Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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.
Founded in 1974, IG has established itself as a leader in the online brokerage industry. It is publicly traded and operates as a bank, offering a strong sense of security and reliability. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, IG is highly trusted among investors. The company holds eight Tier-1 licenses, ensuring top-tier regulatory compliance. Additionally, IG holds two Tier-2 licenses, further reinforcing its trusted standing in the financial market.
Admirals commenced operations in 2001 and, unlike IG, is not publicly traded nor operates as a bank. However, it maintains a commendable reputation with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93, indicating high trust levels. Admirals holds four Tier-1 licenses, demonstrating strong regulatory oversight, and enhances its trust credentials with three Tier-2 licenses. While not matching IG's extensive licensing, Admirals still presents itself as a reliable choice for investors who favor a well-regulated environment.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG and Admirals are both popular online brokers that offer a range of investment options, but their commission and fee structures vary significantly. IG stands out for its active trader pricing options, especially with its Forex Direct accounts. In July 2023, IG's spreads on the main Forex Direct account averaged 0.62 pips, with a total cost of 0.82 pips after including trade commissions. CFD accounts had typical spreads of 0.69 pips during active trading hours. Volume traders can benefit from IG's active-trader rebate program, which offers up to a 20% spread rebate, making the all-in cost as low as 0.60 pips. IG also provides a DMA account for advanced traders, requiring a £1,000 minimum deposit and offering tiered pricing discounts based on trading volume.
In comparison, Admirals provides competitive pricing with spreads starting at 0.8 pips on its Trade account and similar pricing for the Zero account type. Admirals is rated 4.5 stars for its commission and fees, while IG earns a perfect 5-star rating, reflecting its broad range of pricing options and tailored rebates. The higher rating for IG is further supported by its ranking as the 8th best broker for commissions and fees out of 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. Admirals, on the other hand, holds the 17th position in the same category, demonstrating its competitive yet slightly less expansive offerings in comparison to IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG and Admirals both stand out in the world of online trading with a comprehensive array of investment options. IG offers an impressive 19,537 tradeable symbols, including 97 forex pairs. This makes it an excellent choice for those seeking a wide range of trading opportunities. Admirals, with 8,702 tradeable symbols and 82 forex pairs, provides a solid alternative for investors. Both platforms allow clients to trade forex as a CFD or spot contract, and they offer exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges. However, neither platform supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, though they both provide options for investing in cryptocurrency derivatives.
One of the distinctions between the two brokers is their approach to additional trading features. While IG does not support copy trading, Admirals includes this feature, adding another layer of strategy for investors keen on mimicry. In terms of ratings, IG earns a top rating of 5 stars for its range of investments and ranks 4th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Admirals, with a 4.5-star rating, is placed 19th in the same category. Overall, both platforms provide diverse investment possibilities, yet IG slightly edges out Admirals in breadth and the industry ranking for its investment range.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 8702 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 82 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 IG and Admirals, both brokers offer an extensive range of trading platforms and tools to meet traders' needs. IG provides an in-house developed platform and includes access to MetaTrader 4, a widely-used choice among traders, though it does not support MetaTrader 5. It's accessible via a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform, offering impressive trading convenience through any browser. Additionally, IG offers a demo account, 20 drawing tools for charting, and integrates trading directly from stock charts, which all contribute to its outstanding five-star rating and second-place ranking by ForexBrokers.com.
Admirals, like IG, delivers a proprietary trading platform along with the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 options, providing flexibility for different trading strategies. Admirals also supports copy trading, which IG does not, expanding its appeal to traders interested in mirroring the strategies of successful investors. Admirals offers more extensive charting options than IG, with 106 drawing tools and additional features like a seven-field watchlist which enhances usability. While it has a strong four-star rating and ranks 19th in ForexBrokers.com’s list, IG edges ahead, particularly for traders seeking a broader selection of built-in technical tools.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Admirals both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, each providing essential features for today's active trader. Both apps allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, benefit from stock and forex price alerts, and draw trendlines on charts. When it comes to charting, IG slightly edges out with 33 technical studies compared to Admirals’ 30, and both apps support viewing multiple time frames. While IG enables watchlist symbol syncing, providing a seamless experience across platforms by syncing changes automatically with the client’s online account, Admirals lacks this feature.
In terms of user experience, IG's performance is highly rated, boasting a perfect 5-star rating for its mobile trading app, while Admirals garners a 4-star rating. Among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, IG holds the top spot for mobile trading apps, contrasting with Admirals' rank at #23. IG’s app also autosaves drawings on charts, enhancing usability and ensuring continuity in analysis. Overall, IG offers a more integrated and higher-rated mobile trading experience compared to Admirals.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 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 IG and Admirals for market research offerings, both platforms stand out as reliable sources for insightful data. IG and Admirals provide daily market commentary, ensuring traders stay updated with the latest market movements. Both brokers also deliver forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, enhancing the quality of information accessible to their users. When it comes to additional tools, IG offers resources from Autochartist, including its technical analysis and fundamental research tools, while Admirals leans on Trading Central for its range of analytical resources. Moreover, both brokers present sentiment-based trading tools, helping traders understand market positions across various currency pairs.
IG further strengthens its research capabilities with market insights from TipRanks and Acuity Trading tools like Signal Centre. Admirals also provides these essential resources, yet IG manages to edge ahead in overall assessment. Both brokers equip traders with an economic calendar to keep track of global economic events. However, in terms of research ratings, IG scores a perfect 5 stars and ranks second among 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, whereas Admirals earns a commendable 4-star rating and ranks 15th. This subtle distinction highlights IG’s superior edge in delivering comprehensive market research tools to its users.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners between online brokers IG and Admirals, both platforms excel in offering a wide range of materials to help new traders navigate the world of forex and CFDs. IG provides more than 10 educational pieces, encompassing articles, videos, and webinars focused on forex and CFDs. Admirals matches this offering with its own comprehensive educational suite. Both brokers conduct regular webinars for clients, available at least once a month, and each maintains a searchable archive of these sessions. Furthermore, beginners have access to over 10 educational videos specifically designed to introduce them to trading topics on both platforms.
In addition to resources tailored for beginners, IG and Admirals also cater to more seasoned traders through advanced educational videos. Each broker offers at least 10 videos intended to enhance the knowledge of experienced traders. Both platforms include an investor dictionary providing definitions for over 50 investing terms, which can be invaluable for new traders learning the jargon. While IG boasts a perfect 5-star rating for education and is ranked #1 in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, Admirals stands strong with a 4-star rating and holds the #12 position out of 62 brokers. Overall, IG slightly edges out Admirals in terms of educational resources, according to these ratings.
| Feature |
IG
|
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 IG is better than Admirals. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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Both IG and Admirals do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both IG and Admirals provide ACH and SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing and withdrawing funds, but only Admirals offers Skrill for these transactions.
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 | IG | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Admirals Review |
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| Regulation | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | Yes |
| Investments | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 8702 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 82 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | 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 | 33 | 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 | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | 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 | IG | 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 | IG Review | Admirals Review |
| Overall | IG | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Admirals Review |
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