Admirals vs DEGIRO
Detailed side-by-side broker comparison
Admirals (CySEC/FCA, minimum deposit €1) and DEGIRO (BaFin, minimum deposit €0.01) are two regulated brokers competing for retail investors in the CIS and EU markets. This comparison is built from verified data on fees, available instruments, trading platforms and country access — so you can see exactly where each broker wins before you open an account.
Across 7 fee categories we track, DEGIRO comes out cheaper in 3, while Admirals wins only 0. For active traders this gap compounds over time — commission, FX markup and custody fees are the three that hurt portfolio returns the most. On asset class coverage Admirals is ahead with 7 instrument categories versus 5 at DEGIRO — relevant if you plan to diversify beyond stocks into bonds, ETFs, commodities or crypto.
If entry budget matters, DEGIRO is more accessible with a minimum deposit of €0.01. Admirals supports 3 trading platforms, DEGIRO supports 2 — check the platforms section below to confirm your preferred terminal is available.
Trust dimensions side by side
Where it's safer
Five trust dimensions per our methodology. The further from the centre — the stronger. Dashed line is the industry median.
Admirals leads on the combined score — 93/100 vs 75/100. Industry median is 72.
Overview
Admirals leads with 4 out of 9 objective metrics. On fees specifically, DEGIRO wins 3 of 7 categories.
Fees & Commissions
Fee scenario
Approximate — based on listed fees only. Real costs depend on instrument, currency conversion and individual trade size.
Instruments & Markets
8k+ instruments · 800k+ instrumentsRegulators & investor protection
- CySEC—Cyprus (EU)
- FCA—United Kingdom
- ASIC—Australia
- Additional licences on file: JSC (Jordan).
- BaFin—Germany
- Additional licences on file: AFM/DNB.
Both brokers operate under Tier-1 jurisdictions, so regulatory oversight strength is comparable.
Account & Support
Admirals
DEGIRO
Pros & Cons
Admirals
- Invest.MT5 = real shares, not CFD wrapper — $0.02/share with $1 min on US stocks
- Multi-license coverage (CySEC 201/13 EU + FCA UK + ASIC AU + JSC Jordan)
- Established 2001 — 25-year operating history, no licence revocations
- Unlimited demo accounts — paper-trade strategies for months without expiry
- Strong Trustpilot rating (4.1★)
- Fragmented account structure: Invest.MT5 (shares) and Trade.MT5 (CFD) are separate accounts
- MT5 platform learning curve — proprietary UI is dated
- Inactivity fee €10/mo after 24 months of no activity
- Google Play mobile rating 3.5 — well below industry norm (4.5+)
- Compensation caps at €20,000 — below FCA (£85k) / SIPC ($500k)
DEGIRO
- Publicly-listed parent — full annual report transparency
- €2.00 per trade for EU and US stocks — among the lowest in EU retail
- Real assets only — no CFDs in the account
- Strong Trustpilot rating (4.2★)
- Wide instrument selection (800k+)
- Not available in CIS countries — EU/UK residents only
- No fractional shares — each position requires the full share price
- Platform UI has not kept pace with newer entrants
- No negative balance protection
- No fractional shares
Who each broker is for
Verdict
DEGIRO is the cleaner setup for EU investors — real assets only with no CFD account alongside, BaFin oversight, €100,000 deposit plus €20,000 securities cover, about €2 per EU or US stock trade. Admirals is available where DEGIRO is not: Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Georgia, Uzbekistan. Its cover is €20,000 ICF under the Cyprus licence, and its Invest.MT5 account sits next to a CFD account — beginners do confuse the two. Our pick for EU residents: DEGIRO. For CIS residents: Admirals.
Both Admirals and DEGIRO are regulated brokers offering access to global financial markets. However, they differ significantly in fees, available instruments, and minimum deposit requirements. Below is our expert assessment to help you make an informed decision.
Choose Admirals if you want more instruments, negative balance protection, an unlimited demo.
Choose DEGIRO if you want lower fees, lower entry barrier.
- Just starting outAdmirals· lower entry barrier, an unlimited demo, faster KYC
- Active tradingEither works
- Advanced / professionalDEGIRO· more exchanges
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your trading style, budget, and preferred instruments. We recommend using our Broker Quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this comparison and how to use it.