and web-based trading platforms, along with popular MetaTrader versions MT4 and MT5. They also allow for copy trading, but BlackBull Markets extends this further with the additional option of ZuluTrade integration.
Charting tools differ between the two brokers, with BlackBull Markets offering an impressive selection of 60 drawing tools compared to ThinkMarkets' 15. Conversely, ThinkMarkets compensates with more watch list fields, allowing for 15 columns compared to BlackBull's 6. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, accommodating active traders. In terms of overall trading tools, both received a solid four-star rating. Ranking-wise, ThinkMarkets edges slightly ahead at #28 compared to BlackBull Markets at #29 for Trading Platforms and Tools according to ForexBrokers.com. This positions ThinkMarkets as the more comprehensive choice, while BlackBull Markets is a solid option for those seeking broader compatibility with ZuluTrade.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 15 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets offer impressive features that cater to traders using iPhone and Android devices. Each app provides the convenience of price alerts and the capability to draw trendlines on stock or forex charts, which is vital for active traders. Users can explore multiple time frames on both platforms, ensuring they have access to flexible chart views. Additionally, the apps auto-save drawings, preventing users from losing their valuable chart analyses. However, there is a significant difference in watchlist functionality. While BlackBull Markets allows seamless watchlist syncing with the user's online account, ThinkMarkets does not share this capability. This may be a consideration for those who rely heavily on consistent updates across their trading environments.
In terms of charting tools, ThinkMarkets stands out by offering a total of 94 technical studies, significantly surpassing BlackBull Markets' 30 available studies. This makes ThinkMarkets more appealing to users who require a broader range of technical analysis tools. Both brokers provide the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, keeping traders informed of market movements. When it comes to user satisfaction, both BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets score an equal 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. However, according to ForexBrokers.com, ThinkMarkets holds a higher rank at #20, compared to BlackBull Markets' #31 position out of 63 brokers. This difference in ranking may guide traders in choosing an app that better matches their needs.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 94 |
| 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 ThinkMarkets both provide daily market commentary, offering traders valuable insight into daily financial trends. However, when it comes to accessing forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, ThinkMarkets shines by providing this service, unlike BlackBull Markets. Conversely, BlackBull Markets supports traders with Autochartist tools for technical or fundamental analysis, a feature not available through ThinkMarkets. Both brokers offer sentiment-based trading tools, providing traders with a clear view of market positions across various currency pairs. Moreover, neither broker provides market research tools from TipRanks, and while ThinkMarkets leverages Acuity Trading's tools, BlackBull Markets does not.
BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets feature comprehensive economic calendars, keeping traders informed of global economic events. Despite some differences in research tool offerings, BlackBull Markets fares better overall in research ratings. It holds a 4-star rating and ranks #18 among 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets holds a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars and ranks #50. These rankings highlight BlackBull Markets' stronger position in providing research resources, aiding traders in making informed decisions in the competitive world of online trading.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners interested in learning about forex and CFDs trading, both BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets offer a good selection of educational resources. Each platform provides over 10 educational pieces focusing on forex and CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Additionally, both brokers conduct monthly online webinars to facilitate learning. Recordings of these webinars are also available in a searchable archive, aiding users in accessing past material conveniently.
When it comes to more specific educational offerings, BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets cater to both beginners and advanced traders with over 10 dedicated videos for each skill level. Both platforms also furnish an investor dictionary featuring definitions for at least 50 key investing terms, which is a useful resource for any new trader. Despite these similarities, BlackBull Markets edges ahead with a 4-star education rating and is ranked 29th among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ThinkMarkets holds a slightly lower 3.5-star rating and ranks at 52nd place, making BlackBull Markets a slightly more appealing option for educational resources.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 BlackBull Markets is better than ThinkMarkets. BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24, while ThinkMarkets finished with an overall rank of #27.
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
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 92 |
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Both BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the service to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency.
While both BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets do not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, they both offer convenient banking options through Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers.
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 | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Regulation | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 78 | 92 | |
| 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 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 4000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 15 | |
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 94 | |
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ThinkMarkets | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 92 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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