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.
When comparing Swissquote and BlackBull Markets, it's clear both online brokers cater to different needs. Swissquote, established in 1996, enjoys high trust with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99. As a publicly traded bank, Swissquote holds five Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, which signifies a strong regulatory standing. BlackBull Markets, founded in 2014, operates as a privately held company and is not a bank. It holds one Tier-1 license and has a Trust Score of 78, placing it in the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com.
Swissquote's status as a publicly listed bank with multiple high-level licenses provides clients with a layer of security and transparency not found in all brokers. In contrast, BlackBull Markets offers a unique appeal to traders seeking a newer brokerage with a different framework, although it has fewer licenses. Understanding these nuances can help prospective clients choose the broker that best aligns with their needs and risk appetite.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Swissquote and BlackBull Markets, there are notable differences to consider for forex traders. Swissquote offers various account options depending on its geographical operations, with its U.K. entity generally having lower costs than its Swiss and Luxembourg counterparts. However, fees are generally higher compared to some budget-friendly brokers. Swissquote's Elite account in the U.K. offers competitive spreads when combined with a $5 fee per round-turn trade, while its Standard account comes with higher entry-level spreads. In Luxembourg, spreads range from 0.8 to 1.5 pips, varying by account type and deposit requirements.
Meanwhile, BlackBull Markets provides a structured approach with three account options that cater to different trading needs. The Standard account is commission-free with no minimum deposit, albeit with higher spreads. Their Prime account, which requires a $2,000 minimum deposit, offers a competitive spread of 0.16 pips on EUR/USD with an additional cost of $6 for a round turn. BlackBull also offers an ECN Institutional account for serious traders exceeding deposits of $20,000, featuring commissions of $4 per round turn.
In terms of ratings and industry rankings, BlackBull Markets distinguishes itself with a 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees, placing it 19th out of 62 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com assessment. In contrast, Swissquote earns a 3.5-star rating and ranks 52nd in the same category. These factors make BlackBull Markets a strong contender for cost-efficient trading, especially for those prioritizing low commissions and fees.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.76 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.76 |
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Swissquote and BlackBull Markets, several key differences and similarities emerge. Both brokers provide simulated trading through a free virtual demo account, allowing new traders to practice without financial risk. Swissquote and BlackBull Markets support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), popular platforms among traders. However, Swissquote offers a proprietary platform developed in-house, adding a unique touch to its services. BlackBull Markets lacks this feature, which might appeal to those preferring diversified platform choices. Both brokers offer Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based trading options, enhancing accessibility and flexibility for their users.
For advanced features, Swissquote takes the lead with 75 drawing tools for charting, compared to BlackBull Markets' 60. This advantage, combined with the ability to trade directly from stock charts by both brokers, enhances the trading experience. Watch list customization provides further insight into their offerings: Swissquote offers 11 columns for detailed tracking, while BlackBull Markets offers 6. Swissquote receives a notable 4.5-star rating for trading platforms and tools, ranking 11th out of 62 brokers. In contrast, BlackBull Markets earns a respectable 4 stars, ranking 28th. While BlackBull Markets includes ZuluTrade for copy trading, Swissquote provides comprehensive tools and flexibility, making it a strong choice for traders seeking depth and customizability in their trading platforms.
| 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.
For traders who rely on mobile apps for their investment activities, both Swissquote and BlackBull Markets offer capable platforms with a variety of useful features. Users of either app can trade using iPhones or Android devices, receive price alerts, draw trendlines, and choose from multiple time frames for viewing charts. Additionally, both apps support real-time watchlists and auto-save any drawings made on stock or forex charts. Each app provides 30 technical studies for detailed chart analysis, catering to traders who value advanced charting capabilities.
While both apps are equipped with features that enhance the trading experience, there are key differences to note. Swissquote does not offer watchlist symbol syncing between its mobile app and online account, a feature available with BlackBull Markets. Despite this, Swissquote earns a higher rating and ranking for its mobile trading app, with a score of 4.5 stars and a #10 ranking by ForexBrokers.com among 62 brokers. In contrast, BlackBull Markets holds a rating of 4 stars and is ranked #30. These distinctions might influence a trader's decision based on preference for seamless syncing or prioritizing overall app performance as recognized by industry reviews.
| 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 |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 |
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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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | BlackBull Markets | |
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| 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 | 1 | 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) | No | 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 | 0.76 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.76 | |
| 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 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 78 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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