ActivTrades vs BlackBull Markets Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and BlackBull Markets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Score 4.3 / 5
2 bonusesFCA-regulated UK broker with 23 years of history, SMSG membership, and a proprietary ActivTrader platform featuring built-in volatility protection - strong in southern European markets.
VS
Score 4.1 / 5
2 bonusesNew Zealand-regulated ECN broker with all three major platforms, no minimum deposit on standard accounts, and good Asia-Pacific coverage.
Our Verdict
ActivTrades winsby 0.2 pts
ActivTrades edges ahead with a score of 4.3/5 vs BlackBull Markets's 4.1/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
BlackBull Markets offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.5 pips for ActivTrades, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
ActivTrades has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Best for active traders
Recommended
BlackBull Markets has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
BlackBull Markets offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, DXtrade.
Best for beginners
Recommended
ActivTrades edges out BlackBull Markets with a higher editorial score (4.3/5 vs 4.1/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
ActivTrades vs BlackBull Markets: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 2014 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | FMA FSC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader TradingView DXtrade |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit BlackBull Markets |
ActivTrades vs BlackBull Markets Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
FCA regulated with supplemental insurance up to GBP 1,000,000 per client
ActivTrader's volatility protection feature is a genuine risk management differentiator
No minimum deposit
Strong southern European presence - Italian, Spanish, Portuguese support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Supports all three major platforms: MT4, MT5, and cTrader
Regulated under FSC - well-established for offshore clients
No minimum deposit on standard account
Good for Asia-Pacific timezone traders
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Product range narrower than IG or Saxo
No cTrader or raw ECN account option
Less known outside Europe compared to global competitors
Cons
ECN commission of $6/lot round-turn is above some peers
Customer support timezone is NZ-centric
Brand recognition outside APAC is limited
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
ActivTrades vs BlackBull Markets: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
2
ActivTrades
criteria wins
1
BlackBull Markets
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | ActivTrades | BlackBull Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Fail |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
ActivTrades vs BlackBull Markets: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, ActivTrades ranks higher with a score of 4.3/5 vs 4.1/5 for BlackBull Markets. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ActivTrades and BlackBull Markets may each suit different trader profiles.
BlackBull Markets offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to ActivTrades's spreads from 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither ActivTrades nor BlackBull Markets requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and BlackBull Markets hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
ActivTrades offers maximum leverage of 400:1, while BlackBull Markets offers up to 500:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
BlackBull Markets charges $6 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader and BlackBull Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, DXtrade; both support MetaTrader 4; ActivTrades exclusively offers ActivTrader; BlackBull Markets exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, DXtrade.
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Score 4.1 / 5
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