Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Admirals, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is a well-established online broker that is publicly traded, adding transparency to its operations. It holds a total of six Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com, along with one Tier-2 license. This extensive regulatory oversight contributes to CMC Markets achieving an impressive Trust Score of 99, indicating a high level of reliability and security for investors.
Admirals, established in 2001, is also a well-regarded online broker but is not listed on a stock exchange. Admirals holds four Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, displaying a strong regulatory framework. With a Trust Score of 93, Admirals is considered a trusted option for investors, but slightly trails CMC Markets in terms of perceived trustworthiness and regulatory clout.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, CMC Markets is the clear cost leader, earning 5 stars and the #1 ranking out of 63 brokers in our 2025 Annual Awards. Admirals is competitively priced too, with a 4.5-star rating and a #18 ranking. Both aim to keep trading costs low, but CMC Markets generally delivers lower pricing across more account types.
CMC Markets lists a typical EUR/USD spread of 0.61 pips (Aug 2023). Its FX Active commission plan, available in select regions on MT4 and Next Generation, charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0.0, yielding an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD (and five other majors). Active traders can also reduce costs further via the Price Plus program, which offers spread discounts as you accumulate Trading Points. Notably, CMC’s average spreads tend to track its advertised minimums, helping keep real-world costs low.
Admirals posts typical spreads around 0.8 pips on its Trade account, with similar pricing on the Zero account. That keeps fees attractive for everyday trading, though CMC Markets often comes in lower, especially when FX Active or Price Plus discounts apply. If minimizing spreads and commissions is your top priority, CMC Markets usually has the edge; if you want straightforward, competitive spreads, Admirals remains a solid alternative.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets vs Admirals: for range of investments, CMC Markets offers 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while Admirals lists 8,702 symbols and 82 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or as spot, giving you flexibility in how you trade currency markets.
Both platforms also let you invest in exchange-traded shares on U.S. markets like NASDAQ and on international exchanges such as the London Stock Exchange. Copy trading is available at both. For crypto exposure, neither broker lets you buy coins directly, but each offers cryptocurrency CFDs. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks 9th out of 63 for Range of Investments, while Admirals earns 4.5 stars and ranks 20th.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 8702 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 82 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
CMC Markets and Admirals both let you practice with a free virtual demo account. Each broker offers its own proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade on a Windows desktop download or in your web browser, and both support copy trading. Trading directly from charts is available at both, along with a range of technical indicators for analysis.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while Admirals earns 4 stars and ranks #19. If platform features and tools are your top priority, CMC Markets has the edge; if you want MetaTrader access, chart trading, and a demo account, both brokers check those boxes.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing the CMC Markets mobile app to the Admirals mobile app, both are available on iPhone and Android and both support price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto‑saving of chart annotations. For charting, CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies while Admirals offers 30. A key difference is watchlist syncing: CMC Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and the web platform, so changes carry over automatically, while Admirals does not.
Independent ratings favor CMC Markets for mobile trading. ForexBrokers.com gives CMC Markets 5 stars and ranks it #5 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, compared with Admirals at 4 stars and a #23 ranking. If seamless watchlist syncing and a higher overall mobile score matter most, CMC Markets is the better pick; if you want one more built‑in indicator, Admirals has a slight edge there.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and Admirals both provide daily market commentary, offering valuable insights for traders looking to stay informed. They each deliver forex news from reputable sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring access to timely and reliable information. For those interested in technical analysis tools, CMC Markets stands out with offerings from Autochartist, whereas Admirals lacks this feature but compensates with tools from Trading Central, famous for its technical analytics. Both platforms provide sentiment-based trading tools to help users understand market trends, as well as comprehensive economic calendars showcasing key global events.
Where the platforms diverge further is in their additional research tools. Admirals excels by incorporating resources like TipRanks and Acuity Trading, granting users a broader range of analytical options. Meanwhile, CMC Markets focuses more narrowly, resulting in a slightly higher research rating with 5 stars compared to Admirals' 4 stars. Ultimately, based on ForexBrokers.com rankings among 63 brokers for research, CMC Markets is positioned at #6, reflecting its strong research capabilities, while Admirals holds the #15 spot. This overview underscores the distinct advantages each broker offers, catering to various trader preferences and needs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing education at CMC Markets and Admirals, both brokers deliver large video libraries, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos that explain trading topics in plain terms. CMC Markets does not run monthly client webinars, while Admirals hosts at least one educational webinar each month for live learning. In expert reviews, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Admirals earns 4 stars and ranks #12.
If you want scheduled, interactive webinars to ask questions in real time, Admirals is a strong pick. If you prefer on-demand lessons and a highly rated catalog you can watch anytime, CMC Markets edges ahead. Either way, beginners will find plenty of videos to build core skills and move into more advanced topics as they grow.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that CMC Markets is better than Admirals. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
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Admirals
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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CMC Markets vs Admirals: both online brokers do not support purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they each offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
CMC Markets vs Admirals: both offer ACH/SEPA for deposits and withdrawals; CMC Markets also supports PayPal and bank wires and does not support Skrill, while details for Admirals on PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires—and for CMC Markets on Visa/Mastercard—are not specified.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Admirals Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 8702 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 82 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Admirals Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Admirals Review |
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