Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Admirals vs Markets.com, 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 and Markets.com are both well-regarded online brokers offering services to traders. Founded in 2001, Admirals is not publicly traded nor operates as a bank. It boasts an impressive regulatory standing with 4 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses, contributing to its trusted reputation. Admirals achieves a Trust Score of 93 out of 99, indicating it is highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com.
Markets.com, established in 1999, shares a similar profile as it is also neither publicly listed nor a bank. Its regulatory credentials include 3 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license. Despite having slightly fewer licenses compared to Admirals, Markets.com matches Admirals with a similar Trust Score of 93, confirming its strong trustworthiness within the industry. Both brokers are seen as highly reliable choices for trading enthusiasts.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the online brokers Admirals and Markets.com, a clear distinction in their commissions and fees can be observed. Admirals offers competitive pricing with typical spreads starting at 0.8 on its Trade account, which also reflects similar pricing on its Zero account type. By providing such favorable spreads, Admirals makes transactions potentially more cost-effective for traders seeking minimal fees.
In contrast, specific average spread data is not available for Markets.com, which suggests that detailed cost comparisons might be less transparent for traders considering this platform. While Markets.com still offers a range of services, the clarity around their fees might not be as defined as with Admirals, making it challenging for traders to anticipate transaction costs effectively.
Regarding their rankings and ratings, Admirals receives an impressive 4.5 stars for its commissions and fees, ranking at #17 out of 63 brokers as assessed by ForexBrokers.com. Markets.com, however, is rated slightly lower at 3.5 stars, placing it at #50 in the same category ranking. These insights highlight Admirals as a more cost-effective choice with clearer fee structures compared to Markets.com for those prioritizing low-cost trading.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | N/A |
| 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 comparing Admirals and Markets.com, Admirals offers an extensive range of options for investors, with 8,702 tradeable symbols, including 82 forex pairs. It also provides access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, allowing clients to purchase shares like Apple and Vodafone directly. Markets.com, on the other hand, offers 2,179 tradeable symbols and 57 forex pairs, but it does not provide access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs and have the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, though they do not support the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Admirals and Markets.com also support copy trading for users interested in mimicking successful strategies.
In terms of ratings, Admirals is highly regarded for its range of investments, receiving 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is ranked 19th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category. Markets.com, while also well-regarded, earns a slightly lower 4-star rating and is ranked 29th. Overall, Admirals provides a more comprehensive suite of investment options, making it a versatile choice for investors looking for a wide variety of opportunities.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 2179 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 57 |
| 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.
Both Admirals and Markets.com provide simulated trading with free demo accounts, making it easy for beginners to practice and refine their strategies. Both brokers offer their proprietary platforms, ensuring a personalized experience for their users. Admirals and Markets.com cater to traders by offering Windows-based desktop versions and web-based platforms for trading on-the-go. Both platforms support copy trading and include popular software, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. However, neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade services. Admirals edges out Markets.com with an impressive 106 drawing tools for charting in contrast to the 4 available on Markets.com.
While both brokers allow trading platforms to be rated four out of five stars, Admirals takes a slight lead in the competitive ranking by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at number 19 compared to Markets.com's position at 27. Admirals also offers trade directly from stock charts, an option not available with Markets.com. Additionally, Admirals supports seven watch list columns, compared to the six from Markets.com. This comprehensive blend of tools and features makes Admirals a slightly more diverse choice for trading enthusiasts. Overall, each platform offers distinct strengths, catering to different trading styles and preferences.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 89 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 4 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 6 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Admirals and Markets.com offer iPhone and Android apps that cater to traders seeking efficient mobile trading experiences, including features like stock and forex price alerts and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes. Admirals stands out with its ability to view multiple time frames on stock or forex charts and automatically save chart drawings, offering traders flexibility and convenience. While Markets.com allows seamless syncing of watchlist symbols between mobile and desktop accounts, it lacks multiple time frame viewing, a feature that Admirals does provide in its mobile app.
When it comes to detailed charting options, Admirals provides 30 technical studies, which is notably rich compared to the limited options on Markets.com's platform, unless you're using MT4. Both brokers offer the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Reviews reflect these strengths, with Admirals achieving a slightly better rank in the mobile trading arena. Admirals is ranked 23rd out of 63 brokers, while Markets.com comes in at 33rd, although both share a rating of 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Admirals and Markets.com cater to traders by providing daily market commentary and forex news from respected sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring that investors stay informed with the latest updates. However, when it comes to research tools, Admirals has a distinct advantage with its integration of Trading Central, offering enhanced technical analysis features. Additionally, Admirals sets itself apart by incorporating market research from TipRanks and tools from Acuity Trading, like Signal Centre, which Markets.com does not offer.
Both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools and economic calendars for tracking global economic events. Despite some differences, both Admirals and Markets.com receive a solid 4-star rating for their research offerings. When ranked among 63 brokers, Admirals holds the 15th position, slightly ahead of Markets.com, which ranks 17th. This indicates that while both are competitive in terms of research, Admirals offers a broader range of tools that may appeal to traders looking for comprehensive market insights.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Admirals stands out compared to Markets.com. Admirals provides over ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, along with monthly online webinars. Additionally, Admirals offers a comprehensive archive of recorded client webinars, making it easier for you to find past sessions that fit your schedule. For those new to trading, Admirals also presents a wide array of beginner-friendly videos that cover essential topics, and an extensive investor dictionary with clear definitions for over 50 investing terms, aiding beginners in enhancing their understanding.
Markets.com, while featuring monthly webinars and beginner videos, falls short in some areas. The platform does not meet the minimum content requirement for forex or CFDs education and lacks an archived webinar library. Additionally, Markets.com does not provide an investor dictionary for those looking to grasp basic investing terminology. Both brokers are rated four stars in education, but when ranked among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Admirals holds the 12th position, significantly ahead of Markets.com's 34th place. This higher rank suggests a more comprehensive educational offering at Admirals, which can be particularly beneficial for newcomers to trading.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 Markets.com. Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18, while Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23.
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
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 93 |
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Both Admirals and Markets.com provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
Admirals offers a versatile range of deposit and withdrawal options including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, while Markets.com, though supporting Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, does not provide ACH, SEPA transfers or PayPal as an option.
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 | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Admirals | Markets.com | |
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| Regulation | Admirals | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 1999 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Admirals | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes | No |
| Investments | Admirals | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 2179 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 57 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | N/A | |
| 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 | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Admirals | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Admirals | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 6 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 89 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 106 | 4 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Admirals | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Admirals | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Admirals | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Admirals | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | No | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Admirals Review |
| Overall | Admirals | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review |
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