Two forex brokers are compared on regulation, costs, and platforms, with tension around investor protection and instrument variety.
Axi and BlackBull Markets are closely matched, but Axi offers investor compensation scheme coverage that BlackBull Markets does not.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Axi if…
Choose Axi if you value investor compensation scheme protection. You also get strong MT4 EA support and broad regulatory oversight.
Choose BlackBull Markets if…
Choose BlackBull Markets if you want MT4, MT5, and cTrader. You gain access to 26,000 instruments.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.00 pips.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
Pros
No minimum deposit
Strong ASIC, FCA, and DFSA regulation
MT4-focused with excellent EA and algorithmic trading support
No inactivity fee
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Axi | 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 | Pass | 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 | Fail | 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 |
Axi and BlackBull Markets share the same editorial score of 4.1/5. One concrete differentiator: platform availability and account types differ between them.
Both Axi and BlackBull Markets start from 0 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
Neither Axi nor BlackBull Markets requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Axi and BlackBull Markets hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Axi lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while BlackBull Markets lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
BlackBull Markets charges $6 per lot, lower than Axi's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Axi supports DXtrade, MetaTrader 4, while BlackBull Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, DXtrade, MetaTrader 4. Both provide DXtrade and MetaTrader 4. BlackBull Markets has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and TradingView.
Axi wins due to investor compensation scheme coverage in addition to three-tier regulation.
BlackBull Markets wins for active traders due to broad platform choices and lower per-lot commission.
BlackBull Markets is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($6/lot).
BlackBull Markets wins for platform choice with MT4, MT5, and cTrader.
Axi wins for beginners with a simple MT4-led setup and no minimum deposit.
BlackBull Markets wins for instrument variety with 26,000 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.0 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2014 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Auckland, New Zealand |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips | 0 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | $6/lot▼ lower |
|---|
| 0.7 pips | 0.6 pips▼ lower |
| Max Leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA | FSC FMA |
|---|
| Platforms | DXtrade MetaTrader 4 | cTrader MetaTrader 5 TradingView DXtrade MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
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
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
No MT5 or cTrader support
Pro account commission of $7/lot is above some ECN peers
Research and education tools are more limited than some peers
No proprietary platform
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
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.1 / 5
Score 4.1 / 5
Personalised recommendation
Answer 6 quick questions and we’ll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
Find my broker