Admirals vs IG (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared
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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan
Admirals is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering broad market access, user-friendly platforms, and integrated research and education. It provides a range of account options and risk management tools under established…
IG is a well-regarded forex broker that provides broad access to currency pairs, multiple trading platforms, and extensive research and education within a regulated framework. It emphasizes transparent pricing, diverse order types,…
Admirals (Estonia, founded 2001) holds 5 regulatory licences (ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA, JSC), 2 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5 and sits in our low-fee bracket. IG (United Kingdom, founded 1974) holds 13 regulatory licences (ASIC, BaFin, BMA, CFTC, Deutsche Bundesbank…), 9 of them tier-1, offers MT4, Proprietary, ProRealTime and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 228 countries; Admirals is available in 0 countries where IG is not, and IG in 2 where Admirals is not.
Verdict at a glance
Admirals leads on trust rank.
IG leads on track record, regulatory coverage, platform choice, country coverage and tier-1 licences.
Level on instrument range and fee level.
Scored on 8 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.
Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.
Pros
Admirals
FCA, ASIC, CySEC regulation
MT4/MT5 with MetaTrader Supreme Edition
Zero Accounts with raw spreads and low commissions
Wide multi-asset range (FX, indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs, crypto CFDs)
Volatility Protection and negative balance protection
IG
Tier-1 regulation (FCA, ASIC, NFA/CFTC) with segregated client funds
Competitive spreads and deep liquidity
Fast, reliable execution and high uptime
Advanced platforms (IG web/mobile, MT4, ProRealTime) with GSLO and advanced order types
Wide FX pair coverage and strong research/education
Cons
Admirals
Charges inactivity fee
Limited free withdrawals
No cTrader platform support
Leverage capped at 1:30 for EU/UK retail
Not available to U.S. residents
IG
No MetaTrader 5 or cTrader support
Inactivity fee for dormant accounts
DMA/L2 access restricted to professional clients
Leverage capped by regional regulations
Market-maker model for retail accounts
Key features
Admirals
Forex and CFD trading on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
Invest MT5 real stocks and ETFs
Multi jurisdiction regulation and segregated client funds
Negative balance protection and volatility protection
Zero account raw spreads with market execution
MetaTrader Supreme Edition and premium analytics
IG
Top tier regulation and segregated client funds
Negative balance protection and guaranteed stop loss
CFDs spread betting and options on forex indices commodities shares and crypto
Advanced trading platforms IG web and mobile MetaTrader 4 and ProRealTime
Fast execution deep liquidity and competitive spreads
API and algorithmic trading support
Country availability: Admirals vs IG
Available at both (228): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island and 188 more.
Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.