BlackBull Markets vs Plus500: Which One Is Best?
Finding the right forex and CFD broker comes down to how well a broker fits your trading style, goals, and experience level.
In this guide, I’ll look at how BlackBull Markets and Plus500 compare across the areas that actually impact your trading: pricing, platforms, execution, product range, and support.

Written by Noam Korbl
Updated:
- 67 Forex Brokers reviewed by our expert team
- 50+ years combined forex trading experience
- 14,000+ hours comparing brokers fee + features
- Structured and in-depth evaluation framework
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Regulations and Licenses
















Brokerage







Markets and Instruments
Minor Pairs 20:1
Minor Pairs 20:1
Minor Pairs 20:1
Minor Pairs 20:1
*Cryptocurrency CFDs are not available to retail traders in the UK due to FCA regulations
*CFD trading is not available in the USA due to NFA and CFTC regulations, American traders spot trade in place of CFDs.
Trading Platforms + Tools




















Overall
Here’s a quick overview of the major differences between the two brokers:
- BlackBull Markets has cheaper overall trading costs with lower spreads on the Standard and Raw accounts
- BlackBull Markets offer MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView while Plus500 only offers their proprietary platform
- Plus500 offers a standard (commission-free) account option only
- BlackBull has a zero minimum deposit requirement and for plus500 is $500
- Plus500 is strongly regulated by ASIC, FCA & CySEC, and has a higher trust score
1. Lowest Spreads And Fees – BlackBull Markets
On a standard (commission-free) account, BlackBull Markets’ average spread across major pairs is 1.50 pips. Compare that to Plus500’s 1.75 pips and you’re already saving 0.25 pips per trade on average.
Pair by pair, BlackBull consistently edges out Plus500. Looking at EUR/USD, for example, the spread is tighter at 1.1 vs 1.2. Other popular pairs like USD/JPY come in at 1.4 vs 2.0 and GBP/USD at 1.4 vs 1.7.
Standard Account Spreads
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1.10 | 1.20 | 1.50 | 1.40 | 1.40 |
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1.70 | 1.40 | 1.70 | 2.30 | 1.90 |
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1.13 | 1.01 | 1.71 | 1.66 | 1.12 |
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1.10 | 1.10 | 1.60 | 1.80 | 2.20 |
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1.50 | 1.50 | 1.60 | 1.80 | 1.80 |
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1.20 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 1.50 | 1.40 |
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1.40 | 1.60 | 1.40 | 1.60 | 1.80 |
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1.46 | 2.06 | 1.52 | 1.76 | 1.59 |
Avg. spreads are taken from each broker's website and updated monthly. Last update on 08/01/2025
Moving on to raw account spreads and BlackBull still has the upper hand. With the raw account you get near-zero pip spreads with commission-based pricing. This is the account I’d hand to a serious trader such as scalpers or high-frequency traders without blinking.
EUR/USD averages just 0.14 pips on BlackBull’s Raw account. Other majors are all consistently under half a pip e.g USD/JPY at 0.45, GBP/USD at 0.43, and AUD/USD at 0.30. Even wider pairs like EUR/JPY and AUD/JPY stay tight, averaging 0.87 and 1.1 pips, respectively.
Even when you factor in commission, it’s still cheaper overall. $3 per side in USD equates to a round-trip of $6 USD per lot, which is bang on industry standard. And with spreads this tight, your all-in cost stays low no matter how aggressive you trade.
Plus500 doesn’t even offer a raw account. You’re locked into spread-only pricing from day one, which might be limiting if you’re trading frequently or looking to tighten costs as your volume grows.
Our Lowest Spreads and Fees Verdict
BlackBull Markets provides lower trading costs than Plus500, with tight standard spreads and raw ECN pricing including competitive commissions.
