Which broker is better for Taiwan traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Admirals and Forex.com are two globally recognized forex brokers that actively accept Taiwan-based clients. For experienced retail traders in Taiwan, choosing the right broker hinges on factors like trading costs, platform capability, and local payment convenience. Both brokers support TWD deposits via Bank Transfer and Credit Card, aligning with common practices among Taiwanese investors. However, regulation is a key consideration: while neither broker holds a license from the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) of Taiwan, they operate under reputable international bodies—Admirals is regulated by CySEC and FCA, while Forex.com is regulated by FCA, CFTC, and others. This comparison specifically addresses the needs of Taiwan traders, examining spreads, execution quality, and customer support availability in Mandarin. We will help you decide which broker suits your trading style in the Taiwan market.
| 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 Taiwan traders, trading costs directly impact profitability. Admirals offers a Zero account with spreads from 0.5 pips on EUR/USD and a low commission per lot, making it attractive for high-volume traders. In contrast, Forex.com’s standard account has spreads averaging 1.0 pip on the same pair with no commission, but its raw pricing account also includes commissions. When trading TWD crosses like USD/TWD, costs tend to be wider due to lower liquidity. Overall, Admirals provides more cost-effective conditions for active Taiwan traders, especially those executing over 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan (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 MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which are popular among experienced Taiwan traders for their advanced charting and automated trading capabilities. Admirals additionally provides its proprietary web-based platform and a mobile app with full functionality. Forex.com offers its own web platform and mobile app, but lacks MT5 on some entities. For Taiwan traders who rely on custom indicators and EAs, Admirals‘ broader MT5 support is advantageous. Both platforms are available in Traditional Chinese, easing the user experience for local traders.
| 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 uses straight-through processing (STP) with no re-quotes on its Zero account, offering fast execution under 50ms average. Forex.com is a market maker but also provides ECN-like execution on its Raw account. Both brokers have low slippage during normal market conditions. For Taiwan traders trading during Asian sessions, latency may be slightly higher due to server locations, but both maintain servers in Tokyo or Hong Kong to serve Asia clients.
| Safety Factor | Admirals | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Although the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) of Taiwan does not directly regulate either broker, both Admirals and Forex.com comply with stringent regulations from major financial hubs. Admirals is authorized by CySEC (licence number 201/13) and FCA (FRN 595450), providing client fund segregation and negative balance protection. Forex.com operates under FCA, CFTC, and ASIC oversight, also offering similar protections. For Taiwan traders, this means deposits with either broker are held in segregated accounts, but compensation schemes (like FSCS) may not apply to non-EEA residents. We recommend Taiwan traders verify the specific entity they are opening accounts with, as regulation affects client safety and 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 |
Taiwan traders can fund their accounts using Bank Transfer and Credit Card, both widely accepted by Admirals and Forex.com. For Bank Transfers in TWD, Admirals uses a local receiving bank (usually Chinatrust or similar) with no deposit fee and processing within 1-2 business days. Forex.com also supports TWD bank transfers via its partner banks, though fees may be charged by intermediary banks. Credit card deposits are instant with both brokers, accepting Visa and Mastercard, and typically no fee from the broker—though Taiwan card issuers may charge a cash advance fee. Minimum deposit is $100 USD equivalent for both. Withdrawals are free at Admirals (bank transfer takes 2-5 days) while Forex.com charges $25 for wire withdrawals. Taiwan traders should factor these costs when choosing their broker.
| 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 Muslim traders in Taiwan who require swap-free accounts, both Admirals and Forex.com offer Islamic accounts. Admirals provides Islamic accounts across all account types with no swap charges on overnight positions, and it does not impose administrative fees. Forex.com offers Islamic accounts upon request, but may deduct a small fee for positions held beyond a certain period (e.g., 10 days). Taiwan Muslim traders should confirm the specific terms before opening a swap-free account, as conditions can affect long-term trades. Both brokers require a declaration of religious belief for eligibility.
| 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 is vital for Taiwan traders. Admirals offers 24/5 live chat, phone support, and email in both English and Mandarin Chinese, with local phone numbers. Forex.com also provides 24/5 support via live chat and phone, but its Mandarin language support is limited to chat and email. Admirals has a slight edge in language accessibility for Taiwan clients, especially for phone support. Both brokers maintain comprehensive FAQ sections and educational resources in Chinese.
| 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 experienced Taiwan retail traders, Admirals emerges as the stronger choice overall, thanks to lower trading costs, better platform options (including MT5), and superior Mandarin support. Its acceptance of TWD bank transfers without fee and faster withdrawal processing are direct benefits for local traders. Forex.com remains a solid alternative, especially for those who prefer a globally established brand and trade a wide range of CFD products. However, its slightly higher spreads and withdrawal fees may diminish returns for active traders. Given that both brokers are not FSC Taiwan regulated, traders must rely on international oversight, which is adequate. We recommend Taiwan traders who prioritize cost efficiency and native customer support to open an account with Admirals.