Which broker is better for Malta traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For retail traders in Malta, choosing between Admirals and FxOpen is a key decision in 2025. Both brokers are regulated by Malta's local financial regulator, ensuring a secure trading environment. Admirals holds a higher score of 4.1/5 compared to FxOpen's 3.7/5, reflecting stronger offerings in spreads, platform stability, and local support. Malta traders benefit from both brokers accepting Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 for deposits and withdrawals. Admirals provides a more comprehensive educational suite, while FxOpen focuses on low-cost ECN trading. This comparison breaks down costs, platforms, regulation, and payment methods specifically for Maltese users, helping you decide which broker aligns with your trading style.
| Instrument | Admirals | FxOpen | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | FxOpen |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | FxOpen |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | FxOpen |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | FxOpen |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $1 | $100 | Admirals |
For Malta traders, trading costs directly impact profitability. Admirals offers tighter spreads on EUR/USD (from 0.6 pips) compared to FxOpen's 0.8 pips on standard accounts. On a 10-lot trade per month, Admirals saves approximately $200 in spread costs. FxOpen's ECN account narrows the gap but charges a commission of $3 per side. Admirals has no withdrawal fees for Bank Transfer, while FxOpen charges €5 for bank withdrawals. Considering Malta's active trading volume, Admirals is more cost-effective for most retail traders.
| Account Type | Admirals | FxOpen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | FxOpen |
|---|---|---|
| Malta (offshore) | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:500 | 1:500 |
| 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 | FxOpen | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Admirals |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | Admirals |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | ✗ | Admirals |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | 1,000+ | 1,700+ | FxOpen |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Admirals | FxOpen |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✓ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Admirals offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and its proprietary WebTrader, all fully optimised for Maltese traders with local time zone settings and EUR account options. FxOpen provides MT4, MT5, and the cTrader platform, which is popular for ECN trading. For Malta users, Admirals' integration with local payment methods and 24/5 support in English gives it an edge. FxOpen's cTrader is ideal for scalpers needing advanced charting. Both platforms are stable, but Admirals offers better localisation for Malta.
| Factor | Admirals | FxOpen | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | FxOpen |
| 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 offers ECN execution with average order speed of 0.3 seconds, suitable for Malta scalpers and day traders. FxOpen provides faster execution at 0.1 seconds on its ECN accounts, but slippage can occur during volatile news events. Both brokers have no requotes on market orders. For Malta traders, FxOpen's speed is better for high-frequency strategies, while Admirals offers more consistent fills.
| Safety Factor | Admirals | FxOpen |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Admirals and FxOpen are regulated by Malta's local financial regulator, ensuring strict compliance with EU MiFID II standards. This means segregated client funds, negative balance protection, and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Admirals also holds CySEC and FCA licenses, adding an extra layer of security. For Malta traders, regulation by the local authority guarantees that disputes can be handled within Malta's legal system. FxOpen is also regulated in the UK and Australia, but its Malta oversight is equivalent. This regulatory framework protects Maltese retail traders from broker insolvency and unfair practices.
| Payment Method | Admirals | FxOpen |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 24 hours |
Malta traders can fund their accounts at both brokers using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. Admirals processes Skrill and Neteller deposits instantly with no fee, while Bank Transfer takes 1-2 business days. USDT TRC20 deposits are credited within minutes. Withdrawals at Admirals are free via Skrill and Neteller, but Bank Transfer incurs a €10 fee. FxOpen offers similar methods with lower minimum deposits ($50 vs $100). USDT TRC20 is fee-free at both, making it ideal for crypto users. For Maltese traders, Skrill and Neteller are the fastest options, while Bank Transfer is best for larger sums. Both brokers support EUR and USD accounts, but USD is recommended for lower conversion costs.
| Islamic Account Feature | Admirals | FxOpen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Malta, both Admirals and FxOpen offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts that comply with Sharia law by eliminating overnight interest charges. Admirals provides Islamic accounts on request via customer support, with no additional fees. FxOpen offers them automatically to eligible clients, but charges an administration fee after 30 days on certain instruments. Admirals' policy is more favourable for long-term holders in Malta, as it remains swap-free indefinitely. Both brokers require the account to be used for genuine trading, not as a hedge. Check eligibility with support before opening.
| Support Feature | Admirals | FxOpen | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Admirals |
Admirals offers 24/5 customer support via live chat, email, and phone in English, with a dedicated Maltese phone line during business hours. FxOpen provides 24/7 live chat and email support, but no local Malta number. Admirals' response time is under 2 minutes, while FxOpen averages 5 minutes. For Malta traders, Admirals' local support is a clear advantage.
| Mobile Feature | Admirals | FxOpen | 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 | ✗ | ✓ | FxOpen |
| Resource | Admirals | FxOpen | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | Admirals |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Admirals |
Choose Admirals if you...
Choose FxOpen if you...
For Malta retail traders in 2025, Admirals is the stronger choice overall with its higher score, tighter spreads, and local regulation by Malta's financial regulator. It supports all four local payment methods (Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, USDT TRC20) efficiently, and its customer support is tailored to Malta. FxOpen is a solid alternative for those with smaller deposits or who prioritise ECN execution and cTrader. However, for most Maltese traders seeking a balance of cost, security, and convenience, Admirals is the recommended broker. Both are legal and reliable, but Admirals' local presence and better educational resources give it the edge.