Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Admirals vs Trade Nation, 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 Trade Nation each bring a distinct set of characteristics to the online trading world, yet both are not publicly traded nor banks. Admirals, established in 2001, commands a high level of trust with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93. Admirals holds four Tier-1 licenses, which are seen as highly trustworthy, and an additional three Tier-2 licenses. These licenses collectively enhance Admirals' reputation for safety and compliance in the industry.
In contrast, Trade Nation has been operational since 2014 and holds a respectable Trust Score of 85 on ForexBrokers.com. Although it operates with two Tier-1 and one Tier-2 licenses, making it trusted, these figures are fewer compared to Admirals. While both brokers cater to different trader needs, Admirals stands out for those prioritizing regulatory security and institutional trust.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Admirals and Trade Nation both compete on low costs, but they go about pricing differently. Admirals posts competitive variable spreads, with typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.8 pips on its Trade account and similar pricing on its Zero account type. Trade Nation stands out for offering fixed spreads on its proprietary TN Trader platform and variable spreads on MetaTrader. For overall pricing in the Commissions and Fees category, Admirals is rated 4.5/5 stars and ranks #18 of 63 brokers, while Trade Nation earns 5/5 stars and ranks #7 of 63.
With Admirals, the takeaway is straightforward: expect tight, market-style spreads that typically hover near 0.8 pips on EUR/USD on the Trade account, with comparable costs on the Zero account type. This structure appeals to traders who prefer familiar variable pricing that moves with market conditions.
Trade Nation’s fixed-spread model is easy to understand. On TN Trader, EUR/USD is listed at a fixed 0.6 pips most of the day, briefly widening during the daily rollover (about one hour) to as much as 1.4 pips; factoring that in, the true average sits closer to 1 pip. On MetaTrader, you can choose a commission-free account with higher spreads or a Raw Spread account that charges $3.50 per side ($7 round-trip) per standard lot. In practice, TN Trader tends to deliver the lowest all-in costs among its options, while the commission-free MetaTrader account carries the highest spreads.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.6 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Admirals offers a wider range of investments than Trade Nation. You can access 8,702 tradeable symbols at Admirals versus 1,000 at Trade Nation. Forex traders get 82 currency pairs at Admirals and 46 at Trade Nation, and both brokers support forex trading and copy trading. For digital assets, both let you trade cryptocurrency via CFDs but do not offer direct, delivered crypto. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments category, Admirals scores 4.5/5 stars (ranked 20th of 63), while Trade Nation scores 3.5/5 (39th of 63).
Share dealing is a clear differentiator. Admirals lets you buy and hold exchange-traded shares on both US and international exchanges—think Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange. Trade Nation does not offer real share dealing on either US or international markets. If you want the broadest market access, including actual shares plus a deep CFD lineup, Admirals is the better fit. If you prefer a simpler set of markets centered on CFDs and forex, Trade Nation may suit your needs.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 46 |
| 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.
If you’re choosing between Admirals and Trade Nation for trading platforms and tools, both brokers cover the essentials: free paper trading via demo accounts, proprietary platforms alongside MetaTrader 4, plus web and Windows desktop access. Copy trading is available at both. Admirals goes a step further with MetaTrader 5 support and the ability to place orders directly from charts, a feature Trade Nation lacks. Specific counts for built-in technical indicators and watch-list fields aren’t disclosed by either provider.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, both earned 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. Admirals ranked 19th out of 63 brokers in this category, while Trade Nation ranked 45th. If you need MT5 or chart-based order entry, Admirals has the edge; if MT4 and a simple browser or desktop setup meet your needs, either broker can fit the bill.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Admirals and Trade Nation both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app includes stock and forex price alerts, interactive charting with trendline drawing, and auto-saving of chart annotations. Both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, giving traders reliable tools on the go.
The main differences come down to syncing and chart depth. Trade Nation syncs watchlists between mobile and web, while Admirals does not. For charting, Trade Nation provides 99 technical studies compared with 30 at Admirals. On the other hand, Admirals ranks higher in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, placing 23rd out of 63 brokers versus Trade Nation at 46th. Pick Trade Nation if you want synced watchlists and more indicators; choose Admirals if a higher category ranking and similar core features are your priority.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 99 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Admirals vs. Trade Nation for market research: both brokers deliver daily market commentary and stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each provides sentiment tools that show the long/short split across markets and includes research from Acuity Trading (e.g., Signal Centre). Neither offers Autochartist. Key differences: Admirals adds Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights, TipRanks for stock research, and a built-in economic calendar. Trade Nation does not include Trading Central, TipRanks, or an economic calendar.
Independent ratings reflect this gap in tools. Admirals earns 4 stars for Research and ranks 15th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trade Nation scores 3.5 stars and ranks 43rd. Pick Admirals if you want more third-party research and planning features; choose Trade Nation if you mainly need daily commentary, high-quality news, sentiment data, and Acuity Trading signals.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing education at Admirals versus Trade Nation, both brokers offer plenty of on-demand learning with at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos that explain trading concepts in simple terms. Admirals stands out for hosting ongoing live educational webinars (at least one per month), which can help newcomers ask questions in real time and build confidence. Trade Nation currently does not run monthly educational webinars, so learners there will rely more on self-paced videos and articles.
Independent ratings back up this gap: Admirals earns 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks 12th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Trade Nation scores 3.5 stars and ranks 41st. If you want live sessions to support your learning journey, Admirals has the edge. If you prefer to learn through a video library at your own speed, Trade Nation still offers ample material for getting started.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 Trade Nation. Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18, while Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34.
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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Trade Nation
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| Trust Score | 93 | 85 |
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Admirals vs Trade Nation: neither broker offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Comparing online brokers Admirals vs. Trade Nation for deposits and withdrawals, Admirals supports ACH and SEPA transfers while Trade Nation does not; information for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires was not provided.
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 | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | Trade Nation Review |
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| Regulation | Admirals | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Admirals | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Admirals | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | Admirals | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 46 | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.8 | 0.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.6 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Admirals | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | |||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | |||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | |||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Admirals | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Admirals | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 99 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Admirals | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | Admirals | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Admirals | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | Admirals | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | Trade Nation Review |
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