Which broker is better for Italy traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Italian retail traders looking for a reliable Forex and CFD broker in 2025, two names often come up: Admirals (formerly Admiral Markets) and HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets). Both are well-established, regulated by CONSOB, and offer Italian language support, but they differ in key areas that matter to local traders. This comparison focuses on trading costs, payment methods (SEPA, Bank Transfer, PostePay), and regulatory protections. Admirals boasts a higher Trustpilot score (4.1/5) and tighter spreads, while HYCM (3.6/5) offers a longer operational history and a more conservative approach. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned trader in Milan, Rome, or Naples, understanding these differences helps you choose the right broker for your EUR-denominated trades.
| Instrument | Admirals | HYCM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | HYCM |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | HYCM |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | HYCM |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | HYCM |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $1 | $20 | Admirals |
For Italy traders, trading costs are crucial because they directly affect net profits in EUR. Admirals offers competitive spreads starting from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD (standard account) and 0.0 pips with a commission on the Zero account. HYCM's spreads start from 0.8 pips on EUR/USD for its Fixed account and 0.2 pips on the Raw account with commission. Over 100 standard lots per month, Admirals can save approximately €150–€200 compared to HYCM, making it the more cost-effective choice for high-volume or scalping strategies. However, HYCM's fixed spread account may appeal to traders who prefer predictable costs during volatile news events.
| Account Type | Admirals | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $1 | $20 |
| Entity / Asset | Admirals | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (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 | HYCM | 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+ | ✗ | HYCM |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Admirals | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Italian traders value intuitive platforms with local language support. Admirals provides MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and its proprietary WebTrader, all fully translated into Italian. It also offers advanced tools like Trading Central and Autochartist. HYCM also supports MT4 and MT5, plus its own HYCM Trader app for mobile. Both brokers offer demo accounts, but Admirals stands out with its integrated economic calendar and market analysis section tailored for Italian traders. For those using PostePay or SEPA, both platforms allow seamless deposit tracking.
| Factor | Admirals | HYCM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | HYCM |
| 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 uses a market execution model with no requotes, offering average execution speeds under 50 ms on its Zero account. HYCM also provides market execution with speeds around 60–80 ms. For Italian scalpers, Admirals' faster execution and lower latency (servers in London) give a slight edge. Both brokers guarantee no slippage on limit orders under normal market conditions.
| Safety Factor | Admirals | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Admirals and HYCM are regulated by CONSOB, the Italian financial regulator, ensuring compliance with ESMA leverage limits (up to 1:30 for major Forex pairs) and negative balance protection. Admirals is also regulated by the FCA and CySEC, while HYCM holds licenses from the FCA and DFSA. For Italian traders, CONSOB regulation means your funds are held in segregated accounts, and you benefit from strict client money rules. Both brokers also participate in the Italian investor compensation scheme, providing up to €20,000 protection per client.
| Payment Method | Admirals | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | E-Wallets (Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney): 1 hour to 1 business day.Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard): 3 to 5 business days (after broker processing).Bank Wire Transfers: 3 to 7 business days depending on your bank and location. |
Italian traders can fund accounts easily using SEPA bank transfers (free, 1-2 business days), standard bank transfers, or PostePay, the widely used Italian prepaid card. Admirals accepts all these methods plus credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) and e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller. HYCM supports SEPA, bank transfer, PostePay, and major credit/debit cards. Minimum deposits are low: €100 for both brokers. Withdrawals are processed within 1-2 business days via SEPA or card, with no fees from either broker. PostePay users should note that deposits are instant but withdrawals may take 1-3 days.
| Islamic Account Feature | Admirals | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Admirals and HYCM offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Muslim traders in Italy who require Sharia-compliant trading. These accounts eliminate overnight swap fees on positions held beyond the daily rollover. Admirals provides Islamic accounts for all account types (including Standard and Zero), while HYCM offers them on its Fixed and Raw accounts. Italian traders should note that Islamic accounts may have restricted access to certain instruments (e.g., cryptocurrencies) and may require a minimum deposit of €200–€500. Always confirm eligibility directly with the broker before opening.
| Support Feature | Admirals | HYCM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Admirals |
Both brokers offer Italian-language customer support via live chat, email, and phone. Admirals provides 24/5 support with a dedicated Italian team, while HYCM offers support in Italian during European business hours (9:00–18:00 CET). Admirals also has a local office in Milan for in-person queries, which is a plus for Italian traders preferring face-to-face assistance.
| Mobile Feature | Admirals | HYCM | 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 | HYCM | 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 HYCM if you...
For Italian retail traders in 2025, Admirals edges out HYCM with a higher score (4.1 vs 3.6), tighter spreads, and superior local support including a Milan office and Italian-language tools. Its support for PostePay, SEPA, and bank transfers makes it highly accessible. However, HYCM remains a reliable choice for traders who prioritize a longer history, fixed spreads, or a simpler platform. Both are CONSOB-regulated, ensuring safety. If you are an active trader focused on cost efficiency and local payment methods, Admirals is the better pick. For those seeking stability and fixed costs, HYCM is a solid alternative.