Saxo Bank Review 2024


4 / 5
Saxo Bank is #99 in our CFD broker rankings.

Saxo is best for active traders and high-volume investors with an unrivalled selection of instruments alongside premium market research and fee rebates. The 190 currency pairs with tight spreads also make Saxo great for forex traders.

- Daytrading Review Team
66% of retail accounts lose money.

Saxo Markets is a multi-award-winning trading brokerage, investment firm and regulated bank. With a huge 72,000+ trading instruments, plus investment products and managed portfolios, clients have no shortage of opportunities. The trusted brand also offers transparent pricing and top-tier regulatory protection from 10+ agencies including FINMA, FCA & ASIC.

TradingView
Forex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, futures, options, warrants, bonds, ETFs
-
USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, SEK, DKK, CHF
Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard

Forex Trading

Tier 1 liquidity on an impressive range of 189 currency pairs and spot metals, plus 130 forwards, from 0.4 pips.

Stock Trading

Access 23,500+ stocks from global markets with a $1 minimum commission on US shares and comprehensive market insights.

CFD Trading

Trade 8,900+ CFDs spanning forex, stocks, indices, commodities, options and bonds with powerful tools and signals.

Crypto Trading

Trade cryptos against major fiat currencies or take a longer-term view with ETNs.

✓ Pros

  • Powerful proprietary trading platforms with comprehensive charting packages and advanced analysis tools
  • High-level research hub with curated market research, plus unique insights with 'Outrageous Predictions'
  • Excellent educational resources including podcasts, webinars and expert-led video insights
  • Access to comprehensive third-party analysis tools including TradingView and Updata
  • The ISA account is highly accessible and flexible with no entry or exit fees
  • Heavily regulated and trustworthy brand based in Switzerland
  • Low fees with premium account tiers

✗ Cons

  • High funding requirements for the trading accounts
  • Access to Level 2 pricing requires a subscription
  • Clients from some jurisdictions not accepted including the US and Belgium

Since the inception of the internet, a number of banking services, as well as activities, can be transacted or accessed on an online platform. This also applies to the numerous forms of trading as well as investment. Saxo Bank is one such institution that made this move by offering online services to customers. Clients of this Danish-based bank can access Saxo Bank trading on their Internet-connected devices among other investment services offered.

Company Details

Saxo Bank was established in the year 1992 as a privately owned company. The headquarters of the bank is in Copenhagen, Denmark and it has managed to set itself apart to become one of the leading retail brokerage innovators in Europe.

The safety of trading at the bank is assured by the 10+ financial regulators including the UK FCA. The bank is among the leading retail brokerage innovators in Europe as well as on the globe.

Trading Platform

The trading platform offers users a variety of instruments and asset classes that span across global financial markets.

The SaxoTrader suite runs on a myriad of devices and operating systems including Windows on desktops. The mobile suite runs on iOS, Android, and Blackberry among others and is referred to as SaxoTrader GO.

Saxo bank features a very unique and highly engaging web trading platform for accessing its asset classes. It entails a one-step login process upon loading the program.

However, for the Platinum and VIP accounts, there is an IP address link for login that is more secure. Though it might appear complex, it features an easy-to-follow menu that makes navigation through it convenient.

Assets / Markets

The well-designed Saxo Bank trading platform features a diverse product portfolio of markets that are available to trade.

Including:

Note, the availability of instruments varies between countries.

Recommended Alternatives To Saxo Bank

#1
FOREX.com
Bonus
Active Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs
#2
Interactive Brokers
#3
NinjaTrader

In the forex domain, there are more than 100 major and minor currency pairs that can be traded. Crypto derivatives on Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum are also offered against fiat currencies such as USD, EUR and JPY.

Featuring over 5,000 bonds with 3,400 developed-market and 1,600 emerging marketing bonds, the Saxo Bank bond trading platform provides users with an interesting asset class to trade in. In addition, users can gain access to government bonds in over 40 countries.

Corporate bonds, though available, are limited to 7 countries.

Saxobank trader Pro Professional account

Trading Fees

Saxo Bank historically had average fees based on our assessment, especially if you wanted to trade futures, options and bonds in lower volumes. However, we’ve been pleased to see the broker revise its pricing model in 2024, lowering its trading and non-trading fees.