BlackBull Markets ReviewVisit BlackBull Markets
2. Better Trading Platform – BlackBull Markets
BlackBull Markets gives you access to MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, and even copy trading integrations. It’s the kind of flexibility pro traders expect and BlackBull delivers it all out of the box. So if you’re just running EAs, scalping, algorithmic strategies, or you just want deep charting and order flow data, there’s a platform for you.
For copy traders, you’ll have access to BlackBull CopyTrader and also ZuluTrade and Myfxbook, which expand your options with hundreds of verified traders.
Now, with Plus500, you only have access to their proprietary platform. I spent quite some time testing it and I can report that the broker knows exactly who their primary target is and it’s new traders.
It’s not trying to be MetaTrader or compete with high-spec charting tools. It’s offering a clean, streamlined experience that gets you into the market fast without any headaches.
The WebTrader platform runs straight from your browser or mobile app. The layout is clean, with everything from pricing and charting to order tickets, watchlists, and risk controls sits in one window. For newer traders or anyone who values simplicity, that matters a lot as you’re not hunting for tools or buried features.
That said, this platform is what I like to describe as a walled garden as it doesn’t support integration with third-party platforms like MetaTrader or TradingView. Also, there’s no scripts, bots, EAs, or custom indicators.
Trading Platform | BlackBull Markets | Plus500 |
---|---|---|
MetaTrader 4 | Yes | No |
MetaTrader 5 | Yes | No |
cTrader | Yes | No |
TradingView | Yes | No |
Copy Trading | Yes | No |
Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
I’ve created a software questionnaire to help you find the platform that best suits your trading style.
Our Better Trading Platform Verdict
If you want flexibility, and professional-grade tools and features then BlackBull is your best choice. But if you’re looking for simplicity in your trading platform, Plus500 delivers just that.
3. Superior Accounts And Features – BlackBull Markets
Plus500 only offers a standard account with spread-only pricing and no commissions on a platform that’s intentionally streamlined. You trade directly from your browser or mobile app, with charts, order tickets, and risk controls wrapped into one cohesive experience.
I noticed, however, they don’t offer swap-free account options which can be a drawback if you’re looking to avoid overnight interest charges on longer-term positions.
Now with BlackBull, you get some flexibility in account types. Instead of a single account like Plus500, they offer three ECN accounts, each tailored to your capital, trading style, and level of experience.
If you’re new or just want low-cost access without tying up capital, the ECN Standard account is a no-brainer. It’s commission-free and spreads start from around 0.8 pips, and zero minimum deposit.
Then there’s the ECN Prime which is the broker’s most popular account. It offers raw spreads from 0.1 pips, $6 round-turn commission, and a $2,000 minimum.
For high-volume or professional traders, the ECN Institutional account pushes costs even lower, with 0.0 pip spreads, just $4 commission, and a $20,000 deposit requirement.
All BlackBull accounts support leverage up to 1:500, and you’ve got access to swap-free Islamic accounts, VPS support, and rewards for active trading.
Account Type | Blackbull Markets | Plus500 |
---|---|---|
Standard Account | Yes | Yes |
Raw Account | Yes | No |
Swap Free Account | Yes | No |
Active Traders | Yes | No |
Our Superior Accounts and Features Verdict
BlackBull Markets offers more account types, tighter pricing options, and room to scale your strategy and capital.
4. Best Trading Experience And Ease – BlackBull Markets
BlackBull Markets delivers a complete trading experience that goes well beyond execution speed, but let’s start there.
In my latency tests, BlackBull Markets ranked #1 globally for execution speed, averaging just 72 milliseconds on limit orders and 90 milliseconds on market orders. That kind of speed translates directly into better fills, reduced slippage, and real viability for scalping, news trading, and other speed-sensitive strategies.
