Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Admirals vs BDSwiss, 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, established in 2001, and BDSwiss, founded in 2012, are both online brokers with a focus on providing trading services. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank, differentiating them from some other financial service providers. In terms of regulatory oversight, Admirals has secured a prominent position by holding four Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, reflecting a high level of trust and regulatory compliance.
In contrast, BDSwiss possesses one Tier-1 license and lacks Tier-2 licenses, aligning it with an average risk evaluation. According to ForexBrokers.com, Admirals earns a high Trust Score of 93 out of 99, signaling high reliability, whereas BDSwiss has a Trust Score of 73, indicating an average trust level. These scores and licensing details can be crucial factors for prospective traders when choosing between the two platforms.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing Admirals and BDSwiss for commissions and fees, Admirals offers a competitive pricing structure with typical spreads of 0.8 on their Trade account. This pricing is similarly attractive on the Zero account type, making them a cost-effective choice for traders. Admirals receives a high rating of 4.5 stars out of five and is ranked 17th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in the Commissions and Fees category.
Conversely, BDSwiss, while known for good order execution statistics, has spreads that are higher than industry leaders. On its Classic account, the spread is 1.5 pips on EUR/USD, which is considered expensive. Their Raw account records a spread of 0.3 pips plus a $5 commission per side, resulting in an effective spread of 1.3. Meanwhile, the VIP account offers a spread of 1.2 pips. Despite this, BDSwiss garners a solid rating of 4 stars out of five and ranks 29th out of 62 brokers in the same category by ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, while both Admirals and BDSwiss provide reliable services, Admirals stands out for its lower and more competitive fees, offering better value for traders looking for cost-efficiency. BDSwiss, though not as competitively priced, remains a reputable option with respectable ratings and rank.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Admirals to BDSwiss for their available range of investments, Admirals emerges as a versatile choice for traders. Admirals offers a wide variety of 8,702 tradeable symbols and provides access to 82 forex pairs, making it a strong contender for those who prefer extensive options. On the other hand, BDSwiss provides 1,081 tradeable symbols and 53 forex pairs, offering a more concise selection. Both platforms allow forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts and offer copy trading features. However, Admirals stands out by offering exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, whereas BDSwiss does not provide this option.
Neither Admirals nor BDSwiss offers the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, though both platforms support cryptocurrency derivatives. Admirals is highly rated with 4.5 stars for its range of investments, ranking #19 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. BDSwiss, while also commendable with a 4-star rating, is positioned at #34 in the same category. This comparison underscores Admirals’ broader range of investment options, making it a more appealing option for investors seeking diverse market exposure.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| 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.
Admirals and BDSwiss both cater to traders by offering comprehensive trading platforms equipped with essential tools. They provide traders with free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice strategies without financial risk. Both brokers offer proprietary platforms alongside industry-standard MetaTrader 4 and 5, available on Windows-based desktops and web browsers alike. This ensures a seamless trading experience across devices. Admirals and BDSwiss also include copy trading capabilities, further expanding the options for traders at various experience levels.
While both Admirals and BDSwiss offer the option to trade directly from stock charts, Admirals distinguishes itself by providing an impressive suite of 106 drawing tools compared to BDSwiss's 15. Despite these differences, both brokers deliver a user-friendly experience with watch lists comprising the same 7 columns. Admirals is ranked 20th for its trading platforms and tools by ForexBrokers.com, slightly ahead of BDSwiss, which is positioned at 24th. Both receive a solid 4-star rating for their offerings, indicating reliable platforms that serve the needs of most traders.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Admirals and BDSwiss provide comprehensive mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices, ensuring traders can conveniently access their accounts on the go. The apps support useful features like stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and the option to view multiple time frames on charts. Each platform offers drawing tools and has 30 technical studies available for deeper market analysis while automatically saving drawings for later reference. Users can also create watchlists equipped with real-time quotes for quick tracking of preferred stocks or forex pairs.
In terms of synchronization, neither Admirals nor BDSwiss offers watchlist symbol syncing between their mobile app and online accounts. Despite their limitations in this aspect, both apps have secured a solid four-star rating for mobile trading. Admirals currently ranks 28th, while BDSwiss holds the 23rd position out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category on ForexBrokers.com. This positioning indicates competitive mobile experience offerings from both brokerages, being noteworthy options for traders seeking reliable mobile trading solutions.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 daily market insights, both Admirals and BDSwiss provide regular commentaries to help traders stay informed. Admirals distinguishes itself by offering news from high-profile sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a significant advantage for those who seek up-to-date forex information. Additionally, Admirals equips traders with tools from Trading Central, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading, offering a comprehensive suite of features that enhance market analysis. In contrast, BDSwiss, while partnered with Trading Central and Autochartist, lacks some of the cutting-edge offerings found with Admirals, such as TipRanks and sentiments-based trading tools. Both brokers, however, include a handy economic calendar to track global events.
Despite their distinct offerings, Admirals and BDSwiss both achieve an impressive 4-star rating in research. Admirals holds a competitive edge, ranking 15th out of 62 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com research category, compared to BDSwiss's 23rd place. For traders prioritizing access to top-tier news, comprehensive research tools, and a more enriched analytical experience, Admirals may serve as a more robust choice, while BDSwiss remains a valuable contender for its practical tools like Autochartist.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources offered by Admirals and BDSwiss for beginners interested in forex or CFDs, both brokers provide excellent learning opportunities. Admirals and BDSwiss each offer a wide range of educational materials, including more than 10 articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. Both platforms host monthly online webinars and maintain searchable archives of past sessions, ensuring that clients can access a wealth of knowledge anytime. Furthermore, each broker offers a comprehensive library of over 10 beginner videos covering trading topics designed specifically for those new to trading.
In addition to beginner content, Admirals and BDSwiss cater to experienced traders with over 10 advanced educational videos available on each platform. They also provide investor dictionaries with definitions of at least 50 investing terms, enhancing user understanding of complex concepts. Rated four stars for their educational offerings, both Admirals and BDSwiss exemplify high-quality providers in this category. However, Admirals holds a slight edge, ranked at #12 by ForexBrokers.com among 62 brokers for Education, compared to BDSwiss's rank of #19.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
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 BDSwiss. Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
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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BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 73 |
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Both Admirals and BDSwiss do not provide the capability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but they each offer the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Admirals and BDSwiss both support ACH/SEPA transfers, Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but only Admirals offers PayPal, with both platforms also accepting bank wires.
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 | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | BDSwiss Review |
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| Regulation | Admirals | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Admirals | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Admirals | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Admirals | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $10-$5000 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Admirals | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Admirals | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Admirals | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss Review |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | BDSwiss Review |
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