Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Admirals, 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.
FXCM, established in 1999, and Admirals, founded in 2001, are both prominent players in the online brokerage industry. While FXCM is publicly traded, Admirals remains private. Neither company operates as a bank, and both have garnered significant trust in the financial world. FXCM and Admirals each possess four Tier-1 licenses, affirming their high level of reliability. Furthermore, FXCM holds two Tier-2 licenses, while Admirals boasts three, indicating their recognized status among trusted brokers.
Both companies achieve excellent trust ratings from ForexBrokers.com. FXCM holds a Trust Score of 95 out of 99, classifying it as highly trusted, whereas Admirals has a Trust Score of 93, also reflecting high trustworthiness. These scores signify that both FXCM and Admirals have established themselves as reliable options for traders seeking secure online brokerage services.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
FXCM and Admirals stand as notable options for online trading, each offering distinct advantages in commissions and fees. FXCM's forex trading costs are slightly higher than the industry average, with standard account spreads averaging 0.78 pips for regions like the EU, U.K., and Australia. In contrast, their St. Vincent and the Grenadines branch saw spreads averaging at 1.38 pips. For commission-based accounts, average spreads are around 0.28 pips, excluding commissions. Active traders might benefit from FXCM's rebate program, potentially reducing costs significantly based on trading volume and location. Traders eyeing FXCM will appreciate discounts, though FXCM ranks 24th out of 62 brokers with a rating of 4 stars for commissions and fees.
Admirals brings forth a competitive pricing structure, boasting typical spreads of 0.8 pips on its Trade account. This competitive edge is reflected across its Zero account type as well. Admirals ranks 17th out of 62 brokers, with an impressive 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees. The broker is noted for its balanced approach, maintaining cost-effectiveness for traders.
When considering which broker has the edge, it depends on personal trading requirements. While FXCM offers spread discounts for high-volume traders in certain regions, Admirals generally provides more cost-effective spreads for a broader audience. Evaluating trading habits, regional offerings, and potential discounts could guide traders to choose the most suitable broker for their needs.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 FXCM and Admirals, the variety of investment options is a key factor to consider. FXCM provides access to forex trading through both CFDs and spot contracts, with 43 tradeable forex pairs from a total of 440 symbols. Admirals, on the other hand, also offers forex trading through CFDs and spot contracts but considerably expands the selection with 82 tradeable forex pairs within a broad catalog of 8,702 symbols. Furthermore, Admirals enables clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing investors to purchase shares such as Apple and Vodafone, a feature not available with FXCM.
Both FXCM and Admirals support copy trading and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, albeit not the actual cryptocurrencies. In terms of overall range of investment, FXCM receives a rating of 3.5 stars and is positioned at #47 among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com rankings. Admirals outshines FXCM with a 4.5-star rating and holds a more favorable position at #19. This comparison highlights Admirals as a more comprehensive choice for those looking for a wider variety of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 8702 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 82 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 offered by FXCM and Admirals, both brokers provide comprehensive options for various trading needs. They both offer free virtual demo accounts for simulated trading, allowing beginners to practice without risk. Each broker has developed its own proprietary platform and supports a Windows-based desktop download and a web-based trading platform. For traders interested in MetaTrader, FXCM supports MT4 but not MT5, while Admirals supports both. In terms of copy trading, both firms facilitate it, but only FXCM supports ZuluTrade, which might appeal to traders seeking additional copy trading options.
Chart enthusiasts may find Admirals more appealing due to its extensive offering of 106 charting drawing tools, compared to FXCM's 10. Both brokers provide the ability to trade directly from stock charts, ensuring quick access to trades. When creating watch lists, FXCM offers more customization with 13 columns available compared to Admirals' 7. In overall rankings for Trading Platforms and Tools, FXCM stands at an impressive 6th place out of 62 brokers and is rated 5 stars, showcasing its strong platform offerings. Admirals, with a respectable 20th place ranking and a 4-star rating, still provides a solid platform selection but stands slightly behind FXCM in this category.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of FXCM and Admirals, both brokers offer comprehensive tools for traders on iPhone and Android devices. They provide stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing on charts, and multiple time frames for chart analysis. Users can also create watchlists with real-time quotes on both platforms. However, FXCM has a clear edge with watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online account, a feature not available with Admirals. Additionally, FXCM's mobile app includes more technical studies, boasting 59 compared to Admirals' 30. This allows for more detailed chart analysis directly from the mobile device.
In terms of user satisfaction, FXCM's mobile app is rated higher with 4.5 stars compared to Admirals' 4 stars, reflecting its popularity and efficiency among users. This is further supported by FXCM's higher ranking in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, where it stands at 16th out of 62 brokers, while Admirals is ranked at 28th. For traders who rely heavily on mobile platforms, FXCM offers a more synchronized and feature-rich experience, making it a preferred choice for those prioritizing advanced charting capabilities and app integration.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 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 comparing FXCM and Admirals for market research offerings, both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. They both also feature tools from Trading Central, facilitating both technical and fundamental analysis. Additionally, each broker offers sentiment-based trading tools that reveal the ratio of long or short positions across various markets. Market research from TipRanks is available through both brokers, along with comprehensive economic calendars that detail upcoming global news events relevant to traders.
However, a notable difference between the two is that Admirals provides research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, whereas FXCM does not. In terms of ratings, FXCM is awarded 4.5 stars for its research capabilities and ranks as the 11th best out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Admirals holds a 4-star research rating and is ranked 15th. These distinctions may influence traders when choosing between the two platforms based on their research needs.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners in forex and CFDs, both FXCM and Admirals provide a rich selection. Each broker offers a minimum of 10 educational materials including articles, videos, and archived webinars that focus primarily on forex and CFDs. Additionally, both FXCM and Admirals host at least one online educational webinar per month, helping new traders stay informed and engaged. These webinars are also archived and searchable, so learners can revisit past sessions to strengthen their understanding.
For those just starting out, both platforms have curated educational videos aimed explicitly at beginners, with each offering at least 10 video tutorials to help newcomers navigate the trading world. Advanced traders will also find value with over 10 advanced topic videos available from both brokers. Enhancing their educational offerings, FXCM and Admirals each provide an investor dictionary containing definitions for over 50 investing terms. Despite these similarities, FXCM slightly edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating in education compared to Admirals' 4-star rating. Nonetheless, Admirals is ranked slightly higher at 12th place, while FXCM is ranked 14th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 FXCM is better than Admirals. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 |
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Both FXCM and Admirals do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both FXCM and Admirals provide a wide range of funding and withdrawal options, including ACH and SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, offering flexibility and convenience for their clients.
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 | FXCM | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Admirals Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Admirals | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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) | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | Yes |
| Investments | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 8702 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 82 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 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 | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXCM | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXCM Review | Admirals Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Admirals Review |
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