BlackBull Markets and Skilling face off in a nuanced comparison of regulation, platform choice, and cost. The axis of tension lies in instrument breadth versus user experience and pricing.
BlackBull Markets and Skilling are closely matched overall. The clearest differentiator is instrument variety, with BlackBull offering far more instruments (26,000 vs 1,000).
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose BlackBull Markets if…
Choose BlackBull Markets if you value phone support and access to a very broad instrument universe (26,000).
Choose Skilling if…
Choose Skilling if you want investor compensation scheme coverage and a modern 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 0.70 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.3 / 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 | 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 and Skilling share the same editorial score of 4.1/5. One concrete differentiator: BlackBull Markets requires a lower minimum deposit.
BlackBull Markets starts from 0 pips, tighter than Skilling's 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
BlackBull Markets has no minimum deposit, 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. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: BlackBull Markets has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
BlackBull Markets lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while Skilling 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 on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Skilling are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
BlackBull Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, DXtrade, MetaTrader 4, while Skilling supports cTrader, Skilling Trader, MetaTrader 4. Both provide cTrader and MetaTrader 4. BlackBull Markets has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and DXtrade. Skilling has exclusive access to Skilling Trader.
Best for safety & regulation: Skilling is stronger due to CySEC and FCA oversight; BlackBull relies on FSC and FMA.
Best for active traders: Skilling, with raw spreads on cTrader and a modern proprietary platform.
BlackBull Markets is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
Best for platform choice: BlackBull Markets, offering MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, and DXtrade.
Best for beginners: BlackBull Markets, with zero minimum deposit.
Best for instrument variety: BlackBull Markets, offering 26k instruments.
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▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips▼ lower | 0.7 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
|---|
| 0.6 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $10/month (after 90 days) |
|---|
| 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 | FSC FMA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 5 TradingView DXtrade MetaTrader 4 | cTrader Skilling Trader 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
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
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.1 / 5
Score 4.1 / 5
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