Which broker is better for Malaysia traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Malaysia traders looking to trade forex and CFDs, choosing between Admirals and Forex.com can be challenging. Admirals, with a 4.1/5 rating, excels in local payment integration, offering FPX, Bank Transfer, Skrill, and even USDT deposits – perfect for the digital-savvy Malaysian crowd. Forex.com, rated 3.4/5, is a globally established brand but lacks the same regional payment flexibility and has higher costs for retail traders in Malaysia. This comparison focuses on key factors for experienced retail traders in Malaysia: spreads, platforms, regulation (SC Malaysia considerations), and Islamic accounts. We will help you decide which broker aligns better with your trading style and local needs in 2025.
| 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 |
Cost is a major factor for experienced traders. Admirals offers lower spreads on its Zero account (from 0.1 pips on EUR/USD) and a commission-based model, which is ideal for high-volume Malaysia traders. Forex.com's RAW account starts from 0.2 pips plus a commission, making it slightly more expensive on average. For Malaysia traders trading 10+ lots per month, Admirals can save hundreds of ringgit annually. Additionally, Admirals does not charge deposit fees for FPX or Bank Transfer, while Forex.com may levy conversion fees for MYR deposits.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia (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 | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers offer MT4 and MT5, the preferred platforms among experienced Malaysia traders. Admirals also provides its proprietary WebTrader with advanced charting and a clean interface. Forex.com offers TradingView integration, which some traders appreciate. For mobile trading, both have robust apps. However, Admirals' platform is slightly faster for local order execution and includes Malaysia-specific market analysis, giving it an edge for traders who rely on timely data.
| 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 |
Execution quality matters for experienced traders. Admirals boasts average execution speeds of under 50 ms with no requotes on its ECN-like accounts. Forex.com is also reliable with speeds around 60 ms, but some Malaysia traders report occasional slippage during news events. Admirals' dedication to low-latency servers in Singapore (close to Malaysia) gives it a slight advantage for local traders.
| Safety Factor | Admirals | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is critical for Malaysia traders. Neither Admirals nor Forex.com is directly regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC Malaysia), but both hold licenses from respected bodies: Admirals (FCA, CySEC, and others) and Forex.com (FCA, CFTC, etc.). This means Malaysian traders can trade with confidence, but they should note that client fund protections (like FSCS) may not apply fully to non-EEA clients. Admirals has a stronger compliance culture and clearer segregation of client funds, which is reassuring for Malaysian retail traders.
| 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 |
Depositing and withdrawing in Malaysia is smooth with both brokers, but Admirals clearly wins on convenience. Admirals supports FPX (instant bank transfer), Bank Transfer (MYR), Skrill, and USDT. Forex.com only offers Bank Transfer and Skrill for Malaysia, lacking FPX and USDT. Admirals processes MYR deposits without hidden fees, while Forex.com may charge a conversion fee. Withdrawals are similarly fast: Admirals via FPX takes 1-2 business days, while Forex.com via Bank Transfer can take 2-4 days. For traders who want speed and local options, Admirals is the better choice.
| 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 |
Muslim traders in Malaysia will find both brokers accommodating. Admirals provides Islamic accounts on request with no extra charges and no holding period restrictions, making it truly swap-free. Forex.com also offers Islamic accounts but may apply administrative fees if positions are held beyond a certain period (e.g., 10 days). Admirals is more transparent and cost-effective for long-term traders in Malaysia who need to comply with Sharia law.
| 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 |
Customer support for Malaysia traders is available 24/5 from both brokers, but Admirals offers 24/7 live chat and phone support in English and Malay. Forex.com's support is also good but lacks Malay language assistance and is slower to respond during Malaysian business hours. Admirals has a local knowledge base that includes Malaysia-specific articles, which is a plus.
| 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 Malaysia traders in 2025, Admirals is the clear winner with a 4.1/5 rating versus Forex.com's 3.4/5. Admirals offers lower spreads, better local payment integration (FPX, Bank Transfer, Skrill, USDT), a more transparent Islamic account, and customer support in Malay. Forex.com has a wider asset selection and TradingView integration, but its higher costs and limited local payment options make it less competitive for the Malaysian retail trader. If you prioritize cost-efficiency and local convenience, Admirals is your top pick. If you need more assets and are willing to trade off on costs, Forex.com remains a solid alternative.