Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
Founded in 2008, Plus500 has built a solid reputation as a highly trusted online broker. It boasts a top-tier Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating a high level of trustworthiness. As a publicly traded company, Plus500 is not a bank but holds an impressive six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, emphasizing its strong regulatory standing and customer confidence. This status is bolstered by its listings on a stock exchange, providing an additional layer of transparency and reliability for its clients.
In contrast, BlackBull Markets, established in 2014, presents a different profile. While not publicly traded, it holds one Tier-1 license. It has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 78 out of 99, positioning it at average risk. Despite being a relatively newer entrant in the trading arena and not a bank, BlackBull Markets aims to offer its clients a dependable trading experience but without the extensive regulatory backing seen with Plus500.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing online brokers Plus500 to BlackBull Markets in terms of commissions and fees, there are key differences that potential traders should consider. Plus500 has a slightly above-average cost structure compared to the industry norms. Despite this, they do not offer discounts to retail clients but do provide cash rebates for those qualifying as Professional clients. For instance, the EUR/USD spreads at Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is relatively higher than many of its competitors. Plus500 holds a 4.0-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked #25 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, BlackBull Markets offers three account types that cater to different trading preferences, meaning their trading costs can vary. Their Prime account, which is favored for its lower trading costs, offers an average spread of 0.16 pips on the EUR/USD pair for March 2024, translating to an all-in cost of 0.76 when including commission fees. These fees include a $6 commission per 10,000 traded, keeping the Prime account attractive compared to the Standard account, which is commission-free but has higher spreads. BlackBull Markets earns a 4.5-star rating for its fees and is ranked #18 among the same 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
The accounts at BlackBull cater to different trading needs: the Standard account offers no commission and low entry barriers but at the cost of higher spreads; the Prime account requires a $2,000 deposit but gives users access to tighter spreads and moderate commission costs; and the ECN Institutional account is tailored for serious traders with a minimum deposit of $20,000 and lower commission rates. These varying account options demonstrate BlackBull Markets' competitive edge in providing tailored solutions alongside competitive pricing structures.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 0.71 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.71 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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.
When comparing the range of investments offered by Plus500 and BlackBull Markets, both brokers provide opportunities for forex trading either as a CFD or spot contract. However, BlackBull Markets stands out with a significantly larger offering of 26,000 tradeable symbols compared to Plus500's 5,500. In forex pairs, BlackBull Markets again has the edge with 72 pairs available, slightly surpassing Plus500's 65. Both brokers allow trading of U.S. and international stocks like Apple and Vodafone, but only BlackBull Markets provides copy trading capabilities. Neither platform offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, though they both provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives.
In terms of recognition within the industry, Plus500 holds a solid 4.5-star rating for its range of investments, sitting at the 24th spot among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, BlackBull Markets receives a higher rating of 5 stars and ranks 6th, reflecting a more comprehensive suite of investment options. Whether you prioritize variety in tradeable symbols or the addition of features like copy trading, BlackBull Markets may prove more appealing for those seeking extensive investment opportunities. On the other hand, Plus500 remains a strong choice for investors satisfied with a slightly smaller array of options and features.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 72 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 offered by Plus500 and BlackBull Markets, both provide investors with the option to test their strategies with a free virtual demo account. Plus500 shines with its in-house developed proprietary platform, supporting web-based trading but lacks a desktop download option. In contrast, BlackBull Markets offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) for desktop users on Windows, which are popular among traders for their extensive range of tools. However, it does not provide its own developed platform. Plus500 does not support copy trading, while BlackBull Markets provides this feature through ZuluTrade.
For charting, Plus500 offers 22 drawing tools and 10 watch list columns, while BlackBull Markets surpasses this with 60 drawing tools but offers only 6 watch list columns. Additionally, BlackBull Markets enables trading directly from charts, a feature that Plus500 lacks. In terms of performance, Plus500 is rated slightly higher with 4.5 stars compared to BlackBull Markets' 4 stars for trading platforms and tools. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 is ranked 14th among 62 brokers for trading platforms and tools, whereas BlackBull Markets holds the 29th position.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 109 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 60 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Plus500 and BlackBull Markets cater to iPhone and Android users, ensuring you can trade anytime, anywhere. Each app supports price alerts, watchlist syncing, and provides various time frames for stock and forex charts. However, Plus500 shines in charting tools with 110 technical studies, significantly more than the 30 offered by BlackBull Markets. While both allow trendline drawing, only BlackBull Markets saves your chart drawings automatically. Both apps accommodate the creation of detailed watchlists with real-time quotes, keeping traders informed on the go.
In terms of user ratings, Plus500 has the upper hand, scoring 4.5 out of 5 stars compared to BlackBull Markets' 4 stars. This user feedback aligns with their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Plus500 ranks 14th, notably ahead of BlackBull Markets' 31st place. These rankings reflect not only the technical features but also the overall user satisfaction with each app's functionality. Choosing between these two might come down to your preference for more extensive charting tools or automatic chart-saving features.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 | 110 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
In comparing the market research offerings of Plus500 and BlackBull Markets, both brokers provide daily market commentary along with sentiment-based trading tools, ensuring traders stay informed and make insightful decisions. They also offer an economic calendar to help track global news events. However, only Plus500 provides access to Trading Central's technical analysis tools, while BlackBull Markets utilizes the resources from Autochartist, catering to traders with different analytical preferences.
Neither Plus500 nor BlackBull Markets deliver forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, and they don't include research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. Despite these similarities, Plus500 slightly edges out with a marginally higher research rating of 4 stars and ranks #19, compared to BlackBull Markets, which holds a similar research rating of 4 stars but ranks one place higher at #18 among 62 brokers, as per ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | 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.
Both Plus500 and BlackBull Markets provide educational resources that cater to individuals looking to begin their journey in forex and CFDs trading. They both boast a collection of at least ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, that primarily focus on these trading subjects. Additionally, they each host online webinars for their clients monthly, ensuring continuous learning opportunities. Importantly, those who miss live sessions can access a searchable archive of recorded webinars, enabling flexible learning on demand.
When it comes to beginner-friendly content, both platforms rise to the occasion by offering over ten educational videos that focus specifically on introductory trading topics. For those seeking more advanced knowledge, both brokers again provide a similar number of videos tailored for experienced traders. However, BlackBull Markets distinguishes itself by including an investor dictionary that covers over 50 investing terms, which is an area where Plus500 falls short. In terms of educational ratings, both brokers score 4 out of 5 stars and are close in ranking, with Plus500 positioned at #31 and BlackBull Markets slightly ahead at #29 according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Plus500 is better than BlackBull Markets. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Plus500 and BlackBull Markets do not allow purchasing actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both Plus500 and BlackBull Markets support Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing funds, Plus500 exclusively offers PayPal, whereas neither platform provides ACH or SEPA transfers as funding 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 72 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 0.71 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.71 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 109 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 60 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | 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 | 110 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | 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 | Plus500 Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill