Two regulated brokers square off over stock access, platform depth, and cost. Admirals and FXTM differ on real shares, research tools, and chat support, building anticipation for the verdict.
Admirals wins on the editorial score, 4.0 to 3.7, reflecting its stronger regulation and platform scores relative to FXTM.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Admirals wins for low cost trading with zero-commission Invest.MT5 stock trades.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 3.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips▼ lower | 1.5 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Admirals | FXTM |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Pass |
| 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 | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Admirals rates 4/5 and FXTM rates 3.7/5. 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.
Admirals lists tighter spreads from 0.5, compared with FXTM's 1.5. For stock trading, also factor in any per-trade or per-share commissions — spreads and commissions together determine the true cost per trade.
Neither Admirals nor FXTM requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Admirals and FXTM 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, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Admirals lists maximum leverage of 20:1, while FXTM lists up to 20:1. 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 FXTM 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 FXTM supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Admirals offers commission-free stock trading while FXTM 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.
Both Admirals and FXTM are covered by a compensation scheme according to our data, providing an additional safety net for your stock investments. Confirm the specific scheme and coverage limit that applies to your account before depositing.
Admirals wins for safety & regulation with FCA, CySEC, ASIC and FSCS protection.
Admirals wins for active traders with MT4/MT5 and integrated research tools.
Admirals wins for global market access with 15 exchanges.
Admirals wins for long-term investors with real share ownership via Invest.MT5 and 4,500+ stocks.
| 1.1 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month (after 24 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| 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 | FCA FSCA CySEC FSC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.7 / 5
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