Admirals vs XTB (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared

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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan

Admirals

Trust rank #13 · Founded 2001

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…

Read the Admirals review

XTB

Trust rank #7 · Founded 2002

XTB is a forex and CFD broker offering a proprietary platform, broad instrument coverage, and integrated research and education. It is regulated in multiple jurisdictions.

Read the XTB review

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. XTB (Poland, founded 2002) holds 5 regulatory licences (DFSA, FCA, FSCA, IFSC, KNF), 1 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 46 countries; Admirals is available in 182 countries where XTB is not, and XTB in 2 where Admirals is not.

Verdict at a glance

  • Admirals leads on track record, platform choice, instrument range, country coverage and tier-1 licences.
  • XTB leads on trust rank.
  • Level on regulatory coverage 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.

Admirals vs XTB: side-by-side data

CriteriaAdmiralsXTB
Trust rank#13#7
Founded20012002
HeadquartersEstoniaPoland
RegulatorsASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA, JSCDFSA, FCA, FSCA, IFSC, KNF
Broker typeMarket Maker, STPMarket Maker
PlatformsMT4, MT5Proprietary
InstrumentsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, MetalsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices
Countries accepted228 countries48 countries
Fee levelLowLow
Trading typesCFD Trading, Spot TradingCFD Trading
Best-for use casesProfessional Trading, Retail TradingProfessional Trading, Retail Trading

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

XTB

  • Tier-1 multi-jurisdiction regulation
  • Proprietary xStation 5 platform with advanced charting and one-click trading
  • Official xAPI for algorithmic trading and data access
  • Competitive FX spreads with commission-free Standard account
  • Publicly listed broker with audited financials

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

XTB

  • No MetaTrader 5 support
  • No guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs)
  • Inactivity fee after prolonged inactivity
  • Withdrawal fees for small amounts below minimum threshold
  • No integrated social/copy trading

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

XTB

  • Multi asset CFD trading Forex Indices Commodities Shares ETFs Crypto
  • Real stock and ETF investing zero commission up to monthly cap
  • xStation 5 proprietary platform advanced charting sentiment and risk tools
  • Publicly listed broker segregated client funds and negative balance protection
  • Tier one regulation including FCA and KNF
  • Extensive education research and market news resources

Country availability: Admirals vs XTB

Available at both (46): Angola, Austria, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and 6 more.

Only Admirals (182): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei and 157 more.

Only XTB (2): Belgium, Canada.

Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.

Admirals vs XTB: common questions

Which broker is more regulated, Admirals or XTB?

Admirals holds more regulatory licences: Admirals (ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA, JSC) versus XTB (DFSA, FCA, FSCA, IFSC, KNF). Tier-1 licences: Admirals 2, XTB 1.

Which trading platforms do Admirals and XTB offer?

Admirals offers MT4, MT5; XTB offers Proprietary.

Which has lower fees, Admirals or XTB?

Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.

Which is older, Admirals or XTB?

Admirals is the older of the two, founded in 2001; XTB was founded in 2002.

Are Admirals and XTB available in the same countries?

They overlap in 46 countries. Admirals is additionally available in 182 countries (Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Anguilla and 176 more) and XTB in 2 countries (Belgium, Canada).

Keep comparing

Admirals

XTB

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.