Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of BlackBull Markets vs ActivTrades, 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, founded in 2014, operates as a private online brokerage but is not listed on any stock exchange. While it is not a bank, the broker holds one Tier-1 license, marking it as highly trusted within the industry. However, with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 78, BlackBull Markets falls in the average risk category. This might be an important consideration for traders looking for a more secure platform, especially since the company does not possess any Tier-2 licenses.
Established in 2001, ActivTrades is likewise a private operating online broker and is not publicly traded or a bank. The company stands out with two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, reflecting a significant trust level within the industry. Boasting a Trust Score of 81 on ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is classified as a trusted broker, offering traders additional assurance. This comparison shows that, while both brokers are not publicly listed or banks, ActivTrades holds a slight edge in trustworthiness based on license holdings and trust score.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades, both online brokers offer competitive pricing structures, but they cater to different types of traders. BlackBull Markets provides three account types, with the Prime account standing out for its average spread of 0.16 on the EUR/USD pair. This comes to an all-in cost of 0.76, factoring in a commission of $6 per 10,000 traded, making it more appealing compared to the commission-free Standard account with higher spreads. The Prime account requires a $2,000 minimum deposit, whereas the ECN Institutional account, intended for active traders, necessitates a $20,000 deposit with a lower commission of $4 per round turn.
ActivTrades, on the other hand, offers its Individual Account alongside Professional and Islamic account options. While its spreads are generally slightly better than the industry average, they do not match the lowest-cost forex brokers. The average spread for EUR/USD is 0.98 based on May 2024 data. Unlike BlackBull Markets, ActivTrades does not have a specific account for high-volume traders or active trader pricing. Instead, each account type predominantly maintains the same spreads, with the Islamic Account catering to Sharia compliance.
Based on user ratings, BlackBull Markets scores 4.5 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees, ranking 19th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades, while offering a dependable choice, receives a slightly lower rating of 4 stars and ranks 27th in the same category. Both brokers offer unique benefits tailored to different trading needs, with BlackBull Markets focusing on diverse account types and competitive spreads, whereas ActivTrades provides straightforward account options with consistent spreads.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.76 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.76 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| 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.
Choosing the right online broker can be crucial for investors looking for variety and adaptability in their portfolios. BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades offer forex trading both as CFDs and spot contracts, but they differ significantly when it comes to their overall tradeable symbols. BlackBull Markets boasts an extensive portfolio with 26,000 symbols available for trading, compared to ActivTrades' 1,267. This considerable difference is also evident in their tradeable forex pairs, with BlackBull Markets offering 72 pairs while ActivTrades offers 49. Furthermore, investors looking to trade exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges will find BlackBull Markets more accommodating, as ActivTrades does not offer this option. Both brokers, however, provide exchange-traded securities on international exchanges.
Both BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades support copy trading, catering to those who might prefer an automated investment approach. When it comes to cryptocurrency derivatives, both brokers allow trading these instruments, however, neither offers the ability to buy and hold actual cryptocurrencies. According to ForexBrokers.com, for Range of Investments, BlackBull Markets impressively holds a ranking of #6 out of 62 brokers and receives a five-star rating. ActivTrades, while reliable, ranks at #31 with a four-star rating. This reflects BlackBull Markets' broader range of available investments, appealing to a wider variety of investment strategies and preferences.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 49 |
| 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 ActivTrades both offer strong online trading platforms with various tools for traders of all levels. Both brokers provide clients with the ability to practice trading through a free virtual demo account, offering a safe environment for learning. BlackBull Markets relies on popular platforms such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while ActivTrades boasts a proprietary platform developed in-house. Both brokers support trading on Windows-based desktop and browser platforms, making it easy for users to trade in diverse settings. Additionally, copy trading is available on both platforms; however, only BlackBull Markets offers the ZuluTrade feature. Both brokers allow users to trade directly from a stock chart and support MetaTrader 4 and 5.
While BlackBull Markets stands out with 60 charting drawing tools, ActivTrades offers 15. For watch list customization, ActivTrades provides 11 columns compared to BlackBull Market's six. Both brokers receive a four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, showing their competence in catering to traders' needs. According to ForexBrokers.com, BlackBull Markets holds the #28 spot, just ahead of ActivTrades at #29, in the Trading Platforms and Tools category, out of a pool of 62 brokers. This close ranking indicates both brokers offer competitive technologies, though BlackBull Markets may appeal to traders looking for ZuluTrade integration and more drawing tools.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades offer comprehensive mobile trading applications for iPhone and Android devices, enabling traders to stay connected and manage their investments on the go. Users of either platform can enjoy stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, view multiple time frames, and access up to 30 technical studies for chart analysis. While both platforms allow for creating watchlists with real-time quotes, BlackBull Markets provides an edge by allowing watchlist symbol syncing between the app and an online account, ensuring seamless updates across devices.
Despite both mobile apps being rated four out of five stars, ActivTrades holds a slightly higher position in the ForexBrokers.com rankings, coming in at #19 out of 62, compared to BlackBull Markets' ranking of #30. However, both brokers offer stable and reliable mobile trading experiences, making either a suitable choice for traders looking for a quality mobile trading app. The decision may ultimately come down to individual preferences, such as the importance of watchlist syncing that BlackBull Markets offers.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| 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 ActivTrades for market research capabilities, both platforms offer daily market commentary and a sentiment-based trading tool to gauge the market mood. However, ActivTrades differentiates itself by providing forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, whereas BlackBull Markets does not. On the other hand, BlackBull Markets scores with technical analysis tools from Autochartist, a feature that ActivTrades lacks.
Both brokers offer economic calendars to keep traders informed of global events. Despite both receiving a rating of 4 stars for research, BlackBull Markets holds a slightly higher position at #18 compared to ActivTrades at #30 in the ForexBrokers.com rankings out of 62 brokers. Neither broker utilizes research tools from companies like Trading Central or Acuity Trading, leaving room for further advancements in their research offerings.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner traders, both BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades offer a comprehensive selection to help newcomers get started in forex and CFD trading. Each platform provides over ten educational pieces including articles, videos, and archived webinars, so there’s plenty of content to explore. Both brokers also host monthly educational webinars, which are archived for future viewing, giving traders the flexibility to learn at their own pace. Beginner traders will find at least ten videos on each platform, designed to break down trading concepts into easy-to-understand segments.
While BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades both feature advanced educational videos for seasoned traders, they differ slightly in other areas. BlackBull Markets includes an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, providing newcomers with quick reference to financial jargon, a feature not offered by ActivTrades. Despite this distinction, both brokers are rated four stars for education, showing they are solid choices for educational resources. However, BlackBull Markets holds a slight edge in rankings with a position of 29 out of 62 brokers, compared to ActivTrades' ranking at 38.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
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 ActivTrades. BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
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
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 78 | 81 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades enable the purchase of cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency.
In comparing online brokers BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades regarding fund deposit and withdrawal options, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, nor do they offer PayPal; however, both brokers are equipped with Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options.
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 | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 78 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 78 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 49 | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.76 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.76 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 0 | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 11 | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | BlackBull Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 78 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill