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 |
Focused on trading costs, both Admirals and IC Markets are priced competitively. Admirals earns 4.5/5 stars for Commissions & Fees and ranks #18 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. IC Markets scores 5/5 stars, ranks #5 out of 63, and earned Best in Class honors for Commissions & Fees in 2024—giving it a slight edge for cost-conscious traders.
Admirals keeps things straightforward, with typical spreads around 0.8 pips on its Trade account and similar pricing on the Zero account type. That consistency helps traders estimate costs easily across common currency pairs, making Admirals a solid pick if you want simple, competitive spreads without a lot of price complexity.
IC Markets offers more ways to fine-tune your costs. There are three account types: the commission-free Standard (spread only), plus the commission-based Raw Spread on MT4/MT5 and cTrader Raw Spread. Commissions are $3.0 per side per 100,000 units ($6 round turn) on cTrader and $3.5 per side ($7 round turn) on MT4/MT5. IC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 0.02 pips; after commission, the all-in cost is about 0.62 pips on cTrader and 0.72 pips on MT4/MT5, while the Standard account averages about 0.62 pips with no commission. Pricing varies by platform, account type, and the IC Markets entity (EU, Australia, or Seychelles). Active traders who clear 100+ standard lots per month can get discounts, and the low minimum deposit makes accessing commission-based pricing easier.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $200 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.8 | 0.62 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.62 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Admirals vs IC Markets: both brokers support forex trading via CFDs and/or spot contracts. Admirals lists 8,702 tradeable symbols and 82 forex pairs, compared with IC Markets’ 3,583 symbols and 61 pairs. Admirals also offers exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IC Markets offers exchange-traded shares on international markets but not on U.S. exchanges. Both provide copy trading, do not offer delivered crypto, and support cryptocurrency trading via CFDs.
For range of investments, both are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars; in a 63-broker review, Admirals ranks #20 and IC Markets ranks #26. If you want the largest selection of symbols and the ability to buy U.S.-listed shares outright, Admirals has the edge. If U.S. share dealing isn’t essential, IC Markets remains a competitive choice with forex, copy trading, crypto CFDs, and exchange-traded international shares.
| Feature |
Admirals
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IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 3583 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| 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.
Admirals vs IC Markets: Both brokers provide free demo accounts for paper trading, Windows desktop and web-based platforms, copy trading, and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Admirals also offers its own proprietary platform, while IC Markets does not. Both let you trade directly from charts. The number of built-in technical indicators and the available watch list fields were not specified.
For platform quality, ForexBrokers.com rates both brokers 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. In category rankings out of 63 brokers, IC Markets is #16 and Admirals is #19. If you want an in-house platform alongside MetaTrader, Admirals has the edge; if you prefer a MetaTrader-focused setup with a slightly higher category placement, IC Markets nudges ahead.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Admirals vs IC Markets for mobile trading apps: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with the same core tools. You’ll get price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, trendline drawing, and auto‑saved chart annotations with either choice. One notable limitation is that watchlists created in the mobile app do not sync with your online account for both brokers.
In terms of quality scores, Admirals and IC Markets each earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps. Looking at rankings from ForexBrokers.com, IC Markets sits slightly higher at #22 out of 63 brokers, while Admirals is #23. Since the mobile features are nearly identical, your decision may come down to other factors such as fees, markets offered, or desktop/web platform preferences.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | 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 (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Admirals vs IC Markets for beginner trading education: both brokers make it easy to start learning. Each hosts online educational webinars at least once a month and offers a sizable library of videos, including at least 10 aimed at beginners and at least 10 for more advanced topics. That means new traders can watch step‑by‑step lessons and keep building skills over time, with regular live sessions to ask questions and stay current.
In terms of quality, both earn 4 stars for Education, according to ForexBrokers.com. Admirals is ranked #12 out of 63 brokers for Education, while IC Markets comes in at #16. So while the two are closely matched—especially for webinars and video lessons—Admirals edges out IC Markets in the overall education ranking, making it a slight favorite for beginners who want a strong learning path.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | 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 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
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| Trust Score | 93 | 84 |
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Admirals vs IC Markets: neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
Admirals vs IC Markets deposits and withdrawals: Admirals supports ACH/SEPA transfers, whereas IC Markets does not; IC Markets offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire funding, while these methods at Admirals—and Visa/Mastercard for both brokers—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 | Admirals | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| 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) | |||
| 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 | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 3583 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.8 | 0.62 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.62 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $200 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Admirals | IC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Admirals Review | IC Markets Review |
| Overall | Admirals | IC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 84 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | IC Markets Review |
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