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 and ATFX are well-regarded online brokers, each offering their own strengths when it comes to reliability. Founded in 2014, BlackBull Markets holds a single Tier-1 license, placing it within the average risk category with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 78. In contrast, ATFX, established in 2017, enjoys a higher degree of trust, boasting four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses. ATFX's Trust Score of 85 signifies a strong standing, highlighting their credibility in the trading world.
Neither BlackBull Markets nor ATFX is publicly traded or operates as a bank, showcasing their dedicated focus on brokerage services. Despite these similarities, ATFX sets itself apart with a heavier regulatory presence, which can be a deciding factor for traders looking for a trusted platform. This distinction is reflected in their respective trust scores, with ATFX positioned higher in trusted rankings, offering traders a sense of security and confidence in their platform choice.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of BlackBull Markets and ATFX, traders will find that BlackBull Markets generally offers better value. This broker has an average rating of 4.5 stars for its commission and fee structure and ranks #18 out of 62 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. BlackBull Markets provides three types of accounts: Standard, Prime, and ECN Institutional. The Standard account is commission-free and requires no minimum deposit; however, it features higher spreads. The Prime account, often preferred for its competitive pricing, offers lower spreads but requires a $2,000 minimum deposit and a $6 round turn commission per lot traded. For high-volume traders, the ECN Institutional account demands a minimum deposit of $20,000, with a more attractive $4 round turn commission per lot.
On the other hand, ATFX lacks detailed average spread data, making it less transparent in this regard. It is given a lower star rating of 3 for commissions and fees and is ranked #59 out of 62 brokers. This indicates less competitive pricing compared to BlackBull Markets. Although the specifics of ATFX’s commission structure are not detailed, the lower ranking suggests that traders potentially face higher trading costs with this broker. This could be an important consideration for those looking to optimize their trading expenses.
In summary, BlackBull Markets offers a more favorable and transparent fee structure, making it a more compelling choice for traders concerned with commissions and fees. With better rankings and clear account options, BlackBull Markets stands out in terms of cost-effectiveness compared to ATFX, which struggles with less competitive fees and fewer clear details on their trading costs.
| 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 | 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.
BlackBull Markets and ATFX both present individuals with the opportunity to engage in forex trading through CFDs. However, BlackBull Markets significantly stands out with an impressive 26,000 tradeable symbols, far exceeding the 150 symbols offered by ATFX. For those keen on forex pairs, BlackBull Markets provides access to 72 pairs, while ATFX gives entry to 44 pairs. Investors intrigued by exchange-traded securities will find BlackBull Markets more appealing, as it allows purchases of shares like Apple on U.S. exchanges and Vodafone on international platforms, options that ATFX does not provide. Additionally, for traders interested in cryptocurrency, both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither offers the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies.
Both BlackBull Markets and ATFX support copy trading, catering to those interested in mimicking professional trading strategies. Ratings further accentuate these differences, with BlackBull Markets achieving an impressive 5-star rating for its Range of Investments, ranking 6th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, ATFX secures a 3.5-star rating, placing it at a lower rank of 57th in the same category. This highlights BlackBull Markets as a compelling choice for investors seeking a broader range of trading opportunities across various financial instruments.
| 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 | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| 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 ATFX both offer strong options for their trading platforms and tools, with each providing access to popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). While neither broker has developed a proprietary trading platform, they both offer comprehensive features that customers expect. Both offer a free virtual demo account, allowing traders to practice their strategies without risk. For those who prefer flexibility, they also support trading via a Windows-based desktop platform and a web-based browser platform. BlackBull Markets and ATFX both facilitate copy trading, although BlackBull Markets has an edge here, as it supports ZuluTrade in addition to other options, unlike ATFX.
