Which broker is better for New Zealand traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
New Zealand traders choosing between Admirals and EasyMarkets face two very different trading experiences. Admirals scores 4.1/5 in our review and is known for deep liquidity, MetaTrader platforms, and low-cost trading conditions. EasyMarkets, with a score of 3.4/5, focuses on simplicity, fixed spreads, and risk management tools like guaranteed stop-loss orders. For Kiwi traders, both brokers accept deposits in USD, making it straightforward to trade major forex pairs without currency conversion friction. The local financial regulator, the FMA, does not directly license either broker, so New Zealand retail traders must weigh the regulatory protection offered by overseas authorities. Payment flexibility is also a deciding factor: both support Bank Transfer, Skrill and Neteller, while Admirals adds USDT TRC20 for fast, low-fee funding. Whether you are trading from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, latency and platform reliability matter, and both brokers offer stable execution with MetaTrader 4 and 5. This comparison breaks down costs, platforms, regulation, deposits and support to help you choose the right broker for the New Zealand trading environment.
| 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 |
Spread costs are a critical factor for New Zealand traders, especially for those trading high-volume sessions around Sydney and Wellington openings. Admirals offers a Raw Spread account with EUR/USD spreads from 0.1 pips and a per-lot commission, making it competitive for active Kiwi traders who regularly trade multiple lots. EasyMarkets charges fixed spreads on EUR/USD from around 1.0 pips with no commission, which suits smaller account sizes and traders who prefer predictable fees. For a New Zealand trader trading 10 standard lots per month, the spread difference on Admirals can save well over USD 500, even after commission. However, EasyMarkets' fixed spreads can become attractive during volatile news events when floating spreads widen sharply. Overall, Admirals is the more cost-effective option for active New Zealand traders, while EasyMarkets offers budget-friendly simplicity for low-frequency trading.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (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 | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers give New Zealand traders access to MetaTrader, but the experience differs. Admirals offers MT4 and MT5, alongside its own web-based platform and TradingView integration, making it a strong choice for Kiwi traders who want advanced charting tools and automated trading. EasyMarkets provides MT4 and MT5 as well, but its own web and mobile platforms are more beginner-friendly, with built-in risk management tools like deal cancellation, which is unique in the industry. For New Zealand traders, MT5 is particularly useful for hedging and valuable for trading both forex and CFDs in the same account. EasyMarkets also offers free guaranteed stop-loss orders directly on its platform, a feature rare among offshore brokers. If you rely on Expert Advisors or advanced order types, Admirals gives you more flexibility; if you prefer a clean interface with easy risk controls, EasyMarkets wins.
| 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 important for New Zealand traders given the geographical distance from major liquidity centres. Admirals uses a market execution model with low latency and deep liquidity from top-tier banks, producing reliable fills on MT4 and MT5. EasyMarkets offers instant market execution with fixed spreads and guaranteed stop-loss orders, meaning you can cap your risk even in fast-moving markets. However, fixed pricing can result in wider re-quotes during volatile sessions, which may frustrate scalpers. For New Zealand traders who value speed and minimising slippage, Admirals is the better fit, while EasyMarkets provides safety-first execution with strong risk controls.
| Safety Factor | Admirals | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | CySEC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is a key concern for New Zealand traders, particularly because the FMA does not license either broker directly. Admirals is regulated by the FCA, CySEC and ASIC, providing tier-one oversight that gives NZ clients a high level of security. EasyMarkets operates under an ASIC licence in Australia and a CySEC licence in Cyprus, offering strong but somewhat less comprehensive protection depending on your client classification and office entity. New Zealand traders should note that the Financial Markets Authority does not handle complaints for offshore-regulated brokers, so if an issue arises, they may need to contact the relevant overseas regulator or ombudsman. Both brokers hold client funds in segregated accounts, which is a positive sign. However, Admirals' broader regulatory footprint and longer operational history give it an edge for risk-conscious New Zealand 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) |
When funding a trading account from New Zealand, both Admirals and EasyMarkets support local-friendly deposit methods in USD. Bank Transfer remains the most common option for larger amounts, though settlement can take 1-3 business days depending on the New Zealand banking system. Skrill and Neteller are accepted by both brokers and provide instant credit to your trading account once the e-wallet transfer is completed. For New Zealand traders looking for faster, lower-cost alternatives, Admirals also supports USDT TRC20 deposits, allowing you to fund your trading account with Tether on the TRON network in minutes and with low fees. EasyMarkets does not currently offer USDT TRC20, so crypto-funding fans may prefer Admirals. Withdrawals are generally processed within 24 hours at both brokers, but the time to receive funds depends on the method. Skrill and Neteller withdrawals are the quickest, while Bank Transfer withdrawals can take up to 5 business days for NZ-based accounts. Make sure your trading account currency is set to USD to avoid NZD conversion fees.
| 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 |
New Zealand Muslim traders can open Islamic swap-free accounts at both Admirals and EasyMarkets. An Islamic account removes overnight swap or rollover interest, aligning trading with Sharia law. Admirals offers Islamic accounts across MT4 and MT5, including its raw spread account, which allows swap-free traders to still take advantage of lower spreads. EasyMarkets also provides a dedicated swap-free account option, but it may rebate or charge administrative fees after a certain period. New Zealand traders should contact support to confirm exactly how the swap-free policy is applied, especially for positions held for more than ten days. Both brokers require no religious documentation, simply a request through the client area or by contacting customer support. For Kiwi traders who trade long-term positions, Admirals' Islamic raw account is more cost-effective in most scenarios.
| 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 is available 24/5 from both Admirals and EasyMarkets, with live chat, email, and phone options in English. New Zealand traders on UTC+12 will only receive live support during Auckland afternoon and early evening on most weekdays, so email may be better for questions outside these hours. EasyMarkets is known for fast response times on chat, while Admirals offers structured support with account managers once you open a trading account. Neither broker offers 24/7 weekend support, so Kiwi traders should plan critical requests before the weekend. Both support pages cover deposit/withdrawal issues and platform troubleshooting, with comprehensive help centres.
| 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 New Zealand traders, Admirals is the stronger overall choice in this matchup. It scores 4.1/5 compared to EasyMarkets' 3.4/5, offering tighter spreads, more regulatory oversight, and a superior platform ecosystem for active retail traders. The inclusion of USDT TRC20 alongside Bank Transfer, Skrill and Neteller also makes funding easier for Kiwi traders who want multiple deposit routes. EasyMarkets still has its place, particularly if you value fixed spreads, guaranteed stops, and a straightforward trading experience. With the local financial regulator not directly overseeing either broker, New Zealand traders should consider their own risk tolerance and the level of overseas regulatory protection they require. For most Kiwi retail traders looking for low costs and broad flexibility, Admirals is the better fit in 2026.