Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Admirals vs IronFX, 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.
Admirals, established in 2001, and IronFX, founded in 2010, are two online brokers you might consider. Neither are publicly traded or banks, but they differ significantly in their regulatory standing. Admirals holds four Tier-1 licenses, which indicates a high level of trust, alongside three Tier-2 licenses. These licenses contribute to Admirals achieving a commendable Trust Score of 93 out of 99, as rated by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, IronFX holds three Tier-1 licenses but does not have any Tier-2 licenses, resulting in a Trust Score of 83. While both brokers are considered trusted, Admirals' higher Trust Score and additional licenses provide a stronger sense of security for potential investors. Whether prioritizing regulatory oversight or years of service, Admirals has the edge in terms of trust and reliability.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Admirals generally looks more cost-effective than IronFX based on quoted spreads. Admirals holds a 4.5/5 star rating and is ranked #18 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees by ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #47 out of 63.
Admirals lists typical spreads of 0.8 pips on its Trade account, with similar pricing available on its Zero account type. This competitive pricing can help active traders keep costs down, though actual spreads still vary with market conditions.
IronFX indicates a typical spread of 1.8 pips on its Standard variable spread account, which appears higher than the industry average. Pricing differs across account types: the zero fixed-spread account starts at 0.0 pips with a $18 per lot commission, and spreads widen to 3 pips overnight. IronFX does not provide a date range for its typical spread data, and actual costs can change with market volatility.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Admirals and IronFX both let you trade forex via CFDs and/or spot contracts, and each supports copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs (but not actual crypto). The big difference is scale: Admirals lists 8,702 tradeable instruments compared with IronFX’s 340. In forex, IronFX narrowly offers more pairs (83 vs. 82), but Admirals has the much wider overall menu.
If you want to buy exchange-traded shares, Admirals gives access to U.S. and international markets—so you can purchase stocks like Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone in London—while IronFX does not offer exchange-traded securities. Reflecting these gaps, ForexBrokers.com rates Admirals 4.5/5 stars and ranks it #20 of 63 for Range of Investments, whereas IronFX earns 3.5/5 stars and ranks #52.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 83 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| 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 and IronFX both cover the basics well: each offers a free demo account for simulated trading, web-based and Windows desktop platforms, copy trading, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Key differences stand out, though. Admirals also provides MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and has its own proprietary platform, while IronFX does not offer MT5 or an in-house platform. Details on the exact number of technical indicators and watchlist fields weren’t disclosed by either broker.
For trading platforms and tools, Admirals earns 4 stars and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with IronFX at 3.5 stars and a #62 ranking. If you want MT5 and an in-house platform alongside MT4, Admirals is the stronger fit. If you only need MT4, plus web and desktop access with copy trading, both brokers can meet those needs.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Admirals and IronFX both cover the basics for mobile trading. Each offers an iPhone and Android app with price alerts, 30 built-in technical studies, and drawing tools like trendlines. Your chart drawings auto-save on both apps, so annotations are there when you return. One caveat: neither broker syncs watchlists across mobile and the web, so edits you make on your phone won’t appear in your online account.
If you’re choosing between the two, Admirals edges ahead for overall app quality. ForexBrokers.com rates Admirals at 4 stars and ranks it 23rd out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while IronFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks 63rd. Feature sets are similar, but the higher rating and ranking suggest Admirals delivers a smoother day-to-day mobile experience for traders who value alerts, clear charts, and quick analysis on the go.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Admirals and IronFX both cover the essentials for market research: daily market commentary, forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, Trading Central analytics, and a clear economic calendar. Neither offers Autochartist. Where they diverge is breadth: Admirals provides a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning across instruments, and it includes research from TipRanks and tools from Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). IronFX does not list a sentiment tool, and its access to TipRanks or Acuity Trading is not specified.
On quality, both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for research. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, Admirals is 15th out of 63 brokers, while IronFX is 29th. If you want sentiment data and extra third‑party insights, Admirals may have the edge; if you only need the core research pillars—news, commentary, Trading Central, and an economic calendar—IronFX delivers those.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
If you’re new to forex and CFDs, both Admirals and IronFX supply beginner-friendly videos—each offers at least ten videos aimed at newcomers. Admirals goes a step further with ongoing client webinars (at least one per month), giving beginners a chance to learn live and ask questions. IronFX does not run monthly educational webinars, so learners will rely more on on-demand materials.
For advancing your skills, Admirals also provides at least ten advanced trading videos, while IronFX does not offer the same depth for experienced traders. Although both earn 4 stars for Education, their standings differ: ForexBrokers.com ranks Admirals 12th out of 63 brokers and IronFX 44th. If you value live classes and a clear path from beginner to advanced, Admirals is the stronger choice; IronFX suits those who prefer self-paced videos without webinars.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 IronFX. Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
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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IronFX
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| Trust Score | 93 | 83 |
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In the Admirals vs IronFX comparison for cryptocurrency trading, neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) crypto, but both provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs.
In the Admirals vs IronFX comparison, Admirals supports ACH and SEPA bank transfers for deposits and withdrawals, while IronFX does not.
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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Admirals | IronFX | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.8 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | |||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | |||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | |||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Admirals | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review |
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