This comparison pits Admirals against DEGIRO on cost, platform breadth, and global access. The tension centers on whether low fees trump richer share ownership and broader exchanges.
DEGIRO edges Admirals on the overall editorial score, thanks to stronger fees metrics and broader exchange access. Admirals remains competitive with real share ownership via Invest.MT5 and multi-jurisdictional regulation.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose Admirals if…
Choose Admirals if you value real shares through Invest.MT5 with zero commissions on share trades and you want strong regulation across multiple authorities. You also get MT4 and MT5 access with the Supreme Edition plugin and UK FSCS protection for eligible funds.
Choose DEGIRO if…
Choose DEGIRO if you prioritize very low stock commissions and broad global market access to 50+ exchanges. You benefit from transparent flat-fee pricing and no minimum deposit, but you trade away fractional shares and ISA/SIPP wrappers.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
DEGIRO wins for low cost trading due to Europe's lowest stock commissions and flat-fee pricing.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum | N/A |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Admirals | DEGIRO |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: Admirals rates 4/5 and DEGIRO rates 4.3/5. DEGIRO 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.
Admirals starts from 0.5. Current spread data is not available for DEGIRO. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Admirals requires no minimum deposit required. Minimum deposit information is not currently available for DEGIRO.
Both Admirals and DEGIRO 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, Admirals provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Admirals lists maximum leverage of 20:1, while DEGIRO lists up to 1:1. 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 trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for DEGIRO are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. 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 DEGIRO supports DEGIRO Platform. Admirals has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. DEGIRO has exclusive access to DEGIRO Platform.
Admirals offers commission-free stock trading while DEGIRO 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 wins for safety and regulation due to multi-jurisdictional oversight and FSCS protection.
DEGIRO wins for long-term investing thanks to dividend reinvestment and broad international access.
Admirals wins for active traders with live chat, research tools, and advanced charting.
Admirals wins for beginners due to zero minimum deposit and strong support.
DEGIRO wins for global market access with 50+ exchanges worldwide.
| 1.1 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month (after 24 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | Yes | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC KNF | BaFin AFM |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | DEGIRO Platform |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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