Broker | Overall | Limit Order Speed | Limit Order Rank | Market Order Speed | Market Order Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BlackBull Markets | 1 | 72 | 1 | 90 | 5 |
Fusion Markets | 2 | 79 | 3 | 77 | 1 |
Pepperstone | 3 | 77 | 2 | 100 | 10 |
Octa | 4 | 81 | 4 | 91 | 6 |
OANDA | 5 | 86 | 5 | 84 | 2 |
Exness | 6 | 92 | 10 | 88 | 3 |
Blueberry Markets | 7 | 88 | 6 | 94 | 7 |
FOREX.com | 8 | 98 | 13 | 88 | 4 |
Global Prime | 9 | 88 | 7 | 98 | 9 |
Tickmill | 10 | 91 | 9 | 112 | 11 |
But trading experience isn’t just about how fast limit and market orders get filled. It’s also about how much control you have, the quality of execution, and whether the platform actually supports the way you trade.
BlackBull gives you full access to professional-grade infrastructure. You can run advanced order types, script custom indicators, automate strategies with EAs, or analyze market depth using cTrader. It’s a true ECN environment, with pricing fed from multiple top-tier liquidity providers.
Plus500 platform is simplistic so don’t expect to be able to customise the platform or run automated strategies. You also won’t find depth-of-market data, slippage control, or support for high-frequency execution.
Our Best Trading Experience and Ease Verdict
BlackBull Markets is faster, but more importantly, it gives you the kind of trading experience serious traders are after.
5. Better Trust And Regulation – Plus500
Plus500 clearly outshines BlackBull Markets when it comes to trust and regulation. In my trust test, Plus500 scored 78 out of 100 versus 50 for BlackBull Markets. Why is that so, you might ask?
Plus500 Trust Score

BlackBull Markets Trust Score

Well, starting with regulatory oversight. Plus500 scores 71 in regulation because they hold multiple licences from top-tier regulators. They’re regulated by the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (EU), MAS (Singapore) and more. That level of regulatory coverage enforces high capital adequacy, strict segregation of client funds, and ongoing transparency.
BlackBull Markets aren’t as strongly regulated when you put them side by side. They’re registered with FMA in New Zealand and FSA in Seychelles which are far less stringent. Their regulation score came in at 45, further supporting the narrative.
BlackBull Markets | Plus500 | |
---|---|---|
Tier 1 Regulation | FMA (New Zealand) | ASIC (Australia) FCA (UK) CYSEC (Cyprus) FMA (New Zealand) MAS (Singapore) |
Tier 2 Regulation | DFSA (Dubai) EFSRA |
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Tier 3 Regulation | FSA-S (Seychelles) | FSA-S (Seychelles) FSCA (South Africa) |
Reputation-wise, Plus500 scored 48, while BlackBull scored 38. Neither broker has major scandals tied to their name, but Plus500’s long-standing presence, financial disclosures, and global brand visibility give it a stronger foundation.
Interestingly, user reviews favor BlackBull, with a 94 review score compared to Plus500’s 80. That’s a signal that traders appreciate BlackBull’s service, execution, and platform offering on a day-to-day level even if it doesn’t yet match Plus500’s regulatory muscle.
Reviews
BlackBull Markets holds a notably higher Trustpilot rating of 4.8 out of 5, based on over 2,300 reviews, with 90% of users awarding it 5 stars. In contrast, Plus500 has a Trustpilot score of 4.2 out of 5, based on over 16,000 reviews.
Our Stronger Trust and Regulation Verdict
If trust, licensing, and corporate transparency are at the top of your checklist, Plus500 offers a stronger, more regulated framework.
*Your capital is at risk ‘80% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
6. Most Popular Broker – Plus500
Plus500 is clearly the more popular broker by a wide margin. I pulled Google’s branded search data across over 60 countries, and the numbers speak for themselves.
They dominate in major European markets like in Italy, for example, where they see 22,200 monthly branded searches. It’s the same story in Germany (18,100), the UK (14,800), and Spain (9,900).
Even in markets where BlackBull has a regulatory presence or operational footprint like, Australia and New Zealand, Plus500 still attracts high search volumes.
