Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Admirals vs Trading 212, 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.
When comparing online brokers Admirals and Trading 212, it's clear that both have their unique strengths. Admirals, founded in 2001, holds a significant advantage with four Tier-1 licenses and a Trust Score rating of 93 out of 99, categorizing it as highly trusted. In comparison, Trading 212, established in 2004, boasts two Tier-1 licenses but has a Trust Score of 79, indicating an average risk level. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank, contributing to their independent profiles in the financial market landscape.
The regulatory landscape further distinguishes Admirals and Trading 212. While Admirals holds three Tier-2 licenses, offering an additional layer of trustworthiness, Trading 212 does not currently hold any Tier-2 licenses. This difference in regulatory credentials can be a crucial factor for investors considering the safety and reliability of their chosen trading platform. Overall, both brokers serve their clients effectively, but Admirals presents itself as a more trusted option based on regulatory standing and trust ratings.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Admirals and Trading 212, Admirals offers competitive pricing with typical spreads of 0.8 on their Trade account, as well as similar pricing structures on their Zero account type. This attractive pricing contributes to Admirals' strong performance in the Commissions and Fees category, earning them an impressive rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars and a ranking of 17th out of 62 brokers as evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, Trading 212 is known for its zero-commission promise on its CFD and Invest accounts. However, traders should be aware that, despite the zero-commission offer, they need to pay a spread when trading CFDs and forex. For example, in January 2024, Trading 212 posted an average spread of 1.9 pips for the EUR/USD pair, which is higher than the industry average. This higher spread positions Trading 212 less favorably against top competitors, receiving a slightly lower rating of 4 out of 5 stars and ranking at 43rd for commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.9 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Admirals and Trading 212, both brokers offer a variety of investment options but differ in some key areas. Admirals provides access to an impressive 8,702 tradeable symbols, securing a 4.5-star rating for its range of investments. It allows traders to engage in forex trading as either CFDs or spot contracts with a selection of 82 forex pairs. Admirals also enables clients to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges. Additionally, Admirals offers copy trading capabilities, making it a versatile platform for traders looking for guidance or strategic inspiration.
On the other hand, Trading 212 boasts a slightly smaller selection of 8,025 tradeable symbols but excels with a 5-star rating in the same category. It offers a broader selection of 146 tradeable forex pairs, providing more diversity in currencies. Trading 212, like Admirals, gives users the ability to buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges. However, it does not offer copy trading. Neither platform supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, but both offer trading in cryptocurrency derivatives. Overall, Trading 212 edges ahead, ranked #15 compared to Admiral's #19 ranking for the range of investments category by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 8025 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 Trading 212 both provide traders with free virtual demo accounts to practice and refine their strategies. Each broker also offers its own proprietary trading platform. While Admirals supplies a Windows-based desktop platform, Trading 212 opts out, instead focusing on its web-based counterpart, which both brokers offer. Admirals holds an advantage with its support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, appealing to traders familiar with these popular systems, whereas Trading 212 lacks this feature. Additionally, Admirals offers copy trading services that Trading 212 does not have.
Charting tools are crucial for traders, and Admirals delivers a wide array of options, including 106 drawing tools compared to Trading 212's 20. Both platforms allow trading directly from stock charts, facilitating quick and intuitive trading actions. When setting up watch lists, Admirals permits up to 7 columns, slightly more than the 5 offered by Trading 212. Both companies receive a rating of 4 out of 5 stars for their trading platforms and tools. Admirals is ranked #19 by ForexBrokers.com, slightly ahead of Trading 212, which holds the #20 spot among 62 brokers, making them close competitors in the trading platform category.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Admirals and Trading 212 offer versatile mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android users, catering to anyone looking to trade stocks or forex on the go. Both apps provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts and the capability to create a watchlist with real-time updates. Admirals and Trading 212 also make it easy to view multiple time frames on charts, draw trendlines, and have your drawings auto-save on the app itself. However, Trading 212 has an advantage when it comes to watchlist symbol syncing, allowing seamless updates between the app and the user's online account, a feature Admirals currently lacks.
Charting capabilities offer another contrast: Admirals provides 30 technical studies, while Trading 212 offers a more extensive range with 104 studies available. Despite these differences, both applications have been well-received, earning a solid four-star rating for their mobile trading experiences. However, Trading 212 edges out Admirals in the rankings from ForexBrokers.com, holding the 17th spot compared to Admirals' 23rd out of 62 brokers assessed. This information could be crucial for traders trying to decide which platform best suits their mobile trading needs.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 |
| 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 Admirals with Trading 212 for market research, several key differences highlight the strengths of each platform. Admirals distinguishes itself by offering daily market commentary, while Trading 212 does not. Both brokers provide users with access to forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Admirals provides comprehensive market research tools such as Trading Central’s Technical Analytics and tools from Acuity Trading, which Trading 212 lacks. Admirals further enhances its offering with market research from TipRanks and a sentiment-based trading tool, similar to Trading 212, which also provides a tool to gauge the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments.
For those interested in staying informed about global economic events, both Admirals and Trading 212 offer an economic calendar. However, Admirals receives a higher research rating, with four stars compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars, underscoring its more extensive research services. Notably, ForexBrokers.com ranks Admirals at #15 out of 62 brokers for research, while Trading 212 trails behind significantly, ranked at #46. This comparison makes it evident that Admirals offers a more comprehensive market research suite, ideal for traders seeking detailed insights and tools beyond the basics.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| 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 comparing the educational offerings of Admirals and Trading 212 for beginners, both platforms provide an extensive range of resources, including over 10 articles, videos, and archived webinars focusing on forex and CFDs. Admirals and Trading 212 host at least one online educational webinar each month and maintain accessible archives of past webinars. Both brokers cater to novice traders with over 10 beginner-specific educational videos, making it easier for newcomers to grasp the basics of trading.
Admirals and Trading 212 go beyond beginner resources, offering over 10 advanced educational videos tailored for seasoned traders. Additionally, they each feature an investor dictionary with definitions of more than 50 trading terms, aiding users in understanding complex concepts. Admirals receives a strong educational rating of 4 stars and is ranked 12th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for its educational services, while Trading 212 holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 20th in the same category. This indicates that while both platforms are well-equipped for educational purposes, Admirals has a slight edge in this aspect.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Trading 212. Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
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
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 79 |
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Both Admirals and Trading 212 allow investors to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the option to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
Admirals and Trading 212 both offer ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires for deposit and withdrawal options, but only Admirals offers Skrill as a payment method.
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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2 of 5| Overall Rating | Admirals | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Admirals | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | Admirals | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 79 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Admirals | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes | No |
| Investments | Admirals | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 8025 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.9 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Admirals | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Admirals | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Admirals | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 20 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Admirals | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Admirals | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Admirals | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | Trading 212 Review |
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