Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of BlackBull Markets vs ATFX, 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 ATFX, founded in 2017, are notable online brokers. Neither of these companies is publicly traded, nor do they hold status as banks. When it comes to regulatory compliance, BlackBull Markets holds one Tier-1 license indicating a high level of trust. Meanwhile, ATFX surpasses BlackBull Markets with four Tier-1 licenses, further bolstered by two Tier-2 licenses, confirming their broader regulatory cover.
Regarding trustworthiness as per ForexBrokers.com ratings, BlackBull Markets scores a 78, situating it in the average risk category. In comparison, ATFX achieves an 85, placing it in the trusted category. These ratings reflect their differences in regulatory holdings and the perceived level of trust in the financial market community. This information can be vital for those weighing their options for a reliable online trading partner.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | ||
| Bank | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing online brokers BlackBull Markets and ATFX in terms of commissions and fees, BlackBull Markets tends to offer competitive trading costs that vary across its three account types. With a Prime account, traders experience lower spreads, averaging 0.16 on the EUR/USD pair as of March 2024. This equates to a total cost of 0.76 when factoring in a per-side commission of 0.3 pips or $6 per 10,000 traded. The Prime account requires a $2,000 minimum deposit, making it a favored option over the commission-free Standard account, which has higher spreads but no deposit requirement. Meanwhile, the ECN Institutional account at BlackBull Markets is designed for active traders willing to deposit at least $20,000, with a reduced commission of $2 per side or $4 per round turn.
In contrast, ATFX lacks available average spread data, which makes it harder to assess its trading costs completely. However, when it comes to commission and fees ratings, BlackBull Markets outshines ATFX. BlackBull Markets boasts a commendable 4.5-star rating, while ATFX holds a respectable 3-star rating. This difference underscores the more cost-effective trading options BlackBull Markets provides.
Additionally, in a comparison of 63 brokers, BlackBull Markets holds the 18th spot in the Commissions and Fees category according to ForexBrokers.com. ATFX, on the other hand, is ranked significantly lower at 60th. These rankings further highlight BlackBull Markets as a preferred choice for those prioritizing minimal trading costs and efficient fee structures.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | ||
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | ||
| 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 comparing BlackBull Markets and ATFX for their range of investments, BlackBull Markets provides a significantly wider selection for investors. With access to 26,000 tradeable symbols, including 72 forex pairs, BlackBull Markets stands out as a leader for those seeking variety. Not only do they offer forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, but they also allow clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges. Furthermore, BlackBull Markets supports copy trading and offers derivatives on cryptocurrencies. With a 5-star rating and a #6 ranking for range of investments, BlackBull Markets is well-equipped to meet diverse trading needs.
In contrast, ATFX provides a more limited range of investment options. The broker offers 150 tradeable symbols and 44 forex pairs, with forex trading available through CFDs or spot contracts. Investors with ATFX also have access to copy trading and can engage in cryptocurrency trading through derivatives. However, ATFX does not extend its offerings to exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges. With a 3.5-star rating and a #57 ranking for range of investments, ATFX caters to those focusing primarily on forex and cryptocurrency derivatives, though it offers less variety compared to BlackBull Markets.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 44 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | ||
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of BlackBull Markets and ATFX, both online brokers offer similar core features such as simulated paper trading with free virtual demo accounts, Windows-based desktop platforms, and web-based platforms. They also provide popular trading software options like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and facilitate copy trading. However, while BlackBull Markets supports ZuluTrade, a tool for traders to follow and copy successful strategies, ATFX does not offer this capability. Additionally, BlackBull Markets offers 60 drawing tools for charting compared to ATFX’s 15, giving traders more versatility in technical analysis.
