Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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.
IG vs BlackBull Markets: Based on ForexBrokers.com, IG earns a Trust Score of 99/99, which falls in the “highly trusted” range (90–99). BlackBull Markets scores 77/99, which places it in the “average risk” range (70–79). These scores help signal overall safety and oversight for everyday traders.
IG, founded in 1974, is publicly traded and a bank, holding 8 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). BlackBull Markets, founded in 2014, is not publicly traded and not a bank, with 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. In short, IG offers broader regulatory coverage and a higher trust rating than BlackBull Markets.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG and BlackBull Markets both offer competitive trading costs, but they suit different types of traders. IG is a stronger pick for active forex traders who want better pricing on higher volumes, especially through its Forex Direct DMA account. On its main Forex Direct offering, IG’s EUR/USD spread averaged 0.62 pips in July 2023, with an all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission. IG is rated 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #7 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
BlackBull Markets has average overall trading costs, with pricing that changes depending on the account you choose. Its Standard account has no commission and no minimum deposit, but spreads are wider. The Prime account is the best value for many traders, with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.16 in March 2024 and an all-in cost of about 0.76 pips after commission, though it requires a $2,000 minimum deposit. BlackBull Markets is rated 4.5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #9 out of 36 brokers.
In simple terms, IG is the better choice for traders who want access to tiered pricing, active trader rebates, and strong execution on larger orders. BlackBull Markets can be appealing if you want a low-cost Standard account with no minimum deposit, or if you are willing to fund a Prime or ECN account to get tighter spreads and pay commissions. For overall commissions and fees, IG has a slight edge in the rankings, while BlackBull Markets offers a solid but more account-dependent pricing structure.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.16 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.76 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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IG and BlackBull Markets both give traders a wide choice of markets, including forex CFDs and spot forex trading, plus access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, while BlackBull Markets offers a larger overall selection with 26,000 tradeable symbols but fewer forex pairs at 72. Both brokers also let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs, but only IG offers the option to buy actual cryptocurrency. BlackBull Markets stands out for copy trading, which IG does not provide.
When it comes to range of investments, both brokers earn top marks, with 5 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com. In the same category, IG ranks #4 out of 36 brokers, compared with BlackBull Markets at #7, which suggests both are strong choices for market access, with IG better for forex pair choice and crypto ownership, and BlackBull Markets better for the overall number of tradeable instruments and copy trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 26000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 72 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
IG and BlackBull Markets both give traders a solid set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Both also let you trade directly from charts, which can make order entry faster and easier. IG adds its own in-house platform, while BlackBull Markets does not offer a proprietary platform.
When it comes to extra tools, BlackBull Markets stands out for copy trading, which IG does not support. That said, IG comes out ahead overall for trading platforms and tools, with a 5-star rating and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with BlackBull Markets’ 4-star rating and #25 ranking. For traders who want a wider range of platform options and a top-rated experience, IG has the edge, while BlackBull Markets may appeal more to those interested in copy trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 109 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and BlackBull Markets both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, watchlist syncing, trendline drawing, and auto-saved chart drawings. That means you can keep up with the markets and make changes from your phone while having your watchlists stay in sync with your online account.
Where IG stands out is in its mobile charting and overall app quality. IG offers 33 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at BlackBull Markets, and it earns a 5-star rating for Mobile Trading Apps versus 4 stars for BlackBull Markets. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking of 36 brokers, IG is placed #1 for mobile trading apps, while BlackBull Markets sits at #28, making IG the stronger choice for traders who want a better all-around mobile experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG stands out for market research because it combines daily market commentary with news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. It also adds several helpful tools, including Autochartist, a sentiment tool that shows long-versus-short positioning, TipRanks research, Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, and an economic calendar for tracking key global events. BlackBull Markets also offers daily market commentary, Autochartist, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, but it does not include top-tier news, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
In simple terms, IG gives traders more ways to follow market news and spot possible opportunities, which helps explain its 5-star Research rating and #2 ranking out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. BlackBull Markets still provides useful research features and earns a solid 4.5-star Research rating, but its smaller set of tools places it lower at #17 out of 36. For traders who want the wider mix of research resources, IG has the edge.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG and BlackBull Markets both give beginners plenty of learning support, with each broker offering forex and CFDs education, monthly client webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find lessons on both the basics and more experienced trading topics, along with live sessions to help explain how the markets work. For someone just starting out, both platforms provide a solid range of educational content in easy-to-access formats.
That said, IG stands out as the stronger choice for education overall. It earns a perfect 5-star Education rating and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers, while BlackBull Markets is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #24. So while both brokers are well equipped to help beginners learn, IG offers the stronger education offering and the better track record in this category.
| Feature |
IG
|
BlackBull Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than BlackBull Markets. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while BlackBull Markets finished with an overall rank of #22.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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BlackBull Markets
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 77 |
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Comparing online brokers IG and BlackBull Markets: IG allows investors to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade crypto CFDs, whereas BlackBull Markets supports cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not offer direct, delivered coin purchases.
IG vs BlackBull Markets: both online brokers support ACH/SEPA and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, but IG offers PayPal (not Skrill) while BlackBull Markets offers Skrill (not PayPal); Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 77 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Regulation | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 77 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 26000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 72 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.16 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.76 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 109 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
| Overall | IG | BlackBull Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 77 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | BlackBull Markets Review |
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