The trend continues across emerging markets, such as Poland, the Netherlands, South Africa, the UAE, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Even in the United States, where both brokers are minor players compared to local giants, Plus500 more than doubles BlackBull’s interest.
Country | BlackBull Markets | Plus500 |
---|---|---|
Italy | 320 | 22,200 |
Germany | 1,600 | 18,100 |
United Kingdom | 1,600 | 14,800 |
Spain | 480 | 9,900 |
Australia | 1,900 | 8,100 |
Poland | 170 | 8,100 |
Netherlands | 320 | 8,100 |
South Africa | 720 | 5,400 |
United States | 880 | 5,400 |
Switzerland | 140 | 5,400 |
Greece | 90 | 4,400 |
United Arab Emirates | 140 | 4,400 |
Portugal | 70 | 4,400 |
Sweden | 140 | 2,900 |
Austria | 210 | 2,900 |
Mexico | 480 | 2,900 |
Hong Kong | 30 | 2,400 |
France | 210 | 1,900 |
Singapore | 110 | 1,900 |
Argentina | 170 | 1,600 |
Colombia | 170 | 1,300 |
Taiwan | 20 | 1,300 |
New Zealand | 1,900 | 1,300 |
India | 1,300 | 1,000 |
Cyprus | 170 | 880 |
Malaysia | 170 | 720 |
Turkey | 90 | 720 |
Saudi Arabia | 40 | 720 |
Ireland | 70 | 720 |
Chile | 50 | 590 |
Egypt | 40 | 390 |
Japan | 50 | 390 |
Canada | 590 | 320 |
Pakistan | 210 | 320 |
Thailand | 210 | 320 |
Brazil | 110 | 320 |
Indonesia | 140 | 320 |
Nigeria | 170 | 320 |
Morocco | 90 | 210 |
Bangladesh | 70 | 170 |
Philippines | 50 | 170 |
Vietnam | 70 | 170 |
Algeria | 50 | 170 |
Dominican Republic | 40 | 140 |
Jordan | 10 | 140 |
Costa Rica | 10 | 140 |
Cambodia | 10 | 110 |
Venezuela | 50 | 90 |
Peru | 50 | 90 |
Panama | 10 | 90 |
Kenya | 110 | 70 |
Ghana | 50 | 70 |
Uzbekistan | 30 | 70 |
Sri Lanka | 70 | 40 |
Ecuador | 70 | 40 |
Tanzania | 30 | 30 |
Ethiopia | 20 | 30 |
Uganda | 50 | 30 |
Botswana | 30 | 20 |
Bolivia | 30 | 20 |
Mauritius | 10 | 10 |
Mongolia | 10 | 10 |
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320
1st
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22,200
2nd
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1,600
3rd
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14,800
4th
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1,900
5th
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8,100
6th
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140
7th
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5,400
8th
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High branded search volume are clear signs of strong market awareness, broader reach, and customer familiarity all of which reinforce trust and adoption.
Our Most Popular Broker Verdict
Plus500 is hands-down the more popular broker.
*Your capital is at risk ‘80% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
7. Top Product Range And CFD Markets – Plus500
If you want sheer variety in CFD markets, Plus500 offers you the widest range by far.
Across almost every asset class, Plus500 offers more instruments to trade. You have access to 65 forex pairs versus 55 at BlackBull, giving you broader exposure across majors, minors, and exotics.
Plus500 has 65 index CFDs, including popular names like the S&P 500 and lesser-known European benchmarks while BlackBull only offers 12.
Crypto traders will also find more breadth with Plus500. You get 18 standalone cryptos, plus the Crypto 10 index, while BlackBull offers 16.
BlackBull gives access to around 2,000 global shares, which is respectable. But Plus500 blows that wide open with over 11,000 share CFDs across US, UK, European, and Asian markets. They also offer 97 ETFs, a category BlackBull doesn’t currently support.
BlackBull does fire back with some niche exposure, including 22 futures markets and direct access to real share investments with over 26,000 instruments. However, that’s available via its separate investment platform, not the core CFD account.