Charting capabilities is another area where these brokers differ. BlackBull Markets stands out with 60 drawing tools for charting, far exceeding the 15 tools available from ATFX. Both brokers, however, enable trading directly from stock charts, adding convenience for users. When it comes to customizing watch lists, ATFX offers an extra column with 7 fields compared to BlackBull Markets' 6. In ratings and rankings, BlackBull Markets earns 4 stars from ForexBrokers.com for its platforms and tools, while ATFX receives 3.5 stars. This disparity is reflected in their rankings, with BlackBull Markets ranked at #29, considerably ahead of ATFX's position at #61 out of 62 brokers surveyed. This suggests that while both brokers are competent, BlackBull Markets offers a slightly more comprehensive platform for serious traders.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | No |
| 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 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of BlackBull Markets and ATFX, both offer comprehensive features for iPhone and Android users, including stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and view multiple time frames on charts. However, BlackBull Markets distinguishes itself with more enhanced functionalities. It allows for watchlist symbol syncing between mobile and online accounts—a feature that is absent on the ATFX app. Additionally, BlackBull Markets provides a richer charting experience with 30 technical studies, compared to ATFX’s offering of 7. Both platforms support auto-saving of chart drawings and real-time quotes in watchlists, catering to traders seeking convenient and efficient trading on the go.
In terms of user ratings and rankings, BlackBull Markets outshines ATFX with a 4-star rating for its mobile trading app, compared to ATFX’s 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, BlackBull Markets is ranked at #31 out of 62 brokers, whereas ATFX sits at the bottom of the list at #62. This overall comparison highlights BlackBull Markets as the favorable option for users prioritizing more advanced app features and a higher user satisfaction score.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| 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 the research offerings of BlackBull Markets and ATFX for online trading, both brokers provide daily market commentary, which helps traders stay informed about market developments. However, while neither provides forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, both brokers equip traders with Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental analysis. BlackBull Markets stands out with a sentiment-based trading tool to show long and short position ratios, a service ATFX does not offer. On the other hand, ATFX provides tools from Trading Central, which can aid in technical analytics, something lacking at BlackBull Markets. Both platforms also feature an economic calendar to track global news events, helping traders anticipate market shifts.
In terms of overall research quality, BlackBull Markets holds a slight edge over ATFX. Rated four out of five stars for research, BlackBull Markets secures the 18th position among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas ATFX, with a three-star rating, ranks much lower at 54th. This indicates that while both brokers offer useful resources for trading, BlackBull Markets might provide a more comprehensive suite of research tools, especially for those who value sentiment analysis in their trading strategy.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| 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 offered to beginners by BlackBull Markets and ATFX, both brokers provide a solid range of materials on forex and CFDs. This includes over ten educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. Where they begin to differ is in their additional resources; BlackBull Markets hosts regular monthly webinars and maintains a searchable archive of them, offering greater access to ongoing learning opportunities. In contrast, ATFX does not provide live monthly webinars, despite having a searchable archive. Both brokers offer a variety of beginner videos, although BlackBull Markets extends its offering to include advanced videos for more experienced traders, a feature not available through ATFX.
Moreover, BlackBull Markets and ATFX both provide investor dictionaries to help users familiarize themselves with key investing terms. When it comes to education ratings, BlackBull Markets outshines ATFX with a 4-star rating as opposed to ATFX’s 3-star rating, indicating a higher level of satisfaction among users regarding educational offerings. Interestingly, despite this difference, ATFX is ranked a hair above BlackBull Markets in the education category by ForexBrokers.com, placed at #28 out of 62 brokers compared to BlackBull’s #29. This highlights that while both brokers have a variety of educational resources, user experience and specific preferences might tip the balance when choosing the right platform for learning how to trade.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 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
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 85 |
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Both BlackBull Markets and ATFX do not provide the option to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both BlackBull Markets and ATFX support Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transactions for deposits and withdrawals, but neither offers ACH, SEPA, or PayPal 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.
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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 | |
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| Regulation | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 78 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | 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) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| 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 | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | 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 | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | No | |
| 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 | 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 | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | BlackBull Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| 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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