Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Plus500 vs Saxo
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Plus500 |  Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Options, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 81% | 64% |
| Platforms | Plus500 WebTrader, Plus500 Mobile App | SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | CHF 0 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| 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
- Plus500 scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Plus500 offers Financial Conduct Authority, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only Saxo offers Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Markets: only Plus500 offers Crypto.
- Markets: only Saxo offers CFDs, Futures, Bonds.
- Platforms: only Plus500 offers Plus500 WebTrader, Plus500 Mobile App.
- Platforms: only Saxo offers SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader.
- Features: only Saxo offers Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
Plus500
Plus500 suits UK and European retail traders who want one account covering stocks, etfs and forex in a single app. The UK arm is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind UK balances and costs charged per trade rather than as a flat account fee.
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 | Plus500 | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.1Account fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0, and the minimum deposit is CHF 0. Stock trades cost $1. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.5 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Plus500 | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 57 of 471 | 78 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 25 of 147 | 33 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 23 of 145 | 31 of 145 |
| Options trading platforms | 15 of 103 | 23 of 103 |
What each covers
| Markets | Plus500 | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Plus500 | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 509909 | |
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| Denmark | Not confirmed |
Where these facts come from
Plus500
- 500affiliates.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- plus500.com: 4 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 | Plus500 | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Low fees |
| Legal entity | Plus500UK Ltd | Saxo Bank A/S |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Denmark |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1992 |
| Support channels | Chat, Email, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Plus500 | 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 | 81%highest quarter | 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
Plus500
Pros
- Costs are charged per trade, with no account fee listed
- UK protection stands at FSCS up to GBP 85,000
- One account spans stocks, etfs and forex in the same app
Cons
- Losses run high at 81% of retail accounts
- Support runs on chat, email and help centre only, with no phone line
- Retail loss of 81% tops the site median of 70.15%
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
Plus500
Who it suits
- UK retail traders wanting one app for several asset classes
- First-time traders who can practise on the demo account
- Traders who prefer one platform over several brokers
Who should look elsewhere
- Long-term investors wanting ISA or SIPP style accounts
- Traders wanting CFDs or futures, absent from stocks, etfs and forex
- Traders who want a phone line rather than chat, email and help centre
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
Plus500
What does Plus500 cost to trade?+
Plus500 charges per trade rather than a flat account fee, and no account fee is listed for the brand. Retail loss figures sit high at 81%, so costs per trade matter more than an annual charge.
Is Plus500 regulated in the UK?+
Yes. The UK arm trades as Plus500UK Ltd and is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under 509909. A Cyprus entity is separately authorised by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission under 250/14.
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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