In this head to head, Admirals and FBS clash on regulation, reach, and cost. The comparison pits strong regulation against offshore flexibility.
Admirals outperforms FBS on editorial score (4.3 vs 3.9) with stronger regulation coverage and a broader range of accounts.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
FBS offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.50 pips for Admirals, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.5 / 5 |
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Admirals | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| 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 | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Admirals rates 4.3/5 and FBS rates 3.9/5. Admirals has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
FBS starts from 0 pips, tighter than Admirals's 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
FBS has $1, while Admirals requires at least $100. This makes FBS more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Admirals holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, CySEC), providing stronger investor protections. FBS may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
For beginners, two factors stand out: FBS requires a lower minimum deposit ($1), lowering the barrier to entry, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Admirals lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while FBS lists up to 3000:1. 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, lower than FBS's $20 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Admirals supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while FBS supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Admirals wins for safety with FCA/ASIC/CySEC/KNF oversight and investor protection coverage.
Admirals wins for active traders due to broad instrument range and advanced charting.
Admirals is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($6/lot).
FBS wins for beginners due to $1 Cent accounts and broad regional reach.
Admirals wins for instrument variety with 8000 instruments.
Admirals wins for platform tools with advanced charting and MT4/MT5 access.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2009 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia | Belize City, Belize |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100 | $1▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot▼ lower | $20/lot |
|---|
| 1.1 pips▼ lower | 2 pips |
| Max Leverage | 500:1▲ higher | 3,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 24 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayPerfect Money |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayPerfect Money |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC KNF | FSCA CySEC IFSC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Very low $1 minimum deposit on Cent accounts
MT4 and MT5 on all account types
Multiple account types including Cent, Zero Spread, and ECN
Widely available across Southeast Asia, MENA, and Africa
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
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
Primary entity uses IFSC Belize, offshore, limited investor protection
Bonus turnover requirements are onerous
Very high leverage (3000:1) is a significant risk factor for retail clients
No top-tier regulatory licence
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Limited charting capabilities
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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