Which broker is better for Philippines traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Philippines traders looking to enter the forex market, Admirals and EasyMarkets stand out as two accessible international brokers. Admirals (rated 4.1/5) is a well-established broker offering low spreads and multiple platforms, while EasyMarkets (rated 3.4/5) focuses on simplicity and fixed spreads. Both accept local payments like GCash, PayMaya, and bank transfers, plus USDT for crypto deposits – crucial for OFW remittance investors and mobile-first traders. With the SEC Philippines not directly regulating foreign brokers, traders rely on offshore licenses. Whether you are a beginner trading from a smartphone or an experienced investor managing remittance funds, this comparison highlights which broker better fits the Philippines trading environment, including deposit methods, regulatory protections, and cost efficiency for PHP accounts.
| 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 |
For Philippines traders, trading costs directly affect profitability, especially when trading small volumes common among retail investors. Admirals offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips on its Zero account with a low commission of $2 per lot, making it cheaper for active day traders. EasyMarkets uses fixed spreads (e.g., 1.2 pips on EUR/USD) with no commission, which is simpler but more expensive over many trades. A trader doing 10 standard lots per month would pay around $20 in commissions at Admirals versus $120 in spread costs at EasyMarkets. If you trade infrequently or prioritize predictability, EasyMarkets' fixed spreads may be fine, but Admirals is clearly more cost-effective for regular 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines (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 cater to mobile-first traders, but Admirals offers a stronger platform suite. Admirals provides MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and its proprietary WebTrader, all fully optimized for Android and iOS. This is ideal for OFWs on the go. EasyMarkets focuses on its own web-based platform and a mobile app, which is user-friendly but lacks advanced charting tools and automated trading features. For Philippines traders who need Expert Advisors (EAs) or complex analysis, Admirals is the clear choice. If you only trade manually and want a clean interface, EasyMarkets is sufficient.
| 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 |
Admirals uses ECN/STP execution with no dealing desk, meaning orders are routed directly to liquidity providers, resulting in fast execution and low slippage. EasyMarkets employs a market maker model (no dealing desk as claimed), but execution is still reliable with average speeds under 100ms. For scalpers or high-frequency traders in the Philippines, Admirals' ECN model offers more transparency and lower requote risks. For regular traders, both execute adequately.
| Safety Factor | Admirals | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | CySEC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is a key concern for Philippines traders since the SEC Philippines does not directly oversee foreign brokers. Admirals is regulated by the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and the ASIC (Australia) – some of the strictest jurisdictions. EasyMarkets holds licenses from CySEC, ASIC, and the FSA (Seychelles). While both offer client fund segregation and negative balance protection (on EU entities), Admirals' FCA regulation provides stronger compensation schemes (up to £85,000). For Philippines traders, this means additional safety if the broker faces insolvency. Always check the specific regulatory entity when opening an account.
| 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) |
Depositing and withdrawing funds is critical for Philippines traders. Both Admirals and EasyMarkets accept GCash, PayMaya, and local bank transfers in PHP, along with USDT. Admirals processes GCash and PayMaya deposits instantly with no fees; withdrawals are processed within 1-2 business days to the same method. EasyMarkets also supports these options but may take up to 24 hours for GCash deposits. Bank transfers for both often take 1-3 business days. USDT deposits are processed on-chain, with Admirals accepting ERC-20 and TRC-20, while EasyMarkets uses ERC-20 only. Minimum deposit for Admirals is 100 PHP equivalent, while EasyMarkets requires around 250 PHP. Withdrawal fees are generally absent except for bank transfer intermediary charges.
| 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 |
For Muslim traders in the Philippines requiring swap-free accounts, both brokers offer Islamic accounts. Admirals provides Islamic accounts on all platforms (MT4, MT5, WebTrader) with no swaps on overnight positions, no extra spreads, and no hidden fees. EasyMarkets also offers a swap-free option but restricts it to certain account types and may apply management fees after a holding period. Filipino traders should confirm these terms with support. Admirals' Islamic account is more flexible and transparent for long-term holding strategies.
| 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 |
Both brokers offer 24/5 customer support in English via live chat, email, and phone. Admirals has a local Philippines phone number and responsive live chat with average response times under 2 minutes. EasyMarkets also provides quick support but lacks a local contact number. For Filipino traders, Admirals' local presence and extensive FAQ section (with mobile-friendly layout) give it an edge. EasyMarkets support is adequate but may have longer email response times (up to 12 hours).
| 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 Philippines traders — especially OFWs and mobile-first investors — Admirals is the stronger overall choice. It offers lower trading costs, more advanced platforms, better regulatory oversight, and seamless local payments like GCash, PayMaya, and USDT. The 4.1/5 rating reflects its reliability and value. EasyMarkets, with a 3.4/5 rating, is a decent alternative for absolute beginners who want fixed spreads and a simple platform, but it falls short in cost efficiency and platform flexibility. While neither broker is regulated by SEC Philippines, both are established internationally. If you prioritize low spreads, a robust platform, and secure deposits, go with Admirals. If simplicity and predictability are your only concerns, EasyMarkets may suffice.