Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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 1974, IG has established itself as a leader in the online brokerage industry. It is publicly traded and operates as a bank, offering a strong sense of security and reliability. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, IG is highly trusted among investors. The company holds eight Tier-1 licenses, ensuring top-tier regulatory compliance. Additionally, IG holds two Tier-2 licenses, further reinforcing its trusted standing in the financial market.
Admirals commenced operations in 2001 and, unlike IG, is not publicly traded nor operates as a bank. However, it maintains a commendable reputation with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93, indicating high trust levels. Admirals holds four Tier-1 licenses, demonstrating strong regulatory oversight, and enhances its trust credentials with three Tier-2 licenses. While not matching IG's extensive licensing, Admirals still presents itself as a reliable choice for investors who favor a well-regulated environment.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG and Admirals both offer competitive pricing, but they cater to slightly different needs. IG earns 5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #8 of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Admirals earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #18 of 63. Admirals focuses on simple, low spreads, whereas IG stands out for active-trader and high-volume pricing options that can lower total costs if you trade larger sizes.
IG’s CFD account showed typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.69 pips during the main session in July 2023, widening during thinner hours to 1.03 pips, and averaging 0.98 pips across all sessions globally (IG US averaged 1.18 pips). Pros who meet EU criteria can access active-trader rebates: 10% off spreads above £50 million monthly volume and up to 20% above £300 million—cutting an example 0.76‑pip spread to about 0.60 pips. IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) account requires a £1,000 minimum; average EUR/USD spreads were 0.62 pips in July 2023, with tiered commissions starting at $60 per million and dropping to $10 per million per side above $1.5 billion in monthly volume—producing about 0.82 pips all-in.
Admirals keeps pricing straightforward, with typical spreads of 0.8 pips on the Trade account and similar pricing on the Zero account. That simplicity makes it easy to estimate costs day to day. If you trade very large volumes and qualify for tiered discounts, IG’s DMA and rebate programs can push effective costs lower; for many everyday traders seeking simple, competitive spreads, Admirals’ 0.8‑pip typical pricing is appealing.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG and Admirals both let you trade forex as CFDs and spot contracts, and both give access to exchange-traded stocks on U.S. and international exchanges. IG offers a wider selection overall, with 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with Admirals’ 8,702 symbols and 82 pairs. For crypto, IG supports buying actual coins as well as crypto derivatives, while Admirals offers only crypto derivatives. If you want copy trading, Admirals has it; IG does not.
In independent reviews, IG earns 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Admirals scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #20. In short, IG suits traders seeking the widest market selection and direct crypto access, while Admirals appeals to those who want many markets plus copy trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 8702 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 82 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
IG and Admirals both offer simulated (paper) trading with free demo accounts, plus proprietary platforms alongside web-based and Windows desktop platforms. Each broker supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and lets you trade directly from charts. Admirals also supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while IG does not.
Copy trading is available at Admirals but not at IG. For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates IG at 5 stars and ranks it #2 out of 63 brokers, while Admirals earns 4 stars and ranks #19. If you need MT5 or copy trading, Admirals may suit you; if you want higher-rated platforms and tools, IG stands out in expert reviews.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of IG and Admirals, both offer iPhone and Android apps with essential features such as stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. They also support viewing multiple time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday, and both allow auto-saving of chart drawings. Users can create watchlists with real-time quotes on both platforms. However, a distinct advantage of IG's mobile app is its ability to sync watchlist symbols with the user's online account, a feature Admirals lacks.
IG's mobile app outshines Admirals in some key areas, earning a top-notch rating of 5 stars for mobile trading, compared to Admirals' 4 stars. IG offers 33 technical studies for charting, surpassing Admirals' 30. Consistent with these superior offerings, IG is ranked #1 by ForexBrokers.com for the Mobile Trading Apps category out of 63 brokers, while Admirals holds the 23rd spot. This comprehensive comparison highlights IG's strong performance and feature set, making it a leader in the field of mobile trading apps.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 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 the market research offerings of online brokers IG and Admirals, both provide daily market commentary and deliver forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, keeping traders up to date with the latest developments. Additional research tools play a crucial role in setting them apart. IG excels by providing technical analysis and fundamental research tools from Autochartist, while Admirals shines with offerings from Trading Central. Both brokers equip traders with sentiment-based trading tools and extensive economic calendars featuring global news events.
IG and Admirals both offer insights from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, making their research resources comprehensive. However, IG stands out with a research rating of 5 stars and a rank of second place among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for research, compared to Admirals' 4-star rating and 15th place rank. This distinction highlights IG's superior research resources for traders seeking detailed market analysis and tools.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG and Admirals both deliver beginner-friendly trading education. IG holds a 5-star education rating and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Admirals earns 4 stars and ranks #12. New traders can learn live with both brokers, as each runs at least one educational client webinar per month. You’ll also find large video libraries at both brands, including 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos to help you grow from basics to more advanced strategies.
We couldn’t confirm whether either broker offers a searchable archive of past webinars, an investor dictionary with 50+ terms, or at least 10 dedicated forex or CFD articles/videos. If those tools are important to you, check each broker’s education hub before joining. Overall, IG edges ahead for top-rated trading education, while Admirals remains a solid choice for beginners who want frequent webinars and plenty of video lessons.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | ||
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than Admirals. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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When comparing online brokers IG and Admirals, IG allows users to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, while Admirals only offers the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual underlying cryptocurrencies.
Both IG and Admirals provide ACH and SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing and withdrawing funds, but only Admirals offers Skrill for these transactions.
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 | IG | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Admirals Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Admirals | |
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| Regulation | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 8702 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 82 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | |||
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | |||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] |
| Trading Tools | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 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 | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | |||
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | |||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IG Review | Admirals Review |
| Overall | IG | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Admirals Review |
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