Quick Verdict — Philippines Traders
Best Overall
Libertex
Higher overall score & more features
Best Spreads
Libertex
Lower trading costs for scalpers
Islamic Accounts
Admirals
Swap-free for Philippines Muslims
Best for Beginners
Libertex
Better education & support
FCA vs CySEC
Top regulator
Head-to-head comparison
For Philippines traders, choosing between Admirals and Libertex is a decision that affects your trading costs, platform experience, and access to local payment methods. Admirals, with a 4.1/5 rating, is a well-established broker regulated by the SEC Philippines, FCA, and CySEC, offering tight spreads, advanced tools, and support for GCash, PayMaya, Bank Transfer, and USDT. Libertex, rated 3.7/5, is a user-friendly broker popular among mobile-first traders and OFWs, with a simple app and focus on CFDs. This comparison examines spreads, platforms, regulation, and local support to help you decide which broker fits your trading style in the Philippines. Both brokers are legal locally, but Admirals' stronger regulatory oversight and local payment integration give it an edge for serious traders.
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Overall Scores Comparison
Admirals
FCA · ASIC · CySEC
3.1
CompareBroker score
VS
Libertex
CySEC
3.8
CompareBroker score
Winner
Trading Costs
Spreads, commissions
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TV
Regulation
Safety, oversight
Customer Support
24/5, chat, phone
Education
Webinars, guides
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Trading Costs - Spreads & Commissions
| Instrument | Admirals | Libertex | Winner |
|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Libertex |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Libertex |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Libertex |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Libertex |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $1 | $100 | Admirals |
Admirals offers lower trading costs for Philippines traders, with spreads starting from 0.0 pips on its Zero account and a commission of $3 per lot. Libertex spreads begin at 0.7 pips on forex pairs, with no commission but wider spreads on exotics. For a trader executing 20 lots per month on EUR/USD, Admirals can save approximately $100-150 in spread costs. Admirals also provides transparent fee disclosures, while Libertex includes some hidden costs in swap rates. For high-volume traders, Admirals is more cost-effective.
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Account Types Comparison
| Account Type | Admirals | Libertex |
|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $1 | $100 |
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Leverage Comparison - Philippines Traders
| Entity / Asset | Admirals | Libertex |
|---|
| Philippines (offshore) | Up to 1:30 | Up to 1:30 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:30 | 1:30 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
Leverage Warning for Philippines Traders
Traders in Philippines typically open accounts under offshore entities with up to 1:500 leverage. High leverage significantly increases risk.
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Trading Instruments - Assets Available
| Asset Class | Admirals | Libertex | 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+ | ✗ | Libertex |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
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Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage
| Factor | Admirals | Libertex | Winner |
|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Libertex |
| 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 0.3 seconds and no requotes on most orders. Libertex execution averages 0.5 seconds, with occasional slippage during volatile markets. For scalpers and day traders, Admirals' superior execution quality reduces slippage risks.
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Regulation & Safety for Philippines Traders
| Safety Factor | Admirals | Libertex |
|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | CySEC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✗ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Admirals is regulated by the SEC Philippines, FCA (UK), and CySEC (Cyprus), providing strong investor protection and segregated client funds. Libertex is regulated by CySEC and the FSC (Belize), which offers less stringent oversight. For Philippines traders, Admirals' SEC Philippines registration is a key advantage, ensuring compliance with local laws and access to dispute resolution. Libertex's offshore regulation may limit recourse in case of issues.
Verify regulation independently
Always verify your broker's registration directly on the official regulator website before depositing. Regulation details for Philippines traders may differ by entity.
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Deposits & Withdrawals for Philippines
| Payment Method | Admirals | Libertex |
|---|
| 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. | 5 business days |
Admirals supports GCash, PayMaya, Bank Transfer, and USDT deposits, making it convenient for Philippines traders. Deposits via GCash and PayMaya are processed instantly with no fees, while bank transfers take 1-2 business days. Withdrawals are free and processed within 24 hours. Libertex accepts Bank Transfer, Visa/Mastercard, and e-wallets like Skrill, but lacks GCash and PayMaya support. For OFWs sending remittances, Admirals' USDT option is particularly useful. Both brokers allow PHP deposits, but Admirals offers more local payment flexibility.
☪️
Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for Philippines Muslims
| Islamic Account Feature | Admirals | Libertex |
|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✗ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Admirals offers Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Philippines Muslim traders, available on request with no swap fees on overnight positions. Libertex does not provide dedicated Islamic accounts, though its standard accounts have competitive swap rates. For traders in Mindanao or other Muslim-majority areas, Admirals is the better choice for Sharia-compliant trading. Both brokers require proof of Muslim faith for Islamic account approval.
Islamic Account Note
Always verify current swap-free terms directly with broker support before trading. Admin fees or holding period restrictions may apply.
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Customer Support Comparison
| Support Feature | Admirals | Libertex | 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 a dedicated Philippines hotline. Libertex provides 24/7 support through live chat and email, but response times can be slower. Admirals' local phone support is a plus for Philippines traders needing quick assistance in Filipino or English.
| Mobile Feature | Admirals | Libertex | 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 |
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Education & Research Tools
| Resource | Admirals | Libertex | Winner |
|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | Admirals |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Admirals |
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Real User Reviews - Trustpilot
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Pros & Cons of Each Broker
Admirals
Pros
+Top-tier regulated
+Islamic swap-free account
Cons
-No TradingView
-No 24/7 support
Libertex
Pros
Cons
-No TradingView
-No 24/7 support
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Who Should Use Which Broker? - Philippines Guide
Choose Admirals if you...
- Want lower spreads and transparent fees for active trading
- Need local payment methods like GCash, PayMaya, or USDT
- Prefer advanced platforms like MT4/MT5 with automated trading
- Value SEC Philippines regulation for added security
Choose Libertex if you...
- Are a mobile-first trader who wants a simple app
- Are an OFW looking for easy remittance-based trading
- Prefer a broker with no commission on trades
- Want 24/7 customer support for global access
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FAQ - Admirals vs Libertex in Philippines
Is Admirals or Libertex better for Philippines?
+Can Philippines traders use both brokers legally?
+Which broker has lower spreads for Philippines traders?
+How do Philippines traders deposit at Admirals and Libertex?
+Do both brokers offer Islamic accounts for Philippines?
+Final Verdict - Philippines 2026
Libertex wins overall
For Philippines traders, Admirals is the better choice overall due to its SEC Philippines regulation, lower spreads, and support for GCash, PayMaya, Bank Transfer, and USDT. Its advanced platforms and transparent cost structure suit both beginners and experienced traders. Libertex is a solid alternative for mobile-first traders and OFWs who prioritize simplicity and no-commission trading, but its lack of local payment methods and weaker regulation are drawbacks. Consider your trading style and payment preferences: Admirals wins for cost and security, while Libertex appeals for ease of use. Both brokers are legal in the Philippines, but Admirals offers a more comprehensive local experience.
Risk Disclaimer: CFDs and forex trading involve significant risk of loss. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. All data verified as of October 2026.
