ForexBrokers.com is committed to the highest ethical standards and reviews services independently. Learn How We Make Money

Admirals vs IC Markets 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

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.

Admirals
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Trust Score: 93
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 8702
IC Markets
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $200
  • Trust Score: 84
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 3583

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.

Regulation

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 logoAdmirals
IC Markets logoIC Markets
Year Founded info 2001 2007
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 2
Tier-2 Licenses info 3 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 3

Fees

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 logoAdmirals
IC Markets logoIC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $100 $200
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.8 info 0.62 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.8 info 0.62 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

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 logoAdmirals
IC Markets logoIC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 8702 3583
Forex Pairs (Total) info 82 61
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

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 logoAdmirals
IC Markets logoIC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 106 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 7 7
View More

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

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 logoAdmirals
IC Markets logoIC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info No No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

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 logoAdmirals
IC Markets logoIC Markets
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes Yes
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
TipRanks info Yes No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

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 logoAdmirals
IC Markets logoIC Markets
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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 logoAdmirals
IC Markets logoIC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 84
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Admirals or IC Markets?

Both Admirals and IC Markets provide the capability to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency.

What funding options does each broker offer?

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.




announcementPlease 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.

Select Brokers

×
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxActivTrades
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxACY Securities
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAdmirals
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAlpari
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxATFX
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAvaTrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAxi
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxBDSwiss
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxBlackBull Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCapital.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCity Index
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCMC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxDooPrime
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxEarn
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeasyMarkets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxEightcap
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxExness
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFinecoBank
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFOREX.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFP Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFXCM
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFXGT.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFXOpen
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFXPrimus
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFxPro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxGBE brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxHFM
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxHYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIFC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxiFOREX
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIG
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIronFX
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIUX
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxLegacyFX
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxLibertex (Forex Club)
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMarkets.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMarkets4you
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMoneta Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMultiBank
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxOANDA
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxOcta
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxPepperstone
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxPlus500
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxQuestrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxRoboForex
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSaxo
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSpreadex
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSwissquote
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxThinkMarkets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTickmill
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTMGM
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTopFX
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTrade Nation
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTrading 212
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVantage
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVT Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxXM Group
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxXTB
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxXtrade

Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Admirals IC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 84
Winner check_circle
Review Admirals Review IC Markets Review
Broker Screenshots Admirals IC Markets
Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) info
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) info
Research Gallery (click to expand) info
Education Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation Admirals IC Markets
Trust Score info 93 84
Year Founded info 2001 2007
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 2
Tier-2 Licenses info 3 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 3
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) Admirals IC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info No No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) Admirals IC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info Yes No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes No
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info No No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info Yes No
Investments Admirals IC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 8702 3583
Forex Pairs (Total) info 82 61
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 info 0.8 info 0.62 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.8 info 0.62 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes Yes
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding Admirals IC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $100 $200
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms Admirals IC Markets
Proprietary Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
cTrader info No Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No Yes
Trading Tools Admirals IC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 7 7
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 106 15
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading Admirals IC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info No No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research Admirals IC Markets
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No Yes
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes Yes
TipRanks info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education Admirals IC Markets
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs Admirals IC Markets
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes Yes
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review Admirals Review IC Markets Review
Overall Admirals IC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 84
Winner check_circle
Review Admirals Review IC Markets Review
arrow_upward

close