Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FXCM vs Swissquote
What sets them apart
| Compare |  FXCM |  Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $50Lower | $1,000 |
| Markets | Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, CryptoCovers more |
| Regulators | FCA | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $20 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 63% | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:100 |
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Key differences
- Swissquote scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only FXCM offers FCA.
- Regulators: only Swissquote offers Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
- Minimum deposit is lower at FXCM: $50 vs $1,000.
- Markets: only Swissquote offers Stocks.
Our verdict on each
FXCM
FXCM suits UK traders who want a single regulated account for forex, CFDs and crypto, opening from a minimum deposit of $50 with client money covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The licence is a known name, which matters more than a bargain headline, since 63% of retail accounts lose money.
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 | FXCM | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7HigherEntry starts at $50 against a €4.64 site median, with dealing limited to forex, cfds and crypto. | 8.3Costs run high: stock trade fee $20, minimum deposit $1,000 and inactivity fee $10 sit above site medians. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.0Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.0Higher |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | FXCM | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Also worth a look
ActivTrades has minimum deposit at $0, against $50 for FXCM and $1,000 for Swissquote.
ActivTrades reviewHow they place
| Ranking | FXCM | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Forex brokers | 83 of 147 | 80 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 81 of 145 | 78 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 69 of 122 | 67 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FXCM | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Legal entity | Stratos Markets Limited | Swissquote Bank Europe SA |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Luxembourg |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1996 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | FXCM | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ESG |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FXCM | Swissquote | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $50above the median | $1,000highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $20highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10above the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 63%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FXCM
Pros
- FCA regulation with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 protection standing behind client money.
- forex, cfds and crypto markets sit in the same account, so CFD and crypto trades stay under the same licence.
- A named UK operator, Stratos Markets Limited, sits behind the brand and the FCA licence 217689.
Cons
- The $50 minimum deposit is higher than CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5.
- The market list stops at forex, cfds and crypto, so no shares, ETFs or futures dealing sits alongside currency and crypto.
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
FXCM
Who it suits
- UK retail traders who want forex, CFDs and crypto under a single FCA licence rather than several brokers.
- Traders who check the operator before depositing: Stratos Markets Limited and licence 217689.
- Anyone prepared for leverage, with 63% of retail accounts losing money.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if you also want shares, ETFs and futures, since it lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- CFI, if you want to start without committing cash, since its minimum deposit is $0.
- Vantage, if a smaller starting deposit matters, since Vantage asks $5.
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
FXCM
What do I need to deposit to open an FXCM account?+
The published minimum deposit is $50, higher than the €4.64 median across brokers on the site. For comparison, CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0 and Vantage $5. Beyond that floor the account size is yours to set, and it shapes position sizing rather than the trading fee.
Who regulates FXCM in the UK?+
FXCM is regulated in the UK by the FCA, the sole regulator listed for the brand, and the FCA licence number is 217689. UK clients therefore sit inside the UK regulatory perimeter, with rules on how the firm holds money and treats clients. Anyone outside the UK would need to check their own regulator before opening.
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.