Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group 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.
When comparing XM Group and BlackBull Markets, both brokers stand out for their long-standing presence in the industry and regulatory compliance. Founded in 2009, XM Group offers clients a sense of security with a high Trust Score of 93 out of 99, provided by ForexBrokers.com. It boasts an impressive four Tier-1 licenses, signifying it as highly trusted, alongside one Tier-2 license. Although it is not publicly traded or a bank, these credentials make XM Group a reliable choice for forex traders seeking stability and trust.
In contrast, New Zealand-based BlackBull Markets, established in 2014, has a Trust Score of 78, putting it in the average risk category. It holds one Tier-1 license, considered highly trusted, but lacks Tier-2 licensing. Similar to XM Group, it is neither publicly traded nor a bank, but it serves as a viable option for those who prioritize experience in the forex trading field. While BlackBull Markets offers a slightly higher risk profile than XM Group, its foundation and regulatory adherence offer peace of mind for traders.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, XM Group tends to be pricier on its Standard account, and it does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account—making apples-to-apples comparisons harder. For this category, XM Group earns 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #34 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
BlackBull Markets’ pricing is about average overall and varies by account type. Its Prime account stands out: the average EUR/USD spread was 0.16 in March 2024, with an all-in cost of about 0.76 pips after a 0.3-pip per-side commission. The Standard account is commission-free with no minimum deposit but has wider spreads, while Prime requires $2,000 and charges $3 per side ($6 round turn) per lot for lower spreads. The ECN Institutional account targets high-volume traders with at least $20,000, charging $2 per side ($4 round turn). BlackBull Markets earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #9 out of 63.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | 1.16 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.76 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing the range of investments at XM Group vs BlackBull Markets, BlackBull stands out for sheer variety with about 26,000 tradeable symbols and 72 forex pairs, while XM Group lists 1,394 symbols and 55 forex pairs. That depth helps explain BlackBull’s 5-star rating and #7 rank (out of 63) for Range of Investments, whereas XM Group earns a strong 4.5-star rating and ranks #19. In short, both are well-equipped, but BlackBull offers a broader catalog for those who want more markets and pairs to choose from.
Both brokers provide forex trading (CFD or spot), support copy trading, and let clients buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges. For crypto, neither broker lets you buy actual coins, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs. If you’re focused on access to the widest selection of markets, BlackBull Markets has the edge; if you want plenty of choices with a simpler lineup, XM Group remains a compelling option.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 72 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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.
XM Group and BlackBull Markets both check the key platform boxes for most traders. Each broker offers a free demo (paper trading) account, supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and provides both a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform. Neither broker has its own in-house platform, but both enable copy trading and let you place orders directly from charts—handy for timing entries without switching screens.
For trading platforms and tools, both are rated 4 out of 5 stars. ForexBrokers.com ranks BlackBull Markets slightly higher (#25 of 63) than XM Group (#27 of 63). With such similar platform lineups, your choice may come down to other factors like pricing, the markets you want to trade, or the add-ons and integrations you prefer.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 109 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing XM Group vs BlackBull Markets for mobile trading, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts, synced watchlists between mobile and web, and strong charting. Each app includes 30 technical studies and lets you draw trendlines, covering the core tools most traders need on the go.
The main difference is chart annotation storage: BlackBull Markets auto-saves your drawings, while XM Group does not. In our ratings snapshot, both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps. According to ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, XM Group sits at #26 and BlackBull Markets at #27. If saving chart markups matters to your workflow, BlackBull has the edge; otherwise, the two are closely matched on features.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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 | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XM Group and BlackBull Markets both keep traders informed with daily market commentary and an economic calendar covering global events. Each broker also includes a sentiment tool that shows how many traders are long or short. XM goes further by streaming forex news from major outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while BlackBull does not offer that news feed. Neither broker provides research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
Toolkits differ: XM Group includes Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights but does not offer Autochartist; BlackBull Markets offers Autochartist but not Trading Central. Overall research scores reflect these differences—XM earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers for Research at ForexBrokers.com, whereas BlackBull earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #16. If you value built-in news coverage and Trading Central, XM has an edge; if you prefer Autochartist’s pattern scanning, BlackBull may appeal.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | 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.
Both XM Group and BlackBull Markets make it easy for beginners to learn forex and CFDs. Each broker offers a dedicated education hub with at least 10 learning pieces (articles, videos, and archived webinars), and both host client webinars at least once a month. New traders will find at least 10 beginner-focused videos at each broker, and there are 10+ advanced videos when you’re ready to go deeper.
Where they differ is overall strength and recognition. XM Group earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, making it a top choice for a guided learning path. BlackBull Markets also performs well, with 4 stars and a #24 ranking. If you want the highest-rated education for starting out, XM Group has the edge; if you simply need a dependable library with regular webinars, BlackBull Markets delivers too.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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 XM Group is better than BlackBull Markets. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #22.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 93 | 78 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
XM Group vs BlackBull Markets: both online brokers do not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but each offers cryptocurrency CFD trading.
XM Group vs BlackBull Markets: both brokers do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal, both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 93 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 78 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 72 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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 | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | 1.16 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 109 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XM Group Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | XM Group | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 93 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill