BlackBull Markets vs ActivTrades

BlackBull Markets or ActivTrades – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare BlackBull Markets and ActivTrades in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

BlackBull Markets vs ActivTrades Comparison Table 2025
BlackBull Markets ActivTrades
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rating full
3.7
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4
BlackBull Markets is ranked #14 among CFD brokers. ActivTrades is ranked #57 among CFD brokers.
Review
Review
BlackBull, a New Zealand-based CFD broker, offers a wide range of trading options across more than 26,000 instruments. Following a 2023 rebrand, it boasts a contemporary design and provides advanced trading tools along with ultra-fast execution speeds, averaging 20ms. ActivTrades, a UK-based CFD and forex broker since 2001, is renowned for its award-winning services. It holds licences from esteemed regulators, including the UK’s FCA. The firm offers trading on more than 1,000 instruments across seven asset classes, with an impressive 93.60% of trades executed at the desired price.
Pros
  • BlackBull provides everything a trader needs: execution speeds under 100ms, leverage as high as 1:500, and competitive spreads starting at 0.0 pips.
  • BlackBulls's research excels, particularly in the daily 'Trading Opportunities' articles. These publications simplify complex market dynamics into clear insights, enabling traders to effectively capitalise on emerging trends.
  • After collaborating with ZuluTrade and Myfxbook and refining its CopyTrader, BlackBull now provides an exceptionally comprehensive trading experience.
  • BlackBull provides three ECN-powered accounts—Standard, Prime, and Institutional—to cater to traders of all experience levels, from novices to seasoned professionals. The variety of account types allows for flexible options tailored to individual trading needs and available capital.
  • ActivTrades provides competitive spreads, especially for forex trading, starting at 0.5 pips on major currency pairs without extra commissions. Additionally, the €/£10 inactivity fee is only applied after 52 weeks, benefiting active traders.
  • While cTrader isn't supported, MT4, MT5, TradingView, and the broker's ActivTrader platform accommodate various trading requirements. The firm's web-based platform has proven user-friendly and visually appealing for novices during testing.
  • ActivTrades is a reputable firm with over 20 years in the financial sector. It holds authorizations from three top-tier regulatory bodies, according to DayTrading.com's Regulation & Trust Rating. For UK traders, it offers enhanced protection with £1 million in investor compensation, surpassing the £85,000 provided by the FSCS, should the firm face insolvency.
  • Based on our tests, ActivTrades offers swift and reliable support via live chat, email, and phone in multiple languages. This makes it an excellent choice for both traders and newcomers seeking quality assistance.
  • With execution speeds averaging 4ms and an order completion rate of 93.6%, ActivTrades provides an outstanding platform for traders. It supports rapid strategies without imposing limits on short-term approaches.
Cons
  • Despite an expanding range of over 26,000 assets, including new additions to Asia Pacific indices, their offerings are primarily equities. The selection of currency pairs and indices remains average.
  • Unlike many leading brokers, BlackBull imposes a bothersome $5 fee for withdrawals. This charge can reduce the overall cost-effectiveness, particularly for traders who regularly transfer funds.
  • Despite enhancements such as webinars and tutorials in the Education Hub, our review indicates that the courses still require greater emphasis on elucidating broader economic factors affecting prices.
  • BlackBull does not offer its own trading platform, instead utilising MetaTrader, cTrader, and TradingView. Although these platforms are highly regarded, some brokers, such as eToro, provide proprietary platforms with distinct features that cater well to novice traders.
  • The platform lacks features for copy or social trading, which is a disadvantage for traders interested in passive investing or replicating the trades of seasoned traders. This is particularly evident when compared to eToro and Vantage.
  • The selection of over 1,000 markets includes forex, commodities, indices, and ETFs. However, the overall choice of asset classes is limited, with no stocks available outside the US, UK, and Europe. In comparison, BlackBull provides access to more than 26,000 markets.
  • Its research tools are decent, although somewhat lacking. The expanding 'Analysis' hub is useful, but the absence of Trading Central or Autochartist means advanced technical insights are missing. This limitation may hinder traders seeking to spot opportunities in volatile markets.
  • ActivTrades needs improvement in educational resources to compete with firms like XTB and CMC Markets. While it offers well-presented and informative webinars, the selection of courses and quizzes remains limited, hindering a more comprehensive and engaging learning experience for traders.
Awards
  • Fast 50 Index (multiple years) - Deloitte
  • Best Global FX Broker 2022 - Forex Expo Dubai
  • Fastest Growing Exporter for Auckland 2018 - Westpac Auckland Business Awards
  • Safest Global Broker 2023 - International Investor Magazine
  • Best Online Trading Services 2023 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
  • Best Forex Broker Europe 2022 - Forex-Awards.com
  • Most Trusted Global FX Broker 2022 - International Investor Magazine
  • Best CFD Broker 2021 - Rankia
  • Safest Global Broker 2021 - International Investor Award Winners
  • Best FX Broker 2021 - Le Fonti Award
FCA Regulated
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Crypto CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs, Futures, Cryptos (location dependent)
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
FMA, FSA FCA, CMVM, CSSF, SCB
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App

