Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Admirals vs Saxo
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Admirals |  Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $25 | CHF 0 |
| Stock trade fee | $0.020Lower | $1 |
| Inactivity fee | €10 | €0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | FCA, CySEC, ASIC | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 64% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $2 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free deposits and withdrawals |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Joint, Corporate |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:30 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Regulators: only Admirals offers CySEC, ASIC.
- Regulators: only Saxo offers Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA).
- Founded is lower at Saxo: 1992 vs 2001.
- Admirals is licensed in 1 more country.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Admirals: $0.020 vs $1.
- Inactivity fee is lower at Saxo: €0 vs €10.
- Markets: only Admirals offers Crypto.
- Markets: only Saxo offers Options, Futures, Funds.
Our verdict on each
Admirals
Admirals suits retail investors who want one account across several markets with UK regulation behind it. Costs sit mid pack: a stock trade fee of $0.02 and an inactivity fee of €10 put it ahead of some rivals and behind cheaper ones.
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 | Admirals | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8A stock trade fee of $0.02 on a $25 minimum deposit, plus €10 for idling. | 9.1HigherAccount fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0, and the minimum deposit is CHF 0. Stock trades cost $1. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.5 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Admirals | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 64 of 471 | 78 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 27 of 147 | 33 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 25 of 145 | 31 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 21 of 122 | 25 of 122 |
Which one suits you
Pick Admirals if offer and stock trade fee matter most.
Pick Saxo if cost and inactivity fee matter most.
What we checked
Admirals
- beinoptions.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxscouts.ng: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- premiumtrading.co: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxleaders.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- olxforex.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Saxo
- home.saxo: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokerchooser.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- bestbrokers.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- landofforex.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- moneyland.ch: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Admirals | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Low fees |
| Legal entity | Admirals SC Ltd | Saxo Bank A/S |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Denmark |
| Founded | 2001 | 1992Lower |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Admirals | Saxo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0.020highest quarter | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | €10above the median | €0below the median | €2.45 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 64%lowest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.25%below the median | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $2highest quarter | $0.625 |
Median across 91 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Admirals
Pros
- Regulated by the FCA in the UK, plus CySEC and ASIC, so UK clients sit under a UK watchdog and client asset rules
- Investor protection stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000
- One account spans stocks, etfs and forex, so forex, CFDs, shares, ETFs, crypto and bonds sit in one place
Cons
- An inactivity fee of €10 applies, and it ranks high at 39 of 56 brands on this measure
- The stock trade fee of $0.02 sits above the site median of €0, and above the commission free model offered by eToro at $0
- The minimum deposit of $25 ranks at 120 of 213, so it is not the cheapest account to open
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
Admirals
Who it suits
- UK retail investors who want an FCA regulated account covering shares, ETFs, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds in one place
- Investors who hold across asset classes and want FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the balance
- Traders who can start small on a $25 minimum deposit and trade on a $0.02 stock fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting a commission free stock deal, where eToro charges $0
- Long term holders who leave a balance untouched, since the inactivity fee runs at €10
- Anyone starting with no money at all, since CFI opens on a minimum deposit of $0 and Vantage on $5
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
Admirals
What does Admirals charge to trade a stock?+
A stock trade fee of $0.02 applies on trades. That is above the site median of €0, so a reader who deals in shares often should weigh the cost against a commission free alternative before committing.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $25. The site median across tracked brands is €4.64, and Admirals ranks at 120 of 213 on this measure, so the entry point is accessible without being the lowest available.
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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