Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Admirals vs Vantage, 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.
In the realm of online brokers, Admirals and Vantage both offer compelling services with strong regulatory foundations, though they differ slightly in their trust ratings and licenses. Admirals, founded in 2001, holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93, placing it in the highly trusted category. The company possesses four Tier-1 and three Tier-2 licenses, underscoring its credibility in the industry. Meanwhile, Vantage, since its inception in 2009, has garnered a Trust Score of 90, also categorized as highly trusted. Vantage holds two Tier-1 and one Tier-2 licenses, showcasing a solid regulatory stance, albeit with fewer top-tier licenses compared to Admirals.
Neither Admirals nor Vantage are publicly traded or operate as banks. These factors, combined with their respective regulatory credentials, provide a clear picture for potential investors or traders seeking reliable online brokers. Admirals leads with a higher trust score and more Tier-1 and Tier-2 licenses, while Vantage remains a strong contestant with a commendable trust score and respectable licenses. This comparison helps underscore the reputation and reliability of each platform, important considerations for users deciding where to handle their financial investments.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2009 |
| 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 | 3 |
Admirals and Vantage both earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, Admirals is #18 of 63 brokers, while Vantage is #20 of 63. Admirals is straightforward on pricing, with typical spreads around 0.8 pips on its Trade account and similar pricing reported for its Zero account.
Vantage’s costs vary by account type and the entity that holds your account. There are three choices: the spread-only Standard STP account, plus two commission accounts—RAW ECN and PRO ECN. Typical EUR/USD pricing for March 2023 was 1.30 pips on Standard. RAW ECN averaged 0.15 pips plus a $3 commission per side ($6 round turn), equating to about 0.75 pips all-in. The PRO ECN account is Vantage’s best-priced option at $2 per side ($4 round turn), though eligibility depends on where you open the account (for example, wholesale client status in Australia or a $10,000 minimum with the Cayman Islands entity). Overall, Vantage’s pricing tracks the industry average and trails top pricing leaders like Saxo, IG, and CMC Markets.
Active traders at Vantage can earn Standard-account rebates of $2 to $8 per standard lot, tied to balance and monthly volume (tiers start at $10,000 and reach $300,000), but note the program applies only to the higher-spread Standard account. In short, Admirals offers simple, low spreads near 0.8 pips, while Vantage can become more cost-effective if you qualify for the PRO ECN tier; otherwise, costs are generally average.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.30 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.75 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Admirals offers a wider range of investments than Vantage, with 8,702 tradeable symbols and 82 forex pairs, compared with Vantage’s 1,000 symbols and 61 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs or spot, and both provide copy trading. For Range of Investments, Admirals is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #20 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Vantage holds 3.5 stars and ranks #51.
A key difference is access to real shares: Admirals lets clients buy exchange‑traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone in London), while Vantage does not offer exchange‑traded stocks. Neither broker supports buying delivered cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. In short, Admirals suits investors who want many markets including real stocks, whereas Vantage fits traders focused on CFDs, forex, and copy trading with a simpler lineup.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 61 |
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Admirals and Vantage, both brokers provide a comprehensive suite of options suited for traders of all levels. Admirals and Vantage each offer simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, enabling users to hone their skills in a risk-free environment. Both brokers have developed proprietary platforms in-house, available as desktop downloads compatible with Windows. For those who prefer trading through their web browsers, Admirals and Vantage provide web-based platforms as well. Additionally, both platforms support popular software like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), along with copy trading options. However, Vantage offers DupliTrade, whereas Admirals does not, and neither broker supports ZuluTrade at this time.
In terms of charting capabilities, Admirals boasts a standout feature with 106 drawing tools, significantly more than Vantage's 15. Both brokers allow for direct trading from stock charts, providing ease and efficiency for active traders. When it comes to watch lists, Admirals and Vantage offer an identical range of seven columns or fields. Each broker earns a four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, illustrating their balanced offerings. Despite the similarities, Admirals is ranked slightly higher in this category by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at 19 out of 63 brokers, while Vantage closely follows at 21. Whether a trader values more extensive drawing tools or specific platform features, both brokers offer strong choices for those delving into online trading.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 Vantage both deliver capable mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts and lets you build a watchlist with real-time quotes. One limitation to note: neither app syncs watchlist symbols with your online account, so changes made on mobile won’t carry over automatically.
For charting, it’s a near tie. Both apps include 30 technical studies, trendline drawing, multiple time frames (from intraday to weekly), and auto-saving of chart annotations. ForexBrokers.com rates both mobile trading apps at 4 out of 5 stars, though Admirals holds a slight edge in the Mobile Trading Apps category ranking (#23 of 63) versus Vantage (#29 of 63). If you’re choosing based on the app alone, day-to-day features are very similar; Admirals’ higher ranking may sway those who value third-party evaluations.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both Admirals and Vantage provide valuable resources for market research, but there are some differences that could influence trader preferences. Admirals and Vantage each offer daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Additionally, they provide technical analysis resources from Trading Central and sentiment-based trading tools to enhance decision-making. Admirals, however, stands out by offering market research from TipRanks and research tools from Acuity Trading, which Vantage does not provide. Traders who find extra research sources beneficial may find Admirals more appealing.
Furthermore, both Admirals and Vantage offer an economic calendar to help traders stay informed about global news and events. Admirals is rated 4 stars in the research category according to ForexBrokers.com, ranking 15th out of 63 brokers, while Vantage also holds a 4-star rating but ranks slightly lower at 22nd. These rankings indicate that Admirals might have a slight edge in terms of research capabilities, though both brokers offer competitive resources for informed trading.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 comparing the educational resources available to beginners from Admirals and Vantage, both online brokers offer a rich selection of materials to help newcomers grasp the intricacies of forex and CFD trading. Admirals and Vantage provide at least ten educational pieces that include articles, videos, and archived webinars focusing on forex and CFDs. Both platforms also organize online webinars monthly and maintain searchable archives of their recordings, making it easy for learners to find relevant content. Admirals and Vantage cater specifically to beginners by offering at least ten instructional videos focused on trading basics, ensuring newcomers have a solid foundation to start their trading journey.
Both brokers extend their educational content to cover more advanced topics, with each offering at least ten videos for seasoned traders looking to refine their skills. They also provide an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, making complex terminologies accessible to all. Admirals and Vantage have received a 4-star rating for education, denoting their commitment to delivering quality educational resources. Despite equal ratings, Admirals holds a higher rank—12th place—compared to Vantage's 24th position in the education category by ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers. This difference in ranking highlights Admirals' slight edge in the realm of trading education for beginners.
| Feature |
Admirals
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Admirals is better than Vantage. Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18, while Vantage finished with an overall rank of #26.
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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Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 90 |
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Both Admirals and Vantage provide the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer options for purchasing actual cryptocurrencies.
When comparing the online brokers Admirals and Vantage for depositing or withdrawing account funds, Admirals offers a wider range of options including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Vantage offers PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires but lacks ACH or SEPA transfer 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 | Admirals | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | Vantage Review |
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| Regulation | Admirals | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 90 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2009 | |
| 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 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Admirals | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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 |
| Investments | Admirals | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8702 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 82 | 61 | |
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.8 | 1.30 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.75 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Admirals | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Admirals | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Admirals | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Admirals | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage Review |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Admirals Review | Vantage Review |
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