Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
OANDA vs Scalable Capital
OANDA vs Scalable Capital: the differences
| Compare |  OANDA |  Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, BondsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto |
| Regulators | FCA, CFTC | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 72% | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:30 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.6% |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- OANDA scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only OANDA offers FCA, CFTC.
- Regulators: only Scalable Capital offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- Founded is lower at OANDA: 1996 vs 2014.
- OANDA is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only OANDA offers Forex, CFDs, Bonds.
- Support channels: only Scalable Capital offers Chat, Help centre.
- Features: only OANDA offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
OANDA
OANDA fits traders who want to open an account without a minimum deposit and sit under regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. Its overall score is 8.4 with a cost score of 8.4, though the retail loss rate of 72% is a reminder that most balances do not survive the trading.
Scalable Capital
Scalable Capital suits investors who want to start small and later hand a pot of money to a managed portfolio. The self-directed account takes a minimum deposit of €1, while the managed plan starts from €20 with fees of 0.245% to 0.375% a year.
Score breakdown
| Area | OANDA | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7Higher | 9.3 |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.3Cash interest of 2.6%, a mobile app, and managed portfolios across etf and esg options. |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 8.6 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | OANDA | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | OANDA | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 391200Y3EUNL4LTXRP94 |
| United Kingdom | FCA 542574 | Not confirmed |
| United States | CFTC 0325821 | Not confirmed |
Sources behind this comparison
OANDA
- oanda.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokersway.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingpedia.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Scalable Capital
- de.scalable.capital: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- scalable.capital: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | OANDA | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 51 of 471 | 147 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | OANDA | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile appCovers more | Mobile app |
| Legal entity | OANDA TMS Brokers S.A. | Scalable Capital Bank GmbH |
| Headquarters | United States | Germany |
| Founded | 1996Lower | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone | Phone, Chat, Email, Help centreCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | OANDA | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.245% to 0.375% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €20 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, ESG |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | OANDA | Scalable Capital | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail accounts that lose money | 72%below the median | Not confirmed | 72.21% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.6%below the median | 3% |
Median across 49 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
OANDA
Pros
- No minimum deposit: $0 means the account opens without putting money in first, and OANDA sits at the top of our minimum deposit ranking, ahead of Vantage and its $5.
- Regulated in Britain and the US: FCA and CFTC covers an FCA licence 542574 and a CFTC registration 0325821.
- UK balances sit under protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000, which pays compensation if the firm cannot return the money.
Cons
- Support runs on email and phone only, which leaves anyone wanting a live chat desk looking at other brokers.
- A retail loss rate of 72% is no better than the site figure of 70.15%, so the risk sits at the sector norm.
- Retail leverage of 1:30 magnifies losses as quickly as gains, and a $0 entry point makes it easy to size positions too large.
Scalable Capital
Pros
- A low entry point of €1 on the self-directed account
- Managed portfolios start from €20 with fees of 0.245% to 0.375%
- Regulated by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and deposits sit under EU ICS up to EUR 20,000
Cons
- Managed fees of 0.245% to 0.375% a year sit above the cheapest managed rivals
- Support runs on phone, chat and email only, with no branch or in-person service
- Managed portfolios are limited to etf and esg options, so there is no custom mandate
Who each suits
OANDA
Who it suits
- Traders who want to open an account and start small: the minimum deposit of $0 removes the barrier to funding later.
- Anyone who checks regulators before depositing, since FCA and CFTC and protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 are both on record.
- Forex traders who also want shares, ETFs, CFDs, crypto and bonds under one roof: stocks, etfs and forex.
Who should look elsewhere
- Futures traders, who get a longer list at eToro, where stocks, etfs and forex adds futures to the stocks, etfs and forex on offer here.
- Traders who want nothing beyond shares, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto, since CFI's stocks, etfs and forex covers that core without the bonds.
Scalable Capital
Who it suits
- New investors who want to build a portfolio in a mobile app from a small first deposit
- Savers with a lump sum who want a ready made ETF or ESG portfolio
- Investors who care more about a named regulator and deposit protection than the lowest management fee
Who should look elsewhere
- You want a wider choice of instruments, as stocks, etfs and crypto is a single market cluster rather than a full exchange list
- You need advice built around you, because managed portfolios cover only etf and esg options
- You are comparing the very lowest managed fee, since 0.245% to 0.375% is not the cheapest on the market
Questions about each
OANDA
What is the minimum deposit for an OANDA account?+
OANDA lists a minimum deposit of $0, so you can open an account without funding it and add money later. On our minimum deposit ranking that places OANDA at position 1 of 213 brands, well clear of the field. Vantage, by contrast, asks for $5 before trading starts.
How is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
UK clients sit under investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000, the compensation paid if the firm cannot return the balance. The regulator behind that cover is named in FCA and CFTC, and the FCA licence number is 542574. US clients fall under the CFTC registration, 0325821, which is a separate arrangement.
Scalable Capital
What is the minimum deposit to start investing?+
The self-directed account takes a minimum deposit of €1, so you can open and fund it from a small amount. That entry point is well below the typical requirement, which is one of the reasons people try the app first. You can add to it as your savings grow.
How much does the managed portfolio cost?+
Management fees run at 0.245% to 0.375% a year on the managed side, charged on the portfolio rather than per trade. That sits above the cheapest managed plans elsewhere, so it pays to compare before committing a large lump sum. Smaller pots feel the percentage more.