A head-to-head comparison of Admirals and ADS Securities across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Multi-regulated broker with extensive account range, competitive Zero account spreads, strong EU regulation and quality webinar and education content.
UAE-headquartered broker regulated by FSRA (Abu Dhabi Global Market) and FCA, providing institutional-quality execution and capital markets access to GCC institutional and high-net-worth retail traders.
Admirals and ADS Securities are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.3/5 and 4.3/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.5 pips.
Admirals has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
ADS Securities offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.3/5, but Admirals requires a lower minimum deposit ($100 vs $2000 for ADS Securities), making it more accessible for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2001 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Min deposit | $100 | $2,000 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.5 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 200:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC KNF | FCA FSRA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Admirals | Visit ADS Securities |
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
Pros
FSRA (ADGM) and FCA dual regulation - institutional-grade UAE framework
Institutional prime brokerage liquidity for tight spreads
Multi-asset including equities and fixed income
FIX API available for algorithmic and professional clients
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Raw spread account available
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
Cons
Platform-heavy - MT4 and MT5 only, no proprietary platform
Customer support quality varies by region
Not available to US clients
Inactivity fee applies
Cons
$2,000 minimum deposit - not accessible to entry-level retail traders
Primary focus on institutional and HNW clients; limited retail tools
Less suitable for traders seeking educational support or copy trading
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Admirals | ADS Securities |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Fail |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| 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 |
Admirals and ADS Securities share the same editorial score of 4.3/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
Both Admirals and ADS Securities offer spreads starting from 0.5 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Consider commissions and account types when evaluating total trading costs.
Admirals has a lower minimum deposit of $100, while ADS Securities requires at least $2000. This makes Admirals more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Admirals and ADS Securities hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: Admirals has a lower minimum deposit ($100), lowering the barrier to entry; Admirals offers negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Admirals offers maximum leverage of 500:1, while ADS Securities offers up to 200:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Admirals charges $6 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Admirals supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and ADS Securities offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; ADS Securities exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile.
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Score 4.3 / 5
Score 4.3 / 5
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