Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Saxo vs Vanguard
Saxo vs Vanguard: the differences
| Compare |  Saxo |  Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | CHF 0 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | $1 | $0Lower |
| Account fee | €0 | $20 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Bonds, FundsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds |
| Options contract fee | $2 | $1Lower |
| Account types | Joint, Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 64% | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.25% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Saxo scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Vanguard: $0 vs $1.
- Options contract fee is lower at Vanguard: $1 vs $2.
- Markets: only Saxo offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
- Account types: only Saxo offers Corporate.
- Account types: only Vanguard offers IRA, Roth IRA.
- Pricing model: only Saxo offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Vanguard offers Commission free.
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.
Vanguard
Vanguard suits beginner US investors who want straightforward retirement investing without a trading bill, with stock trades at $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The catch is an account fee of $20, plus $1 for every options contract traded.
Score breakdown
| Area | Saxo | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherAccount fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0, and the minimum deposit is CHF 0. Stock trades cost $1. | 8.9Stock trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, but the account itself carries an account fee of $20. |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 9.5 | Not confirmed |
What each covers
| Markets | Saxo | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Saxo | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
Sources behind this comparison
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
Vanguard
- investor.vanguard.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investguiding.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- vanguard.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Saxo | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 78 of 471 | 128 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 17 of 86 | 26 of 86 |
| Options trading platforms | 23 of 103 | 46 of 103 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Saxo | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Saxo Bank A/S | The Vanguard Group, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Denmark | United States |
| Founded | 1992 | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Saxo | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Saxo | Vanguard | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0below the median | Not confirmed | €2.45 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 64%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.25%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | $2highest quarter | $1highest quarter | $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
Vanguard
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens at $0, so entry costs nothing
- stocks, etfs and options covers the range most long term investors need in one place
- Account types include ira, roth ira and joint, which suits retirement saving
Cons
- An account fee of $20 applies to the account whatever the trade volume
- Options cost $1 per contract against $0 for stock trades
- Forex, crypto and CFDs are not among its stocks, etfs and options
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
Vanguard
Who it suits
- Beginners building a retirement pot in the US
- Investors holding funds and ETFs alongside individual stocks
- Anyone who accepts an account fee to keep trading costs low
Who should look elsewhere
- Day traders who want no account fee, since eToro charges $0
- Traders wanting forex, crypto or CFDs alongside shares, which CFI lists in stocks, etfs and forex
- Anyone put off by an opening balance, since Vantage requires $5 where Vanguard asks $0
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.
Vanguard
What does it cost to buy shares at Vanguard?+
Buying shares costs $0, and the account opens at a minimum deposit of $0. The running cost is an account fee of $20 rather than a charge on each trade, so frequent trading does not add commission.
Is there an account fee?+
There is. The account fee is $20, and it is the main ongoing cost here. Investors who expect to hold rather than trade repeatedly can absorb it, while active traders would feel it more on smaller balances.
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