Saxo Bank vs Swissquote

Entry and fees: The most striking difference is the entry barrier. Saxo requires no minimum deposit (€0) and trades stocks and options from $1 plus forex from 0.4 pip (Classic) or 0.2 pip (VIP). Swissquote requires a CHF 1,000 minimum deposit, charges stocks from CHF 5 and forex spreads from 1.3 pip on the Standard account (0.6 pip Premium); it also levies a custody fee of CHF 80 per quarter on securities accounts. For cost-conscious investors, Saxo is the cheaper base.

Products and platforms: Saxo offers one of the market's broadest ranges with over 72,000 instruments — stocks, options, futures, forex, ETFs, bonds, CFDs, commodities and mutual funds — and comprehensive options trading on global exchanges via SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO. Swissquote covers stocks, ETFs, forex, options, futures, bonds, funds and cryptocurrencies; options run through the eTrading platform, and MT4 and MT5 are also available. Crypto is tradable at Swissquote but is not listed among Saxo's instruments.

Profile and verdict: Saxo (rated 4.5/5, founded 1992 in Copenhagen) is DFSA- and FCA-regulated and positions itself as a premium investment bank with excellent research. Swissquote (4.4/5, founded 1996 in Gland) is FINMA-regulated and scores with a Swiss banking license, high deposit protection and integrated crypto trading. Those seeking maximum product breadth, low costs and strong options trading with no minimum deposit choose Saxo; those wanting Swiss banking security and crypto bundled in a full bank suit Swissquote.