Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Admirals vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Admirals and ActivTrades are both reputable online brokers founded in 2001. They are not publicly traded and do not operate as banks, catering primarily to forex and CFD traders. In terms of regulatory oversight, Admirals distinguishes itself with a strong regulatory framework, holding four Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses. ActivTrades, meanwhile, holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. These licenses underscore each broker's compliance with established financial standards, yet also highlight the broader reach in Admirals' regulatory approval.
According to ForexBrokers.com, which rates brokers based on their trustworthiness, Admirals earns an impressive Trust Score of 93, placing it in the highly trusted category. On the other hand, ActivTrades receives a Trust Score of 81, rendering it a trusted option but with a slightly lower standing compared to Admirals. Both brokers offer substantial reliability, but for those prioritizing regulated assurance, Admirals might present an edge in perceived trust and authority in the trading sector.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing the commission and fee structures of Admirals and ActivTrades, traders can find various strengths in each. Admirals offers competitive pricing with typical spreads of 0.8 on both its Trade and Zero account types, making it an appealing choice for those who are cost-conscious. Rated at 4.5 stars for commissions and fees and ranked #17 among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Admirals positions itself as a favorable option for traders looking to optimize costs while enjoying reliable service.
On the other hand, ActivTrades provides slightly better than industry-average spreads, although not quite matching the lowest-cost options in the forex market. It boasts a flexible range of accounts, including Individual, Professional, and Islamic Accounts, along with a demo account for risk-free practice. However, it lacks an account type specifically tailored for high-volume traders. ActivTrades is rated at 4 stars in commissions and fees and is ranked #27 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. This suggests it’s a solid choice for those looking for varied account options, but might come with slightly higher costs compared to some of its competitors.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | 0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the investment options offered by Admirals and ActivTrades, both brokers provide opportunities for forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, making them flexible choices for currency traders. Admirals stands out with an impressive array of 8,702 tradeable symbols, significantly more than ActivTrades' 1,267. Furthermore, Admirals offers 82 tradeable forex pairs compared to ActivTrades' 49, giving forex enthusiasts a broader range to explore. Admirals also has the advantage of allowing clients to buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas ActivTrades only offers international options. This distinction could be crucial for investors looking for direct access to U.S. markets.
In terms of additional features, both brokers support copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither permits purchasing actual cryptocurrencies. Admirals' expansive investment offerings earn it a 4.5-star rating, higher than ActivTrades' 4-star rating. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Admirals is placed at #19 for Range of Investments, compared to ActivTrades at #31. These factors combined make Admirals a more attractive option for investors seeking a comprehensive and diverse range of financial instruments.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Admirals and ActivTrades, both brokers have strong offerings that cater to a wide range of traders. Admirals and ActivTrades provide simulated trading options through free virtual demo accounts, making it easy for newcomers to practice without risking real funds. Both brokers also offer proprietary platforms, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ensuring that traders have access to popular and well-regarded trading software. Whether you prefer trading on Windows-based desktop platforms or through your web browser, both Admirals and ActivTrades have you covered. For those interested in copy trading, both brokers offer this feature, though they do not currently support DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
Admirals and ActivTrades both allow trading directly from stock charts, enhancing the user-friendly experience for traders. However, Admirals stands out with 106 drawing tools available for charting, compared to ActivTrades' 15. On the other hand, ActivTrades offers more options for watchlists with 11 columns
| Feature |
Admirals
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Admirals and ActivTrades, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android, ensuring that users can trade on the go using their preferred devices. Admirals and ActivTrades provide stock and forex price alerts, allowing traders to stay informed about market changes. Additionally, both platforms enable users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, which enhances the trading experience by keeping crucial market information readily accessible. Admirals and ActivTrades both allow traders to draw trendlines on charts and offer a selection of 30 technical studies for chart analysis, supporting a comprehensive approach to trading. Multiple time frame viewing, from daily to intraday, is also available on both apps, and any drawings made on charts are automatically saved for future reference. However, it's worth noting that neither Admirals nor ActivTrades offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online accounts.
Despite these similarities, there are some differences in rankings. Admirals is rated four stars and holds the 28th position out of 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades also earns a four-star rating but ranks higher in 19th place. This difference in ranking might reflect various subtle aspects of user experience or specific user preferences. Whether traders choose Admirals or ActivTrades, they can expect a solid mobile trading environment suited to managing trades with efficiency and ease.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Admirals and ActivTrades each offer several valuable resources for traders. Both platforms provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. While neither broker offers research tools from Autochartist, Admirals stands out by offering tools from Trading Central, a feature unavailable with ActivTrades. Both brokers supply sentiment-based trading tools that reveal the ratio of long or short positions across different instruments. Admirals further distinguishes itself with research offerings from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, whereas ActivTrades does not provide these services. Both platforms include an economic calendar to keep traders informed of upcoming global events.
In terms of rankings, Admirals and ActivTrades each receive a four-star rating for research. However, Admirals is ranked #15 in the Research category according to ForexBrokers.com's evaluation of 62 brokers, a more favorable position compared to ActivTrades, which is ranked #30. This ranking highlights Admirals' superior edge in providing a broader range of market research tools and resources, helping traders make informed decisions in the financial markets.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Admirals and ActivTrades equip new traders with a wide range of learning materials focused on forex and CFDs. Admirals provides over ten educational articles, videos, and archived webinars to help beginners deepen their understanding of trading. ActivTrades offers a similar selection, ensuring newcomers have sufficient resources to get started. Both platforms go the extra mile by hosting at least one educational webinar each month, helping users stay updated on forex trends. Admirals and ActivTrades also maintain a searchable archive of past webinars, allowing users to revisit topics of interest at their convenience.
In addition to beginner-focused content, each broker also caters to experienced traders with advanced educational videos. Admirals stands out slightly by offering an investor dictionary containing over 50 investment terms, a feature ActivTrades does not match. Despite this, both brokers have received a commendable Education rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Admirals, however, ranks higher in the educational category according to ForexBrokers.com, placing 12th out of 62 brokers, compared to ActivTrades' 38th position. This difference in ranking suggests Admirals may have a slight edge in the educational offerings for traders looking to build a solid foundation.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Admirals is better than ActivTrades. Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
Traders choose Admirals for its excellent investor education and advanced MetaTrader features – such as the Supreme add-ons – alongside an extensive range of shares, forex and CFD markets, and premium research content.
| Feature |
Admirals
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 |
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Both Admirals and ActivTrades provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither broker offers the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
In comparing the online brokers Admirals and ActivTrades, Admirals offers a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas ActivTrades supports Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires but lacks ACH or SEPA and PayPal transfer options.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | ActivTrades Review |
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| Regulation | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes | No |
| Investments | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | 0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Admirals Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Admirals | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | ActivTrades Review |
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