Admiral Markets vs Interactive Brokers - Fees Review included
Which broker is better Admiral Markets or Interactive Brokers? Our expert assessment conducted according to TU’s own methodology showed that Admiral Markets is one of the top brokers in the financial market with the TU Overall Score of 6.99 out of 10. Interactive Brokers is one of the top brokers in the financial market with the TU Overall Score of 7.45 out of 10. Find out more about TU Overall Score.
| Feature | Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
4.7 |
4.9 |
5 |
5 |
|
4.8 |
4.9 |
|
4.7 |
5 |
|
Investment Instruments |
4.5 |
4.2 |
Platforms and Charting Tools |
4.6 |
5 |
Deposit and Withdrawal |
4.4 |
4.1 |
Research |
4.6 |
4.7 |
Education |
4.4 |
4.5 |
Support |
4.4 |
4.2 |
Bonuses |
3 |
3.1 |
|
|
|
Admiral Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Pros and Cons
The Admiral Markets broker company commenced operations in 2001. The broker’s activities are registered and licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Admiral Markets now operates in more than 40 countries with a cash cycle of up to USD 40 billion. The broker holds a lifetime license issued by the Federal Financial Markets Service. It is also regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Access to the FX+Project as one of their specific features. In 2002 Admiral Markets was awarded the “Forex 2012” (“Best of the Best”) by The New Europe Magazine.
The biggest international broker
| Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Pros | Well-Regulated broker | Access to 135 markets in 33 countries |
| 3400+ trading instruments | 30.000+ trading instruments | |
| Low trading and non trading fees | Regulated in the US, UK and 8 other countries | |
| Invest account for stock and ETF trading | Advanced trading platform | |
| 6 free stock trades per day | Free stocks for registration | |
| Fee discounts for big volume trading | Low fees | |
| Any strategy is allowed | Low margin rates | |
| Free VPS | Nasdaq Listed company | |
| Direct stock trading, Over 4500 stocks and ETFs | 25 supported account currencies | |
| Overall Cons | No forex bonuses | long and complex registration procedure |
Admiral Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Safety and Regulation
| Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
Max. Regulation Level |
Tier-1 |
Tier-1 |
Investor protection |
£85,000 €20,000 |
$500,000 £85,000 |
FCA UK Regulation |
Yes |
Yes |
FINRA (U.S) |
No |
Yes |
BaFin (Germany) |
No |
No |
ASIC (Australia) |
Yes |
Yes |
CFTC (U.S) |
No |
Yes |
MAS |
No |
Yes |
FSCA SA |
No |
No |
BVI FSC |
No |
No |
VFSC |
No |
No |
FSA (Seychelles) |
Yes |
No |
Admiral Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Trading Conditions
| Trading Conditions | Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit |
$1 |
$0 |
Trading Platforms |
МТ4, MT5 |
IB Trader Workstation, IBKR GlobalTrader, Client Portal |
Max Leverage (Futures) |
1-500 |
1-50 |
Supported Markets |
Forex, Stocks, ETFs, CFDs on indices, commodities, crypto, metals, stocks, bonds |
Stocks, Forex, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Stock options, Commodity Futures, Currency futures, Cryptocurrencies, Robo-portfolios, hedge funds |
Trading assets |
3500+ |
30000+ |
Trading Accounts |
Trade.MT4, Trade.MT5, Invest.MT5, Zero.MT4, Zero.MT5 |
Cash account, margin account |
Base Account Currencies |
EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, BGN, RUB, RON, PLN, HUF, HRK, CZK |
USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CZK, DKK, HKD, HUF, ILS, JPY, MXN, NZD, NOK, PLN, SGD, SEK, CHF, CNH |
Admiral Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Fees
| Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, min pips |
0,1 |
0,2 |
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, max pips |
1,2 |
0,8 |
ECN Commission |
3 |
2 |
ECN Spread EUR/USD |
0,1 |
0,2 |
Deposit fee, % |
No |
No |
Withdrawal fee, % |
1 |
Yes |
Withdrawal fee, USD |
1 |
Yes |
Inactivity fee, $ |
10 |
No |
A conversion fee may be applied as withdrawals and deposits are conducted in USD. Any other currency will have to be converted.
