Two brokers vie on regulation, stock access, and platform strategy. The contrast centers on commission structure, real share ownership, and global reach, inviting closer scrutiny.
Admirals wins on editorial score, driven by strong regulation, commission-free real shares, and broader exchange access.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose Admirals if…
Choose Admirals if you want commission-free real shares via Invest.MT5, access to 15 exchanges, and a broad stock universe alongside ETFs. The package includes strong regulation across FCA, CySEC and ASIC, a formal compensation scheme, and negative balance protection for client safety.
Choose AMarkets if…
Choose AMarkets if you value ECN pricing on stocks CFDs and a broad product range beyond forex. You also access MT4 and MT5 with copy trading, but the broker operates under SVG/FSA offshore regulation with leverage up to 3000:1.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Admirals wins for low cost trading due to commission-free Invest.MT5 shares.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 3.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $6/lot |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Admirals | AMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Pass | Fail |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Admirals rates 4/5 versus 3.2/5 for AMarkets. Admirals edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
AMarkets lists tighter spreads from 0, compared with Admirals's 0.5. For stock trading, also factor in any per-trade or per-share commissions — spreads and commissions together determine the true cost per trade.
Admirals has no minimum deposit, while AMarkets requires at least $100. This makes Admirals more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Admirals holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, CySEC), providing stronger investor protections. AMarkets 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.
Admirals stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Admirals lists maximum leverage of 20:1, while AMarkets 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.
Both Admirals and AMarkets charge the same commission of $6 per trade on applicable accounts. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
Admirals supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while AMarkets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. AMarkets has exclusive access to cTrader.
Admirals offers commission-free stock trading while AMarkets does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
Admirals scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
Admirals offers stronger regulation with FCA, CySEC and ASIC oversight.
AMarkets provides MT4/MT5 with copy trading and ECN pricing.
Admirals provides access to 15 exchanges, more than AMarkets.
Admirals enables real share ownership via Invest.MT5 for longer holdings.
| 1.1 pips |
| 0.6 pips▼ lower |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month (after 24 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | Yes | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC KNF | SVGFSA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.2 / 5
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