Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Deriv vs Saxo
Deriv vs Saxo: the differences
| Compare |  Deriv |  Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5 | CHF 0 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Inactivity fee | $25 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Funds |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74% | 64% |
| Platforms | Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader | 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 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $2 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free deposits and withdrawals |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Joint, Corporate |
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Key differences
- Saxo scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.9.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Deriv: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Deriv offers Crypto.
- Markets: only Saxo offers Options, Futures, Funds.
- Platforms: only Deriv offers Deriv MT5, Deriv Trader.
- Platforms: only Saxo offers SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader.
- Features: only Deriv offers Crypto.
- Features: only Saxo offers Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only Deriv offers Commission free.
- Pricing model: only Saxo offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
Deriv
Deriv suits beginners and day-traders who want a $0 stock trade fee, a $5 minimum deposit and a demo account to practise on. Most retail accounts here lose money, at 74%, so the cheap entry is not a reason to trade lightly.
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 | Deriv | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9An inactivity fee of $25 is the weak spot, against $0 at Vantage. | 9.1HigherAccount fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0, and the minimum deposit is CHF 0. Stock trades cost $1. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.5 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Deriv | 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 | Deriv | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 160 of 471 | 78 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 69 of 147 | 33 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 67 of 145 | 31 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 58 of 122 | 25 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Deriv | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto | Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Day traders, Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Saxo Bank A/S |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Denmark |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1992 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Deriv | Saxo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74%above the median | 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
Deriv
Pros
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex, so no second broker is needed
- demo account, mobile app and crypto covers a demo account and a mobile app alongside Deriv Trader and Deriv MT5
- Built for beginners and day traders (day traders and beginners) rather than experienced traders only
Cons
- An inactivity fee of $25 applies to dormant balances, against $0 at Vantage
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone line or live chat listed
- Deriv reports that 74% of retail accounts lose money, above the 70.15% site median
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
Deriv
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a demo account and a small minimum deposit before going live
- Day-traders who want stocks, etfs and forex in a single account
- Traders already comfortable with charting platforms, since Deriv MT5 is one of the platforms listed (Deriv MT5 and Deriv Trader)
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone leaving money parked for long: Vantage lists an inactivity fee of $0
- Traders who want futures in the same account: the markets at eToro, stocks, etfs and forex, include them
- Traders who want the smallest possible entry: CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0
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
Deriv
What does it cost to open a Deriv account?+
The minimum deposit is $5, so the account opens on a small balance. Stock trades are charged at $0, which sits inside a commission-free model, so no commission is added per trade. Beginners and day traders are the stated audience.
Will I be charged if my account sits idle?+
Yes. Deriv charges an inactivity fee of $25 on an account left unused, which is the main cost trap here. Vantage lists an inactivity fee of $0 by comparison, so a dormant balance is cheaper elsewhere. Move money you are not using rather than leaving it parked.
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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