A head-to-head comparison of BlackBull Markets and Plus500 across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
New Zealand-regulated ECN broker with all three major platforms, no minimum deposit on standard accounts, and good Asia-Pacific coverage.
LSE-listed with zero commission, intuitive proprietary platform, and negative balance protection - though limited research and no MT4.
BlackBull Markets and Plus500 are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.1/5 and 4/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
BlackBull Markets offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.6 pips for Plus500, reducing trading costs.
Plus500 has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
BlackBull Markets has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
BlackBull Markets offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 4, TradingView, MetaTrader 5, DXtrade, cTrader.
BlackBull Markets edges out Plus500 with a higher editorial score (4.1/5 vs 4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.0 / 5▲ | 3.7 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 3.9 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2014 | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand | Haifa, Israel |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 30:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FMA FSC | FCA ASIC CySEC CMA MAS |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 TradingView MetaTrader 5 DXtrade cTrader | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit BlackBull Markets | Visit Plus500 |
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
Pros
LSE-listed providing strong institutional credibility
Zero commission on all trades
Intuitive proprietary platform with a clean mobile app
Negative balance protection across all accounts
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
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
No MT4 or MT5 support
Limited research tools and market analysis
US residents not accepted
No copy trading
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No MetaTrader support
Limited charting capabilities
No phone support
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | BlackBull Markets | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, BlackBull Markets ranks higher with a score of 4.1/5 vs 4/5 for Plus500. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; BlackBull Markets and Plus500 may each suit different trader profiles.
BlackBull Markets offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Plus500's spreads from 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
BlackBull Markets has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Plus500 requires at least $100. This makes BlackBull Markets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both BlackBull Markets and Plus500 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: BlackBull Markets has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
BlackBull Markets offers maximum leverage of 500:1, while Plus500 offers up to 30:1. 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.
BlackBull Markets supports MetaTrader 4, TradingView, MetaTrader 5, DXtrade, cTrader and Plus500 offers Proprietary Web/Mobile; BlackBull Markets exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, TradingView, MetaTrader 5, DXtrade, cTrader; Plus500 exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile.
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