Two brokers face off on regulation, pricing and platform reach. The tension hinges on safety versus breadth of tools and costs.
OANDA edges BlackBull Markets on the editorial score, underpinned by stronger regulation and investor compensation coverage.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose BlackBull Markets if…
Choose BlackBull Markets if you want ECN pricing with raw spreads and a $6/lot commission. You also trade on MT4, MT5 or cTrader.
Choose OANDA if…
Choose OANDA if you want investor compensation scheme protection and access to MT4, MT5, and a proprietary platform.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
BlackBull Markets offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 1.00 pips for OANDA, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
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)
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | BlackBull Markets | OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| 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 |
OANDA rates 4.6/5 versus 4.1/5 for BlackBull Markets. OANDA edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
BlackBull Markets starts from 0 pips, tighter than OANDA's 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither BlackBull Markets nor OANDA requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both BlackBull Markets and OANDA 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.
BlackBull Markets lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while OANDA lists up to 50:1. 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 on commission-based accounts. Commission details for OANDA are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
BlackBull Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, DXtrade, MetaTrader 4, while OANDA supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and MetaTrader 4. BlackBull Markets has exclusive access to cTrader and DXtrade. OANDA has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
OANDA wins for safety & regulation with NFA, FCA, ASIC oversight and investor compensation scheme.
BlackBull wins for active traders with higher leverage and no inactivity fee.
BlackBull Markets is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
BlackBull wins for platform choice with MT4/MT5/cTrader plus TradingView and DXtrade.
OANDA wins for beginners with investor protection and regulated oversight.
BlackBull wins for instrument variety with 26,000 tradable assets.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2014 | 1996 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand | New York, United States |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips▼ lower | 1 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
|---|
| 0.6 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 500:1 | 50:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $10/month (after 12 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free for ACH |
|---|
| Regulators | FSC FMA | FCA ASIC CBI CMF NFA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 5 TradingView DXtrade MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Pros
Available to US residents (NFA-registered)
Best-in-class research and economic data
No minimum deposit
MT4, MT5 and proprietary platforms
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
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
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
Cons
Spreads slightly wider than ECN-style brokers
No copy trading
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.1 / 5
Personalised recommendation
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