CFDs | BlackBull Markets | Plus500 |
---|---|---|
Forex Pairs | 55 | 65 |
Indices | 12 | 65 |
Commodities | 10 Metals 3 Energies 7 Soft Commodities 9 Hard Commodities | 5 Metals 7 Energies 10 Softs |
Cryptocurrencies | 16 | 18 (+ Crypto 10) |
Share CFDs | 2,000+ | 11,000+ |
ETFs | No | 97 |
Bonds | No | - |
Futures | Futures 22 | No |
Treasuries | No | - |
Investments | Yes 26,000 | No |
Our Top Product Range and CFD Markets Verdict
Plus500 simply offers more instruments, more categories, and more flexibility in how you trade CFDs.
*Your capital is at risk ‘80% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
8. Superior Educational Resources – Plus500
A lot of brokers throw together a few generic guides and call it a learning hub but Plus500’s Trading Academy actually holds up. Here you’ll find articles, short videos, eBooks, and walkthroughs that cover CFD basics, trading psychology, risk management, and even how to navigate the actual platform.
What I like most is how integrated it feels. You’re not jumping out to external sources or digging through FAQ pages as the education materials are where you need them, when you need them.
They’ve also stepped it up recently with a redesigned Academy, and now it has a better layout, smarter filtering by market type, and a more linear learning path for beginners. It actually feels like they want you to get better, not just deposit and flail.
BlackBull takes a broader swing with education and for the most part, it works. You’re not getting a tightly packaged trading academy like Plus500, but you are getting depth across asset classes, platforms, and trader skill levels.
The Education Hub includes articles, video tutorials, market news, economic updates, and platform guides for MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView. If you’re the type who wants full control over your charting, indicators, or automation, the platform-specific walkthroughs are genuinely helpful.
They also run webinars, podcasts, and courses split by beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. It’s not the slickest interface out there, but the content is useful. You can dig into strategies, technical analysis, and macro fundamentals without feeling like you’re stuck in a generic trading course.
That said, I found the information a bit scattered. Some content lives on their main site, some in the Academy portal, some through email opt-ins. If you’re self-motivated, that’s fine. But if you want a structured learning path that holds your hand from demo to live account, BlackBull takes more effort to navigate.
Our Superior Educational Resources Verdict
If you’re new to trading, Plus500’s education section is easy to follow as you learn the platform and the markets at your own pace.
*Your capital is at risk ‘80% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
9. Superior Customer Service – Tie
BlackBull Markets offers live chat, email, and phone support, with decent response times across all three. Live chat is available 24/5, which lines up with market hours.
When I’ve tested it, responses came quickly and weren’t just surface-level answers. You’re talking to reps who understand MetaTrader quirks, slippage issues, and funding troubles, not just someone reading from a script. Multilingual support is also available for traders in non-English-speaking regions.
Similarly, Plus500 provides live chat, email, and phone support, but steps it up with 24/7 availability including weekends. However, the broker doesn’t offer multilingual support, and in my experience, responses tend to be more scripted especially through email.
Feature | BlackBull Markets | Plus500 |
---|---|---|
Live Chat Support | Yes | Yes |
Email Support | Yes | Yes |
Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
Support Hours | 24/6 | 24/7 |
Multilingual Support | Yes | No |
Our Superior Customer Service Verdict
It’s a tie for me under this criteria. BlackBull gives you more flexible support during the trading week, especially if language or regional service matters while Plus500 offers round-the-clock availability.
*Your capital is at risk ‘80% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
10. Better Funding Options – Plus500
At a glance, both Plus500 and BlackBull Markets feel evenly matched when it comes to the available funding options.
With both you can deposit and withdraw using credit and debit cards, bank transfers, PayPal, Skrill, crypto deposits, and local payment systems like POLi and bPay in Australia and New Zealand.
Here’s where the small difference comes into play. Plus500 focuses on widely-used, reliable methods with fewer regional or niche add-ons. So, you’ll be able to deposit or withdraw funds using bank transfers, bank cards and a few e-wallets.
