Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Admirals vs IC Markets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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Admirals and IC Markets are both well-known online brokers, but they differ in their founding years and regulatory standing. Admirals, established in 2001, boasts a high trust score of 93 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, indicating a high level of reliability. In terms of regulatory licenses, Admirals holds four Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its strong standing among top regulators, and three Tier-2 licenses, which further underscores its trusted status. Although not publicly traded or operating as a bank, its regulatory credentials make Admirals a noteworthy choice for investors seeking confidence in their trading platform.
On the other hand, IC Markets was founded in 2007 and earns a trust score of 84 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, placing it comfortably in the trusted category. While it holds two Tier-1 licenses, IC Markets lacks Tier-2 regulatory licenses, which might be a consideration for some investors. Like Admirals, IC Markets is also not publicly traded nor a bank, but its solid trust rating indicates a reliable option for traders focused on well-regulated online brokers.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
Admirals offers competitive pricing with spreads starting from 0.8 pips in its Trade account, making it a favorable choice for traders seeking cost-efficient options. The Zero account type presents similar pricing structures, allowing traders to find a fit that best suits their financial goals. Admirals, rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, stands at the 17th position out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com, highlighting its strong position within the industry.
IC Markets is renowned for its low trading costs, often compared with top low-cost forex brokers like IG and CMC Markets. Its commission-based accounts offer small effective spreads and a low deposit requirement, granting traders access to affordable trading solutions. IC Markets’ distinct advantage in pricing was recognized in the 2024 Annual Awards, earning Best in Class honors in the Commissions & Fees category. Further emphasizing its value, IC Markets received a perfect rating of 5 stars and ranks 5th among 63 brokers in this category by ForexBrokers.com.
Traders with IC Markets can choose from three account options, each with unique features tailored to different trading needs. The Standard account offers commission-free trading with an average spread of 0.62 pips. Meanwhile, the Raw Spread and cTrader Raw Spread accounts attract commission but feature competitive all-in costs, with the cTrader account being slightly more cost-effective. The variety of account types allows traders to optimize their trading costs based on their platform preferences and trading volume, especially with discounts available to active traders handling over 100 standard lots monthly.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $200 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 0.62 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.62 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Admirals and IC Markets both offer extensive investment options, catering to traders with various interests and strategies. Admirals stands out with a total of 8,702 tradeable symbols and 82 forex pairs, while IC Markets offers 3,583 tradeable symbols and 61 forex pairs. Furthermore, Admirals allows clients to trade exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, giving investors the ability to buy shares like Apple and Vodafone. Though IC Markets does provide access to international exchange-traded securities like Vodafone, it doesn't offer trading on U.S. exchange-traded securities such as Apple.
Both brokers enable forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts and support copy trading alongside cryptocurrency derivatives. However, they do not offer the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Admirals and IC Markets each receive a 4.5-star rating for their range of investments, reflecting a strong offering in this category. Admirals holds the edge in overall ranking with a position of #19 in comparison to IC Markets' #25, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 3583 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 61 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Admirals and IC Markets, both brokers present a range of features catering to beginner and advanced traders. Admirals stands out with its in-house developed proprietary platform, making it a unique option for those seeking a customized trading experience. Both Admirals and IC Markets offer popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, along with Windows-based desktop, web-based browser platforms, and the ability for copy trading. Although both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts for simulated trading, IC Markets integrates with ZuluTrade, enhancing its copy trading options, whereas Admirals does not. Moreover, Admirals surpasses IC Markets in terms of available drawing tools for charting, offering 106 compared to IC Markets' 15.
Aside from platform specifics, both brokers share a similar offering in terms of technical indicators for charting and the number of fields available for watch lists. Traders can execute trades directly from charts on both platforms, enhancing their trading convenience. Rated four stars each for their trading platforms and tools, Admirals and IC Markets maintain strong reputations, with IC Markets slightly edging out Admirals in the ForexBrokers.com ranking by placing 16th among 63 brokers, compared to Admirals' 19th position. Both brokers provide strong platform features that can cater to a wide array of trading needs, but the choice might ultimately hinge on whether proprietary platform flexibility or additional copy-trading capabilities are more appealing to prospective traders.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
For those considering mobile trading apps, Admirals and IC Markets both provide strong options for iPhone and Android users. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, ensuring you're up-to-date with market changes. Chart enthusiasts will find the apps equally versatile, with both offering 30 technical studies and the capacity to draw trendlines. Admirals and IC Markets also allow users to view charts across multiple time frames—daily, weekly, or intraday—while auto-saving any drawings made. Creating watchlists with real-time quotes is straightforward on both platforms, facilitating an efficient tracking of preferred stocks or forex pairs.
Despite these similarities, there are distinctions in user experience. Neither competitor supports watchlist symbol syncing between mobile and online accounts, meaning manual updates are required if you switch devices. The apps equally boast a user rating of four out of five stars but diverge slightly in industry rankings. Admirals is ranked 23rd by ForexBrokers.com, while IC Markets takes the 22nd spot, indicating a slight edge for IC Markets in mobile trading app performance. Choose based on what matters most to your trading needs, whether it be app features or industry recognition.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research offerings, both Admirals and IC Markets provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Admirals stands out by providing tools from Trading Central and a sentiment-based trading tool. Additionally, it offers market research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. IC Markets matches Admirals with Trading Central tools and sentiment-based trading, but lacks offerings from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, while excelling with tools from Autochartist.
Both brokers provide an economic calendar for global events and share a 4-star rating for research. However, Admirals ranks higher at 15th place in the Research category by ForexBrokers.com, compared to IC Markets, which holds the 23rd spot. This slightly higher ranking reflects Admirals' broader range of market research tools and resources, appealing to traders who value comprehensive market insights.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to education for beginners entering the world of forex and CFDs, both Admirals and IC Markets offer extensive resources. Each broker provides over ten educational materials, encompassing articles, videos, and archived webinars that primarily focus on these trading markets. For those who prefer a more interactive learning experience, both Admirals and IC Markets host online educational webinars at least once a month and maintain a searchable archive of recorded sessions. This makes it easy for beginners to access a wealth of knowledge tailored to their learning needs.
Additionally, Admirals and IC Markets cater to different skill levels by offering a range of educational videos. Beginners can find more than ten videos that break down complex trading topics, while seasoned traders have access to advanced materials aimed at further developing their skills. To help demystify the financial jargon, both brokers also feature an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 terms. According to ForexBrokers.com, Admirals holds a slight edge in educational rankings, placed at #12 out of 63 brokers, compared to IC Markets at #16. Both brokers receive a commendable education rating of 4 stars, making them both reliable options for beginners seeking comprehensive educational support.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Admirals is better than IC Markets. Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18, while IC Markets finished with an overall rank of #20.
Traders choose Admirals for its excellent investor education and advanced MetaTrader features – such as the Supreme add-ons – alongside an extensive range of shares, forex and CFD markets, and premium research content.
| Feature |
Admirals
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IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 84 |
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Both Admirals and IC Markets provide the capability to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency.
When comparing online brokers Admirals and IC Markets for ease of account fund deposits and withdrawals, both offer PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options, but only Admirals provides the additional flexibility of ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | Admirals | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 84 | |
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| Review | Admirals Review | IC Markets Review |
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| Regulation | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 84 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes | No |
| Investments | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 3583 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 0.62 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.62 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Admirals Review | IC Markets Review |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | IC Markets Review |
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