Which broker is better for Italy traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
When choosing a forex broker in Italy, Italian traders face a crowded market, but two names stand out: XM Group and Admirals. Both are regulated by CONSOB, ensuring compliance with local leverage caps and investor protection rules. XM Group, with a stellar 4.7/5 rating, is known for its ultra-low spreads starting from 0.0 pips, flexible account types (Standard, Micro, Zero), and zero commission on most accounts. Admirals (rated 4.1/5) offers a robust platform suite including MetaTrader 4 and 5 with proprietary tools like the Admiral Markets Suite, plus a wider range of CFDs on shares and ETFs. For Italian retail traders, the choice often comes down to cost versus features. XM Group excels in low trading costs and high leverage (up to 1:30 under CONSOB), while Admirals provides more in-depth market analysis and a broader asset selection. Both support local payment methods like SEPA, Bank Transfer, and PostePay, making deposits and withdrawals seamless. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns with your trading style and goals in the Italian market.
| Instrument | XM Group | 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 | $5 | $1 | Admirals |
For Italian traders, trading costs are a critical factor, especially for those who trade frequently or with larger volumes. XM Group offers a clear advantage with spreads starting from 0.0 pips on its Zero account (commission of $3.5 per side per lot) and 1.0 pips on Standard accounts (commission-free). On a typical EUR/USD trade of 1 lot, XM's Zero account costs about $7 round trip, while the Standard account costs roughly $10. Admirals' spreads start from 0.5 pips on its Zero account (commission of $3 per side per lot) and 1.2 pips on Trade.MT4 accounts (commission-free). A 1-lot EUR/USD trade on Admirals' Zero account costs around $11, and on Trade.MT4 it's $12. Over 100 trades per month, XM Group can save Italian traders €30-50 in spread costs, making it the more cost-effective option for active retail traders.
| Account Type | XM Group | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $5 | $1 |
| Entity / Asset | XM Group | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (offshore) | Up to 1:1000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:1000 | 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 | XM Group | Admirals | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | XM Group |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | XM Group |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | XM Group |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | Admirals |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Platform | XM Group | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Italian traders prioritize intuitive platforms with local language support and fast execution. XM Group offers MetaTrader 4 and 5, plus its proprietary XM WebTrader, all fully available in Italian. The platforms feature one-click trading, advanced charting with 30+ indicators, and automated trading via Expert Advisors. Admirals also provides MetaTrader 4 and 5, but adds the Admiral Markets Suite with built-in sentiment analysis, economic calendar, and trading central tools. For Italian traders who value integrated research, Admirals' enhanced platforms are a plus. However, XM Group's platforms are more streamlined and beginner-friendly, with free VPS for high-frequency traders. Both brokers offer mobile apps for iOS and Android with full functionality, including deposits via PostePay and SEPA transfers.
| Factor | XM Group | Admirals | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Admirals |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | XM Group |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Execution quality is crucial for Italian scalpers and day traders. XM Group boasts an average execution speed of 0.7 seconds with no requotes on 99.5% of trades, using an STP (Straight Through Processing) model. Admirals reports an average execution speed of 1.2 seconds with a 98% fill rate, using a market maker model for retail clients. XM Group's faster execution and higher fill rate reduce slippage, which is particularly beneficial during volatile market sessions like the overlap of London and New York. For Italian traders using automated strategies, XM Group's dedicated server infrastructure ensures minimal latency.
| Safety Factor | XM Group | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both XM Group and Admirals are regulated by CONSOB, the Italian financial regulator, ensuring strict adherence to local laws. This means Italian traders benefit from leverage limits of up to 30:1 for major forex pairs, negative balance protection, and segregated client funds. XM Group is also regulated by CySEC (Cyprus) and ASIC (Australia), providing additional layers of oversight. Admirals is regulated by the FCA (UK) and the FSA (Estonia) in addition to CONSOB. For Italian traders, CONSOB regulation guarantees that both brokers must comply with the ESMA product intervention measures, including standardized risk warnings and cooling-off periods. This makes both brokers safe choices for retail traders in Italy.
| Payment Method | XM Group | Admirals |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | Visa/Mastercard and e-wallets near-instant to 1-2 business days; bank wire several days | e-wallets take instant to 1 business day, credit/debit cards take 1 business day, and bank transfers take 1 to 3 business days. |
Italian traders have multiple convenient options to fund their accounts at both XM Group and Admirals. For SEPA bank transfers, XM Group processes deposits within 1-2 business days with no fees, while Admirals takes up to 2 business days and charges €1 for transfers under €100. Bank transfers are also supported, with XM Group offering free deposits and Admirals charging €10 for domestic wire transfers. PostePay, a popular Italian prepaid card, is accepted by both brokers – XM Group allows instant deposits with a minimum of €5, while Admirals requires a minimum of €100 and charges a 2.5% fee. Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours at XM Group via the same method, while Admirals takes 1-3 business days. Both brokers require identity verification for first-time withdrawals, compliant with CONSOB anti-money laundering rules.
| Islamic Account Feature | XM Group | 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 |
For Italian Muslim traders seeking Sharia-compliant trading, both XM Group and Admirals offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts. XM Group provides Islamic accounts with no swap fees on any instrument, available on all account types (Standard, Micro, Zero) upon request. There is no minimum deposit requirement, and the account remains swap-free indefinitely. Admirals also offers Islamic accounts, but with a minimum deposit of €500 and requires a signed declaration of religious affiliation. Both brokers charge a small administrative fee after holding a position for more than 10 days on Admirals, while XM Group does not impose any hidden fees. For Italian Muslim traders, XM Group's more flexible and cost-free Islamic account policy is a clear advantage.
| Support Feature | XM Group | Admirals | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | XM Group |
Italian traders value responsive customer support in their native language. XM Group offers 24/5 live chat, phone support in Italian, and email assistance with typical response times under 2 hours. Admirals provides 24/5 support via live chat, phone, and email, but Italian language support is only available during Milan business hours (9:00-18:00 CET). XM Group also has a dedicated Italian FAQ section and video tutorials, while Admirals offers a comprehensive knowledge base in Italian. For urgent issues, XM Group's round-the-clock availability gives it an edge.
| Mobile Feature | XM Group | Admirals | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | XM Group |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | XM Group |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | XM Group | Admirals | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | XM Group |
Choose XM Group if you...
Choose Admirals if you...
For Italian retail traders, XM Group emerges as the superior choice in this comparison, earning a 4.7/5 rating against Admirals' 4.1/5. XM Group offers lower spreads (from 0.0 pips), faster execution, more flexible Islamic accounts, and better local payment support with no fees on SEPA and PostePay deposits. Its CONSOB regulation ensures compliance with Italian laws, including leverage limits and negative balance protection. While Admirals provides excellent research tools and a wider asset range, its higher costs and slower execution make it less competitive for cost-conscious Italian traders. If you prioritize low trading costs, instant PostePay deposits, and a user-friendly platform, XM Group is the recommended broker for 2026. However, if you need advanced analytics and a broader product selection, Admirals remains a viable, regulated alternative.