Which broker is better for Italy traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
When comparing Admirals vs Forex.com for Italian traders in 2025, several local factors come into play. Admirals (score 4.1/5) has a strong presence in Italy, holding a CONSOB license and supporting popular payment methods like SEPA bank transfers and PostePay. Forex.com (score 3.4/5) is a global brand regulated by CySEC (passporting into Italy) and offers advanced trading tools, but lacks direct PostePay support. Italian retail traders often prioritize low spreads on EUR/USD, tight regulation from CONSOB, and local payment convenience. Admirals excels in these areas, while Forex.com appeals to those who need extensive market research and a wider range of platforms. Below we compare trading costs, platforms, regulation, and other key aspects to help you choose the best broker for your Italian trading needs.
| Instrument | Admirals | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Forex.com |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Forex.com |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Forex.com |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Forex.com |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $1 | $100 | Admirals |
For Italian traders, spreads and commissions are crucial. Admirals offers competitive pricing with its Zero.MT4 account featuring raw spreads from 0.0 pips (plus a commission of €3 per lot per side) and the Trade.MT4 account with spreads from 0.5 pips and no commission. Forex.com’s standard account has EUR/USD spreads starting around 1.0 pip, while its raw pricing account offers spreads from 0.2 pips with a commission. For frequent traders in Italy, Admirals’ lower spreads on EUR pairs can save significant costs, especially when trading volumes exceed 10 lots per month.
| Account Type | Admirals | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $1 | $100 |
| Entity / Asset | Admirals | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (offshore) | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:50 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:500 | 1:50 |
| 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 | Forex.com | 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+ | ✗ | Forex.com |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Admirals | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Admirals provides MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and its proprietary WebTrader, all available in Italian. Forex.com offers MetaTrader 4, TradingView, and its proprietary web platform. Italian traders who prefer mobile trading will find both apps functional, but Admirals’ MT4/MT5 are more widely used locally. Forex.com’s integration with TradingView is a plus for chart enthusiasts. Both platforms support EUR accounts and offer localised language settings.
| Factor | Admirals | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Forex.com |
| 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 straight‑through processing (STP) execution with low latency, suitable for Italian day traders. Forex.com offers both STP and ECN execution on its raw pricing accounts, resulting in fast fills and deep liquidity. For scalpers and EA users, Forex.com may have a slight edge due to more advanced order routing, but both brokers provide reliable execution for most retail strategies.
| Safety Factor | Admirals | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Admirals is authorised by CONSOB in Italy (registration number 119), offering direct regulatory oversight and investor protection, including negative balance protection and access to the Italian investor compensation scheme (Fondo Nazionale di Garanzia). Forex.com is regulated by CySEC and operates in Italy under EU passporting, so it follows the same general MiFID II protections but lacks a direct Italian regulator. For Italian traders, Admirals’ CONSOB license provides more local assurance and easier dispute resolution.
| Payment Method | Admirals | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 1 to 3 business days |
Italian traders can deposit at Admirals using SEPA bank transfers (free, 1-2 business days), PostePay (instant, free), and credit/debit cards. Minimum deposit is €100. Withdrawals are free via SEPA and PostePay. Forex.com supports SEPA transfers and bank wires, but does not accept PostePay. Card deposits are also possible. Withdrawals at Forex.com are free once per month via bank transfer. Overall, Admirals offers more convenient local payment options, especially for those using PostePay.
| Islamic Account Feature | Admirals | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✗ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both brokers provide Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Muslim traders in Italy who adhere to Sharia law. Admirals offers swap-free accounts upon request, with no swaps on overnight positions, though some instruments may have admin fees after a holding period. Forex.com also offers swap-free accounts, subject to eligibility. Italian Muslim traders should confirm specific terms with each broker before opening an account.
| Support Feature | Admirals | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Admirals |
Admirals offers Italian-language customer support via phone, email, and live chat, with operating hours matching Italian business time. Forex.com provides support in English and Italian, but phone support is limited to weekday hours. Admirals’ localised support is more accessible for Italian traders who prefer communicating in their native language.
| Mobile Feature | Admirals | Forex.com | 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 | Forex.com | 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 Forex.com if you...
For Italian retail traders, Admirals is the stronger choice thanks to its CONSOB regulation, lower spreads on EUR pairs, and support for local payment methods like SEPA and PostePay. Its overall score of 4.1/5 reflects these advantages. Forex.com (3.4/5) is a solid alternative for those who value advanced platforms like TradingView and extensive research, but it lacks direct Italian regulatory oversight and PostePay support. If you trade mainly from Italy and prioritise cost savings, local regulation, and payment convenience, Admirals is the recommended broker in 2025.