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 BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets for commissions and fees, it's essential to consider the star ratings and rankings each broker has earned. BlackBull Markets has a solid reputation with a 4.5-star rating and is ranked 18th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ThinkMarkets holds a 4-star rating and is positioned at 48th place. These differences highlight the competitiveness of BlackBull Markets in terms of cost efficiency.
BlackBull Markets offers three account types, each affecting trading costs differently. The Standard account is commission-free with no minimum deposit, but it has higher spreads. For those seeking lower spread options, the Prime account presents a more economical choice with an average spread of 0.16 on EUR/USD. It requires a $2,000 minimum deposit and charges a commission of $3 per side or $6 per round turn per lot traded. For traders with significant capital, the ECN Institutional account offers competitive rates of $2 per side or $4 per round turn, with a minimum deposit of $20,000.
While specific average spread data is not readily available for ThinkMarkets, the overall comparison with BlackBull Markets suggests more appealing options for minimizing trading costs with the latter, especially for active traders. The higher ranking and star rating of BlackBull Markets reinforce its status as a cost-effective choice for traders who prioritize competitive fees and lower all-in trading costs.
| 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 it comes to the range of investments, BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets both offer a variety of trading opportunities, but with some notable differences. BlackBull Markets shines with a staggering 26,000 tradeable symbols, including 72 forex pairs, significantly more than ThinkMarkets' 4,000 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Both brokers provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and they offer cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrency. Unique to BlackBull Markets is the ability to trade exchange-listed securities in the U.S., enabling buyers to invest in companies like Apple, whereas ThinkMarkets does not provide this option.
Despite similar offerings in certain areas such as international securities and copy trading capabilities, BlackBull Markets edges out with an impressive 5-star rating for its range of investments as compared to ThinkMarkets' 4.5 stars. Furthermore, BlackBull's comprehensive offerings secured it the #6 spot in ForexBrokers.com's ranking, well ahead of ThinkMarkets at #21 out of 62 brokers. This differentiates BlackBull as a more versatile choice for traders seeking a broader spectrum of investment options.
| 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.
Both BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets cater to traders by offering a range of trading platforms with comprehensive tools, ensuring a satisfying experience. They both provide simulated trading options via free virtual demo accounts, which are great for beginners to practice without financial risk. While neither broker offers DupliTrade, they come equipped with MetaTrader 4 and 5 for advanced trading capabilities. ThinkMarkets distinguishes itself with a proprietary platform developed in-house, providing a unique touch to their service lineup, while BlackBull Markets enhances flexibility with the integration of ZuluTrade for copy trading. Both brokers offer robust web-based and Windows desktop platforms, allowing for ease of use and accessibility. When it comes to charting tools, BlackBull Markets impresses with 60 drawing tools versus ThinkMarkets' 15. Both firms enable direct trading from stock charts, illustrating their user-friendly interfaces.
The distinction between BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets also extends into customization for watch lists, where ThinkMarkets provides 15 columns compared to BlackBull Markets' 6, offering more personalization. Both companies have garnered favorable reviews for their trading platforms and tools, each rated 4 out of 5 stars. In the ForexBrokers.com ranking, ThinkMarkets is slightly ahead, securing the 28th position, while BlackBull Markets follows close behind at 29th among 62 brokers. With these considerations, potential traders can discern that choosing between BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets hinges largely on individual preferences regarding proprietary platform features and the range of trading tools offered.
| 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 for iPhone and Android, both BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets cater to traders' convenience. Users can expect stock or forex price alerts on both platforms, ensuring they stay informed about market movements. BlackBull Markets takes a step forward with its watchlist symbol syncing, meaning changes made on the mobile app sync seamlessly with the client's online account. ThinkMarkets, however, does not offer this syncing feature, which might be a consideration for those who frequently switch between devices. Both apps allow drawing trendlines on charts, viewing multiple time frames, auto-saving drawings, and creating watchlists with real-time quotes.
In terms of technical charting tools, ThinkMarkets outshines BlackBull Markets by offering 94 technical studies compared to BlackBull Markets' 30. This difference might appeal to traders seeking in-depth analytical tools. Both mobile apps have earned a solid four-star rating for their trading apps, though ThinkMarkets ranks higher at #20 compared to BlackBull Markets' #31 out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. While both apps provide essential features for mobile trading, advanced chartists may lean towards ThinkMarkets for its more extensive charting capabilities, whereas those valuing watchlist syncing might prefer BlackBull Markets.
| 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.
When comparing BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets for market research offerings, both brokers provide daily market commentary to help traders stay informed. However, ThinkMarkets sets itself apart by delivering forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, whereas BlackBull Markets does not. On the other hand, BlackBull Markets offers traders tools from Autochartist, which are not available with ThinkMarkets. For sentiment-based tools, both brokers provide features that reveal trading positions across various instruments.
While neither broker includes tools from Trading Central in their offerings, ThinkMarkets enhances its research resources with features from Acuity Trading, which are not available through BlackBull Markets. Both brokers offer economic calendars to keep traders informed of global news events. Overall, BlackBull Markets receives a stronger research rating of 4 stars compared to ThinkMarkets' 3.5 stars. On ForexBrokers.com's ranking, BlackBull Markets holds the 18th position out of 62 brokers in the research category, while ThinkMarkets is ranked at 50th.
| 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.
When comparing the educational offerings for beginners between BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets, both platforms provide a solid lineup of resources designed to guide new traders through the intricacies of forex and CFDs. BlackBull Markets excels with an educational library that includes over ten resources such as articles, videos, and recorded webinars. Additionally, they offer regular monthly webinars and maintain a searchable archive, making it easier for users to find past sessions. Meanwhile, ThinkMarkets does not lag far behind, with a similarly impressive collection of beginner-friendly content and a consistent schedule of webinars to further support their learning journey.
Both brokers provide more than ten videos specifically tailored for novices, alongside advanced content for more seasoned traders, helping users progress as they gain experience. They also include comprehensive investor dictionaries with over 50 terms, making intricate concepts more digestible. BlackBull Markets slightly edges out its competitor, receiving a four-star rating and ranking 29th out of 62 brokers for education by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ThinkMarkets holds its own with a 3.5-star rating, positioned at 52 in the same category, signifying its commitment to offering worthwhile educational tools to its users.
| 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 62 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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