Both brokers earn similar overall scores, but their platform choices, fee structures, and regulation posture pull in different directions.
ActivTrades and Admirals are closely matched overall. The clearest differentiator is ActivTrades' proprietary platform and no inactivity fee versus Admirals' large instrument universe.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose ActivTrades if…
Choose ActivTrades if you want a proprietary platform. You also get no inactivity fee.
Choose Admirals if…
Choose Admirals for broad instrument variety. Raw spreads are available.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.50 pips.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Pros
FCA regulated with supplemental insurance up to GBP 1,000,000 per client
ActivTrader's volatility protection feature is a genuine risk management differentiator
No minimum deposit
Strong southern European presence, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ActivTrades | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
ActivTrades and Admirals share the same editorial score of 4.3/5. One concrete differentiator: ActivTrades requires a lower minimum deposit.
Both ActivTrades and Admirals start from 0.5 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
ActivTrades has no minimum deposit, while Admirals requires at least $100. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and Admirals hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: ActivTrades has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
ActivTrades lists maximum leverage of 400:1, while Admirals lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Admirals charges $6 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for ActivTrades are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader, while Admirals supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. ActivTrades has exclusive access to ActivTrader. Admirals has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5.
Admirals benefits from broader regulation including ASIC, CySEC, KNF.
Admirals provides access to 8,000 instruments.
Admirals is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2001 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Tallinn, Estonia |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0.5 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 1.1 pips |
| Max Leverage | 400:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $10/month (after 24 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | FCA ASIC CySEC KNF |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Extensive range of accounts including Zero, Trade, and Invest
Strong FCA and CySEC regulation covering EU and UK traders
High-quality educational content including live webinars
Zero account offers spreads from 0.5 pips with $6 round-turn commission
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Product range narrower than IG or Saxo
No cTrader or raw ECN account option
Less known outside Europe compared to global competitors
Cons
Platform-heavy, MT4 and MT5 only, no proprietary platform
Customer support quality varies by region
Not available to US clients
Inactivity fee applies
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
Score 4.3 / 5
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