The minimum commission on US stocks has been cut from 10 USD to 1 USD, on UK stocks it’s been reduced from 8 GBP to 3 GBP, and for US options it’s gone from 0.85 USD to 0.75 USD per contract.

The currency conversion fee, which applies to automated conversions, sub account transfers and FX options transactions, has also been slashed from 1% to 0.25%.

Futures cost 3 for USD contracts with Classic accounts, 2 for Platinum accounts, and 1 for VIP accounts.

Saxo also compares well to alternatives with its forex and metal spreads, starting from 0.4 pips.

Other welcome improvements are the removal of inactivity fees, which penalized casual investors and the minimum on custody fees.

Overall, the latest prices are competitive, especially if you qualify for a Platinum or VIP account, which offers the lowest rates, though the minimum deposit is high at $200,000 and $1,000,000 respectively, putting them out of reach for beginners.

Leverage

Forex is normally traded on margins, with each brokerage firm having its own leverage. Specifically, Saxo Bank leverage terms are based on a tiered margin methodology.

This entails a management mechanism against political and economic scenarios that may make the market volatile, leading to sudden changes. Saxo Bank has a maximum leverage of 1:30 which is in line with other regulated brokers in the European Union.

Mobile Apps

The Saxo bank mobile app is remarkable since it has the same outlay and design workability as its web-based platform. Despite the absence of basic data and Saxo Select, it is still highly usable. The Saxo Trader app can be downloaded from Google Play for Android systems and from the iOS store for Apple devices.

Saxo bank trading platform ticket

Payment Methods

Bank transfers take between 1 to 5 business days. The majority of European clients are required to transfer to a Saxo Danish account which necessitates an international bank transfer. Via the credit/debit card method, money is credited to the traders’ account instantly.

However, this is subject to a charge of 0.5-2.5% by your card operator. Stock transfers take place through the transfer of a stock portfolio. This might take a little longer since it must be processed by your current portfolio holder.

Saxo Bank withdrawal can be done to your bank account or a broker account. The account needs to be in your name. Withdrawal is free of charge.

Minimum Deposit

The minimum deposit varies depending on your location and currency:

Demo Account

An instant demo account offers traders the chance to view the platform and check functionality. A full demo account is then also offered alongside a real account, and this enables strategy testing and refinement.

Offers And Promotions

Research materials are accessible from both the web and desktop trading platforms. Saxo additionally runs a separate page known as tradingfloor.com where traders can get more information on market statistics. The content available includes equity research, news, opinions from Saxo’s strategists, trade signals, and macro events calendar.

Bonus

While there is no active bonus a present, the presence of competitive spreads on the various asset classes makes this almost negligible. This is significant to forex trading since it is commission based.

Moreover, an overview of the trade-related costs for any trade portrays Saxo Bank as midrange among other brokers. Bonus features are usually not available in market trading since such enticements cause over trading and are frowned on by regulators.

Regulation And Licensing

Saxo Bank is regulated globally by more than 10 financial regulators and is a highly reputable brokerage company in Europe:

Additional Features

Investors willing to expand their knowledge on trading markets can be readily assisted by the education section of the platform. It features online webinars where traders can be taken through asset classes by trading experts.

Alternatively, one can become a “learner” at the Saxo Academy and choose from the infinite online tutorials available.

Account Types

Saxo has three main types of accounts namely Classic, Platinum, and VIP. The accounts differ on the amount of funding.

The Classic account requires the standard minimum deposit which varies by country, Platinum accounts a minimum of $200,000 and the VIP account a minimum of $1,000.000.

For the Platinum and VIP accounts, investors have advanced customer service, logins that are IP address linked, thus more secure and tighter spreads.

Saxo bank charting

Trading Hours

The platform is open for trading 24 hours a day albeit 6 days a week. Various currency pairs have specific trading hours. For instance, the RON, ILS, SAR & AED and RUB currencies trading hours are 08:15 – 17:00 CET, 07:00 – 17:00 CET, 07:00 – 15:00 CET and 07:00 GMT – 19:00 GMT respectively.

