Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Swissquote vs Trade Nation
Swissquote vs Trade Nation: the differences
| Compare |  Swissquote |  Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,000 | $0Lower |
| Inactivity fee | $10 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Forex, CFDs, Spread betting |
| Regulators | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) | FCA |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:100 | 30:1 |
| Stock trade fee | $20 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 57.1% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free deposits and withdrawals |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | TN Trader |
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Key differences
- Trade Nation scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Swissquote offers Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
- Regulators: only Trade Nation offers FCA.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Trade Nation: $0 vs $1,000.
- Inactivity fee is lower at Trade Nation: $0 vs $10.
- Markets: only Swissquote offers Stocks, Crypto.
- Markets: only Trade Nation offers Spread betting.
- Features: only Swissquote offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
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.
Trade Nation
Trade Nation suits UK retail traders who want a regulated, no-frills CFD account with nothing to pay for holding it. The minimum deposit is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so the running cost of an idle account sits at the very bottom of our table.
Score breakdown
| Area | Swissquote | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.3Costs run high: stock trade fee $20, minimum deposit $1,000 and inactivity fee $10 sit above site medians. | 9.6HigherInactivity fee of $0, minimum deposit of $0 and Free deposits and withdrawals for funding, all at the cheap end. |
| Offer | 9.0Higher | 8.5 |
| Trust | 9.0Higher | 8.6 |
Choosing between them
Pick Swissquote if offer and trust matter most.
Pick Trade Nation if cost, minimum deposit, and inactivity fee matter most.
Where these facts come from
Swissquote
- swissquote.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Trade Nation
- forexrev.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradenation.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxscouts.com.au: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- safeforexbrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Swissquote | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Forex brokers | 80 of 147 | 71 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 78 of 145 | 69 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 67 of 122 | 60 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Swissquote | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile appCovers more | Mobile app |
| Legal entity | Swissquote Bank Europe SA | Trade Nation Financial UK Ltd |
| Headquarters | Luxembourg | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1996 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Swissquote | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ESG | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Swissquote | Trade Nation | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,000highest quarter | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $20highest quarter | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $10above the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 57.1%lowest quarter | 72.05% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
Trade Nation
Pros
- Minimum deposit of $0, top of our list on deposits
- Inactivity fee of $0, also top of our list
- Free deposits and withdrawals, so moving money on and off carries no charge
Cons
- Markets are limited to forex, cfds and spread betting, so there is no share dealing alongside the CFDs
- Retail accounts that lose money stand at 57.1%, lower than most brokers on our table but still a majority
- Only one platform, TN Trader, with a mobile app as the stated feature
Who each suits
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
Trade Nation
Who it suits
- UK traders who want an FCA regulated account with no minimum balance
- Anyone who keeps a CFD account open for months and does not want an inactivity charge
- Beginners who prefer one clear platform, TN Trader, rather than a choice
Who should look elsewhere
- Buy and hold investors, since markets run to forex, cfds and spread betting only
- Traders who want crypto, futures or options, none of which sit in forex, cfds and spread betting
- Anyone wanting several platforms, as only TN Trader is listed
Questions about each
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.
Trade Nation
What is the minimum deposit at Trade Nation?+
The minimum deposit is $0, which is 1 of 213 brands in our table. You can open an account with a small balance and add more whenever you want. Deposits themselves carry no charge, since Free deposits and withdrawals.
Does Trade Nation charge an inactivity fee?+
The inactivity fee is $0, which puts it at 1 of 56 brands on that measure. If your account sits unused for a while, there is no monthly deduction for holding it open.
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