Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of City Index 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.
City Index and BlackBull Markets are popular online brokers, each with distinct regulatory profiles. Founded in 1983, City Index is a publicly traded company known for its strong regulatory standing. It boasts seven Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, contributing to a top Trust Score of 99 out of 99 as per ForexBrokers.com, showcasing a high level of trust and reliability. On the other hand, BlackBull Markets, established in 2014, is not publicly traded but operates under one Tier-1 license. With no Tier-2 licenses, BlackBull Markets has a Trust Score of 78, considered an average risk according to ForexBrokers.com.
Both City Index and BlackBull Markets are not banks, but their regulatory standings offer varying degrees of security for investors. City Index's higher trust ratings stem from its widespread compliance and publicly traded status, making it an appealing choice for those emphasizing regulation. Meanwhile, BlackBull Markets, with its single Tier-1 license, may attract traders comfortable with average risk levels, reflecting its niche in catering to traders who may prioritize other factors such as trading platforms or fees over regulatory reach.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
City Index and BlackBull Markets are two prominent online brokers, both offering competitive commissions and fees structures. City Index’s pricing for CFDs, forex, and spread-betting products aligns with the industry average. Using City Index's proprietary platforms or MetaTrader ensures the best pricing. City Index provides a Premium Trader account for active traders depositing over £10,000, unlocking exclusive pricing and dedicated customer service. The typical spread for the EUR/USD pair stands at 0.74 pips, which is competitive yet trails behind top brokers like Tickmill. U.K.-based professional traders benefit from rebates starting at £4 per million for high trading volumes, while in Australia, rebates range from AUD $4.5 to AUD $14.5 per million depending on the tier.
BlackBull Markets offers average trading costs with three account types influencing the fees. The standout Prime account boasts a EUR/USD average spread of 0.16, leading to a total cost of 0.76 when considering the commission of 0.3 pips or $6 per 10,000 traded, making it favorable over the Standard account, which is commission-free but features higher spreads. The Prime account demands a $2,000 deposit, while the ECN Institutional account caters to active traders, requiring a $20,000 minimum deposit, with commission rates of $2 per side. Both brokers share a rating of 4.5 stars for commissions and fees.
In the rankings by ForexBrokers.com, City Index holds the 14th position, while BlackBull Markets is placed slightly lower at 18th out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category. Both brokers present solid options depending on trading volume needs and account requirements, with distinctive features like rebates and account exclusivity providing added value to traders.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.71 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.71 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing City Index and BlackBull Markets for their range of available investments, both platforms offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, ensuring traders have access to this popular market segment. City Index provides around 13,500 tradeable symbols, while BlackBull Markets has a larger selection with 26,000 symbols available. For forex pairs, BlackBull Markets leads slightly, offering 72 pairs compared to City Index's 66. While both brokers enable copy trading and crypto derivatives, they do not support purchasing actual cryptocurrency. When it comes to investing in exchange-traded securities, BlackBull Markets offers access to these assets on both U.S. and international exchanges, unlike City Index, which does not provide this feature.
In terms of investment range ratings, both City Index and BlackBull Markets receive a perfect 5-star rating for the breadth of their offerings. However, in ForexBrokers.com's ranking of 62 brokers, BlackBull Markets secures a higher position, coming in at #6, whereas City Index is ranked #8. This indicates that while both brokers offer extensive investment opportunities, BlackBull Markets holds an edge with a broader scope of tradeable symbols and exchange-traded securities, appealing to a diverse range of trading preferences.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 72 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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.
City Index and BlackBull Markets both offer a variety of trading platforms and tools to cater to diverse trading needs. Both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, enabling traders to test their strategies without financial risk. While BlackBull Markets does not have a proprietary platform, City Index features one developed in-house. Both brokers support trading through Windows-based desktop downloads and web browsers, ensuring versatile access. Copy trading services are available from both platforms, and they each offer support for the widely-used MetaTrader 4. However, BlackBull Markets also supports MetaTrader 5, providing an extra option for technical traders. Although neither broker supports DupliTrade, BlackBull Markets includes ZuluTrade for those interested in social trading. City Index offers direct trading from their stock charts and an impressive 239 drawing tools for charting, compared to BlackBull Markets' 60.
