Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group vs Admirals, 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.
Founded in 2009, XM Group is an online broker that does not trade publicly or act as a bank, holding 4 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, suggesting a trusted reputation in the industry. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 88, XM Group is considered a reliable option for those looking for a trustworthy trading platform despite not being publicly traded.
In comparison, Admirals, established in 2001, also remains private and functions outside the banking sector. Admirals matches XM Group with 4 Tier-1 licenses but exceeds in having 3 Tier-2 licenses. Furthermore, Admirals earns a higher ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93, marking it as highly trusted. This makes Admirals a favorable choice for those prioritizing a slightly higher trust score in their online trading endeavors.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing XM Group and Admirals for commissions and fees, each broker offers distinct pricing structures. XM Group's standard account features relatively high spreads, with costs being less transparent on their commission-based XM Zero account due to unpublished average spreads. In contrast, Admirals provides more competitive pricing, with typical spreads of 0.8 on the Trade account and similar pricing structures on their Zero account.
Both XM Group and Admirals are solid options for traders, but there are notable differences in their ratings and rankings. XM Group has a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking #33 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Admirals, on the other hand, has a slightly higher rating of 4.5 stars and ranks #17 in the same category.
For those weighing options based on fees and commissions, Admirals appears to offer more competitive pricing, which is reflected in its higher ranking and rating. Meanwhile, XM Group remains a reputable choice with its strengths in other areas, despite its relatively higher fees and less transparent pricing on some accounts.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 0.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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.
When comparing XM Group and Admirals for their range of available investments, both brokers provide a wide array of options for traders. XM Group offers exposure to 1,394 tradable symbols including 55 forex pairs, while Admirals provides access to 8,702 symbols with 82 forex pairs available. Both brokers enable trading on U.S. and international stocks, so investors can purchase shares of major companies like Apple from the NASDAQ or international firms such as Vodafone listed on the London Stock Exchange.
For those looking to delve into cryptocurrencies, neither broker offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, though both provide cryptocurrency derivatives. Copy trading is supported by both platforms, providing a versatile environment for various trading strategies. In terms of rankings and user ratings, XM Group and Admirals both score 4.5 out of 5 stars for their range of investments, with Admirals taking a slightly higher position at #19 compared to XM Group's #23 according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 8702 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 82 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 it comes to trading platforms and tools, both XM Group and Admirals offer a feature-rich experience for traders. Each broker provides simulated or paper trading with a free virtual demo account, allowing users to practice without financial risk. While both brokers utilize popular platforms MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and support copy trading, Admirals distinguishes itself by offering a proprietary trading platform developed in-house. Additionally, both brokers provide a Windows-based desktop download and a web-based trading platform accessible via browser, catering to the diverse technology preferences of their users.
Charting capabilities vary slightly between the two, with Admirals offering a wide range of 106 drawing tools compared to XM Group's 15. However, both brokers permit trading directly from stock charts and feature watch lists with seven customizable columns. Despite these similarities and differences, XM Group and Admirals both hold a solid 4-star rating for trading platforms and tools. According to ForexBrokers.com rankings, Admirals edges ahead, securing the 19th spot out of 63 brokers, while XM Group ranks at 31st. Together, these brokers provide comprehensive and user-friendly trading solutions suited to various trading styles and needs.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both XM Group and Admirals provide solid options for both iPhone and Android users, featuring essential tools like stock and forex price alerts. While both apps offer 30 technical studies for chart analysis and allow drawing trendlines, they differ in a few key areas. One of these differences is watchlist symbol syncing, which XM Group supports for ease in tracking your investments across devices, whereas Admirals does not have this feature. On the plus side for Admirals, their app auto-saves your chart drawings, a feature XM Group lacks.
Both XM Group and Admirals allow you to create watchlists with real-time quotes and to view multiple time frames on charts, catering to a range of trading strategies. Users have rated both apps at four out of five stars for mobile trading experience. However, in rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Admirals edges slightly ahead, placing 23rd out of 63 brokers, while XM Group ranks at 29th. Overall, each platform has its unique benefits, making them both strong contenders for traders looking to manage their portfolios on-the-go.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both XM Group and Admirals provide their users with daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Alongside this, they offer technical analysis tools from Trading Central, helping traders make informed decisions. Their offerings also include sentiment-based trading tools showing the ratio of long and short positions on currency pairs, as well as economic calendars detailing global news events, ensuring that traders have access to critical information for their strategies.
While both brokers excel in providing essential market insights, there are notable differences. Admirals enhances its platform with research tools from Acuity Trading and market insights from TipRanks, resources that XM Group does not feature. Despite this, XM Group achieves a 5-star research rating compared to Admirals' 4-star rating, largely contributing to its higher ranking of #8 on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Admirals stands at #15. This distinction illustrates XM's strong reputation in market research, although both platforms serve as valuable resources for traders seeking comprehensive market analysis.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners offered by XM Group and Admirals, both online brokers provide a comprehensive collection of materials designed to assist newcomers in understanding forex and CFDs trading. They each offer a variety of educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, with a focus on forex and CFDs, and also host regular live webinars to further support their clients' learning journeys. Additionally, both brokers maintain searchable archives of these webinars, offering accessibility to past sessions for ongoing learning.
While both XM Group and Admirals excel in providing beginner-friendly and advanced educational videos, XM Group slightly edges ahead, earning a five-star rating compared to Admirals' four-star rating. Furthermore, XM Group ranks higher by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #7 compared to Admirals at #12 for education resources. One notable difference, however, is that Admirals provides an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, catering to those who seek a glossary to complement their learning. Despite this, XM Group is rated higher overall for their educational offerings.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XM Group is better than Admirals. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while Admirals finished with an overall rank of #18.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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Admirals
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 93 |
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Both XM Group and Admirals do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers XM Group and Admirals, it is important to consider that while both offer options such as Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing account funds, Admirals distinguishes itself by additionally providing ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal, options not available with XM Group.
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 | XM Group | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Admirals Review |
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| Regulation | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 88 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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) | No | 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) | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | Yes |
| Investments | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 8702 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 82 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 0.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 15 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | Admirals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XM Group Review | Admirals Review |
| Overall | XM Group | Admirals | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Admirals Review |
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