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 |
Comparing commissions and fees, BlackBull Markets earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers for this category, while ThinkMarkets scores 4/5 stars and ranks #48. BlackBull Markets’ overall trading costs are about average for the industry, with pricing that depends on the account you choose. ThinkMarkets does not provide average spread data, which makes direct, like-for-like cost comparisons harder.
At BlackBull Markets, the Standard account is commission-free with no minimum deposit, but spreads are higher. The Prime account requires a $2,000 minimum deposit and charges a $3 per side commission ($6 round turn) while delivering lower spreads; in March 2024, its average EUR/USD spread was 0.16, for an all-in cost of about 0.76 pips after commission. For high-volume traders, the ECN Institutional account requires a $20,000 minimum and reduces commissions to $2 per side ($4 round turn).
ThinkMarkets’ fee profile is rated 4/5 stars with a #48 ranking out of 63, but average spread figures aren’t available. If you prefer detailed, published pricing with clear account-based trade-offs, BlackBull Markets provides more transparency on spreads and per-trade commissions.
| 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 [DELETED] | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) [DELETED] | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
BlackBull Markets offers a far larger range of investments than ThinkMarkets, with about 26,000 tradeable symbols versus roughly 4,000. Forex traders also get more choice at BlackBull (72 currency pairs) compared to ThinkMarkets (46). Both brokers let you trade forex via CFDs or spot contracts, and both support copy trading. For share dealing, BlackBull lets clients buy exchange-listed U.S. stocks as real shares, while ThinkMarkets does not; both provide access to international exchange-listed shares. Neither broker offers direct, delivered cryptocurrency, but each provides crypto derivatives.
For range of investments, BlackBull Markets earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ThinkMarkets scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #24. Choose BlackBull if you want the widest selection and U.S. share access; ThinkMarkets remains a capable option if you’re focused on CFDs and international shares with a smaller, simpler lineup.
| 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.
BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets both check the key boxes for traders seeking flexible, easy-to-use platforms. Each broker offers a free demo account for paper trading, Windows desktop and web-based platforms, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), copy trading, and the ability to trade directly from charts.
The main difference is that ThinkMarkets also provides a proprietary platform, while BlackBull Markets focuses on third-party options like MT4/MT5. According to ForexBrokers.com, both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, with ThinkMarkets ranked #28 out of 63 brokers and BlackBull Markets ranked #31 out of 63. Specific counts for indicators, drawing tools, watchlist fields, and availability of services like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade were not provided.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 109 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, trendline drawing on charts, and auto-saving of chart annotations. A key difference is watchlist syncing: BlackBull Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while ThinkMarkets does not.
For charting tools, BlackBull Markets includes 30 technical indicators (studies), whereas ThinkMarkets offers 94, giving it a wider range for technical analysis. Both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, ThinkMarkets places #20 and BlackBull Markets ranks #33. If syncing your watchlists across devices matters most, BlackBull Markets stands out; if you want more built-in indicators, ThinkMarkets has the edge.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 94 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | ||
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets deliver daily commentary and an easy-to-use economic calendar. In independent assessments, BlackBull Markets holds a 4-star Research rating and ranks #18 out of 63 brokers, while ThinkMarkets earns 3.5 stars and ranks #51.
Their tools differ: ThinkMarkets provides forex news from top-tier sources and adds Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), whereas BlackBull Markets stands out with Autochartist for technical insights. Both brokers include a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning, and neither offers Trading Central or TipRanks.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
BlackBull Markets and ThinkMarkets both support beginner traders with structured education. Each broker hosts at least one client webinar per month and provides 10+ beginner video lessons, along with 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. It isn’t specified whether either broker offers a searchable archive of past webinars, an investor dictionary with 50+ terms, or a wider library of 10+ forex and CFD articles/videos, so you may need to check their sites for those details.
Independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com give BlackBull Markets 4 stars for Education (ranked 29th of 63), while ThinkMarkets scores 3.5 stars (ranked 52nd). If you want frequent webinars and plenty of video-based learning, both are solid choices; if you prefer a higher-rated overall education experience, BlackBull Markets has the edge. Traders who specifically need a webinar archive or glossary should confirm availability directly with each broker.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ThinkMarkets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | ||
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
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.
BlackBull Markets vs ThinkMarkets: both brokers do not support ACH/SEPA or PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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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) | |||
| 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) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 |
| Trading Tools | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 109 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 94 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - 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 | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | BlackBull Markets | ThinkMarkets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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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