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 |
When comparing online brokers City Index and BlackBull Markets, both have competitive pricing structures, but each offers unique features for their fees and commissions. City Index, with a 4.5-star rating, ranks 14th out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com. Their pricing for CFDs, forex, and spread-betting is generally aligned with the industry standard. The average spread on the EUR/USD is 0.74 pips, comparable to the market but not the most competitive. They offer a Premium Trader account for those who deposit over £10,000, providing exclusive pricing, events, and dedicated customer service. Additionally, active traders can benefit from rebates, starting at £4 per million for volumes exceeding £25 million per month, and reaching up to £7.5 per million for volumes over £300 million.
BlackBull Markets, also rated 4.5 stars and ranked 19th by ForexBrokers.com, offers varied trading costs based on three account types: Standard, Prime, and ECN Institutional. The Prime account emerges as the preferred choice for its lower spreads of 0.16 pips on the EUR/USD, which translates to an average all-in cost of 0.76 after including a commission of $6 per 10,000 traded. While the Standard account offers a commission-free structure with higher spreads, the ECN Institutional is tailored for active traders with a substantial deposit of at least $20,000, featuring the lowest commission rates within BlackBull Markets.
In summary, both City Index and BlackBull Markets present viable choices for traders, each with a different approach to fees. City Index’s appeal lies in its rebates and exclusive Premium Trader benefits, though it has slightly higher average spreads. BlackBull Markets is attractive for its lower spread Prime account options, albeit with a higher deposit threshold. Both brokers provide excellent service, each earning a commendable 4.5-star rating, ensuring traders find value depending on their trading needs and preferences.
| Feature |
City Index
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100.00 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.76 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.76 |
| 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 simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing you to get comfortable with their platforms without any financial risk. City Index has developed its own proprietary trading platform in-house, setting it apart from BlackBull Markets, which does not offer a proprietary platform but provides a strong alternative by supporting MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Both brokers offer Windows-based desktop platforms, web-based trading platforms, and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4), with BlackBull Markets also offering ZuluTrade for those interested in social trading.
When it comes to charting tools, City Index excels with 239 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from stock charts, while BlackBull Markets provides 60 drawing tools. For managing trades, City Index's watch list feature has 11 customizable columns, compared to BlackBull Markets' six. Overall, City Index receives a higher rating of 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, securing the #10 spot in ForexBrokers.com's rankings. In comparison, BlackBull Markets earns 4 stars, ranking at #28. Whether you prioritize a proprietary platform or a range of customizable options, both brokers offer strong choices depending on your trading needs.
| 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.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of City Index and BlackBull Markets, both offer iPhone and Android compatibility, along with features like stock and forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, and the ability to view multiple time frames on charts. However, City Index stands out with its highly rated app, scoring 4.5 stars, compared to BlackBull Markets' 4 stars. It also boasts a higher ranking for mobile trading apps, positioned at #9 by ForexBrokers.com, whereas BlackBull Markets is ranked #30.
In terms of technical capabilities, City Index provides users with 88 technical studies for chart analysis, surpassing BlackBull Markets, which offers 30. Both apps allow drawing trendlines and auto-saving these drawings on charts, as well as creating watchlists with real-time quotes. This makes City Index a more attractive choice for traders looking for a highly rated and feature-rich 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 | 0.76 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.74 | 0.76 | |
| 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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