Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Admirals vs TopFX, 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, stands out as a highly trusted online broker with a Trust Score of 93 according to ForexBrokers.com. Although not publicly traded and not a bank, Admirals demonstrates strong regulatory compliance, holding four Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses. These credentials contribute to its reputation as a reliable choice for online trading.
In comparison, TopFX, founded in 2010, has a Trust Score of 67, indicating a higher risk level according to ForexBrokers.com. Like Admirals, TopFX is neither publicly traded nor a bank. However, it holds just one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses, which may affect its perceived trustworthiness for those prioritizing regulatory oversight in their broker selection process.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2010 |
| 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 | 1 |
When comparing online brokerages based on their commissions and fees, Admirals presents itself as a competitively priced option. With typical spreads of 0.8 pips on its Trade account and similar pricing on the Zero account, Admirals offers cost-effective trading opportunities for its users. It holds a rating of 4.5 stars and is ranked #17 out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com, highlighting its cost efficiency.
TopFX, on the other hand, offers two account types—the ZERO account, which is spread-only, and the RAW account, which is commission-based. The RAW account features a commission charge of 2.75 EUR per side (5.50 EUR per round turn standard lot). With average spreads of 0.33 pips and a fee equivalent of 0.55 pips per round-turn, the all-in cost stands at approximately 0.88 pips, aligning with the industry standard. The ZERO account, though commission-free, typically incurs higher average spreads of 1.03 pips. TopFX garners a rating of 4 stars for its fees and commissions, ranking #40 among 62 brokers.
In essence, Admirals seems to offer a more economical choice with its lower spreads and favorable ranking. TopFX provides varied account options that cater to different trading strategies, though with relatively higher costs on average. Both brokers offer their trading services on prominent platforms such as MetaTrader and cTrader, catering to a range of traders. Overall, each broker provides distinct advantages based on user preference and trading style.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | Depends on payment method |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.03 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.88 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| 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 considering the range of investments offered by Admirals and TopFX, Admirals stands out with a significantly broader selection. Admirals provides access to 8,702 tradeable symbols, in contrast to TopFX, which offers 655. In terms of forex trading, Admirals offers 82 tradeable forex pairs, whereas TopFX offers 60. Both platforms allow trading in forex as CFDs or spot contracts and provide options for copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives; however, neither offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrency.
Admirals also provides the opportunity to trade exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, which is an option not available with TopFX. This allows Admirals’ clients the ability to invest in prominent shares like Apple on the NASDAQ or Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange. In terms of investment range satisfaction, Admirals receives a higher rating of 4.5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, holding the #19 spot out of 62 brokers, compared to TopFX's 3.5 stars and #46 ranking, reflecting a more comprehensive array of investment opportunities with Admirals.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 655 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 60 |
| 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 TopFX both provide various options for online trading, making them popular brokers for different kinds of traders. Both offer the essential feature of simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, enabling beginners to practice without financial risk. A significant distinguishing factor is that Admirals provides a proprietary platform, developed in-house, whereas TopFX does not have one. Both brokers support Windows-based desktop download and web-based trading platforms, offering flexibility in how traders can access the market. Admirals stands out in offering both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while TopFX only supports MetaTrader 4.
In terms of trading tools, both Admirals and TopFX allow users to trade directly from stock charts. Admirals offers an extensive array of drawing tools with 106 options compared to TopFX's 15, catering to traders who rely heavily on technical analysis. Both platforms offer the same number of columns for watch lists, at seven each. When it comes to overall ratings, both brokers achieve a commendable four out of five stars for their trading platforms and tools. Nevertheless, Admirals holds a stronger position in rankings by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at 20th place compared to TopFX at 44th among 62 brokers, indicating a slight edge in overall performance and user satisfaction.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| 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.
Admirals and TopFX both provide mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, making it convenient for users to trade on the go. Both apps offer the important features traders expect, such as stock and forex price alerts, and the ability to create customized watchlists with real-time quotes. Admirals and TopFX apps each support basic charting tools with 30 technical studies and allow traders to draw trendlines and view different time frames, ensuring comprehensive trading analysis. Furthermore, both apps automatically save any chart drawings, which adds to their ease of use.
While both Admirals and TopFX offer similar mobile trading experiences, there are some differences in their user ratings and rankings. Both apps are rated at four out of five stars for mobile trading. However, Admirals holds a better position, ranked at #28 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to TopFX, which is ranked at #51. Neither platform offers the functionality to sync watchlist symbols with a client's online account, which is something to consider when choosing between the two.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 comparing market research features between online brokers Admirals and TopFX, Admirals stands out with a wider array of tools and resources. Admirals offers daily market commentary and provides insights from top-tier news sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Additionally, Admirals is equipped with Trading Central's technical analysis tools, sentiment-based trading features, and market research from TipRanks. Notably, Admirals also provides tools from Acuity Trading and a comprehensive economic calendar, solidifying its commitment to keeping traders informed. As a result, Admirals achieves a research rating of 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 15th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, TopFX provides its users with access to forex news from leading sources, which is an essential feature. It also offers tools from Autochartist and Trading Central, along with a sentiment-based trading tool and an economic calendar. However, the absence of daily market commentary and market insights from companies like TipRanks and Acuity Trading might limit its research capabilities. This results in a more modest research rating of 3 out of 5 stars and a lower rank of 59th out of 62 brokers as noted by ForexBrokers.com. For traders seeking in-depth market research, Admirals appears to offer a more comprehensive solution.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| 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, Admirals stands out compared to TopFX. Admirals offers a wide range of materials, including over ten educational pieces focusing on forex or CFDs such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. Additionally, they host online webinars monthly and provide access to a searchable archive of past sessions. For beginners, Admirals has more than ten dedicated educational videos, helping newcomers get acquainted with trading fundamentals.
In contrast, TopFX falls short in these areas, as it does not offer a comparable level of educational content. Admirals also caters to more experienced traders with advanced educational videos and provides an investor dictionary with definitions of at least 50 trading terms. These offerings contribute to their impressive educational rating of four out of five stars and a ranking of 12th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while TopFX holds a lower educational ranking and only a three-star rating.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 TopFX. Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18, while TopFX finished with an overall rank of #61.
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
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 67 |
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Both Admirals and TopFX do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing Admirals and TopFX, both online brokers facilitate deposits and withdrawals via PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but only Admirals offers the additional convenience of ACH and SEPA transfers for managing account funds.
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 | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 67 | |
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| Review | Admirals Review | TopFX Review |
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| Regulation | Admirals | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 67 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2010 | |
| 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 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Admirals | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 655 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 60 | |
| 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 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.03 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.88 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Admirals | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | Depends on payment method | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | Admirals | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Admirals | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Admirals | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Admirals | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | TopFX Review |
| Overall | Admirals | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | TopFX Review |
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