Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
Established in 1996, Swissquote stands as a highly trusted online broker, offering a Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded bank with an impressive five Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, Swissquote provides a secure and reliable platform for trading. Its dual role as both a financial institution and a broker adds a level of safety and assurance that is difficult to match in the financial markets.
In contrast, BlackBull Markets, founded in 2014, operates as a younger player in the brokerage field. It is privately owned and does not function as a bank. The platform holds one Tier-1 license, and with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 78 out of 99, it is considered to represent an average risk. While it may serve as a viable option for some traders, it lacks the comprehensive regulatory backing and financial transparency that Swissquote provides.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers Swissquote and BlackBull Markets, the choice can significantly impact traders' bottom lines. Swissquote provides the reassurance of Swiss banking strength but comes with higher trading costs that are divided among its various international branches. Swissquote's U.K. subsidiary offers relatively better pricing within the group, with options like the Elite account that requires a $10,000 deposit and charges $5 per round-turn trade, delivering a more competitive cost for active traders. Meanwhile, Swissquote's Standard and Prime accounts offer higher spreads, with the latter also necessitating a substantial $50,000 deposit.
On the other hand, BlackBull Markets presents a cost structure that is about average but offers attractive accounts for traders seeking varying levels of investment and cost efficiency. The Prime account stands out with a spread as low as 0.16 pips on the EUR/USD pair, although it requires a $2,000 minimum deposit and adds a $6 commission per lot round turn. For traders prioritizing lower entry barriers, the commission-free Standard account has no deposit requirement—albeit with higher spreads—while the ECN Institutional account is designed for larger investments, necessitating a $20,000 deposit with reduced commission costs.
In terms of star ratings and rankings, BlackBull Markets receives a commendable 4.5 stars out of 5 for its commissions and fees, securing the 18th spot among 62 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Swissquote earns 3.5 stars and ranks 52nd on the same list, making BlackBull Markets a more cost-efficient choice overall for traders looking at commissions and fee structures.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.71 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.71 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | 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 it comes to the variety of available investments, both Swissquote and BlackBull Markets offer strong options for traders. Swissquote provides 472 tradeable symbols and access to 80 forex pairs, giving clients numerous choices in the forex domain. In comparison, BlackBull Markets boasts a significantly larger selection with 26,000 tradeable symbols but slightly fewer forex pairs at 72. Both brokers support trading of exchange-traded securities on major U.S. and international exchanges, allowing investors to buy shares in well-known companies like Apple and Vodafone. Additionally, these brokers offer forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract, and both support copy trading features for those interested in mirroring the strategies of experienced traders.
The offerings diverge when it comes to cryptocurrency. Swissquote allows clients to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, which is not an option at BlackBull Markets. Instead, BlackBull Markets, like Swissquote, provides options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives. With both brokers achieving a 5-star rating for their range of investments, Swissquote holds a slight edge being ranked #2 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while BlackBull Markets is positioned at #6. This distinction highlights Swissquote's comprehensive offering, particularly in cryptocurrencies, as a notable strength over BlackBull Markets.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 72 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
Swissquote and BlackBull Markets both offer a wide range of trading platforms and tools, making them suitable for traders of all levels. Swissquote stands out with its in-house developed proprietary platform, alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while BlackBull Markets relies on the popular MT4 and MT5 platforms. Both brokers provide web-based and Windows desktop trading platforms, and support features like copy trading. However, only BlackBull Markets offers integration with ZuluTrade for social trading enthusiasts.
When it comes to simulated trading experiences, both brokers provide virtual demo accounts, which is helpful for new traders to practice without risks. In terms of charting tools, Swissquote offers 75 drawing tools, compared to BlackBull Markets' 60. Moreover, watchlist customization is more extensive with Swissquote, offering 11 fields compared to six in BlackBull Markets. These differences contribute to Swissquote's higher user satisfaction, reflected by its 4.5-star rating and ranking of 12th out of 62 brokers for trading platforms and tools, compared to BlackBull Markets' 4-star rating and 28th ranking.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 109 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 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 Swissquote and BlackBull Markets, both offer a comprehensive package to their users. Both platforms provide iPhone and Android apps, ensuring accessibility for a broad range of devices. App users can receive important notifications like stock or forex price alerts, and they have the capability to draw trendlines and view charts across multiple time frames, such as daily or intraday. Each app includes 30 technical studies for charting, and drawings on charts are automatically saved, aiding in seamless mobile trading experiences.
However, some differences set the two apart. Swissquote's app is rated slightly higher at 4.5 stars compared to BlackBull Markets' 4 stars, and it ranks 11th among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com for mobile trading. BlackBull Markets sits at the 30th position. A notable advantage of BlackBull Markets is its watchlist syncing feature, which syncs changes made between the mobile app and online account—a convenience Swissquote doesn’t offer. Despite the strengths on both sides, Swissquote slightly edges out BlackBull Markets in user satisfaction and ranking.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | 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 comparing Swissquote and BlackBull Markets in terms of market research tools, both brokers offer daily market commentary, providing traders with valuable insights and analysis. However, Swissquote stands out by offering forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, while BlackBull Markets does not. Both brokers provide technical analysis tools from Autochartist, giving their users access to valuable chart patterns and trading signals. Neither broker, however, provides tools from Trading Central, and Swissquote lacks a sentiment-based trading tool, which BlackBull Markets offers to display long or short position ratios across currencies.
Additionally, both Swissquote and BlackBull Markets provide economic calendars that present current and upcoming global news events, crucial for traders keeping an eye on international economies. Despite some differences, both brokers receive a solid four-star rating for their research offerings. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote is slightly ahead, ranked 16th among 62 brokers, while BlackBull Markets holds the 18th spot, underscoring their relative parity in delivering market research capabilities to traders.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for budding traders, both Swissquote and BlackBull Markets offer a robust selection. Each provides more than ten pieces of content, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, dedicated to Forex and CFDs. They also host regular online webinars for clients, ensuring valuable learning opportunities each month, with all sessions easily accessible in a searchable archive. For those just starting out, both platforms have tailored at least ten beginner-focused educational videos on trading topics, making it easier to grasp essential concepts in a user-friendly format.
Advanced traders are not left behind, as Swissquote and BlackBull Markets also cater to seasoned investors with over ten advanced educational videos each. For those looking to brush up on their terminology, both brokers maintain an investor dictionary with definitions of more than 50 investing terms. While Swissquote and BlackBull Markets both achieve a four-star rating in education, Swissquote holds a slight edge, ranking 21st out of 62 brokers, compared to BlackBull Markets at 29th, according to ForexBrokers.com. This makes both brokers solid choices for educational resources, catering comprehensively to beginners and experienced traders alike.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than BlackBull Markets. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #24.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Swissquote allows users to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and also offers cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas BlackBull Markets provides the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but does not support the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
When comparing online brokers Swissquote and BlackBull Markets, Swissquote stands out by offering a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, and Skrill, whereas BlackBull Markets does not support ACH or SEPA and only supports Skrill, with both brokers providing access to Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers.
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 | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | 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 | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 72 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.71 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.71 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 109 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 60 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | 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 | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill