Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
EC Markets vs Saxo
What sets them apart
| Compare |  EC Markets |  Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 | CHF 0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | SIPC | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, EC Markets App | SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity 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 |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Joint, Corporate |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:1000 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Saxo scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only EC Markets offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only Saxo offers Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Saxo is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only EC Markets offers Crypto, Metals.
- Markets: only Saxo offers Options, Futures, Bonds.
- Platforms: only EC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, EC Markets App.
- Platforms: only Saxo offers SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader.
- Features: only Saxo offers Demo account, Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
EC Markets
EC Markets suits active traders who want retail leverage of 1:1000 across forex, CFDs, stocks and crypto in one account. The US entity behind the brand, RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC, sits under SIPC up to USD 500,000, so the safety side is easier to check than with an offshore-only broker.
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 | EC Markets | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0The $10 minimum deposit sits below the €4.64 site median, so the cost of opening an account is low. | 9.1HigherAccount fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0, and the minimum deposit is CHF 0. Stock trades cost $1. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 9.3 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.5Higher |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | EC Markets | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | EC Markets | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 138 of 471 | 78 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 58 of 147 | 33 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 56 of 145 | 31 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 47 of 122 | 25 of 122 |
What we checked
EC Markets
- ecmarkets.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 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
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EC Markets | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Low fees |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | Saxo Bank A/S |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Denmark |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1992 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EC Markets | Saxo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €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
EC Markets
Pros
- One account spans stocks, etfs and forex, so you are not locked into a single asset class.
- You can trade on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and EC Markets App, with the mobile app listed under mobile app.
Cons
- Retail leverage of 1:1000 magnifies losses, and on the site's forex list 72.13% of retail accounts lose money.
- The $10 entry point sits above CFI's $0 and Vantage's $5, so the cheapest way in is elsewhere.
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
EC Markets
Who it suits
- Active traders who want 1:1000 retail leverage on forex and CFDs
- US-based investors who want protection stated at SIPC up to USD 500,000
- Newcomers who can start at $10 and learn on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and EC Markets App
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, if you want to open an account with no minimum at $0
- Vantage, if the entry deposit matters more than the market list, since it starts at $5
- eToro, if you trade futures, which its market list stocks, etfs and forex covers
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
EC Markets
What is the minimum deposit at EC Markets?+
The minimum deposit is $10 to fund an account. That sits above the €4.64 site median, so it is a low entry point rather than the lowest one available. Anyone starting small should confirm which account the deposit applies to before adding funds.
Is money held at EC Markets protected?+
Protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000, under the SIPC scheme named in the brand's licences. That figure is the scheme's stated ceiling rather than a promise of returns, and the scheme's own terms set the conditions, so read them before depositing.
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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