Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of BlackBull Markets vs IFC 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.
BlackBull Markets, established in 2014, is a non-bank online broker that isn't publicly traded. It holds a Tier-1 license, indicating a high level of trust, helping it achieve a Trust Score of 78 out of 99, which places it within the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. This broker provides clients with a balance of credibility and experience, supported by a decade of market presence.
IFC Markets, founded in 2006, also operates as a non-bank entity and is not listed on any stock exchange. Although it doesn't have a Tier-1 license, it possesses a Tier-2 license, marking it as a trusted broker, with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 73. With a longer history than BlackBull Markets, IFC Markets remains a viable choice for users seeking a trusted broker that has stood the test of time.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing BlackBull Markets and IFC Markets in terms of commissions and fees, BlackBull Markets offers a variety of account types to accommodate different trading needs. With three distinct accounts, BlackBull Markets presents options ranging from commission-free trading to accounts with competitive costs for lower spreads. For instance, the Standard account is free of commission and has no minimum deposit, though it features higher spreads. Meanwhile, the Prime account stands out with an appealing spread of 0.16 on the EUR/USD, a low per-side commission of 0.3 pips, and a $2,000 minimum deposit, making it an attractive choice for those who want a balance of cost-efficiency and flexibility. The ECN Institutional account is geared towards active traders who can meet a $20,000 minimum deposit, offering even lower commission rates of $2 per side.
While BlackBull Markets provides detailed information on their trading costs, IFC Markets does not disclose average spread data, which might make cost evaluation less transparent. This lack of information could potentially influence a trader’s choice, especially when considered alongside BlackBull Markets' structured account offerings and transparent pricing model.
In terms of star ratings and rankings, BlackBull Markets holds a slight edge over IFC Markets. BlackBull Markets boasts a 4.5-star rating and ranks 18th out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category according to ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets, on the other hand, has a 4-star rating and ranks 39th in the same category, suggesting that while both brokers offer competitive trading conditions, BlackBull Markets might be the more appealing option for cost-conscious traders.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing BlackBull Markets and IFC Markets for their available range of investments, BlackBull Markets offers a significant advantage. With access to 26,000 tradeable symbols, including 72 forex pairs, BlackBull Markets provides a broader variety for investors. Additionally, it allows clients to purchase exchange-traded securities from both the U.S. and international exchanges. In contrast, IFC Markets provides access to 630 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs but does not offer the ability to buy U.S. stocks directly. Both platforms support copy trading and the opportunity to buy cryptocurrency derivatives, delivering diverse trading experiences.
In terms of ratings, BlackBull Markets shines with a 5-star rating for its range of investments, being ranked 6th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, IFC Markets holds a 3.5-star rating in this category and is positioned at 43rd in the same ranking. This substantial difference in rankings underscores BlackBull Markets' comprehensive offering and breadth of available investment options, appealing to traders seeking extensive market exposure. Whether you're interested in forex, equities, or derivatives, BlackBull Markets emerges as a more versatile choice between the two.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 630 |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing BlackBull Markets and IFC Markets, both online brokers provide a variety of trading platforms and tools aimed to satisfy both novice and experienced traders. BlackBull Markets offers a wide range of trading features including MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) along with a Windows-based desktop download and a web-based trading platform. While they do not provide a proprietary platform, they excel with additional offerings like ZuluTrade and the ability to launch trades directly from stock charts. BlackBull Markets also supports simulated trading via a free virtual demo account, making practice easy and accessible. With robust drawing tools, 60 in total, traders find ample resources for charting and analysis.
On the other hand, IFC Markets distinguishes itself by offering a proprietary platform developed in-house, appealing to traders looking for a unique interface. Also providing MT4 and MT5 platforms, IFC Markets supports trading both through desktop downloads and web-based trading options. Like BlackBull, they offer a free virtual demo account and support copy trading services, although not through ZuluTrade. IFC Markets provides 15 drawing tools for charting needs, somewhat fewer than BlackBull, but offers slightly more columns for watch lists, with seven fields available. Both brokers receive a four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, though BlackBull Markets ranks slightly higher at #28 compared to IFC Markets at #36 among 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of BlackBull Markets and IFC Markets, both brokers deliver a comprehensive experience with their iPhone and Android apps. Whether you're keeping an eye on the latest stock or forex prices, or setting up alerts, both platforms ensure you stay informed. They each support watchlist symbol syncing, allowing any changes you make to your watchlists to sync seamlessly across devices. For traders focused on chart analysis, both apps offer 30 technical studies, trendline drawing capabilities, and the flexibility to view multiple time frames. Additionally, automatic saving of chart drawings and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes are standard on both apps.
Despite these similarities, there are some distinctions when it comes to user ratings and rankings. Both apps are rated four out of five stars for their overall mobile trading performance. However, ForexBrokers.com ranks BlackBull Markets higher, placing it at #30 out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, whereas IFC Markets comes in at #52. This ranking might reflect subtle differences in user experience or additional features that enhance the trading process on the go.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| 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 it comes to market research offerings, both BlackBull Markets and IFC Markets provide traders with daily market commentary, ensuring them updates on key market movements. However, BlackBull Markets stands out with its integration of Autochartist tools, providing users with advanced technical analysis capabilities, which IFC Markets lacks. Both brokers do not offer forex news from major sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, nor do they feature tools from Trading Central or Acuity Trading. Additionally, both offer sentiment-based trading tools, allowing traders to understand the market's current sentiment across various instruments. Furthermore, they each include an economic calendar to keep traders informed of global news events.
In terms of ratings, BlackBull Markets holds a slightly higher score of 4 stars for research, compared to IFC Markets' 3.5 stars. This is reflected in their rankings, with BlackBull Markets positioned at #18 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets sits at #40. Despite the similarities in some research offerings, BlackBull Markets' additional technical tools and slightly better rating make it a more attractive option for traders seeking comprehensive research capabilities.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| 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.
BlackBull Markets and IFC Markets both provide beginner traders with a solid foundation in forex and CFD education, offering over ten educational resources each. These include articles, videos, and webinars tailored to enhance understanding of trading concepts. However, BlackBull Markets stands out with its regular monthly webinars and a searchable archive of recorded webinars, making it easier for traders to find relevant past sessions. Although IFC Markets does not offer regular webinars or a recorded archive, both brokers cater to beginners with ample educational videos and maintain comprehensive investor dictionaries, featuring definitions of over 50 investing terms.
In terms of educational quality, BlackBull Markets holds a slight edge with a 4-star rating compared to IFC Markets’ 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, BlackBull Markets ranks #29 out of 62 brokers in the Education category, just a step ahead of IFC Markets, which ranks #30. This indicates that while both brokers provide valuable educational resources, BlackBull Markets may offer a slightly more structured and accessible learning experience for novice traders.
| Feature |
BlackBull Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 BlackBull Markets is better than IFC Markets. BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
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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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 73 |
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BlackBull Markets and IFC Markets both allow trading in cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies for delivery.
When comparing online brokers BlackBull Markets and IFC Markets, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, while Skrill is available with BlackBull Markets but not IFC Markets; however, both brokers allow transactions via Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 78 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 26000 | 630 | |
| 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). |
| Cost | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.71 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.71 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC 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 | 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | BlackBull Markets | IFC 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 | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | BlackBull Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 78 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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