Which broker is better for Belgium traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For retail traders in Belgium, choosing between Admirals and Hantec Markets depends on your trading style, cost sensitivity, and preferred payment methods. Admirals, scoring 4.1/5, is a globally recognized broker with deep liquidity, tight spreads, and support for multiple platforms including MetaTrader 4 and 5. Hantec Markets, with a 3.6/5 rating, is a smaller but reliable broker offering personalized service and Islamic accounts. Both are regulated by the local financial regulator (FSMA) and accept Belgium traders. With local payment options like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20, both brokers make it easy to fund accounts in USD. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns with your trading goals in the Belgian market.
| Instrument | Admirals | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Hantec Markets |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Hantec Markets |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Hantec Markets |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Hantec Markets |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $1 | $10 | Admirals |
When comparing trading costs for Belgium traders, Admirals has a clear edge with lower spreads, particularly on its Zero account where EUR/USD spreads start from 0.0 pips plus a commission. Hantec Markets offers spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD without commission, which can be more expensive for high-volume traders. For a typical Belgium trader trading 10 lots per month, Admirals could save you up to $120 in spread costs compared to Hantec Markets. Both brokers have no hidden fees, but Admirals offers more competitive pricing for active traders.
| Account Type | Admirals | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $1 | $10 |
| Entity / Asset | Admirals | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium (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 | Hantec Markets | 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+ | Hantec Markets |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Admirals | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Belgium traders will appreciate Admirals' support for MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and its proprietary WebTrader, offering advanced charting, automated trading, and mobile access. Hantec Markets provides MT4 and a web-based platform, but lacks MT5. For traders who need advanced tools like algorithmic trading or custom indicators, Admirals is the better choice. Both platforms are available in English and Dutch, catering to the Belgian market.
| Factor | Admirals | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Hantec Markets |
| 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 provides fast execution with an average speed of 0.1 seconds on major pairs, using No Dealing Desk (NDD) technology. Hantec Markets offers market execution with speeds around 0.3 seconds. For Belgium traders, Admirals' faster execution reduces slippage and improves trade accuracy, especially during volatile market conditions. Both brokers have no requotes, but Admirals is more reliable for scalpers and day traders.
| Safety Factor | Admirals | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Admirals and Hantec Markets are regulated by the local financial regulator (FSMA) in Belgium, ensuring compliance with strict financial standards. This includes negative balance protection, segregated client funds, and leverage limits (up to 1:30 for retail clients). Admirals also holds licenses from other top-tier regulators like the FCA and CySEC, adding an extra layer of security. For Belgium traders, this means your funds are safe, and both brokers follow local laws.
| Payment Method | Admirals | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Crypto / USDT: 1 to 3 hours (for eligible wallets)E-wallets: Within hours up to 1 dayBank / Wire Transfers: 2 to 5 business days |
Belgium traders can fund their accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 at both Admirals and Hantec Markets. Admirals also accepts credit/debit cards and PayPal, while Hantec Markets focuses on the four listed methods. Deposits via Skrill and Neteller are instant with no fees, while Bank Transfer may take 1-3 business days. USDT TRC20 deposits are processed within minutes and are ideal for crypto users. Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours at both brokers, with Skrill and Neteller providing the fastest access to funds. Minimum deposits are low: $100 at Admirals and $50 at Hantec Markets.
| Islamic Account Feature | Admirals | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Belgium can open Islamic (swap-free) accounts at both Admirals and Hantec Markets. Admirals offers Islamic accounts upon request, with no swap fees on overnight positions, but may charge a small administrative fee after a certain period. Hantec Markets provides Islamic accounts automatically for eligible clients, with no swap fees and no additional charges. Both brokers comply with Sharia law, making them suitable for Belgium's Muslim trading community.
| Support Feature | Admirals | Hantec Markets | 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, with Dutch and English language options. Hantec Markets provides support during market hours (Monday to Friday) via live chat and email, also in Dutch and English. For Belgium traders, Admirals has a slight edge with faster response times and more comprehensive support, including a dedicated account manager for VIP clients.
| Mobile Feature | Admirals | Hantec Markets | 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 | Hantec Markets | 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 Hantec Markets if you...
For Belgium retail traders, Admirals is the stronger choice overall, scoring 4.1/5 versus Hantec Markets' 3.6/5. It offers lower spreads, faster execution, more platform options (including MT5), and better support for local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. Both brokers are regulated by the local financial regulator (FSMA), ensuring safety and compliance. Hantec Markets is a good alternative if you prefer a smaller broker with a lower minimum deposit and automatic Islamic accounts. However, for most Belgium traders seeking cost efficiency and advanced tools, Admirals is the recommended broker.