Admiral Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Trading Assets
| Asset Name | Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
3500+ |
30000+ |
Forex |
Yes |
Yes |
Stocks |
Yes |
Yes |
Metals |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Cryptocurrencies |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Energy |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Indices |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
ETFs |
Yes |
Yes |
Bonds |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Mutual funds |
No |
Yes |
Stock options |
No |
Yes |
Futures Trading |
No |
Yes |
Binary Options |
No |
No |
Admiral Markets or Interactive Brokers: Investment Programs
| Asset Name | Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Copy Trading |
Yes |
No |
MAM/PAMM |
No |
No |
Managed Accounts |
No |
No |
Other |
No |
Robo-portfolios, hedge funds, Bonds |
Trading Platforms: Interactive Brokers or Admiral Markets
| Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
MT4 |
Yes |
No |
MT5 |
Yes |
No |
cTrader |
No |
No |
Appropriate platform |
Admirals, StereoTrader |
IB Trader Workstation, IBKR GlobalTrader, Client Portal |
Others |
No |
No |
|
|
|
Admiral Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
| Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
Bank Wire |
Yes |
Yes |
Bank Card |
Yes |
Yes |
Neteller |
Yes |
Yes |
BTC |
Yes |
Yes |
Wise |
No |
No |
Payoneer |
No |
No |
USDT |
No |
No |
Admiral Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Research
| Research Type | Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
News Feed |
Yes |
Yes |
Fundamental Data |
Yes |
Yes |
Chart Analysis |
Yes |
Yes |
Trading Ideas |
Yes |
No |
E-Mail Reports |
Yes |
Yes |
Admiral Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Education
| Education Type | Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Demo-account/Paper Trading |
Yes |
Yes |
Webinars |
Yes |
Yes |
Articles |
Yes |
Yes |
Videos |
Yes |
Yes |
Cent account |
Yes |
No |
Interactive Brokers vs Admiral Markets: Support
| Support Features | Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Working Days |
24/5 |
24/5 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Phone |
Yes |
Yes |
Online chat |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
Community forum, Software bug reports |
Admiral Markets vs Interactive Brokers: Forex Bonuses and Promo
| Promo | Admiral Markets | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Forex Bonus |
No |
No |
Affiliate Program |
up to $600 per client |
As Referrer you can earn up to USD 1000 of IBKR stock. The Refer a Friend program allows eligible IBKR clients to refer people to IBKR for a flat fee payment. Residents of Japan, Spain and Israel are not eligible to participate in the program. |
Other Promos |
||
|
|
|
Top 5 Reviews on Interactive Brokers
-
Comment
What stands out for me with Interactive Brokers is their mobile app. I use the IBKR Mobile app a lot when I’m not at my desk, and it offers pretty much the same experience as the desktop version. The ability to trade everything from stocks to options while on the go is a huge plus. It also has features for international trading, which makes it easy for me to handle trades across multiple markets. The app’s interface is straightforward and user-friendly, allowing me to monitor my portfolio, execute trades, and even access research tools seamlessly. While it might lack some advanced charting features, it’s still one of the most versatile apps I’ve used, especially for global traders like me
-
Comment
I am a client of interactivebrokers and I have never faced any problems during the whole time. I am completely satisfied with the service: the staff is always friendly, responsive and ready to help, which really leaves a good impression. Special thanks to the operators - their attentive attitude to people creates a feeling of care and support. It is a pleasure to work with a company that values its customers and does everything for comfortable service!
-
Comment
As far as my experience is concerned with Interactive Brokers, the thing I love most is the sheer variety of markets available. The GlobalTrader app lets me trade in over 90 different markets, which is super convenient for someone like me who likes to diversify. The interface might feel overwhelming at first, especially on Trader Workstation, but once you get the hang of it, it’s extremely powerful. I also appreciate the competitive pricing and order options that help keep my trading costs low.
-
Comment
Interactive brokers offer a huge variety of trading instruments, which is certainly pleasing. The opportunities for trading and diversification here are excellent. However, there is one minus - the website interface is only partially translated into other languages, and it is a bit disappointing. It would be more convenient if the whole platform was available in different languages, especially for traders who do not speak English.
-
Comment
Interactive Brokers provides access to 135 markets from 33 countries, which is a huge advantage. This allows traders to easily diversify their portfolios and find opportunities around the world. I am very pleased with this broad coverage and the ability to trade in a multitude of international markets.
Top 5 Reviews on Admiral Markets
-
Comment
Admirals offers a decent risk management system. For most assets, spreads range from 0.1 to 0.4, and execution is Market Execution. Trading is available via WebTrader and mobile app. Support responds within 24 hours. The only downside is a withdrawal fee, but it is fixed with no hidden charges.
-
Comment
You can open an Invest account with as little as $1, but it's not suitable for active trading. For CFD trading, the broker offers access through the MetaTrader platform — with over 5,000 instruments, including bonds and stock indices. The stop-out level is 50% for retail clients. Even during high market volatility, the platform remained stable, and orders were executed without delays.
-
Comment
I was interested in the social trading feature—Admiral Markets offers its own Copy Trading system where you can replicate trades from other traders. The subscription fee is charged only when you make a profit. The MQL5 Community program is also available via MT4/MT5. I tested both— the interface is user-friendly, and the performance stats are displayed accurately.
-
Comment
Leverage conditions vary depending on the regulator — under the FCA, the maximum is 1:30, while with ASIC or CySEC, it can go up to 1:500 if you qualify as a professional trader. This is something to keep in mind when choosing a jurisdiction. Spreads start from 0.2 pips on major pairs, and order execution is stable. On the plus side, the broker is licensed by the FCA, CySEC, ASIC, and JCS. Verification was quick — my documents were reviewed within two days.
-
Comment
I was looking for a reliable broker with excellent service and support and found it in Admirals. There were some difficulties when passing verification due to problems with my passport, but the support was attentive and helped solve all the problems. Now I trade with Admirals and receive a stable income, feeling calm and confident.
FAQs
What should I start Forex trading with?
It is desirable for novice traders to explore trading using a demo account to learn the market and how to work on the trading platform without the risk of suffering losses. At the same time, it is advisable to review the educational materials of the broker, learn trading basics. Then you can deposit the minimum required amount to perform a small number of transactions. If you manage to close several months in a row in the black, without substantial drawdowns on the account, then you can try increasing your deposit. Also trying to copy trades automatically is a good option for a start.
What amount should I start trading with?
The minimum deposit of $10 may be enough to trade on the cent account. However, for trading on Standard/ECT accounts, experts recommend starting with at least $200-500. With this amount, you can use not a very big leverage. Remember, getting carried away with the margin is the main cause of losses among beginners.
What should I take into consideration when choosing a broker?
Experts recommend looking at the broker’s reliability first and foremost. The other important features include basic trading conditions, commissions and fees, customer reviews. If brokers are approximately the same in terms of basic criteria, you need to choose based on your experience and tasks. One broker may be good for professionals and another – for novice traders.
Is it possible to be scammed by a broker with a license from a reputable regulator?
In theory, yes. But in practice, it takes so much time and money to comply with the requirements of reputable regulators that it is not worth it for scammers to bother obtaining a legitimate license.
Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.