Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AvaTrade vs Saxo
Where AvaTrade and Saxo differ
| Compare | AvaTrade ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100 | CHF 0 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Inactivity fee | $50 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Funds |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader | SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 64% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $2 |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Joint, Corporate |
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Key differences
- Saxo scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Stock trade fee is lower at AvaTrade: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only AvaTrade offers Crypto.
- Markets: only Saxo offers Futures, Funds.
- Platforms: only AvaTrade offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO.
- Platforms: only Saxo offers SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader.
- Features: only AvaTrade offers Copy trading.
- Features: only Saxo offers Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only AvaTrade offers Commission free.
- Pricing model: only Saxo offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a commission-free CFD and forex broker for traders who want no deposit or withdrawal charges and free stock dealing, and who can start at a minimum deposit of $100. The catch is an inactivity fee of $50 on dormant accounts, so this suits active traders rather than occasional investors.
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 | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Stock dealing costs $0 with no deposit or withdrawal fees, offset by an inactivity fee of $50. | 9.1HigherAccount fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0, and the minimum deposit is CHF 0. Stock trades cost $1. |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.3 |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.5 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Feature by feature
| Markets | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
Sources behind this comparison
AvaTrade
- forexsuggest.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingcritique.com: 4 facts, 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
How they place
| Ranking | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 89 of 471 | 78 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 40 of 147 | 33 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 38 of 145 | 31 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 31 of 122 | 25 of 122 |
| Options trading platforms | 31 of 103 | 23 of 103 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Copy trading | 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 | AvaTrade | Saxo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| 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
AvaTrade
Pros
- Stock dealing is free, with a stock trade fee of $0
- No deposit or withdrawal fees, so funding and getting money out cost nothing
- A demo account, a mobile app and copy trading are all offered
Cons
- Dormant accounts attract an inactivity fee of $50
- The minimum deposit of $100 is higher than the site median of €4.64
- Copy trading sits well below the site average of 9.6%
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
AvaTrade
Who it suits
- Traders who keep an account active and want free deposits and withdrawals
- Anyone who wants to trade forex, CFDs, options and crypto in one place
- Copy traders who want to follow other people's positions as well as run their own
Who should look elsewhere
- Investors who need a tax-sheltered investment account
- Anyone who would leave a balance sitting untouched for long periods
- CFI or Vantage suit people who want a lower starting deposit
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
AvaTrade
What does it cost to trade stocks at AvaTrade?+
Stock dealing carries a stock trade fee of $0, and pricing is commission-free, so there is no separate dealing commission layered on top. Other costs are thinner too: funding an account carries no deposit fee.
What is the smallest amount needed to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That sits above the site median of €4.64 and above the lower quartile of €0, so it is a higher starting bar than many brokers on the site.
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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