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 |
When comparing Admirals and IronFX in terms of commissions and fees, Admirals stands out with its competitive pricing structure. Admirals' Trade account offers typical spreads of 0.8 and similar pricing is available on their Zero account type. This competitive rate makes Admirals a favorable choice for traders looking for cost-effective trading options. Admirals is rated 4.5 stars out of 5 for its commissions and fees and ranks #17 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, IronFX has room for improvement in its pricing structure, as its spreads are generally higher than the industry average. The company lists a typical spread of 1.8 pips for their Standard variable spread account, but it's important to note that these spreads vary widely across different account types. For their zero fixed-spread account, while the spread starts at zero, there's a $18 per lot commission and spreads widen to 3 pips overnight. IronFX's commissions and fees are rated 4 stars out of 5, and the broker holds the #46 position in the rankings by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to the range of investments, Admirals and IronFX have their own unique offerings for traders. Admirals provides an impressive 8,702 tradeable symbols, significantly more than the 340 offered by IronFX. Forex traders will find a similar number of forex pairs available, with Admirals providing 82 and IronFX offering 83 pairs. Admirals stands out by allowing clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, giving access to stocks like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, IronFX does not provide direct access to these markets. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs and offer copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives but do not provide the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies.
Given this broader selection, Admirals earns a higher rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars for its range of investments, compared to IronFX's 3.5 stars. Admirals is ranked 19th out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX is positioned at 51st. For traders looking for diverse investment options, Admirals presents a more comprehensive selection, making it a more attractive choice for those seeking to explore a wide array of financial instruments.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 83 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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.
Admirals and IronFX both provide simulated trading experiences with free virtual demo accounts, making them accessible for beginners. Admirals distinguishes itself by offering its own in-house trading platform, while IronFX does not. Both brokers feature MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and provide Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms. However, Admirals extends its reach by supporting MetaTrader 5 (MT5), a feature IronFX lacks. Copy trading is available with both brokers, although neither supports social trading platforms like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
In terms of charting capabilities, Admirals takes the lead with 106 drawing tools compared to IronFX's 15. Both brokers allow trades directly from stock charts and offer seven customizable fields for watch lists, catering to personalized trading experiences. Admirals ranks highly with a four-star rating for trading platforms and tools, while IronFX stands at 3.5 stars. When evaluated among 63 brokers, Admirals holds a reputable 19th place for its trading platform offerings, in contrast to IronFX's 61st position. These differences highlight Admirals' advanced toolset and better user experience in the competitive trading landscape.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Admirals and IronFX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, packed with features that cater to traders on the go. Both apps support stock and forex price alerts, allow trendline drawing on charts, and provide viewing options for various time frames. Admirals and IronFX also offer 30 technical studies for charting, along with the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, neither app supports watchlist symbol syncing across devices. Admirals users enjoy auto-saving of chart drawings, ensuring your technical analyses are preserved over sessions.
When it comes to ratings, Admirals pulls ahead with a 4-star rating, compared to IronFX's 3.5 stars for mobile trading. This difference in user satisfaction reflects Admirals' stronger position, placing it at #23 out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, IronFX finds itself at #62. These rankings highlight how both apps stack up against the broader market, with Admirals offering a slightly more polished experience for mobile trading enthusiasts.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 it comes to market research offerings, both Admirals and IronFX stand out by providing daily market commentary and forex news sourced from well-known providers like Bloomberg and Reuters. Admirals and IronFX also deliver technical analysis tools through Trading Central, and offer economic calendars to keep traders informed of global news events. However, Admirals gains an edge with additional resources, including a sentiment-based trading tool that evaluates long and short positions across currency pairs, as well as research features from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. These exclusive tools equip Admirals users with enhanced insights that go beyond the basic offerings.
Despite both brokers receiving a four-star rating for research, Admirals is ranked higher, sitting at #15 out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX ranks at #28. This notable distinction hints at Admirals' robust market research platform, which could offer traders a more comprehensive toolkit for analysis and strategy development compared to its counterpart. Consequently, those looking for a wider array of research tools may find Admirals to be a more appealing option.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to providing educational resources for beginners, both Admirals and IronFX offer solid options for those new to forex or CFDs. Admirals excels by offering more frequent online educational webinars, clocking in with at least one each month, which unfortunately IronFX does not match. This could make a difference for learners who value interactive sessions as part of their educational journey. Both brokers provide a comprehensive collection of educational materials like articles, videos, and archived webinars aimed at beginner traders. Admirals goes a step further by also offering advanced educational videos for seasoned traders, which is another area where IronFX falls short.
In terms of additional resources, both brokers offer an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, which is a handy tool for beginners meeting new jargon. In education rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Admirals holds a stronger position, ranked as the 12th out of 63 brokers, compared to IronFX's 44th place. Despite both brokers receiving a 4-star rating for their educational offerings, Admirals might cater better to those seeking continuous learning and deeper exploration into trading complexities. Whether you choose Admirals or IronFX may depend on how much value you place on live webinars and advanced educational content.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 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
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 83 |
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Both Admirals and IronFX do not provide the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they each offer the ability to trade in cryptocurrency derivatives.
Admirals provides a broader range of deposit and withdrawal options compared to IronFX, offering ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas IronFX lacks ACH or SEPA and PayPal options but supports Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 |
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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) | No | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes | No |
| Investments | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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 | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Admirals | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Admirals Review |
| Overall | Admirals | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review |
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