If you are reading this article, you’re likely having trouble deciding whether Forex.com or Markets.com is the better Forex trading platform for you. While both platforms generally provide positive user experiences, there are some essential differences to note.

In this Forex.com vs Markets.com review, we outline the highlights of each trading platform to help you make a more informed decision. We evaluate:

Headquarters
United StatesNew Zealand
Regulators
ASIC, BVIFSC, CySEC, FCA, FSCAFMA, FSA
Tier 1 Regulator(s)?
Owned by Public Company?
Year Established
20082014
Execution Type(s)
Market MakerECN/STP, No Dealing Desk
Minimum Deposit
$100 $0
Negative Balance Protection
N/A
Trading Platform(s)
Proprietary platformMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Trading View
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
0.7 pips1.3 pips
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
1.1 pips2.0 pips
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.05 $0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.30 $0.90
Retail Loss Rate
79.90%Undisclosed
Minimum Raw Spreads
Not applicable0.0 pips
Minimum Standard Spreads
0.6 pips0.8 pips
Minimum Commission for Forex
Commission-free$6.00 per round lot
Islamic Account
Signals
US Persons Accepted?
Managed Accounts
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Features and Platforms

MT4
MT5
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons
N/A
cTrader
Proprietary Platform
Automated Trading
Social/Copy Trading
N/A
DOM?
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Scalping
Hedging
One-Click Trading
OCO Orders
Interest on Margin
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The trading environment at Markets.com remains highly competitive. Besides the out-of-the-box MT4/MT5, investors get the proprietary Marketsi trading platform and traders the Marketsx one. Two unique tools, the Investment Strategy Builder and the XRay personalized financial live stream service stand out. Fourteen additional trading tools provide clients with an edge. BlackBull Markets is a New Zealand-based broker and FinTech company and provides clients with a choice between the core MT4/MT5 trading platforms and TradingView. It does maintain technology infrastructure ideal for ECN trading and automated trading solutions, supported via VPS hosting and FIX API trading.

Available Markets

Currency Pairs
Cryptocurrencies
N/A
Commodities
Crude Oil
Gold
Metals
Equity Indices
Stocks (non-CFDs)
Bonds
ETFs
Options
N/A
Futures
Synthetics
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The asset selection at Markets.com consists of 67 currency pairs, 25 cryptocurrency pairs, and 28 commodities. Equity traders get 2,027 equity CFDs, 40 index CFDs, 60 ETFs, 23 in-house themed stock baskets, and four bond CFDs. BlackBull Markets merely lists 30 currency pairs, four commodities, and nine index CFDs. Even for new traders, the available at BlackBull Markets remains inadequate. Markets.com provides one of the most balanced choices of assets, suitable for all types of traders. BlackBull Markets ranks among the brokers with the fewest available assets. Unless it decides to increase them, the technology investment appears wasted.

Typical Spreads and Fees

Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
0.7 pips1.3 pips
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
1.1 pips2.0 pips
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.05 $0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.30 $0.90
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin
$51.50 $24
Minimum Raw Spreads
Not applicable0.0 pips
Minimum Standard Spreads
0.6 pips0.8 pips
Minimum Commission for Forex
Commission-free$6.00 per round lot
Deposit Fee
Withdrawal Fee
Inactivity Fee
N/ANo
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Markets.com features a commission-free Forex pricing environment commencing from 0.6 pips versus 0.8 pips at BlackBull Markets. It results in a minimum difference of $2 per 1.0 standard lot, with $6 at the former and $8 at the latter. BlackBull Markets also has a commission-based option with raw spreads from 0.1 pips for a cost of $6 per lot plus a volume-based rebate program. Therefore, high-frequency traders can achieve a lower trading fee. Other costs to consider are swap rates on leveraged overnight positions, third-party payment processor costs, plus an internal withdrawal levy at BlackBull Markets.

Security and Trust

Country of the Regulator
Australia, Cyprus, United Kingdom, British Virgin Islands, South AfricaNew Zealand, Seychelles
Name of the Regulator
ASIC, BVIFSC, CySEC, FCA, FSCAFMA, FSA
Regulatory License Number
607305, 092/08, 424008, SIBA/L/14/1067, 46860403326, SD045
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Publicly listed Playtech PLC, a constituent of the FTSE250, is the corporate owner of Markets.com, providing a layer of financial stability reserved for only a few brokers. Besides the £/€/$1,000,000 excess of loss insurance policy, Markets.com has regulatory licenses from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC), and the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (FSC). The primary regulator for BlackBull Markets is the New Zealand Financial Monetary Authority (FMA). Client deposits remain segregated at both brokers, and negative balance protection applies.

Markets vs blackbull-markets – Verdict

Investors and traders seeking a trustworthy and competitive broker with an excellent pricing environment will feel at home at Markets.com. Fourteen trading tools, together with the Investment Strategy Builder and the personalized financial live stream service XRay enhance the core trading environment. Investors will manage their portfolios with Marketsi, one of the two proprietary trading platforms. CFD traders can either opt for Marketsx or rely on the MT4/MT5 trading platforms. The asset selection at Markets.com ranks among the most balanced ones. BlackBull Markets only offers out-of-the-box MT4/MT5 trading platforms. It maintains a superior technology infrastructure, ideal for automated trading solutions, as evident by VPS hosting and FIX API trading. The most significant drawback at BlackBull Markets is the asset selection, which remains among the fewest industry-wide. The cost structure remains acceptable, but BlackBull Markets cannot compete with the overall product and services portfolio available at Markets.com.

You might also be interested in reviewing the below broker comparisons:

FAQs

Which trading platform is better: Markets.com or BlackBull Markets?

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Both brokers provide traders with the core MT4/MT trading platforms, but Markets.com also deploys two proprietary alternatives. Overall, Markets.com provides clients with a better selection.

How many Forex pairs and CFDs are available to trade?

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Forex traders at Markets.com have 67 currency pairs versus only 30 at BlackBull Markets. The gap widens in the CFD selection with 2,000+ compared to 13, respectively.

Which broker is better for beginner traders?

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While BlackBull Markets maintains an educational section, the quality remains sub-standard. Markets.com delivers a superior selection of services for beginner traders, with the personalized financial live stream service XRay at its core.

What about MetaTrader and copy trading?

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Markets.com and BlackBull Markets offer traders the MT4/MT5 trading platforms without any of the required upgrades. Both come with integrated copy trading functionalities, but BlackBull Markets also features a video on using ZuluTrade.