BlackBull Markets vs City Index

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

BlackBull Markets vs City Index Comparison Table 2025
BlackBull Markets City Index
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3.7
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4.4
BlackBull Markets is ranked #14 among CFD brokers. City Index is ranked #18 among CFD brokers.
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. Founded in 1983, City Index is a prestigious broker, now under the Nasdaq-listed StoneX Group. It excels in forex, CFDs, and spread betting. With access to over 13,500 instruments, City Index provides a dynamic Web Trader platform, exceptional educational materials, and round-the-clock support five days a week, ensuring a thorough trading experience.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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.
  • City Index is under the regulation of leading authorities, such as the FCA in the UK, ASIC in Australia, and MAS in Singapore. Its parent company, StoneX Group Inc., is publicly listed, which enhances its credibility.
  • City Index has significantly improved the trading experience. In 2024, they introduced Performance Analytics, providing insights into trades and discipline. The revamped mobile app now includes integrated market research and swipe-access news.
  • City Index offers access to over 13,500 markets, including forex, indices, shares, commodities, bonds, ETFs, and interest rates. The platform's inclusion of niche markets such as interest rates provides traders with unique opportunities not commonly available on other platforms.
  • City Index offers adaptable trading platforms suited to every expertise level. For newcomers, the Web Trader platform is straightforward and user-friendly. For more in-depth analysis and automated features, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and TradingView are supported, providing a comprehensive trading experience for all traders.
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.
  • Although many brokers, such as eToro, have broadened their crypto offerings, City Index restricts its clients to crypto CFDs. This limited selection may not meet the needs of traders seeking a wider variety of altcoins.
  • Unlike brokers like AvaTrade and BlackBull, City Index lacks options for passive trading, such as social copy trading or real ownership of stocks and ETFs. This limitation may reduce its appeal to traders seeking a more hands-off approach.
  • City Index does not offer an Islamic account with swap-free conditions, making it less attractive to Muslim traders than brokers such as Eightcap and Pepperstone.
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
  • Best CFD Provider 2024 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
  • Best Trading Platform 2022 - Online Money Awards
FCA Regulated
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Crypto CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Futures, Options, Bonds, Interest Rates,ETFs,Spread Betting
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
FMA, FSA FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS
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.

The City Index app offers a user-friendly mobile trading experience with bespoke features like one-swipe trading. What’s also neat is the full-screen TradingView charts with 60+ technical indicators to plan your next move, while you can stay ahead with real-time price alerts and notifications. Additionally, Performance Analytics tools, added in 2024, provide insights into your trading metrics, helping you refine your trading strategies.

iOS App Rating
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rating full
3.7
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3.8
Android App Rating
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3.7
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3.1
Margin Trading
Yes No
Margin Rate
2.5%
MetaTrader 4
Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5
Yes No
cTrader
Yes No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
Yes Yes
Autochartist
Yes No
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
No Yes
STP Account
No No
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 Yes
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
No Yes
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cTrader Automate 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 SMART Signals
VPS Hosting
Yes No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No Yes
Inactivity Fee
$0 £12
Islamic Account
Yes No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • JPY
  • ZAR
  • SGD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • AUD
  • PLN
  • CZK
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Oil
  • Gasoline
  • Cocoa
  • Wheat
  • Corn
  • Sugar
  • Coffee
  • Natural Gas
  • Platinum
  • Palladium
  • Copper
  • Aluminium
  • Lead
  • Zinc
  • Gold
  • Oil
  • Silver
  • Copper
  • Livestock
  • Platinum
  • Natural Gas
  • Soybeans
  • Nickel
  • Iron
  • Orange Juice
  • Cannabis
  • Palladium
  • Coffee
  • Cotton
  • Lean Hogs
  • Sugar
  • Wheat
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. City Index offers a comprehensive range of CFDs, enabling traders to seize short-term opportunities across various assets, sectors, and regions. Its 'Trade Ideas' platform is particularly beneficial for active traders seeking data-driven insights. Additionally, the Web Trader platform features advanced charting tools with over 90 technical indicators.
Leverage
1:500 1:30
FTSE Spread
1.5 1.0
GBPUSD Spread<
0.5 1.1
Oil Spread
1.5 1.5
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. City Index is a highly respected forex broker, offering traders access to over 80 currency pairs. With tight spreads starting at 0.7 pips, it provides valuable trading alerts and excellent FX market insights. Moreover, 99.99% of trades are executed successfully.
Assets
64 84
GBPUSD Spread
0.5 1.1
EURUSD Spread
0.3 0.8
EURGBP Spread
0.8 1.0
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. City Index provides a select range of crypto CFDs, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ripple. However, it distinguishes itself with insightful market analysis and comprehensive news on significant market movements, all supported by a user-friendly web platform.
Spread
245 0.5% (BTC)
Coins
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • XRP
  • LTC
  • ADA
  • POLY
  • XFET
  • XINJ
  • XNAKA
  • XAX
  • XCOTI
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • XRP
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
BlackBull Markets City Index
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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