Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Saxo vs TradeZero
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Saxo |  TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1 | $0Lower |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Bonds, FundsCovers more | Stocks, Options |
| Regulators | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | AFM |
| Options contract fee | $2 | $0.59Lower |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | $15 wire transfer out |
| Platforms | SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader | ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile, TZ1, TradingView |
| Minimum deposit | CHF 0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 64% | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.25% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 9% |
| Account types | Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Saxo scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Saxo offers Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only TradeZero offers AFM.
- Founded is lower at Saxo: 1992 vs 2015.
- Saxo is licensed in 1 more country.
- Stock trade fee is lower at TradeZero: $0 vs $1.
- Options contract fee is lower at TradeZero: $0.59 vs $2.
- Markets: only Saxo offers ETFs, Forex, CFDs.
- Platforms: only Saxo offers SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader.
- Platforms: only TradeZero offers ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile.
Our verdict on each
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.
TradeZero
TradeZero suits traders who want stocks and options on a single account without a per-trade commission, and the demo account gives beginners a place to practise. Options cost $0.59 a contract, and the account works through desktop, mobile and charting tools.
Score breakdown
| Area | Saxo | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Account fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0, and the minimum deposit is CHF 0. Stock trades cost $1. | 9.1Stock trades cost $0, ranking first of 161 brands on that fee, and the inactivity fee ranks first of 56. |
| Offer | 9.3Higher | 9.1 |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 8.6 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Saxo | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 78 of 471 | 169 of 471 |
| Options trading platforms | 23 of 103 | 58 of 103 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Saxo | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Pick Saxo if, pick TradeZero if
Pick Saxo if trust and markets matter most.
Pick TradeZero if stock trade fee and options contract fee matter most.
Where these facts come from
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
TradeZero
- tradezero.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Saxo | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Saxo Bank A/S | TradeZero Europe B.V. |
| Headquarters | Denmark | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1992Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Saxo | TradeZero | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 64%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.25%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 9%above the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $2highest quarter | $0.59below the median | $0.625 |
Median across 91 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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
TradeZero
Pros
- Regulated in the Netherlands by AFM, with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Margin positions run at a rate of 9%.
- A demo account and a mobile app are included, so the platform can be learned before funding.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only.
- A wire transfer out of the account costs $15 wire transfer out.
- The market range is stocks and options, so forex, crypto and metals are not covered.
Who each suits
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
TradeZero
Who it suits
- Traders buying stocks and options who do not want a per-trade commission.
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before putting money in.
- Day traders who work across several platforms rather than a single terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after forex, crypto or futures, where eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Traders who want metals and CFDs beside stocks, which Vantage covers with forex, cfds and stocks.
Current offers
TradeZero
Current offer
Bonus
Welcome Offer WELCOME250: 250
with a $250+ deposit during sign-up
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
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.
TradeZero
What does TradeZero charge to trade stocks and options?+
Stock trades cost $0 per trade, and options cost $0.59 a contract. The pricing model is described as commission-free and low-fee, so the per-order cost is the main thing to compare. The inactivity fee is $0, so an idle account is not charged.
Is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
The account is provided by TradeZero Europe B.V., which is licensed by AFM in the Netherlands. Investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so money above that figure sits outside the scheme. Keeping larger balances elsewhere limits what is at stake.
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