Despite their similarities, BlackBull Markets edges ahead with a few distinguishing features and ratings. Users can trade directly from charts on both platforms, but BlackBull Markets provides six fields for watch lists against ATFX’s seven. Even with one less field, BlackBull Markets earns a 4-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, compared to ATFX's 3.5 stars. Furthermore, BlackBull Markets ranks 29th out of 63 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category according to ForexBrokers.com, significantly higher than ATFX's 62nd place. This suggests that BlackBull Markets offers a slightly more favorable environment for traders seeking comprehensive trading platform features.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | ||
| 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 | ||
| ZuluTrade | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 109 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 60 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both BlackBull Markets and ATFX provide iPhone and Android apps for traders who enjoy flexibility and convenience. Both apps allow you to set up stock or forex price alerts and draw trendlines on charts. They also support multiple time frames, whether you're interested in daily, weekly, or intraday views, and they auto-save any drawings you make, ensuring that you don't lose your technical analysis work.
When it comes to advanced features, BlackBull Markets offers 30 technical studies for chart analysis compared to ATFX's 7. BlackBull also provides watchlist symbol syncing, which is not available with ATFX, making it easier to manage your account across platforms. Both platforms let you create watchlists with real-time quotes. BlackBull Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #31 out of 63 brokers for its mobile trading apps, whereas ATFX earns 3.5 stars, ranking at #63. Whether you prioritize comprehensive charting or seamless account management, this comparison helps you enjoy an informed decision on which mobile trading app best suits your needs.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 |
| 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 ATFX in terms of market research offerings, both brokers provide daily market commentary that helps traders stay informed about the latest developments. They each offer technical analysis tools from Autochartist, enabling users to conduct thorough technical and fundamental research. However, when it comes to trading tools, the differences begin to surface. BlackBull Markets stands out with its sentiment-based trading tool, which provides insights into the ratio of long or short positions across currency pairs. Conversely, ATFX takes advantage of Trading Central tools to deliver in-depth technical analytics, ensuring traders have access to expert analysis.
While each platform supports traders with an economic calendar to track global news events, the quality and breadth of research vary. BlackBull Markets has secured a higher commendation with a 4-star rating for research, ranking 18th among 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. ATFX, on the other hand, has a 3-star rating, placing it 54th in the same category. This variation highlights BlackBull Markets' superior research offerings, providing traders with a slightly more advanced platform for market analysis.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | ||
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | |
| TipRanks | ||
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
BlackBull Markets and ATFX both make a commendable effort to educate beginners about forex and CFDs by offering a variety of resources. Both platforms provide more than ten educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, ensuring newcomers have plenty of material to get started. BlackBull Markets takes it a step further by offering at least one live educational webinar each month, giving traders the chance to interact and learn in real-time, while ATFX does not offer this feature consistently. Additionally, both brokers host a searchable archive of past client webinars, which proves invaluable for those who want to learn at their own pace.
When it comes to video content, both brokers offer an array of videos designed specifically for beginners. However, BlackBull Markets extends its offerings with advanced educational videos, which might appeal to more experienced traders who are looking to deepen their knowledge. In terms of terminological assistance, both platforms provide an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, making it easier for users to understand complex jargon. BlackBull Markets edges out ATFX with a higher education rating of 4 stars compared to ATFX's 3 stars, even though the latter holds a slightly better rank in the education category according to ForexBrokers.com. This suggests that specific user needs may lead to different preferences between the platforms.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
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 ATFX. BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
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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ATFX
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 78 | 85 |
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Both BlackBull Markets and ATFX provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the ability to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
BlackBull Markets and ATFX both offer Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but neither provides ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal as available methods.
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 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 78 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | |||
| Bank | |||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | |||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | |||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | |||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | |||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | |||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | |||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | |||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 72 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | ||
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | ||
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | |||
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | ||
| Inactivity Fee | |||
| Execution: Agency Broker | |||
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | |||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers |
| Trading Platforms | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | |||
| 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 | ||
| DupliTrade | |||
| ZuluTrade | Yes |
| Trading Tools | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | ||
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | |||
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | ||
| TipRanks | |||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | ||
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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