Quick Verdict — North Macedonia Traders
Best Overall
IC Markets
Higher overall score & more features
Best Spreads
Admirals
Lower trading costs for scalpers
Islamic Accounts
Both Available
Swap-free for North Macedonia Muslims
Best for Beginners
IC Markets
Better education & support
1:5000 vs 1:30
Max leverage
Head-to-head comparison
For retail traders in North Macedonia, choosing between IC Markets and Admirals is a critical decision that impacts trading costs, platform experience, and deposit convenience. IC Markets, with a stellar 4.8/5 rating, is renowned for its ultra-low spreads and fast execution, making it a top choice for active traders in Skopje and beyond. Admirals, scoring 4.1/5, offers a more educational approach with excellent research tools, appealing to beginners. Both brokers accept clients from North Macedonia and support local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, ensuring easy funding in USD. This comparison focuses on key factors for North Macedonian traders, including local regulation, trading costs, and platform suitability, to help you decide which broker aligns with your trading goals in 2026.
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Overall Scores Comparison
IC Markets
ASIC · CySEC · FSA
3.6
CompareBroker score
Winner
VS
Admirals
FCA · ASIC · CySEC
3.1
CompareBroker score
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 | IC 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 | $200 | $1 | Admirals |
When comparing trading costs for North Macedonia traders, IC Markets clearly leads with spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD and a commission of $3.50 per lot on its Raw Spread account. Admirals offers spreads from 0.5 pips with no commission on its Trade.MT4 account, but this can be more expensive for high-volume traders. For a North Macedonian trader executing 100 lots per month, IC Markets can save up to $500 in spreads compared to Admirals. Both brokers charge no deposit or withdrawal fees, but IC Markets has lower margin requirements, making it more capital-efficient for local traders.
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Account Types Comparison
| Account Type | IC Markets | Admirals |
|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $200 | $1 |
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Leverage Comparison - North Macedonia Traders
| Entity / Asset | IC Markets | Admirals |
|---|
| North Macedonia (offshore) | Up to 1:5000 | Up to 1:30 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:5000 | 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 North Macedonia Traders
Traders in North Macedonia 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 | IC Markets | Admirals | Winner |
|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | IC Markets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | IC Markets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | IC Markets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | Admirals |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
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Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage
| Factor | IC Markets | Admirals | Winner |
|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Admirals |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | IC Markets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
IC Markets boasts industry-leading execution speeds of under 30 milliseconds on its cTrader platform, ideal for scalping and high-frequency trading. Admirals offers reliable execution with no requotes, but speeds average 50-100 milliseconds. For North Macedonia traders focused on fast trades, IC Markets is superior.
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Regulation & Safety for North Macedonia Traders
| Safety Factor | IC Markets | Admirals |
|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
IC Markets Global is not
FCA-authorised — the FCA has issued a public warning about this entity, and its clients do not have FOS or FSCS protection; verify the specific entity and licence before depositing. Neither broker is directly regulated by the local financial regulator in North Macedonia, but both comply with international standards, offering client fund segregation and negative balance protection. For North Macedonia traders, this means funds are safe, but there is no local compensation scheme.
Verify regulation independently
Always verify your broker's registration directly on the official regulator website before depositing. Regulation details for North Macedonia traders may differ by entity.
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Deposits & Withdrawals for North Macedonia
| Payment Method | IC Markets | Admirals |
|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | E-wallets instant-24hrs; Cards 3-5 business days (up to 10); Int'l bank wire up to 14 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. |
For North Macedonia traders, funding accounts is straightforward with both brokers supporting Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. IC Markets processes deposits instantly via Skrill, Neteller, and USDT, with a minimum of $200, and bank transfers take 1-3 business days. Admirals has a lower minimum deposit of $100 and also supports these methods, but bank transfers may take 2-5 business days. Withdrawals at IC Markets are free and processed within 24 hours for e-wallets, while Admirals charges no fees but may take 1-2 days. USDT deposits are particularly useful for crypto-savvy traders in North Macedonia, offering fast and low-cost transactions.
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Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for North Macedonia Muslims
| Islamic Account Feature | IC 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 |
Both IC Markets and Admirals offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Muslim traders in North Macedonia, in compliance with Sharia law. IC Markets provides swap-free accounts on all account types without any hidden fees, making it a preferred choice for long-term traders. Admirals offers Islamic accounts upon request, with no additional charges, but requires a minimum deposit of $100. For North Macedonian Muslim traders, IC Markets’ transparent policy and wider account options make it more accessible.
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 | IC Markets | Admirals | Winner |
|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | IC Markets |
IC Markets offers 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with fast response times in English. Admirals provides support during market hours in multiple languages, including English and local languages, but response times can be slower. For North Macedonia traders, IC Markets’ round-the-clock support is beneficial for overnight trading sessions.
| Mobile Feature | IC Markets | Admirals | Winner |
|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | IC Markets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | IC Markets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
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Education & Research Tools
| Resource | IC Markets | Admirals | Winner |
|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | IC Markets |
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Real User Reviews - Trustpilot
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Pros & Cons of Each Broker
IC Markets
Pros
+Top-tier regulated
+Islamic swap-free account
Cons
-No TradingView
-$200 min deposit
-No 24/7 support
Admirals
Pros
+Top-tier regulated
+Islamic swap-free account
Cons
-No TradingView
-No 24/7 support
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Who Should Use Which Broker? - North Macedonia Guide
Choose IC Markets if you...
- Trade high volumes and need ultra-low spreads from 0.0 pips
- Prefer fast execution for scalping or day trading strategies
- Want to use cTrader for advanced order types and depth of market
- Deposit via Skrill, Neteller, or USDT for instant funding
Choose Admirals if you...
- Are a beginner needing educational resources and demo accounts
- Prefer a lower minimum deposit of $100
- Value FCA regulation for additional investor protection
- Want a broker with integrated risk management tools
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FAQ - IC Markets vs Admirals in North Macedonia
Is IC Markets or Admirals better for North Macedonia?
+Can North Macedonia traders use both brokers legally?
+Which broker has lower spreads for North Macedonia traders?
+How do North Macedonia traders deposit at IC Markets and Admirals?
+Do both brokers offer Islamic accounts for North Macedonia?
+Final Verdict - North Macedonia 2026
IC Markets wins overall
For North Macedonia traders, IC Markets is the clear winner with a 3.6/5 score, offering superior spreads, faster execution, and a wider range of deposit methods including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT. Its strong regulatory framework and swap-free accounts make it suitable for both active and Muslim traders. Admirals, with 4.1/5, is a solid alternative for beginners due to its lower minimum deposit and educational focus, but its higher spreads and slower execution limit its appeal for serious traders. Considering local needs like USDT deposits and the local financial regulator’s lack of direct oversight, IC Markets provides better value and reliability for North Macedonian retail traders in 2026.
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.
