Admirals vs Hantec Markets (2026) – Malta Trader Comparison
Which broker is better for Malta traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Quick Verdict — Malta Traders
For Malta traders seeking a reliable forex broker, the choice between Admirals and Hantec Markets comes down to cost, convenience, and local support. Admirals, with a score of 4.1/5, stands out for its competitive spreads, extensive educational resources, and seamless integration with local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. Hantec Markets, scoring 3.6/5, offers a more traditional trading environment with robust customer service and a focus on stability. Both brokers are regulated by the local financial regulator, ensuring a secure trading environment for Maltese retail traders. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced trader, understanding how these brokers cater to Malta’s unique trading landscape—including local deposit options and regulatory oversight—is crucial for making an informed decision. This comparison dives into spreads, platforms, regulation, and more to help you choose the right broker for your needs.
Overall Scores Comparison
Trading Costs - Spreads & Commissions
| 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 |
For Malta traders, trading costs are a critical factor, especially when trading high volumes. Admirals offers tighter spreads, with EUR/USD averaging 0.6 pips on its Zero account and no commission on standard accounts, while Hantec Markets averages 1.0 pips on standard accounts. Over 100 trades per month, this difference can save Maltese traders €50-€100 in spread costs. Both brokers have no deposit fees for Malta, but Hantec Markets charges a small inactivity fee after 6 months. For cost-conscious traders, Admirals is the more economical choice.
Account Types Comparison
| 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 |
Leverage Comparison - Malta Traders
| Entity / Asset | Admirals | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Trading Instruments - Assets Available
| 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 |
Platforms Comparison
| Platform | Admirals | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Malta traders can access both brokers via MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), with Admirals also offering its proprietary Admiral Markets WebTrader. Admirals’ platforms are more intuitive for Maltese beginners, featuring built-in analysis tools and local language support. Hantec Markets focuses on MT4/MT5 only but provides excellent mobile trading apps. For Malta traders who value advanced charting, Admirals’ additional tools like the Trading Central plugin give it an edge.
Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage
| 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 offers ECN execution with average execution speeds under 40ms, ideal for Malta scalpers. Hantec Markets uses STP execution with speeds around 60ms, suitable for swing traders. Both have no requotes, but Admirals’ lower latency gives it an edge for high-frequency trading in Malta.
Regulation & Safety for Malta 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 authorized by the local financial regulator, providing Malta traders with strong investor protection, including negative balance protection and access to local dispute resolution. Admirals is also regulated by the FCA and CySEC, offering an extra layer of security for international trading. Hantec Markets, while regulated locally, has fewer global licenses. For Malta traders, this means both brokers are safe, but Admirals offers broader regulatory oversight.
Deposits & Withdrawals for Malta
| 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 |
Malta traders can fund their accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 at both brokers. Admirals also supports credit/debit cards and PayPal, while Hantec Markets focuses on these four methods. Deposits via Skrill and Neteller are instant and free, while Bank Transfer takes 1-2 business days. USDT TRC20 deposits are processed within minutes with no fees. Withdrawals at Admirals are processed within 24 hours, while Hantec Markets takes 1-3 business days. For Malta traders, Admirals offers faster and more diverse deposit options, especially for crypto users.
Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for Malta Muslims
| 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 |
Both brokers offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Malta Muslim traders. Admirals provides swap-free status on all account types upon request, while Hantec Markets offers it on standard accounts only. Neither broker charges additional fees for Islamic accounts, and both comply with Sharia law by not applying overnight interest. Malta traders should contact each broker’s support team to confirm eligibility, as documentation may be required.
Customer Support Comparison
| 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 in English and Maltese via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated Malta phone line. Hantec Markets provides 24/5 support in English only, with slightly slower response times. For Malta traders, Admirals’ local language support and faster response times make it the better choice for urgent queries.
Mobile App Comparison
| 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 |
Education & Research Tools
| 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 |
Real User Reviews - Trustpilot
Pros & Cons of Each Broker
Admirals
Hantec Markets
Who Should Use Which Broker? - Malta Guide
Choose Admirals if you...
- Want lower spreads and costs for high-volume trading
- Prefer a wider range of local payment methods including Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20
- Need Maltese language customer support
- Value advanced trading tools and educational resources
Choose Hantec Markets if you...
- Prefer a more traditional broker with stable execution
- Are a long-term swing trader who doesn’t need ultra-fast execution
- Want a simpler platform without extra features
- Value strong customer service with a personal touch
FAQ - Admirals vs Hantec Markets in Malta
Final Verdict - Malta 2026
For Malta retail traders, Admirals is the stronger choice overall, thanks to its higher score (4.1 vs 3.6), tighter spreads, and broader local payment support including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. Its regulation by the local financial regulator and additional global licenses provide extra peace of mind. While Hantec Markets offers a reliable alternative for traders who prefer a traditional approach, Admirals’ superior trading costs, platform variety, and local language support make it the best fit for most Maltese traders. Consider your trading style and payment preferences before deciding.