Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers, founded in 1977, is a highly trusted online broker with a top-notch Trust Score of 99 out of 99, according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded entity on a recognized stock exchange, Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself with an impressive array of 9 Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its strong regulatory compliance. Additionally, it holds 2 Tier-2 licenses, reinforcing its position as a secure choice for traders.
Founded in 2001, Admirals also demonstrates a strong trust factor with a commendable Trust Score of 93. Although it is not publicly traded, it maintains a reputable standing with 4 Tier-1 licenses, ensuring high trust in its operations. Admirals fortifies this assurance with 3 Tier-2 licenses, further underscoring its commitment to regulatory standards. Both brokers are not banks, and their regulatory frameworks offer potential investors a sense of security and trust in their trading platforms.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Interactive Brokers and Admirals, Interactive Brokers stands out with its highly competitive pricing, particularly in the realm of forex trading. Although Interactive Brokers does not publicly disclose its average forex spreads, their EUR/USD spread during Q3 2024 was observed at just 0.59 pips, inclusive of commission. Commissions per side start at 0.00002 of the U.S. dollar trade value, translating to a minimum of $2 per order ($4 per round turn) and can decrease to 0.08 basis points for highly active traders. This sophisticated pricing model, along with potential tiered discounts for large volumes, positions Interactive Brokers as a cost-effective choice for frequent traders. They have a 5-star rating from ForexBrokers.com and are ranked 2nd out of 62 brokers for their commission and fees structure.
On the other hand, Admirals offers competitive pricing with typical spreads of 0.8 for its Trade account, which remains similar on the Zero account. Admirals may not delve into the intricacies of per-trade commissions like Interactive Brokers, but it holds a reliable position for traders looking for straightforward, uncomplicated pricing. Admirals is rated 4.5 stars by ForexBrokers.com and holds the 17th position out of 62 brokers in the commissions and fees category. This makes Admirals a respectable option for traders who prioritize consistent spread pricing.
Both brokers cater to different trading styles, with Interactive Brokers tailored more towards active traders seeking advanced execution strategies and Admirals suiting those who prefer predictable pricing structures. By these criteria, traders can determine which platform aligns best with their trading goals and activities.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and Admirals both offer a variety of investment options catering to diverse trading needs. For forex trading, both brokers provide access through CFDs or spot contracts. However, Interactive Brokers offers a wider selection of tradeable forex pairs, numbering 90, compared to Admirals' 82. When it comes to the total number of tradeable symbols, Admirals holds a slight edge with 8,702 compared to Interactive Brokers' 8,500 symbols. Both brokers grant access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, allowing investors to purchase shares like Apple or Vodafone.
While both brokers support cryptocurrency derivatives trading, Interactive Brokers additionally enables buying actual cryptocurrencies, a feature not available with Admirals. Admirals, however, sets itself apart by offering copy trading, a service not provided by Interactive Brokers. Overall, in terms of the range of investments, Interactive Brokers garners a perfect 5-star rating and is ranked first among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Admirals, while still highly rated with 4.5 stars, is ranked nineteenth in the same category.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 8702 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 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) | Yes | 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.
Interactive Brokers and Admirals both provide traders with a range of platforms and tools designed to enhance trading experiences. Both brokers offer simulated (paper) trading with free virtual demo accounts and have developed proprietary platforms for users. Traders can enjoy the easy convenience of Windows-based desktop download trading platforms and web-based browser platforms with both brokers. However, Admirals stands out with its support for popular trading platforms MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), as well as offering copy trading features, which Interactive Brokers does not provide.
In terms of charting capabilities, Admirals offers more drawing tools, with 106 available compared to Interactive Brokers' 85. Despite this, Interactive Brokers excels in customization, featuring a substantial 659 columns for watch lists against Admirals' 7. Trading directly from stock charts is supported by both brokers. Ultimately, Interactive Brokers has an edge in user reviews, securing a 5-star rating and ranking #3 out of 62 brokers for its trading platforms and tools, while Admirals earns a respectable 4-star rating and ranks #19.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
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) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and Admirals both offer mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, allowing users to trade conveniently on the go. Both platforms provide stock and forex price alerts and support for drawing trendlines and viewing various time frames on charts. However, Interactive Brokers excels in technical analysis by offering 97 technical studies compared to Admirals' 30. Additionally, Interactive Brokers enables syncing watchlist symbols across devices, a feature not available with Admirals. On the downside, Interactive Brokers does not auto-save chart drawings, unlike Admirals, which does.
When considering their overall ratings and rankings, Interactive Brokers scores a perfect five stars for its mobile trading app, securing the #4 spot out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Admirals, though with a still respectable four-star rating, is ranked #23. Both brokers allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, but if syncing capabilities and a broader range of technical studies are priorities, Interactive Brokers seems to be the stronger choice. Meanwhile, Admirals' ability to auto-save chart annotations might appeal to traders who frequently use custom charts.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to daily market commentary, both Interactive Brokers and Admirals offer reliable insights. They each provide forex news from notable sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. However, neither broker incorporates Autochartist tools for technical analysis. Both brokers are equipped with Trading Central tools and offer sentiment-based trading tools, which include insights into long or short position ratios across various instruments. Moreover, both Interactive Brokers and Admirals provide market research from TipRanks and leverage Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre. For those following global economic developments, both also feature an economic calendar for tracking worldwide news events.
In terms of research ratings, Interactive Brokers excels with a perfect score of 5 stars, positioning itself as a top-tier choice in the financial research sector. Admirals also offers commendable services, earning a solid 4-star rating. Regarding research rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers stands out by securing the #3 spot out of 62 brokers. In comparison, Admirals holds a respectable #15 ranking. Despite their differences in ranking and ratings, both platforms deliver comprehensive tools and news for informed trading decisions.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
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) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational offerings of online brokers Interactive Brokers and Admirals, both platforms support beginners and forex traders with ample resources. Interactive Brokers and Admirals each provide a minimum of 10 educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars. Additionally, they both host at least one online educational client webinar monthly and maintain a searchable archive of previously recorded sessions. This allows users to learn at their own pace, whenever it suits them.
For those starting out, both platforms offer more than 10 beginner educational videos covering essential trading topics. They also cater to advanced traders with a similar number of resources to enhance their trading skills. Both brokers provide an investor dictionary, with over 50 investing terms for clients to familiarize themselves with the trading world. However, Interactive Brokers receives higher marks for its educational content, rated five stars compared to Admirals' four. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers claims a higher rank in the education category on ForexBrokers.com, securing the third spot out of 62 brokers, whereas Admirals is positioned at twelfth. Ultimately, Interactive Brokers emerges slightly ahead in educational support for traders.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
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 Interactive Brokers is better than Admirals. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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Interactive Brokers allows investors to buy both actual delivered cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Admirals offers the option to purchase only cryptocurrency derivatives but not the actual delivered cryptocurrencies.
Interactive Brokers and Admirals both support ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but only Admirals provides additional flexibility with PayPal, Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard 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 | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Admirals Review |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | Yes |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 8702 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 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) | Yes | 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 | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | 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 | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers Review | Admirals Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Admirals Review |
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