As for BlackBull, they support more options including Neteller, which is great for traders in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. But the range can feel fragmented, and depending on where you’re located, processing times and availability can vary
Funding Option | BlackBull Markets | Plus500 |
---|---|---|
Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
Debit Card | Yes | Yes |
Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
PayPal | Yes | Yes |
Skrill | Yes | Yes |
Neteller | Yes | No |
Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Rapid Pay | No | No |
POLi / bPay | Yes | Yes |
Klarna | No | No |
Our Better Funding Options Verdict
If you want fast and hassle-free funding methods that work across borders, Plus500 has the more accessible and user-friendly payment experience.
*Your capital is at risk ‘80% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
11. Lower Minimum Deposit – BlackBull Markets
Both brokers keep the entry barrier low. BlackBull lets you open an account with no minimum deposit at all. But we all know that trading effectively means having enough capital to manage risk, cover margin, and avoid getting stopped out too early. So, I think $500 is a more practical starting point, even if you’re technically allowed to deposit less.
Plus500 sets a minimum deposit of $100, which is still very accessible, but I feel it adds a tiny obstacle right from the start.
Minimum Deposit | Recommended Deposit | |
BlackBull Markets | $0 | $500 |
Plus500 | $100 | $100 |
Our Lower Minimum Deposit Verdict
BlackBull Markets is the right choice if you’re looking for the most accessible starting point with full ECN access and no deposit hurdles.
So Is Plus500 or BlackBull Markets The Best Broker?
BlackBull Markets comes out on top across every major category I’ve covered from pricing, platforms and regulation to support and product range. Plus500 is accessible, but when you put them side by side, BlackBull is clearly the more complete, professional-grade broker.
Criteria | BlackBull Markets | Plus500 |
---|---|---|
Lowest Spreads And Fees | Yes | No |
Better Trading Platform | Yes | No |
Superior Accounts And Features | Yes | No |
Best Trading Experience And Ease | Yes | No |
Stronger Trust And Regulation | No | Yes |
Top Product Range And CFD Markets | No | Yes |
Superior Educational Resources | No | Yes |
Superior Customer Service | Yes | Yes |
Better Funding Options | No | Yes |
Lower Minimum Deposit | Yes | No |
Plus500: Best For Beginner Traders
Plus500 is better for beginner traders, offering extensive educational resources and a $0 minimum deposit.
BlackBull Markets: Best For Experienced Traders
BlackBull Markets stands out as the best choice for experienced traders, thanks to its advanced trading platforms and comprehensive product range.
FAQs Comparing BlackBull Markets Vs Plus500
Which Broker Has Lower Trading Costs?
BlackBull Markets generally has lower trading costs. Its Standard account offers tighter spreads than Plus500, and its Raw ECN account features ultra-low spreads with competitive commissions, something Plus500 doesn’t offer at all.
What Broker is Superior For Australian Forex Traders?
If you’re trading from Australia, Plus500 is the clear pick. They’re ASIC-regulated, have deep local roots, and offer more firepower across platforms, tools, and liquidity. Add in their long-standing reputation and institutional-grade infrastructure and you’ve got a broker built for serious Aussie traders. Check out our Best Forex Brokers In Australia.
What Broker is Superior For UK Forex Traders?
For UK traders, Plus500 is the safer, more established choice. They’re FCA-regulated which means strict oversight, strong client protections, and the credibility that comes with one of the world’s top-tier regulators. BlackBull doesn’t hold an FCA license, and for traders who prioritise local compliance, that’s a deal-breaker. Here’s our full guide to the best forex brokers in UK.
Article Sources
No commission account spread propiety testing data and published wesbite spread information, centralised on our Standard Account Spreads page.

Noam Korbl
Noam Korbl is the co-founder and has been a trader since 2014. He has Finance degree at Monash University and is an investor in shares and equities and successfully started and sold the online business Hearing Choices.
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