BlackBull Markets vs Skilling Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of BlackBull Markets and Skilling across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
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.
VS
Modern Swedish-founded broker with CySEC and FCA regulation, a visually polished proprietary platform, and cTrader for advanced traders - well-positioned for EU retail clients seeking a contemporary alternative to legacy MetaTrader brokers.
Our Verdict
Too close to call
BlackBull Markets and Skilling are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.1/5 and 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
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 0.7 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
Skilling 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: tighter spreads from 0 pips.
Best for platform choice
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers offer an equivalent platform selection with similar exclusive and proprietary options.
Best for beginners
Recommended
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.1/5, but BlackBull Markets requires a lower minimum deposit ($0 vs $100 for Skilling), making it more accessible for new traders.
BlackBull Markets vs Skilling: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2014 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand | Valletta, Malta |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FMA FSC | FCA FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader TradingView DXtrade | MetaTrader 4 cTrader Skilling Trader |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit BlackBull Markets | Visit Skilling |
BlackBull Markets vs Skilling Forex Broker Pros & Cons
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
Clean modern Skilling Trader platform - excellent UX for new-to-intermediate traders
cTrader available with raw spreads from 0.0 pips
CySEC and FCA regulation with EU and UK investor protections
Growing Latin American presence with local-language 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
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
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
Newer broker - less track record than IG or Pepperstone
Product range narrower than multi-asset brokers
No phone support
BlackBull Markets vs Skilling: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
1
BlackBull Markets
criteria win
2
Skilling
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | BlackBull Markets | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
BlackBull Markets vs Skilling: Frequently Asked Questions
BlackBull Markets and Skilling share the same editorial score of 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
BlackBull Markets offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Skilling's spreads from 0.7 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 Skilling requires at least $100. This makes BlackBull Markets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both BlackBull Markets and Skilling 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 Skilling 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.
BlackBull Markets supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, DXtrade and Skilling offers MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader; both support MetaTrader 4, cTrader; BlackBull Markets exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, TradingView, DXtrade; Skilling exclusively offers Skilling Trader.
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Score 4.1 / 5
Score 4.1 / 5
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