Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
SoFi vs Swissquote
What sets them apart
| Compare |  SoFi |  Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $1,000 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $20 |
| Inactivity fee | $0Lower | $10 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Crypto | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | SIPC, FDIC | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:100 |
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Key differences
- SoFi scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only SoFi offers SIPC, FDIC.
- Regulators: only Swissquote offers Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
- Founded is lower at Swissquote: 1996 vs 2011.
- Minimum deposit is lower at SoFi: $0 vs $1,000.
- Stock trade fee is lower at SoFi: $0 vs $20.
- Inactivity fee is lower at SoFi: $0 vs $10.
- Markets: only SoFi offers ETFs, Options.
- Markets: only Swissquote offers Forex, CFDs.
- Features: only SoFi offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
SoFi
SoFi suits retirement savers in the US, with a stock trade fee of $0, an account fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The named licences are US registrations, so readers outside the US should check the account types and terms first.
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 | SoFi | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherRanks 1 of 161 on stock trade fee, 1 of 138 on account fee, 1 of 56 on inactivity fee. | 8.3Costs run high: stock trade fee $20, minimum deposit $1,000 and inactivity fee $10 sit above site medians. |
| Offer | 9.4Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 9.0 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | SoFi | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | SoFi | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Luxembourg | Not confirmed | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) MiCA CASP 549300M2IHOB9P5WE714 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 68389 FDIC FDIC cert 26881 | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | SoFi | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 80 of 471 | 187 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 22 of 151 | 78 of 151 |
What we checked
SoFi
- en.wikipedia.org: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sofi.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Swissquote
- swissquote.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | SoFi | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | SOFI SECURITIES LLC | Swissquote Bank Europe SA |
| Headquarters | United States | Luxembourg |
| Founded | 2011 | 1996Lower |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | SoFi | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | ESG |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | SoFi | Swissquote | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $1,000highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $20highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | $10above the median | $0 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
SoFi
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 on a commission free model, so cost does not decide which shares you can hold.
- The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so extra accounts and balances left untouched are not billed.
- The minimum deposit is $0 where Vantage asks $5, so a small amount can start an account.
Cons
- The account types listed are ira, roth ira and joint, retirement and joint accounts, and a general taxable account is not among them.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and options, while eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, so forex, CFDs and futures are out of reach here.
- The group sits in US and its registrations are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881, with no UK or EU regulator named.
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
SoFi
Who it suits
- Beginners, which the audience fact lists as beginners, who want to start small with a $0 minimum deposit.
- Retirement savers who want an IRA, a Roth IRA or a joint account at $0 in account fees.
- Fractional share buyers who want crypto and equities in the same app, as the feature list crypto, fractional shares and mobile app shows.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and SoFi lists stocks, etfs and options.
- Investors who want a broader spread of instruments than shares, ETFs, options and crypto, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who need a UK or EU regulated provider, because the licences named are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881.
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
Country by country
| Country | SoFi | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
SoFi
What does it cost to open and hold a SoFi account?+
The published minimum deposit is $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so opening and holding an account adds no charge on the listed terms. Those are account level figures, which is the first thing to check before you choose a wrapper or leave a balance untouched.
What does a stock trade cost?+
A stock trade costs $0 and the pricing model is commission free, so commission does not decide which shares you can hold. Other brands on the site charge a stock trade fee as high as €17.54, and the account fee of $0 and inactivity fee of $0 add nothing on top.
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.
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