Two well-regulated brokers face off on fees, platforms, and account types. The tension centers on pricing transparency and the breadth of tradable instruments.
Admirals and XM are closely matched overall, with a single differentiator. Admirals offers raw spreads via its Zero account, while XM does not.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Admirals offers tighter spreads from 0.50 pips vs 0.60 pips for XM, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 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 | XM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | 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 |
Admirals and XM share the same editorial score of 4.3/5. One concrete differentiator: XM requires a lower minimum deposit.
Admirals starts from 0.5 pips, tighter than XM's 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
XM has $5, while Admirals requires at least $100. This makes XM more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Admirals and XM 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: XM requires a lower minimum deposit ($5), 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 XM lists up to 1000:1. 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 XM are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Admirals supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while XM supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Equally matched; both hold strong regulators and segregated funds.
Admirals wins for broader instrument access, supporting more trading opportunities.
Admirals is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.50 pips.
Admirals wins for 8000 instruments compared to XM's 1400.
Equally matched; both use MT4/MT5 and no proprietary platform.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2009 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100 | $5▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
|---|
| 1.1 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 500:1▲ higher | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 24 months) | $5/month (after 90 days)▼ lower |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free for most methods |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC KNF | ASIC CySEC ASF FSC KNF |
|---|
| 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
USD 5 minimum deposit
Strong bonus program
Multilingual support
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
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
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
Spreads not as tight as ECN-style brokers
Not available to US clients
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
Score 4.3 / 5
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