Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers, founded in 1977, is a highly trusted online broker with a top-notch Trust Score of 99 out of 99, according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded entity on a recognized stock exchange, Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself with an impressive array of 9 Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its strong regulatory compliance. Additionally, it holds 2 Tier-2 licenses, reinforcing its position as a secure choice for traders.
Founded in 2001, Admirals also demonstrates a strong trust factor with a commendable Trust Score of 93. Although it is not publicly traded, it maintains a reputable standing with 4 Tier-1 licenses, ensuring high trust in its operations. Admirals fortifies this assurance with 3 Tier-2 licenses, further underscoring its commitment to regulatory standards. Both brokers are not banks, and their regulatory frameworks offer potential investors a sense of security and trust in their trading platforms.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) earns 5/5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while Admirals earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #18 out of 63. IBKR doesn’t publish average forex spreads, but in Q3 2024 we observed an average EUR/USD spread of 0.19 pips, with an estimated all-in cost of about 0.59 pips after commission. Admirals lists typical EUR/USD spreads of about 0.8 pips on its Trade account, with similar pricing on the Zero account.
IBKR aggregates quotes from 17 major banks and charges a commission instead of marking up spreads. Forex commissions start at 0.00002 (0.2 bps) of trade value per side, with a $2 minimum per order ($4 round turn), and can drop to 0.08 bps for very high volumes. That equates to roughly $16–$40 per million round turn ($8–$20 per side). A $100,000 EUR/USD buy-and-sell would add about 0.40 pips in commission on top of the spread. Note the $2 minimum per side makes smaller-than-100k trades proportionally pricier. Active-trader discounts reduce the minimum to $1.50 per order above $1B monthly volume, and to $1 at $5B. IBKR Lite and IBKR Pro support forex but are not commission-free, and large orders can be handled via RFQ.
Admirals’ appeal is its simple, spread-based pricing: typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.8 pips on the Trade account (with similar pricing on the Zero account). In practice, IBKR’s commission model can deliver lower all-in costs for larger or high-volume trades, while Admirals can be competitive for smaller tickets or those who prefer a straightforward spread without separate commission tiers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers vs. Admirals: both brokers cover a wide range of markets and let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. Admirals offers slightly more total tradeable symbols (8,702 vs. 8,500), while Interactive Brokers lists more forex pairs (90 vs. 82). Each broker provides access to real, exchange-traded stocks on U.S. and international markets—not just CFDs—so you can buy shares like Apple and Vodafone directly.
Key differences show up in crypto and social trading. Interactive Brokers lets you buy actual cryptocurrency as well as crypto derivatives, while Admirals limits you to crypto derivatives only. Admirals supports copy trading; Interactive Brokers does not. For range of investments, Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com; Admirals earns 4.5 stars and ranks #20. Choose Interactive Brokers if you want more forex pairs and the option to own crypto, or pick Admirals if copy trading and a slightly larger symbol list matter more.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 8702 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 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.
Interactive Brokers and Admirals both provide a range of trading platforms and tools for investors. Both brokerages offer simulated or paper trading options with a free virtual demo account, making it easy for beginners to practice without financial risk. Each also boasts a proprietary platform and supports trading on a Windows-based desktop platform as well as a web-based browser platform. However, Admirals provides additional options, such as copy trading and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are not available with Interactive Brokers.
In terms of charting, Admirals offers a greater variety with 106 drawing tools compared to 85 available from Interactive Brokers. For those who rely heavily on watch lists, Interactive Brokers stands out with 659 fields for watch lists, substantially more than the seven offered by Admirals. Both platforms allow for trading directly from a stock chart, enhancing convenience. Rated highly for its trading platforms and tools, Interactive Brokers earns a perfect five-star rating, ranking third out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Admirals, while still commendable, secures a four-star rating and ranks 19th among its peers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, Interactive Brokers and Admirals both offer extensive options for traders on the go. Both provide apps for iPhone and Android, ensuring accessibility for the majority of mobile users. Additionally, they allow users to receive stock or forex price alerts and draw trendlines on their charts—features crucial for active traders. While both platforms support viewing various time frames, such as daily or intraday, Interactive Brokers stands out with 97 technical studies available for charting compared to Admirals' offering of 30. A key difference between the two is that Interactive Brokers does not auto-save your chart drawings, whereas Admirals does, potentially offering more ease for those who frequently analyze charts.
Interactive Brokers offers superior watchlist management with symbol syncing between mobile and online accounts, a feature Admirals does not provide. Both apps allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, but only Interactive Brokers ties your customizations seamlessly across devices. Ratings further distinguish the two: Interactive Brokers earns a full 5-star rating for its mobile app, ranking #4 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Admirals achieves a 4-star rating and is ranked at #23. For those seeking a highly ranked, feature-rich mobile trading experience, Interactive Brokers may present a more appealing choice.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Interactive Brokers and Admirals both equip traders with comprehensive market research tools, enhancing the trading experience. Each platform provides daily market commentary and reliable forex news from notable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They offer sentiment-based trading tools and market insights from TipRanks, along with access to Trading Central's analysis tools. Traders on either platform can also utilize economic calendars to keep abreast of global economic events. Both brokers feature research tools from Acuity Trading as well, though neither offers resources from Autochartist.
Despite their similarities, there's a difference in how they’re rated for research—Interactive Brokers earns a perfect 5-star rating, whereas Admirals holds a respectable 4 stars. Among 63 brokers, Interactive Brokers is ranked 3rd by ForexBrokers.com in the Research category, while Admirals stands at 15th. This indicates that, while both brokers are equipped with similar research capabilities, Interactive Brokers is slightly favored for its research prowess, providing a slight edge for traders who prioritize top-tier research resources.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Interactive Brokers and Admirals both offer extensive educational resources for beginners interested in forex or CFDs trading. Interactive Brokers shines with its top-rated educational offerings, featuring over 10 educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, monthly online webinars, and a comprehensive archive of recorded sessions. Beginners will appreciate the dedicated range of beginner videos and an investor dictionary that includes definitions for over 50 essential trading terms. Ranking third among 63 brokers in the Education category at ForexBrokers.com and receiving a five-star rating for education, Interactive Brokers positions itself as an excellent choice for new traders looking to enhance their knowledge.
Admirals also provides a quality educational experience, with resources that include a substantial selection of articles, videos, and webinars aimed at teaching the basics of forex and CFDs trading. Admirals hosts monthly live webinars and maintains a searchable archive, allowing learners to revisit sessions at their convenience. They similarly offer a collection of beginner educational videos and an expansive investor dictionary. Admirals receives a four-star rating for education and ranks 12th out of 63 brokers in this category. While perhaps not scoring as highly as Interactive Brokers, Admirals still offers valuable learning tools for those starting their trading journey.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Interactive Brokers is better than Admirals. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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Admirals
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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Interactive Brokers allows investors to buy both actual delivered cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Admirals offers the option to purchase only cryptocurrency derivatives but not the actual delivered cryptocurrencies.
Interactive Brokers and Admirals both support ACH or SEPA transfers and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but only Admirals provides additional flexibility with PayPal, Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard options.
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 | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Admirals Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 8702 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 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 | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | 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 | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers Review | Admirals Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Admirals Review |
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