Which broker is better for Cyprus traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Cyprus traders seeking a reliable forex broker have two popular choices: Admirals and EasyMarkets. Both firms are regulated locally by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and offer full MiFID II protections, including negative balance protection and client fund segregation. Admirals, founded in 2001, has a strong global presence and a Trustpilot score of 4.1/5, while EasyMarkets (founded 2001, rebranded 2018) scores 3.4/5. For Cyprus retail traders, key differentiators include trading costs, platform choice, and deposit methods such as Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. This comparison digs into spreads, regulation, and account features specifically for the Cyprus market to help you decide which broker fits your trading style.
| Instrument | Admirals | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | EasyMarkets |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | EasyMarkets |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | EasyMarkets |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | EasyMarkets |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $1 | $25 | Admirals |
When comparing trading costs for Cyprus traders, Admirals holds a clear edge on spreads, especially for high-volume traders. Admirals’ Razor account offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD with a $3 commission per lot round turn. The standard Trade account has spreads from 0.5 pips with no commission. EasyMarkets uses fixed spreads, starting at 1.2 pips for EUR/USD with no commission, but these are wider than Admirals’ variable spreads during liquid market hours. For a Cyprus trader executing 10 lots per month on EUR/USD, Admirals’ cost could be half that of EasyMarkets. Swap rates also differ: Admirals offers competitive rollover rates for long-term positions, while EasyMarkets’ fixed swaps are slightly higher. Choose Admirals if you trade actively and want lower per-trade costs.
| Account Type | Admirals | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $1 | $25 |
| Entity / Asset | Admirals | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus (offshore) | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:2000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:500 | 1:2000 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | Admirals | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Admirals |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | Admirals |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | Admirals |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | 1,000+ | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Admirals | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Cyprus traders have access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 on both brokers, which are the most popular platforms locally. Admirals also offers its proprietary WebTrader and mobile apps without requiring a download. EasyMarkets provides its own web-based platform with advanced charting and risk management tools like dealCancellation (allowing you to cancel a losing trade within 60 minutes for a fee). Both support automated trading via Expert Advisors. For Cyprus traders who value customisation and third-party plugins, Admirals’ MT4/MT5 ecosystem is better. If you prefer a simplified, all-in-one platform with fixed spreads and added protection features, EasyMarkets’ proprietary interface may be more suitable.
| Factor | Admirals | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | EasyMarkets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Admirals |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
Execution quality is crucial for Cyprus traders, especially scalpers and day traders. Admirals offers straight-through processing (STP) execution on its Razor account, with average execution speed under 50 ms and no requotes. EasyMarkets uses market execution with fixed spreads, resulting in slower execution (around 100 ms) but no slippage on most orders due to its fixed spread model. Admirals’ execution is more suitable for high-frequency strategies, while EasyMarkets’ guaranteed stops and fixed spreads appeal to risk-averse traders. Both are reliable for retail traders, but Admirals edges ahead for speed.
| Safety Factor | Admirals | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | CySEC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Admirals and EasyMarkets are authorised by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under license numbers 201/13 and 088/07 respectively. This means they comply with MiFID II rules, offering Cyprus traders up to €20,000 investor compensation from the ICF (Investor Compensation Fund). Clients enjoy negative balance protection and segregation of funds in licensed banks. EasyMarkets is also regulated in multiple other jurisdictions, including Australia and the UK, but for Cyprus residents, CySEC oversight is the most relevant. Admirals holds additional licences in the UK and Kenya, but its Cyprus entity (Admirals Cyprus Ltd) is fully compliant with local requirements. Both brokers publish their regulatory status clearly on their websites, ensuring transparency for Cyprus traders.
| Payment Method | Admirals | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | e-wallets take instant to 1 business day, credit/debit cards take 1 business day, and bank transfers take 1 to 3 business days. | Cards 1-2 business days; e-wallets instant-1 business day; bank wire 3-10 business days; overall back-office processing within 1 business day (24h) |
Cyprus traders can fund their accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 at both brokers. Admirals also supports credit/debit cards, PayPal, and local EUR transfers via banks like Bank of Cyprus and Hellenic Bank. EasyMarkets accepts the same four methods plus card payments and PayPal. Minimum deposits: $100 at Admirals, $250 at EasyMarkets. Deposits via Skrill and Neteller are instant and free for both brokers. USDT TRC20 deposits are processed within minutes with low network fees. Withdrawals are typically processed within 1-2 business days; Skrill and Neteller withdrawals are instant. Bank transfers take 2-5 business days and may incur intermediary bank fees. Both brokers verify client identity before allowing withdrawals, compliant with CySEC anti-money laundering rules. For fastest access to funds, use e-wallets or USDT TRC20.
| Islamic Account Feature | Admirals | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Muslim traders in Cyprus can request swap-free Islamic accounts from both Admirals and EasyMarkets. Admirals offers Islamic accounts on all account types (Trade, Razor, and Zero) with no overnight interest charges. The request must be made via email or live chat and is reviewed within 24 hours. EasyMarkets provides automatic swap-free accounts for clients residing in Muslim-majority countries, including Cyprus, on its standard account. There is no extra fee for holding positions overnight, but a small admin fee may apply after 30 consecutive days. Both brokers ensure full transparency on terms. For Cyprus Muslim traders who trade medium to long term, these accounts are essential to remain Sharia-compliant. Verify eligibility with the broker’s support team before opening.
| Support Feature | Admirals | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Admirals |
Customer support for Cyprus traders is available in English and Greek from both brokers. Admirals offers 24/5 live chat, email, and phone support during local business hours. EasyMarkets provides 24/5 support via live chat, phone, and a helpful online ticket system. EasyMarkets’ phone support is particularly responsive, with average wait times under 30 seconds. Admirals also has a local office in Limassol, making it easier for Cyprus clients to visit in person. Both brokers have extensive FAQs and educational resources in multiple languages. For immediate assistance, EasyMarkets’ live chat is slightly faster, while Admirals’ local presence adds trust.
| Mobile Feature | Admirals | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | Admirals |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | Admirals |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | Admirals | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Admirals |
Choose Admirals if you...
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
For the majority of Cyprus retail traders, Admirals is the better overall choice. It offers lower spreads (especially on the Razor account), a wider selection of deposit methods including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20, and strong CySEC regulation with a local Limassol office. Its 4.1/5 rating reflects higher client satisfaction. EasyMarkets is a solid alternative if you prefer fixed spreads and unique risk tools like dealCancellation, but its higher costs and lower rating (3.4/5) make it less competitive. Both brokers are reliable, but Admirals provides better value for active Cyprus traders. Open an account with Admirals for optimal trading conditions in 2025.