Which broker is better for Malta traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Maltese retail traders seeking a reliable forex broker, comparing Admirals vs Forex.com is essential. Admirals (rated 4.1/5) and Forex.com (rated 3.4/5) both accept clients from Malta under EU regulations, but their offerings differ significantly. Malta traders benefit from local payment methods including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 – but not all brokers support these fully. Admirals excels with competitive spreads, a robust MetaTrader suite, and flexible crypto deposits, while Forex.com provides strong institutional-grade execution and a proprietary platform. This comparison focuses on Malta-specific factors: spread costs in USD, regulatory protection from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), and deposit/withdrawal convenience for local users. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced scalper, understanding these differences will help you choose the right broker for your trading style.
| 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 |
When trading in USD from Malta, spread costs play a major role in profitability. Admirals offers a Zero account with spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD, plus a commission of $3 per lot round trip. Forex.com’s standard account has spreads from 1.0 pips with no commission, but the cost per lot is higher. For high-volume traders, Admirals is significantly cheaper – trading 10 lots per month saves around $50 in spreads. Both brokers offer competitive swap rates, but Admirals’ raw spreads give it a clear edge for Maltese traders looking to minimize transaction costs.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Malta (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 | ✓ | ✓ |
Maltese traders can choose between MetaTrader 4 and 5 on Admirals, plus the proprietary Admiral Markets WebTrader. Forex.com offers its own Trading Station platform alongside MetaTrader 4 and a web version. Admirals’ MT4/MT5 are ideal for automated trading with Expert Advisors, while Forex.com’s desktop platform is praised for its advanced charting tools for manual traders. Both brokers provide mobile apps for iOS and Android, ensuring Maltese traders can manage positions on the go. For algorithm traders, Admirals is the stronger choice due to full MT5 support.
| 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 a hybrid ECN/STP model with typical execution speeds under 30 ms, suitable for scalping. Forex.com offers DMA (Direct Market Access) with speeds around 50 ms but with slippage more common during news events. Both brokers allow scalping and hedging, but Admirals’ lower latency and tighter spreads make it a better choice for high-frequency strategies in Malta.
| Safety Factor | Admirals | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Admirals and Forex.com operate under the oversight of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) for local clients, ensuring compliance with EU MiFID II directives. Admirals is also regulated by the FCA (UK) and CySEC, while Forex.com is regulated by the FCA, CFTC, and ASIC. For Malta traders, the MFSA protection covers negative balance protection and segregation of client funds. Admirals additionally provides investor compensation up to €20,000 under the ICF (Cyprus) but local MFSA rules apply for Maltese residents. Forex.com offers similar safeguards, making both brokers trustworthy choices.
| 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 |
Maltese traders benefit from multiple deposit methods available at both brokers. Admirals accepts Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 – all processed instantly for e-wallets and crypto, with no deposit fees. Forex.com supports Bank Transfer and Skrill but does not offer Neteller or USDT TRC20. Withdrawals at Admirals are free via Skrill and Neteller, while bank transfers incur a small fee. Forex.com charges a fee for bank withdrawals over a certain threshold. For Malta traders who use crypto payments, Admirals is the clear winner, providing the fastest and cheapest fiat-to-crypto conversion. Both brokers process withdrawals within 1-2 business days for digital methods.
| 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 |
For Maltese Muslim traders who require swap-free accounts under Sharia law, both Admirals and Forex.com offer Islamic accounts. Admirals provides swap-free accounts on request with no expiry, while Forex.com requires a manual application and may have a maximum holding period. Admirals’ Islamic accounts are available for all account types, including the Zero account, making it more flexible. Maltese traders should note that swap-free accounts are not available for certain exotic pairs or commodities, but major forex pairs are fully covered.
| 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 |
Both brokers offer 24/5 customer support in English, with local contact numbers for Malta. Admirals provides live chat, email, and phone support, and has a dedicated Maltese-language support line. Forex.com’s support is reliable but slower during peak hours. For Malta traders, Admirals’ faster response times and local language option give it an advantage.
| 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 Malta traders, Admirals is the superior choice due to its higher overall rating, lower spreads, and broader support for local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. It also offers better Islamic account conditions and faster execution. Forex.com remains a solid option for those who prefer a proprietary platform or need DMA execution, but its higher spreads and limited deposit methods make it less attractive for cost-conscious Maltese retail traders. The MFSA oversight ensures both brokers are safe, but Admirals provides better value for most trading styles in Malta.