Which broker is better for New Zealand traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For New Zealand traders looking to choose between FP Markets and Admirals in 2026, the decision comes down to trading style and cost preferences. FP Markets holds a strong rating of 4.7/5, while Admirals scores 4.1/5. Both brokers are regulated by the local financial regulator, the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), ensuring a secure trading environment for Kiwis. FP Markets is known for its ultra-low spreads and fast execution, ideal for active traders. Admirals offers a comprehensive educational platform and advanced analysis tools, appealing to traders who value learning and research. New Zealand traders can fund accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, or USDT TRC20, making deposits convenient regardless of their preferred method. This comparison breaks down spreads, platforms, regulation, and support to help you decide which broker fits your needs.
| Instrument | FP Markets | Admirals | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Admirals |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Admirals |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Admirals |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Admirals |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $100 | $1 | Admirals |
FP Markets offers the Raw account with spreads from 0.0 pips and a commission of $3 per lot per side, making it highly cost-effective for New Zealand traders who trade frequently or in large volumes. The Standard account has spreads from 1.0 pips with no commission. Admirals' standard account spreads start from 0.6 pips with no commission, while the Zero account has spreads from 0.0 pips but charges a commission of $2 per lot per side. For Kiwi scalpers or day traders, FP Markets' Raw account provides the lowest overall cost, especially when trading major pairs like EUR/USD or NZD/USD. Volume discounts are available at both brokers, but FP Markets consistently offers tighter spreads on the Raw account.
| Account Type | FP Markets | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Entity / Asset | FP Markets | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (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 | FP Markets | Admirals | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | FP Markets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | FP Markets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | FP Markets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | 1,000+ | 1,700+ | Admirals |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Platform | FP Markets | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✓ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are popular among New Zealand traders for their reliability and advanced charting tools. FP Markets also provides cTrader, a platform known for its intuitive interface and depth of market, favoured by scalpers. Admirals offers its proprietary WebTrader and the Admiral Markets MetaTrader Supreme Edition plugin, which adds advanced features like sentiment analysis and correlation matrix. For New Zealand traders, FP Markets' cTrader is an edge for fast execution, while Admirals' plugin enhances MT4/MT5 functionality for analytical traders.
| Factor | FP Markets | Admirals | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Admirals |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | FP Markets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
FP Markets provides ultra-fast execution with an average order speed of 40 milliseconds and no dealing desk intervention, ideal for scalping and high-frequency trading. Admirals offers execution speeds of around 100 milliseconds with a straight-through processing model. For New Zealand traders who prioritise speed, especially during volatile market sessions, FP Markets is the better choice.
| Safety Factor | FP Markets | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both FP Markets and Admirals are regulated by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) in New Zealand, providing Kiwi traders with strong investor protection and dispute resolution. FP Markets also holds licenses from ASIC (Australia) and CySEC (Cyprus), while Admirals is regulated by the FCA (UK) and CySEC. For New Zealand traders, FMA regulation ensures that client funds are held in segregated accounts and that the brokers adhere to strict capital requirements. This gives confidence that both brokers operate transparently and fairly in the local market.
| Payment Method | FP Markets | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | 24 hours | e-wallets take instant to 1 business day, credit/debit cards take 1 business day, and bank transfers take 1 to 3 business days. |
New Zealand traders can deposit and withdraw using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 at both FP Markets and Admirals. Bank transfers are free but take 1-3 business days for deposits and 2-5 days for withdrawals. Skrill and Neteller deposits are instant and free, though withdrawals may incur a 1-2% fee. USDT TRC20 deposits are instant and typically fee-free, making them a popular choice for crypto-savvy traders. FP Markets has a minimum deposit of $50, while Admirals requires $100. Withdrawal processing times are similar: FP Markets processes within 24 hours, Admirals within 1-2 business days. Both brokers do not charge internal fees for withdrawals, but bank intermediary fees may apply.
| Islamic Account Feature | FP Markets | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
FP Markets offers swap-free Islamic accounts for New Zealand Muslim traders with an initial deposit requirement of $200. The account is available on both MT4 and MT5 platforms, with spreads starting from 0.0 pips on the Raw account. Admirals also provides Islamic accounts with no minimum deposit difference from standard accounts, available on all platforms. Both brokers do not charge overnight interest on positions held beyond one day, complying with Sharia law. For New Zealand traders seeking a halal trading environment, both brokers are suitable, though FP Markets requires a higher initial deposit for Islamic accounts.
| Support Feature | FP Markets | Admirals | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | FP Markets |
FP Markets offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated team for New Zealand traders. Response times are under 30 seconds for live chat. Admirals provides support 24/5 via live chat and email, with phone support during business hours. FP Markets edges ahead with round-the-clock availability, which is helpful for New Zealand traders trading during off-peak hours or overnight.
| Mobile Feature | FP Markets | Admirals | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | FP Markets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | FP Markets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✓ | ✗ | FP Markets |
| Resource | FP Markets | Admirals | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | FP Markets |
Choose FP Markets if you...
Choose Admirals if you...
For New Zealand traders, FP Markets is the stronger choice overall, scoring 4.7/5 compared to Admirals' 4.1/5. FP Markets offers lower spreads, faster execution, and 24/7 support, making it ideal for active traders who want to minimise costs. The ability to deposit via Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, or USDT TRC20 gives Kiwis flexibility, and the $50 minimum deposit is accessible. Admirals is a solid option for traders who prioritise education and analysis tools, but its higher spreads and slower execution make it less competitive for cost-conscious traders. Both brokers are FMA-regulated, ensuring safety. For most New Zealand retail traders, FP Markets delivers better value and performance.