Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of BlackBull Markets vs Trading 212, 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 Trading 212, founded in 2004, are both online brokers that are not publicly traded nor banks. When comparing their regulatory standings, BlackBull Markets holds one Tier-1 license, regarded as highly trusted, while Trading 212 holds two Tier-1 licenses, lending it an edge in terms of recognition for trustworthiness from top regulatory authorities. Neither broker has any Tier-2 licenses, which are considered trusted but not as prestigious as Tier-1.
In terms of overall trustworthiness assessed by ForexBrokers.com, BlackBull Markets has a Trust Score of 78, placing it in the average risk category. On the other hand, Trading 212 slightly surpasses it with a score of 79, nearly securing an average risk rating as well. Both brokers enjoy similar trust scores, indicating comparable reliability from an online trading safety perspective.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
BlackBull Markets offers a variety of trading accounts, each with different commission structures and fees. For those opting for the Prime account, the average spread on the EUR/USD is 0.16, resulting in an all-in cost of 0.76 after a per-side commission of 0.3 pips or $6 per 10,000 traded. The Standard account allows for commission-free trading with no minimum deposit, albeit with higher spreads. More active traders might lean towards the ECN Institutional account, which requires a $20,000 deposit but offers favorable commission rates of $2 per side. BlackBull Markets is rated 4.5 stars and holds the 18th position out of 62 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com ranking for commissions and fees.
On the other hand, Trading 212 provides a zero-commission trading environment for CFD and forex trades, but spreads are part of the expenses. Its average spread for the EUR/USD pair is 1.9 pips as of January 2024. Although this provides a level of pricing transparency, the spread is notably higher than the industry standard, making Trading 212 less competitive in this regard. The broker offers two account types: the Invest account, requiring a minimal deposit of 1 euro, and the CFD account, needing at least a 10 euro deposit. Trading 212 comes with a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking 43rd among 62 brokers compiled by ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, while BlackBull Markets offers varied account types catering to different levels of trading activity with competitive fees for its Prime and ECN Institutional accounts, Trading 212 positions itself as a user-friendly platform with no commissions but compensates through higher spreads. When it comes to their standing in the industry, BlackBull Markets seems to have an edge with higher ratings and a better ranking in the commissions and fees category.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | 1.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | 1.9 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing BlackBull Markets and Trading 212, both platforms provide a comprehensive range of investment opportunities. BlackBull Markets boasts a massive 26,000 tradeable symbols, surpassing Trading 212's offering of 8,025 symbols. However, Trading 212 leads in the variety of forex pairs, providing 146 options compared to BlackBull Markets' 72 pairs. On both platforms, investors can explore exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, enabling the purchase of popular shares like Apple and Vodafone. Both brokers extend their offerings to encompass forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts and cryptocurrency derivatives, although they do not facilitate the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
In terms of convenience, BlackBull Markets offers the additional feature of copy trading, which is not available with Trading 212. Both platforms receive high praise for their range of investments, each earning a five-star rating in this category. According to ForexBrokers.com, BlackBull Markets is ranked #6 out of 62 brokers for their investment variety, while Trading 212 is ranked at #15, highlighting BlackBull Markets' slightly superior offering in this space. Whether you prioritize a broader symbol selection or a greater variety of forex pairs, both platforms excel in delivering options suited to diverse trading needs.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 8025 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 Trading 212 both offer valuable platforms for traders, yet they cater to different needs. BlackBull Markets does not have a proprietary platform but supports popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, offering familiar spaces for seasoned traders. It also features Windows-based desktop software and web-based trading, along with integrated copy trading via ZuluTrade, making it convenient for desktop and mobile users. With 60 drawing tools for charting and the ability to trade directly from stock charts, it provides detailed analytics and ease of use. Additionally, BlackBull Markets offers simulated trading through free demo accounts for users to practice their strategies without financial risk.
