IG Markets versus Admirals

UK-based IG Markets established itself as a leading international broker and liquidity provider. Being the leader in CFD trading, IG Markets writes new ones based on client demand. Traders can manage portfolios from the proprietary web-based trading platform, ProRealTime, MT4, and L2 Dealer. MT4 traders get 18 add-ons plus the Autochartist plugin, creating one of the most competitive MT4 trading environments.

Admirals counters with its MetaTrader Supreme Edition and SteroTrader upgrade for MT4/MT5, services by Trading Central, a proprietary mobile app, and its in-house social trading platform. It also offers asset management services in cooperation with Finexware and introduced fractional share investments.

We have conducted an in-depth review of IG Markets and Admirals to determine which one presents the better overall choice and which traders will benefit the most at either broker.

• Features and Platforms
• Available Markets
• Typical Spreads and Fees
• Security and Trust
• IG Markets versus Admirals - Verdict

Headquarters	United Kingdom	United Kingdom
Regulators	ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCS	FCA
Tier 1 Regulator(s)?
Owned by Public Company?
Year Established	2001	1974
Execution Type(s)	Market Maker	Market Maker
Minimum Deposit	$100	300€
Negative Balance Protection	N/A
Trading Platform(s)	Other, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5+	MetaTrader 4, Proprietary platform
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD	0.1 pips ($1.00)	0.9 pips
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD	0.1 pips ($1.00)	1.4 pip
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil	$0.03	$0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold	$0.25	$0.30
Retail Loss Rate	N/A	Undisclosed
Minimum Raw Spreads	N/A	Not applicable
Minimum Standard Spreads	N/A	0.8 pips
Minimum Commission for Forex	N/A	Commission-free
Islamic Account
Signals
US Persons Accepted?
Managed Accounts
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Features and Platforms

MT4
MT5
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons	N/A
cTrader
Proprietary Platform
Automated Trading
Social/Copy Trading	N/A
DOM?
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Scalping
Hedging
One-Click Trading
OCO Orders
Interest on Margin
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Noteworthy:

While both brokers support algorithmic and social trading, IG Markets takes a commanding lead in the former and Admirals in the latter.

Available Markets

Currency Pairs	N/A
Cryptocurrencies	N/A
Commodities
Crude Oil
Gold
Metals
Equity Indices
Stocks (non-CFDs)
Bonds	N/A
ETFs
Options	N/A
Futures
Synthetics
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Asset selection is exceptional at both brokers, but IG Markets takes the lead due to its quantity. Fractional share dealing is available at Admirals, ideal for smaller portfolios, while IG Markets provides in-house managed thematic portfolios labeled IG Smart Portfolios. Despite a well-balanced asset selection, neither broker serves the cryptocurrency market well.

Typical Spreads and Fees

Average Trading Cost EUR/USD	0.1 pips ($1.00)	0.9 pips
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD	0.1 pips ($1.00)	1.4 pip
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil	$0.03	$0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold	$0.25	$0.30
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin	$125.60	$90
Minimum Raw Spreads	N/A	Not applicable
Minimum Standard Spreads	N/A	0.8 pips
Minimum Commission for Forex	N/A	Commission-free
Deposit Fee	N/A
Withdrawal Fee	N/A
Inactivity Fee	N/A	$12 per month after 24 months
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IG Markets offers Forex traders one of the lowest commission-free cost structures in the industry, bested by Admirals on a minimum spread basis, where Admirals also provides a competitive commission-based alternative. Equity commissions are identical at both brokers. IG Markets maintains an edge with its volume-based rebate program.

Security and Trust

Country of the Regulator	Australia, Cyprus, Jordan, Kenya, United Kingdom, South Africa	Australia, Bermuda, Switzerland, Cyprus, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, United States
Name of the Regulator	ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCS	FCA
Regulatory License Number	595450, 201/13, 410681, 51311, 178, 57026	195355, 378/19, 10148759, confirmed, but no regulaary license number, F001780, 41393, 1489, unconfirmed, 220440, 18923, 0509630, 54814
Regulatory Tier	1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2	N/A
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Negative balance protection and segregation of client deposits from corporate funds exist at both IG Markets and Admirals. The former is also a publicly listed company and FTSE250 constituent, but both established themselves as industry-leading multi-asset brokers with clean regulatory records and reliable trading operations.

Admirals vs IG Markets – Verdict

Admirals

Pros	Cons
Industry-leading upgrades to the MT4/MT5 trading platforms	Limited deposit and withdrawal methods
Low trading costs for traders and investors	A higher minimum deposit for traders but within a reasonable range
Excellent trading services for asset managers
Proprietary copy trading service and fractional share dealing

IG Markets

Pros	Cons
Excellent choice of trading platforms and superior asset selection	Limited deposit and withdrawal methods
Competitive trading costs with a volume-based cash rebate program	Higher minimum deposit requirement, but within a reasonable demand
Outstanding trading environment for algorithmic trading, including API support
Comprehensive educational tools for beginner traders

IG Markets and Admirals provide clients with an exceptional products and services portfolio, low trading costs, quality research, and education for beginners. IG Markets trumps Admirals overall due to its its trading platform choices, asset selection, and algorithmic trading support. Fractional share investments and social trading services is where Admirals delivers.

You might also be interested in reviewing the below broker comparisons:

• Admirals vs ActivTrades
• Admirals vs RoboMarkets
• Admirals vs IC Markets
• IG Markets vs ETXcapital
• IG Markets vs Forex.com
• IG Markets vs Plus500

Read full IG Markets Review

Read full Admirals Review