Two regulated brokers clash over platform choice, access to global equities, and fee structures. Admirals offers real stock ownership with CFDs, while GO Markets emphasizes platform variety and higher leverage.
Admirals is the higher-rated overall with a 4.0 editorial score, ahead of GO Markets at 3.5.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose Admirals if…
Choose Admirals if you want zero-commission real shares via Invest.MT5 and you can trade leveraged share CFDs across 4,500+ stocks. You also get FSCS protection for UK clients and a broad multi-regulatory footprint, including FCA and ASIC oversight.
Choose GO Markets if…
Choose GO Markets if you value a broad platform lineup with MT4, MT5, and cTrader and you benefit from dual ASIC and CySEC regulation. The broker also offers higher leverage up to 500:1 and spreads on share CFDs, though real shares are not available.
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 real shares via Invest.MT5.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 3.5/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $200 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $5/lot▼ lower |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Admirals | GO Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Admirals rates 4/5 versus 3.5/5 for GO Markets. Admirals edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
GO Markets 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 GO Markets requires at least $200. This makes Admirals more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Admirals and GO Markets 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: Admirals has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Admirals lists maximum leverage of 20:1, while GO Markets lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
GO Markets charges $5 per trade, lower than Admirals's $6 per trade. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day. 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 GO Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. GO Markets has exclusive access to cTrader.
Admirals offers commission-free stock trading while GO Markets 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 GO Markets 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 due to FCA, CySEC, ASIC oversight and broader multi-jurisdictional protection.
GO Markets wins for active traders because of MT4/MT5 and cTrader access plus high leverage.
Admirals wins for beginners with zero minimum deposit and UK FSCS protection.
Admirals wins for global access with 15 exchanges supported.
Admirals wins for long-term investors seeking real stock ownership with zero commission.
| 1.1 pips |
| 0.5 pips▼ lower |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month (after 24 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPal |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| 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 | ASIC CySEC FSC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.5 / 5
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