IC Markets vs Admirals: New Zealand Trader Comparison 2026

For New Zealand traders, trading costs are critical. IC Markets offers Raw Spread accounts with spreads from 0.0 pips and a $3.50 commission per lot, resulting in lower overall costs for high-volume traders. Admirals' Zero account starts at 0.5 pips with no commission, but spreads widen during volatile sessions. On a standard EUR/USD trade of 1 lot, IC Markets costs around $3.50, while Admirals costs $5.00 or more. Over 50 trades per month, this difference adds up significantly for Kiwi traders.

Both brokers provide MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, popular among New Zealand traders for their advanced charting and automated trading. IC Markets also offers cTrader, which is preferred for its depth of market and faster order execution. Admirals includes its proprietary WebTrader and a suite of analytical tools like Trading Central. For New Zealand traders who rely on Expert Advisors, IC Markets' support for VPS and low latency is a strong advantage.

IC Markets is known for its low-latency execution with servers in the New York and London data centers, achieving average execution speeds under 40 milliseconds. Admirals also offers good execution with speeds around 100 milliseconds. For New Zealand scalpers and high-frequency traders, IC Markets' superior infrastructure provides a clear advantage, reducing slippage and requotes.

IC Markets is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), while Admirals holds licenses from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority. Neither broker is directly regulated by the local financial regulator in New Zealand, but both comply with international standards that protect retail clients. New Zealand traders should note that IC Markets' ASIC regulation offers strong client fund segregation, while Admirals' FCA license provides access to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

New Zealand traders have several convenient deposit options at both brokers. IC Markets and Admirals accept Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. Bank transfers are free but can take 1-3 business days. Skrill and Neteller are instant with no fees from the broker, though the payment provider may charge a small fee. USDT deposits are processed within minutes and are ideal for crypto-savvy traders. IC Markets has a minimum deposit of $200, while Admirals requires $100. Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours at both brokers, with Skrill and Neteller being the fastest options for Kiwi traders.

Both IC Markets and Admirals offer Islamic accounts (swap-free) for New Zealand Muslim traders. IC Markets provides these on request after account opening, with no swap charges on overnight positions. Admirals offers them automatically during registration. Neither broker charges additional fees for Islamic accounts, but IC Markets may apply a holding period after which swap is charged on long-term positions. New Zealand traders should confirm the specific terms with support before trading.

IC Markets offers 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support, with a dedicated team for New Zealand traders during local business hours. Admirals provides 24/5 support via live chat and email, with a local phone number for New Zealand. IC Markets' support is faster, with average response times under 30 seconds, while Admirals may take a few minutes. Both offer multilingual support, but IC Markets edges ahead for availability.