Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
EC Markets vs Swissquote
EC Markets vs Swissquote: the differences
| Compare |  EC Markets |  Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10Lower | $1,000 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, MetalsCovers more | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | SIPC | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:1000 | 1:100 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $20 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, EC Markets App | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- EC Markets scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only EC Markets offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only Swissquote offers Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
- Minimum deposit is lower at EC Markets: $10 vs $1,000.
- Markets: only EC Markets offers ETFs, Metals.
- Features: only Swissquote offers Demo account.
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.
Swissquote
Swissquote runs a Swiss bank entity under CSSF supervision with EU investor compensation, so it suits traders who want a bank behind the account. The trade-off is entry cost: a stock trade fee of $20 and a minimum deposit of $1,000 sit well above cheaper rivals.
Score breakdown
| Area | EC Markets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0HigherThe $10 minimum deposit sits below the €4.64 site median, so the cost of opening an account is low. | 8.3Costs run high: stock trade fee $20, minimum deposit $1,000 and inactivity fee $10 sit above site medians. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.0Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | EC Markets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 138 of 471 | 187 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 58 of 147 | 80 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 56 of 145 | 78 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 47 of 122 | 67 of 122 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | EC Markets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | EC Markets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Luxembourg | Not confirmed | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) MiCA CASP 549300M2IHOB9P5WE714 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71021 | Not confirmed |
If neither fits
ActivTrades has minimum deposit at $0, against $10 for EC Markets and $1,000 for Swissquote.
ActivTrades reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | EC Markets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile appCovers more |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | Swissquote Bank Europe SA |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Luxembourg |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1996 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | EC Markets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ESG |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EC Markets | Swissquote | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10below the median | $1,000highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $20highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10above the median | $0 |
Median across 134 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.
Swissquote
Pros
- Regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) in Luxembourg, with the legal entity named as Swissquote Bank Europe SA.
- Covers stocks, forex, CFDs and crypto on a single account, with retail leverage of 1:100.
- A demo account and a mobile app are both listed features, so you can test before committing.
Cons
- Costs are high for a retail account: a stock trade fee of $20 against a site median of €0.
- The minimum deposit of $1,000 ranks 191 of 213, far above the site median of €4.64.
- An inactivity fee of $10 applies, where the site median is €0.
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
Swissquote
Who it suits
- Traders moving between forex, CFDs, crypto and shares on a single account
- Investors who put weight on a supervised bank entity and investor compensation
- People who want to practise on a demo account before risking money
Who should look elsewhere
- Newcomers with a small starting balance, since the minimum deposit is $1,000
- Share buyers focused on trading costs, given the stock trade fee of $20 against eToro at $0
- Passive long term investors, because the portfolio options listed are esg
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.
Swissquote
How much does it cost to trade shares with Swissquote?+
The stock trade fee is $20, which is well above the site median of €0. Swissquote ranks 161 of 161 on this measure, so share dealing here is costly. eToro, by contrast, charges $0 per trade.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $1,000, which is a high bar for a first account. On our data Swissquote ranks 191 of 213 on this measure, against a site median of €4.64. Vantage asks for $5 and CFI for $0.
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