Which broker is better for Singapore traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Singapore traders seeking a reliable forex broker face a choice between two reputable names: Admirals and Global Prime. Admirals (rated 4.1/5) is a well-established broker with a strong presence in Asia, offering a comprehensive suite of trading tools, competitive spreads, and full MAS regulation. Global Prime (rated 3.6/5) is known for its raw spreads and fast execution, appealing to high-frequency traders in Singapore’s financial hub. Both brokers accept local deposits via PayNow, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card, making it convenient for Singaporeans to fund accounts in SGD. However, differences in regulation, trading costs, platform variety, and overall value mean your choice depends on your specific trading style. This detailed comparison covers everything Singapore traders need to know—from spreads and execution to local payment methods and Islamic account availability—so you can decide which broker aligns with your sophisticated trading needs in 2025.
| Instrument | Admirals | Global Prime | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Global Prime |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Global Prime |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Global Prime |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Global Prime |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $1 | $0 | Global Prime |
For Singapore traders, trading costs are a critical factor. Admirals offers competitive spreads starting from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD with no commission on standard accounts, while Global Prime provides raw spreads from 0.5 pips but charges a commission of $7 per lot round-turn. For a typical Singapore trader executing 10 lots per month on major pairs, Admirals results in lower total costs due to zero commission, whereas Global Prime’s raw model benefits high-volume scalpers who can offset the commission with tighter spreads. Admirals also offers a zero spread account with a small commission, providing flexibility for different trading volumes.
| Account Type | Admirals | Global Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $1 | $0 |
| Entity / Asset | Admirals | Global Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore (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 | Global Prime | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Admirals |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | ✗ | Admirals |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | ✗ | Admirals |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | 1,000+ | ✗ | Global Prime |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Admirals | Global Prime |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Singapore traders demand robust platforms. Admirals provides MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), plus its proprietary WebTrader, all compatible with desktop, web, and mobile. This variety suits both beginners and advanced traders who need advanced charting, automated trading, and custom indicators. Global Prime focuses on MT4 and cTrader, with cTrader offering superior order execution and depth of market—ideal for active traders in Singapore’s fast-paced environment. Admirals wins on platform choice, while Global Prime’s cTrader is a standout for execution-focused traders.
| Factor | Admirals | Global Prime | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Global Prime |
| 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 is vital in Singapore’s fast markets. Global Prime excels with ultra-fast execution via cTrader, averaging under 30ms, and no requotes—ideal for scalpers. Admirals offers reliable execution on MT4/MT5 with average speeds of 50-80ms and occasional slippage during news events. Global Prime wins on raw speed, but Admirals provides consistent execution for most retail traders.
| Safety Factor | Admirals | Global Prime |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | ASIC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✗ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is paramount for Singapore traders. Admirals is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under a Capital Markets Services Licence, offering strong investor protection and segregation of client funds. Global Prime is regulated by the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), but does not hold a specific MAS licence. This means Admirals provides a higher level of regulatory comfort for Singapore-based traders, especially those concerned with local oversight and dispute resolution. Global Prime’s offshore regulation may appeal to traders seeking less restrictive trading conditions, but MAS regulation gives Admirals a clear edge in trust and security.
| Payment Method | Admirals | Global Prime |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Global Prime processes withdrawals instantly on their end, but the time to receive your funds depends on your payment method: bank wire transfers take 1 to 5 business days, credit or debit cards take 1 to 10 days, and e-wallets are instant once completed. |
Singapore traders can fund their accounts using PayNow, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card at both brokers. Admirals supports instant deposits via PayNow (SGD) with no fees, while Bank Transfer may take 1-2 business days. Credit card deposits are processed immediately, though some card issuers may charge cash advance fees. Global Prime also accepts these methods, but credit card deposits incur a 2-3% processing fee. Withdrawals at Admirals are free via Bank Transfer and processed within 24 hours; Global Prime charges a small withdrawal fee for bank transfers. Minimum deposit is SGD 100 at Admirals and SGD 500 at Global Prime, making Admirals more accessible for smaller accounts. Both brokers support SGD accounts, eliminating currency conversion costs.
| Islamic Account Feature | Admirals | Global Prime |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Singapore Muslim traders, both brokers offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts that comply with Sharia law by eliminating overnight interest charges. Admirals provides Islamic accounts automatically on request for all account types, with no additional fees, and supports major forex pairs, indices, and commodities. Global Prime also offers Islamic accounts but requires a formal application and approval, and may apply a small administration fee after a certain holding period. Admirals’ straightforward process and wider product eligibility make it the better option for Singapore Muslim traders seeking hassle-free Islamic trading.
| Support Feature | Admirals | Global Prime | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Admirals |
Singapore traders benefit from localised support at both brokers. Admirals offers 24/5 multilingual support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated Singapore contact number and office hours aligned with local time. Global Prime provides 24/5 support through live chat and email, but lacks a dedicated Singapore phone line. Admirals’ stronger local presence ensures faster response times for Singapore-based queries.
| Mobile Feature | Admirals | Global Prime | 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 | Global Prime | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | ✗ | Admirals |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | Admirals |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Admirals |
Choose Admirals if you...
Choose Global Prime if you...
For the majority of Singapore traders, Admirals emerges as the stronger choice in 2025. Its MAS regulation, lower minimum deposit (SGD 100), free PayNow and Bank Transfer deposits, and zero-commission standard accounts make it more accessible and cost-effective for retail and intermediate traders. While Global Prime offers exceptional execution speed and raw spreads for high-volume scalpers, its higher minimum deposit, credit card fees, and lack of MAS regulation limit its appeal for the broader Singapore market. Sophisticated investors in Singapore’s financial hub who value regulatory security, platform variety, and low all-in costs will prefer Admirals. However, if you prioritise execution speed and trade large volumes, Global Prime remains a niche contender. Always consider your trading volume, platform preferences, and regulatory comfort when making your final decision.