Contact Details & Customer Support

Safety & Security

Saxo’s web-based platform features high-security components since traders’ vital documents are required when opening an account. They include a copy of an ID, passport or driver’s license. The login steps to some account types are enhanced to protect user data. A case in point is the Platinum and VIP accounts which have an IP address link for secure login.

Saxo Bank Verdict

This review is aimed at giving a detailed description of Saxo Bank as a brokerage company. The bank provides complex and conducive services through its trading platform. The research and customer service team are always available to offer any assistance to traders.

Moreover, its diverse product portfolio comprising of asset classes and international markets assures heavy traders of an enticing trading arena. Despite requiring high minimum trading fees, it is a good brokerage company in terms of service delivery and it stands atop the global scene.

Top 3 Alternatives to Saxo Bank

Compare Saxo Bank with the top 3 similar brokers that accept traders from your location.

  1. IG – Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.
    Go to IG
  2. Interactive Brokers – Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage for experienced traders, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
    Go to Interactive Brokers
  3. FOREX.com – Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
    Go to FOREX.com

Saxo Bank Comparison Table

Compare Saxo Bank With Similar Brokers
Saxo Bank IG Interactive Brokers FOREX.com
Rating 4 4.4 4.3 4.5
Markets Forex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, futures, options, warrants, bonds, ETFs CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies Forex, Spot Metals
Demo Account Yes Yes Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit $0 $0 $100
Minimum Trade Vary by asset 0.01 Lots $100 0.01 Lots
Regulators DFSA, MAS, FCA, SFC FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA FCA, SEC, FINRA, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB NFA, CFTC
Bonus Active Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs
Education No Yes Yes Yes
Platforms TradingView Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, AutoChartist, TradingCentral Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Leverage 1:30 1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro) 1:50 1:50
Payment Methods 4 6 6 8
Visit Visit Visit Visit
Review IG
Review
Interactive Brokers
Review
FOREX.com
Review

Compare Trading Instruments

Compare the markets and instruments offered by Saxo Bank and its competitors. Please note, some markets may only be available via CFDs or other derivatives.

Compare Saxo Bank Trading Instruments
Saxo Bank IG Interactive Brokers FOREX.com
CFD Yes Yes Yes No
Forex Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stocks Yes Yes Yes Yes
Commodities Yes Yes Yes Yes
Oil Yes Yes No Yes
Gold Yes Yes Yes Yes
Copper Yes Yes No No
Silver Yes Yes No Yes
Corn Yes No No No
Crypto Yes Yes Yes No
Futures Yes Yes Yes No
Options Yes Yes Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes Yes No
Bonds Yes Yes Yes No
Warrants Yes Yes Yes No
Spreadbetting No Yes No No
Volatility Index Yes Yes No No

Saxo Bank vs Other Brokers

Compare Saxo Bank with any other broker by selecting the other broker below.

 

Customer Reviews

  4 / 5

This average customer rating is based on 1 Saxo Bank customer reviews submitted by our visitors.

If you have traded with Saxo Bank we would really like to know about your experience - please submit your own review. Thank you.

  4

Saxo Bank feels very solid and offers tons of instruments and markets to trade, and they also offer multiple technical indicators. What I miss so far is a feature to analyse/research my own portfolio and not just new trading opportunities. I built a portfolio of 100+ stocks and had no way to identify which ones I should keep or sell based on the criteria I had for picking them in the first place. For example, I might have acquired a specific stock because its dividend yield was high at the time, but later I might want to divest and find better opportunities, if its expected yield falls below some threshold. Managing a large portfolio of stocks becomes impossible because of this and I had to rethink my strategy entirely.

Also, I am unable to trade many of the ETFs on their platform due to regulation, but I can’t filter these ETFs out so I will find tons of unavailable ETFs in my research that I have to check one by one. It’s frustrating.

✍ Marcus I | 🌐 Portugal | November 16, 2023

Submit Your Own Review of Saxo Bank

If you have experience trading with Saxo Bank please share your personal review of the broker and what you think are strong and weak points. Thank you.

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Saxo Markets is a multi-award-winning trading brokerage, investment firm and regulated bank. With a huge 72,000+ trading instruments, plus investment products and managed portfolios, clients have no shortage of opportunities. The trusted brand also offers transparent pricing and top-tier regulatory protection from 10+ agencies including FINMA, FCA & ASIC.
66% of retail accounts lose money.