Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Admirals vs Interactive Brokers
Admirals vs Interactive Brokers: the differences
| Compare |  Admirals |  Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $25 | $0Lower |
| Stock trade fee | $0.020 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | FCA, CySEC, ASIC | SEC, FCA, SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Inactivity fee | €10 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation |
| Account types | Not confirmed | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:30 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.38% |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Admirals offers CySEC, ASIC.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, SIPC.
- Founded is lower at Interactive Brokers: 1978 vs 2001.
- Admirals is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $25.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $0.020.
- Markets: only Admirals offers CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Funds, Futures, Options.
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.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits investors who want a single account across ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint and corporate holdings, with stocks, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures behind it. It ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit at $0, and stock trades are charged at $0.
Score breakdown
| Area | Admirals | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8A stock trade fee of $0.02 on a $25 minimum deposit, plus €10 for idling. | 9.3HigherStock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.6Account types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.8Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Admirals | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Admirals | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 64 of 471 | 44 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 27 of 147 | 16 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 25 of 145 | 14 of 145 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Admirals | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | FCA 208159 | |
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 53615 |
Where these facts come from
Admirals
- beinoptions.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxscouts.ng: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- premiumtrading.co: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxleaders.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- olxforex.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Interactive Brokers
- interactivebrokers.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokersway.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- toponlineforexbrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euinvestinghub.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Admirals | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free, Low fees |
| Legal entity | Admirals SC Ltd | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | 2001 | 1978Lower |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Help centre, Community |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Admirals | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Admirals | Interactive Brokers | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $25at the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0.020highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | €10above the median | Not confirmed | €2.45 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38%below the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.38%above the median | 3% |
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
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, the pairing behind rank 1 of 161 on stock trade fees among the brokers tracked here.
- The account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira, so an ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint or corporate account all sit under a single provider.
- bonds, etfs and forex puts stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures on the same account, with a margin rate of 4.38% for geared positions.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community, so a phone line and live chat sit outside the offer.
- bonds, etfs and forex covers shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures but leaves out crypto and CFDs, which eToro lists in stocks, etfs and forex.
- An options contract costs $0.65 against a stock trade at $0, so options strategies pay a visible premium per contract.
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
Interactive Brokers
Who it suits
- Investors holding money across several wrappers, since the account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira.
- Traders who want options, futures, forex and bonds alongside shares on a single account, per bonds, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with a small balance: the minimum deposit is $0 and fractional shares appear in the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app).
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who trades crypto or CFDs, since bonds, etfs and forex leaves both out while eToro lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want a stated entry figure as a signal of the provider's target size, since Vantage publishes $5 where this broker's minimum is $0.
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.
Interactive Brokers
What does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade is charged at $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening an account and dealing in shares carry no charge. The money sits in derivatives and leverage instead, where an options contract costs $0.65 and the margin rate is listed at 4.38%.
Is my money protected?+
The regulatory list runs to SEC, FCA and SIPC, and investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The UK entry is the FCA under licence 208159, while the US side names the SEC and the SIPC membership SIPC member 53615. The protection figure describes the scheme stated for the account and says nothing about how a trade performs.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Interactive Brokers vs Nexo
- Admirals vs TradeZero
- Admirals vs Exness
- Admirals vs Trading 212
- Admirals vs FP Markets
- Admirals vs VT Markets
- Admirals vs TradeStation
- Admirals vs FXOpen
- Admirals vs Libertex
- Admirals vs LYNX
- Admirals vs Tradier
- Admirals vs Lightspeed Financial
- Admirals vs ATC Brokers
- Admirals vs Global Prime
- Admirals vs LiteFinance
- Admirals vs Markets.com
- Admirals vs Saxo
- Interactive Brokers vs ActivTrades
- Admirals vs XTB
- Admirals vs NAGA
- Interactive Brokers vs UNest
- Interactive Brokers vs eToro
- Admirals vs Linxea
- Admirals vs Mintos
- Interactive Brokers vs Revolut
- Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood
- Interactive Brokers vs S Broker
- Interactive Brokers vs Kraken
- Admirals vs EBC Financial Group