Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Admirals vs Exness
Where Admirals and Exness differ
| Compare |  Admirals |  Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $25 | $10Lower |
| Stock trade fee | $0.020 | $0Lower |
| Inactivity fee | €10 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Regulators | FCA, CySEC, ASIC | FCA, CySEC, FSA Seychelles, FSCA |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:30 | 1:Unlimited |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | no deposit or withdrawal fee |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal, Exness Trade App |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Exness scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Admirals offers ASIC.
- Regulators: only Exness offers FSA Seychelles, FSCA.
- Founded is lower at Admirals: 2001 vs 2008.
- Exness is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Exness: $10 vs $25.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Exness: $0 vs $0.020.
- Markets: only Admirals offers ETFs, Bonds.
- Markets: only Exness offers Metals.
Our verdict on each
Admirals
Admirals suits retail investors who want one account across several markets with UK regulation behind it. Costs sit mid pack: a stock trade fee of $0.02 and an inactivity fee of €10 put it ahead of some rivals and behind cheaper ones.
Exness
Exness suits beginners and day traders who want to place stock trades without a dealing charge, with a stock trade fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0. Regulators listed are the FCA, CySEC, the FSA Seychelles and the FSCA, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 stated for UK clients.
Score breakdown
| Area | Admirals | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8A stock trade fee of $0.02 on a $25 minimum deposit, plus €10 for idling. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.6 |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.5 |
How they place
| Ranking | Admirals | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 64 of 471 | 54 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 27 of 147 | 22 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 25 of 145 | 20 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 21 of 122 | 17 of 122 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Admirals | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | ||
| United Kingdom | ||
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| Seychelles | Not confirmed | |
| South Africa | Not confirmed | FSCA 51024 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Admirals | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Admirals | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free, Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Admirals SC Ltd | Exness (SC) Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | 2001Lower | 2008 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Admirals | Exness | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $25at the median | $10below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0.020highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Admirals
Pros
- Regulated by the FCA in the UK, plus CySEC and ASIC, so UK clients sit under a UK watchdog and client asset rules
- Investor protection stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000
- One account spans stocks, etfs and forex, so forex, CFDs, shares, ETFs, crypto and bonds sit in one place
Cons
- An inactivity fee of €10 applies, and it ranks high at 39 of 56 brands on this measure
- The stock trade fee of $0.02 sits above the site median of €0, and above the commission free model offered by eToro at $0
- The minimum deposit of $25 ranks at 120 of 213, so it is not the cheapest account to open
Exness
Pros
- A $0 stock trade fee, with the pricing model read as commission-free and low-fee.
- An inactivity fee of $0, so a dormant balance is not billed.
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge, so moving money costs nothing.
Cons
- Retail leverage is listed at 1:Unlimited, and 70.15% of retail accounts on this site lose money.
- Regulators listed include the FSA Seychelles and the FSCA alongside the FCA and CySEC, so the entity behind an account can differ by market.
- The market list, stocks, forex and cfds, stops short of ETFs and futures, so share investors wanting those should look elsewhere.
Who each suits
Admirals
Who it suits
- UK retail investors who want an FCA regulated account covering shares, ETFs, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds in one place
- Investors who hold across asset classes and want FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the balance
- Traders who can start small on a $25 minimum deposit and trade on a $0.02 stock fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting a commission free stock deal, where eToro charges $0
- Long term holders who leave a balance untouched, since the inactivity fee runs at €10
- Anyone starting with no money at all, since CFI opens on a minimum deposit of $0 and Vantage on $5
Exness
Who it suits
- Beginners and day traders, the audiences the brand names.
- Traders who want a $0 stock trade fee and an inactivity fee of $0 on the same account.
- Desktop and mobile users who want to trade across MT4, MT5 and Exness Terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, where the minimum deposit is $0.
- Vantage, with a minimum deposit of $5.
- eToro, which also covers ETFs and futures beyond the markets listed here.
Questions about each
Admirals
What does Admirals charge to trade a stock?+
A stock trade fee of $0.02 applies on trades. That is above the site median of €0, so a reader who deals in shares often should weigh the cost against a commission free alternative before committing.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $25. The site median across tracked brands is €4.64, and Admirals ranks at 120 of 213 on this measure, so the entry point is accessible without being the lowest available.
Exness
What does Exness charge to buy a stock?+
Share dealing runs at a stock trade fee of $0, and the pricing model is listed as commission-free and low-fee. On this site's stock trade fee ranking Exness sits at 1 of 161, so the per-trade cost sits at the cheap end of the brands compared. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either.
Does Exness charge an inactivity fee?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant account is not billed for sitting still. Exness ranks 1 of 56 on this measure, at the top of the table of brands compared. Some rivals charge for unused accounts, so this saves money for anyone who opens an account and leaves it quiet for a while.
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