BlackBull offers one of the most complete mobile trading ecosystems we’ve seen, providing active traders with first-rate charting tools and the broker’s impress execution speeds of <100ms on a choice of MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView apps, catering to diverse preferences.

ActivTrades provides a choice of mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. The proprietary ActivTrader app and support for MT4, MT5, and TradingView give access to real-time market data, advanced charting tools, and customizable trading features. All four apps let you trade and manage you accounts intuitively, but ActivTrades boasts the most seamless trading experience, combining the broker’s ultra-fast execution speeds with dynamic charting and research tools.
iOS App Rating
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rating full
3.7
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4.9
Android App Rating
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3.7
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3.8
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4
Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5
Yes Yes
cTrader
Yes No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
Yes Yes
Autochartist
Yes No
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
No No
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
Yes No
DMA Account
No No
MAM Account
Yes No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
No Yes
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes No
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cTrader Automate Yes (APIs), Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
Yes No
Copy Trading Platform
Blackbull excels with its extensive array of trading solutions, featuring options like CopyTrader, HokoCloud, DupliTrade, and Myfxbook. User-friendly dashboards display detailed metrics to evaluate strategy providers, including annual and percentage returns. This contributes to its reputation as a leading provider of inclusive trading packages available today.
Social Trading
Yes No
Trade Signals
BlackBull Research stock recommendation service Yes
VPS Hosting
Yes No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0 €/£10
Islamic Account
Yes Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • ZAR
  • SGD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CHF
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Oil
  • Gasoline
  • Cocoa
  • Wheat
  • Corn
  • Sugar
  • Coffee
  • Natural Gas
  • Platinum
  • Palladium
  • Copper
  • Aluminium
  • Lead
  • Zinc
  • Gold
  • Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Wheat
  • Copper
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Corn
  • Orange Juice
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Silver
  • Soybeans
  • Sugar
CFD
BlackBull stands out for CFD traders with leverage up to 1:500 and competitive spreads starting at 0.0 pips. It boasts round-the-clock support, which proved outstanding in tests, instilling confidence for traders in dynamic markets. ActivTrades specialises in CFD trading, providing access to over 1,000 instruments, including currencies, shares, indices, and commodities. Renowned for its award-winning trading environment, the broker ensures swift and dependable order execution, coupled with clear margin requirements for traders.
Leverage
1:500 1:30 (UK and EU), 1:400 (Global & Pro)
FTSE Spread
1.5 0.6
GBPUSD Spread<
0.5 0.8
Oil Spread
1.5 0.03
Stocks Spread
Variable Variable
Forex
BlackBull provides 64 currency pairs with competitive pricing via its ECN accounts. The Standard account offers commission-free spreads starting at 0.8 pips. BlackBull's swift execution is also available on MT4, the leading platform among active forex traders. ActivTrades provides competitive fees in forex, offering excellent spreads on major pairs like EUR/USD starting from 0.5 pips, with no commission charges. The enhanced ActivTrades platform, along with the renowned MetaTrader 4, equips traders with essential tools to navigate the FX market with confidence.
Assets
64 50+
GBPUSD Spread
0.5 0.8
EURUSD Spread
0.3 0.5
EURGBP Spread
0.8 0.8
Currency Indices
  • USD
Cryptocurrency
BlackBull facilitates short-term trading on 11 cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, with leverage of up to 1:5. Cryptos are traded against USD. The broker's 'Daily Opportunities' provide exceptional insights into emerging cryptocurrency trends. Trade over 15 popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Engage in trading these digital assets 24/7, with transparent fees. Access up to 1:10 leverage on leading tokens like BTC.
Spread
245 Variable
Coins
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
  • LTC
  • ADA
  • POLY
  • XFET
  • XINJ
  • XNAKA
  • XAX
  • XCOTI
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • BCH
  • DOT
  • EOS
  • LINK
  • XLM
  • NEO
  • ADA
  • SOL
  • XRP
  • BNB
  • XMR
  • AVAX
  • DOGE
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
BlackBull Markets ActivTrades
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