In contrast, Trading 212 stands out with its proprietary platform, which is unique to the broker and specifically designed for ease of use. However, it lacks desktop software solutions but does provide a competent web-based version, making it accessible to anyone with internet connectivity. While it doesn't support MetaTrader platforms or copy trading options, Trading 212 still allows for direct trading from charts, crucial for quick decision-making. Although it offers fewer drawing tools than BlackBull, with 20 options and five watch list columns, Trading 212 remains a strong contender in user friendliness. Both brokers have a solid 4-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, with Trading 212 slightly outranking BlackBull Markets by ForexBrokers.com, being placed at #20 compared to BlackBull's #29.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 109 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 60 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both BlackBull Markets and Trading 212 offer user-friendly mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android devices. These apps are feature-rich, providing essential tools for traders such as stock and forex price alerts, the ability to sync watchlists with online accounts, and drawing tools like trendlines on charts. Both platforms enable the viewing of multiple time frames like daily, weekly, or intraday. Additionally, they auto-save your drawings on stock or forex charts, and allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, making it easy to keep track of your investments wherever you are.
When it comes to charting capabilities, Trading 212 edges out with a remarkable 104 technical studies available, compared to 30 offered by BlackBull Markets. Despite both apps sharing a solid 4-star customer rating for their mobile experiences, Trading 212 is ranked higher at #17 in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, compared to BlackBull Markets' position at #31 among 62 brokers. This ranking may reflect users' appreciation of Trading 212's more extensive charting tools and overall platform experience. Nonetheless, both apps deliver reliable and accessible functionality for both new and seasoned traders.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 |
| 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 the market research offerings of BlackBull Markets and Trading 212, a few key differences emerge that may influence your choice as an investor. BlackBull Markets provides daily market commentary, which can be a valuable tool for traders looking for regular insights. In contrast, Trading 212 does not offer this feature. However, when it comes to access to forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, Trading 212 comes out on top, providing this important information, whereas BlackBull Markets does not. Both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools, allowing traders to view the ratio of long or short positions across different instruments, and economic calendars to stay updated on global economic events.
For those interested in technical analysis tools, BlackBull Markets users have access to Autochartist, while Trading 212 does not provide any tools from this company. Neither broker offers tools from Trading Central or Acuity Trading, nor do they provide market research from TipRanks. In terms of overall research ratings, BlackBull Markets is rated slightly higher with 4 stars, compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, BlackBull Markets holds the 18th spot out of 62 brokers in the Research category, significantly ahead of Trading 212, which ranks 46th. This detailed comparison should help you evaluate which broker best suits your market analysis needs.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| 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 | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners offered by BlackBull Markets and Trading 212, both brokers provide an impressive suite of materials. BlackBull Markets delivers comprehensive education on forex and CFDs through over ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and webinars. They host monthly webinars and grant access to a searchable archive of past sessions. Additionally, they cater to all learning levels with at least ten beginner videos and a further collection for advanced traders. They also offer an investor dictionary with over 50 terms explained. This extensive educational offering earns BlackBull Markets a 4-star education rating, positioning them at #29 among 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com.
Trading 212 matches BlackBull Markets in offering similar foundational educational resources. They offer more than ten educational pieces concentrated on forex and CFDs, alongside regular webinars and their recorded versions for clients to revisit. Their commitment to supporting various experience levels is evident with a shared library of beginner and advanced videos. Moreover, Trading 212 provides an investor dictionary that clarifies over 50 trading-related terms. Despite their efforts, Trading 212 earns a slightly lower education rating of 3.5 stars but is ranked higher at #20 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, highlighting their competitive standing in the educational arena for beginner traders.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Trading 212. BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
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
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Trading 212
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 79 |
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Both BlackBull Markets and Trading 212 do not offer the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers BlackBull Markets and Trading 212 in terms of deposit and withdrawal options, BlackBull Markets offers Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal, while Trading 212 provides ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support Skrill.
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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | BlackBull Markets | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | BlackBull Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 78 | 79 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | BlackBull Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 8025 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | 1.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | 1.9 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | BlackBull Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | BlackBull Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | BlackBull Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 109 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 60 | 20 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | BlackBull Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | 104 | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | BlackBull Markets | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
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