When it comes to watch lists, City Index provides 11 columns for more detailed market tracking, while BlackBull Markets provides 6. In terms of platform ratings and ranks, City Index stands out with a score of 4.5 stars and is ranked #10 among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for trading platforms and tools. BlackBull Markets follows with a respectable 4-star rating and a rank of #29. Overall, while both platforms offer substantial features, City Index might appeal to traders looking for a custom-built platform and more advanced charting tools, while BlackBull Markets offers broader MetaTrader compatibility and social trading capabilities.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 109 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 60 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
City Index and BlackBull Markets both provide excellent mobile trading apps accessible on iPhone and Android devices, catering to traders who value flexibility and convenience. Both platforms offer essential features like stock and forex price alerts, synchronization of watchlist symbols with online accounts, and the capability to draw trendlines and view varied time frames on charts. However, City Index offers a more extensive selection of technical studies for charting, with 88 options available compared to BlackBull's 30, giving technical analysts a richer set of tools to work with. Additionally, both apps are designed to save your chart drawings automatically, ensuring that your technical work is never lost.
When it comes to watchlists, both City Index and BlackBull Markets allow the creation of lists with real-time quotes, enhancing the user experience by keeping traders updated with the latest market movements. In terms of user satisfaction, City Index shines slightly brighter with a 4.5-star rating compared to BlackBull's 4 stars. This is further represented in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where City Index holds the 9th spot out of 62 brokers for mobile trading apps, while BlackBull Markets is positioned at 31st. These rankings highlight City Index's slight edge over BlackBull Markets in delivering a more comprehensive mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 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.
Both City Index and BlackBull Markets deliver daily market commentary, keeping traders informed with updates. However, City Index has an edge with top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which BlackBull Markets lacks. For those leaning on technical analysis, City Index shines with tools from Trading Central, while BlackBull Markets stands out with offerings from Autochartist. Both platforms provide sentiment-based tools, reflecting long or short positions across markets, ensuring balanced insights for traders.
In addition to technical tools and commentary, both brokers offer comprehensive economic calendars to track global financial events. However, neither provides market insights from TipRanks or Acuity Trading's Signal Centre. With a research rating of 4.5 stars compared to BlackBull Markets' 4 stars, City Index is placed higher in ForexBrokers.com's rankings, holding the 10th spot out of 62 brokers, while BlackBull Markets ranks 18th. This marks City Index as a slightly more comprehensive choice for market research enthusiasts.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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 educational resources available to beginners between City Index and BlackBull Markets, both brokers shine with a comprehensive arsenal of learning tools. Each platform offers more than 10 educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, such as articles, videos, and recorded webinars. Beginners will appreciate the availability of at least 10 starter videos tailored to novice traders, presenting accessible introductions to trading principles. Every month, users can engage with live webinars and access a wealth of knowledge through searchable archives of past sessions. Furthermore, both brokers provide a detailed investor dictionary to help users master over 50 investing terms, promoting a deeper understanding of trading terminology.
Despite the similarities, there are distinctions in their overall educational ratings. City Index slightly edges out with a rating of 4.5 stars for its educational offerings, while BlackBull Markets comes in with a respectable 4 stars. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where City Index holds the #9 spot, distinguishing itself as a top contender among 62 brokers in the Education category. Meanwhile, BlackBull Markets is positioned at #29, still a commendable ranking, but indicating room for improvement compared to City Index.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 City Index is better than BlackBull Markets. City Index finished with an overall rank of #8, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24.
Backed by StoneX Group, City Index is a trusted brand known for its versatile trading platforms, excellent mobile app, diverse market research, and extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
City Index
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BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 |
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Both City Index and BlackBull Markets do not provide the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but each offers the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, City Index stands out for offering ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options for deposits and withdrawals, while BlackBull Markets provides Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options, but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal facilities.
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 | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Regulation | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Year Founded | 1983 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13500 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 66 | 72 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.71 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.71 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 109 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 60 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 88 | 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 | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | City Index Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | City Index | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | City Index Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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