Admirals and Swissquote square off on cost, access, and regulation. The axis of tension centers on price models, platform choices, and international reach.
Swissquote edges Admirals on the editorial score, bolstered by stronger regulation and broader exchange access. Its FINMA licence and access to 60 exchanges underpin the higher rating.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose Admirals if…
Choose Admirals if you want 24/5 live chat and commission-free trading, plus a zero minimum deposit on standard accounts for easy market entry. Additionally, you gain access to real shares via Invest.MT5 in a familiar MT environment without needing to fund complex accounts.
Choose Swissquote if…
Choose Swissquote if you value top-tier regulation and broad global access supported by custody. The platform combines real shares and share CFDs across 60 exchanges and a FINMA licence, giving institutional-grade oversight within a Swiss banking framework.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Admirals wins for low-cost trading with commission-free transactions.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $1,000 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips▼ lower | 1.7 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 | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| 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 Swissquote rates 4.3/5. Swissquote 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 Swissquote's 1.7. 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 Swissquote requires at least $1000. This makes Admirals more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Admirals and Swissquote 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 Swissquote 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 Swissquote 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 Swissquote supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Swissquote has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Admirals offers commission-free stock trading while Swissquote 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 Swissquote 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.
Swissquote wins for safety and regulation with a FINMA Swiss banking licence.
Swissquote is best for active traders thanks to a proprietary platform and broad instrument access.
Admirals wins for beginners with no minimum deposit and easy entry.
Swissquote wins for global market access with 60 exchanges.
Swissquote is best for long-term investing due to broad access and custody across many exchanges.
| 1.1 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month (after 24 months) | CHF 10/month (after 6 months) |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transfer |
|---|
| 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 DFSA FINMA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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