Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
ActivTrades vs Saxo
What sets them apart
| Compare |  ActivTrades |  Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | CHF 0 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | FCA, SCB, CMVM, FSC, BACEN | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84% | 64% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% | 0.25%Lower |
| Platforms | ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $2 |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Joint, Corporate |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Deposit and withdrawal fees (Free deposits and withdrawals).
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Key differences
- ActivTrades scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only ActivTrades offers SCB, CMVM, FSC.
- Regulators: only Saxo offers Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA).
- Stock trade fee is lower at ActivTrades: $0 vs $1.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Saxo: 0.25% vs 0.5%.
- Markets: only ActivTrades offers Crypto.
- Markets: only Saxo offers Options, Futures, Funds.
- Platforms: only ActivTrades offers ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only Saxo offers SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader.
- Features: only ActivTrades offers Crypto.
Our verdict on each
ActivTrades
ActivTrades suits active share and CFD traders who want broad market access with commission free dealing and flexible platform choice for everyday orders. Minimum deposit sits at $0, stock trade fee sits at $0 and retail accounts that lose money sit at 84%, so careful risk controls remain essential.
Saxo
Saxo suits investors who want a Danish bank with no account or inactivity charge and a wide market list, but the stock trade fee is $1 and the FX fee is 0.25%. Costs stay predictable for long holders, less so for frequent traders.
Score breakdown
| Area | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherAccount fee sits at $0 so holding costs stay contained | 9.1Account fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0, and the minimum deposit is CHF 0. Stock trades cost $1. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCoverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex across shares and leveraged products | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.5Oversight includes FCA, SCB and CMVM with FCA cover for reassurance | 9.5 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 1 of 471 | 78 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 1 of 147 | 33 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 1 of 145 | 31 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 1 of 122 | 25 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more | Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Saxo Bank A/S |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Denmark |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1992 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ActivTrades | Saxo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €2.45 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84%highest quarter | 64%lowest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5%above the median | 0.25%below the median | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $2highest quarter | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 3.3%above the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 91 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
ActivTrades
Pros
- Stock trade fee sits at $0 for share dealing under commission free
- Minimum deposit sits at $0, below eToro at $50
- Funding terms read Free deposits and withdrawals for deposits and withdrawals
Cons
- Retail accounts that lose money sit at 84%, above the CFD median at 72.05%
- Currency conversion on funding costs 0.5% for balances held in other currencies
- Cash interest sits at 3.3%, which limits appeal for cash heavy portfolios
Saxo
Pros
- Account fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0
- Minimum deposit is CHF 0 and deposits and withdrawals carry no charge
- Regulated in Denmark by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority and in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority
Cons
- Stock trade fee of $1 sits well above the site median of €0
- FX fee of 0.25% applies on top of trading costs
- Investor protection is limited to the EU scheme at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000
Who each suits
ActivTrades
Who it suits
- New traders starting modestly with entry at $0 and practice via crypto, demo account and fractional shares
- Share traders wanting dealing at $0 across stocks, ETFs and forex with platform choice
- CFD traders wanting structured support via email, chat and phone where funding reads Free deposits and withdrawals
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders wanting crypto led dealing with very low cash entry may prefer Kraken at $1
- Traders wanting social and copy features may prefer eToro despite higher entry at $50
Saxo
Who it suits
- Investors holding stocks and ETFs long term who want no account or inactivity charge
- Traders who need forex, options, futures and CFDs on one account
- Joint and corporate account holders
Who should look elsewhere
- Beginners wanting commission-free share dealing, where eToro charges $0 per trade
- Small-balance traders unwilling to meet the Vantage minimum deposit of $5
- Frequent currency converters put off by the 0.25% FX fee
Questions about each
ActivTrades
What does ActivTrades charge for stock trades?+
Stock trade fee sits at $0 for share dealing. The pricing model is described by commission free, which helps keep ticket costs predictable for equity orders. Spreads and conversion charges can still apply on leveraged trades, so review order previews and statements before dealing.
Is ActivTrades regulated and safe?+
Oversight comes via FCA, SCB and CMVM, including FCA cover alongside other regional entities. Eligible balances carry protection at FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Protection applies under scheme rules and by entity, so confirm which entity serves your account during signup and keep account records.
Saxo
What does Saxo charge to hold an account?+
The account fee is €0 and the inactivity fee is €0, so there is no annual or dormancy charge. Saxo ranks 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 56 on inactivity fee. That makes it a straightforward choice for long-term holdings.
How much does it cost to buy a stock?+
Stock trades cost $1 through Saxo. That places it at 107 of 161 on this measure, and above the site median of €0. Active share traders should weigh that before opening.
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