Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Swissquote vs TradeUP
Where Swissquote and TradeUP differ
| Compare |  Swissquote |  TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $20 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto | ETFs, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) | SIPC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Minimum deposit | $1,000 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $10 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:100 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Regulators: only Swissquote offers Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
- Regulators: only TradeUP offers SIPC.
- Stock trade fee is lower at TradeUP: $0 vs $20.
- Markets: only Swissquote offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only TradeUP offers ETFs, Options.
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.
TradeUP
TradeUP suits retail investors who want free stock dealing and low options costs from a US broker holding SIPC membership. Stock trades cost $0 and investor protection stands at SIPC up to USD 500,000. Markets are limited to etfs, options and stocks, so it suits single market US investors.
Score breakdown
| Area | Swissquote | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.3Costs run high: stock trade fee $20, minimum deposit $1,000 and inactivity fee $10 sit above site medians. | 9.0HigherStock trades cost $0 and options contracts cost $0.65, with no account charge listed. |
| Offer | 9.0Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.0Higher | 8.6 |
Choosing between them
Pick Swissquote if trust matter most.
Pick TradeUP if cost and stock trade fee matter most.
What each covers
| Markets | Swissquote | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | Swissquote | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 187 of 471 | 188 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Swissquote | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Swissquote Bank Europe SA | TRADEUP SECURITIES INC |
| Headquarters | Luxembourg | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1996 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Swissquote | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ESG | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Swissquote | TradeUP | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,000highest quarter | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $20highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $10above the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.625 |
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.
TradeUP
Pros
- Stock trades carry a fee of $0 on a commission free model
- Options contracts cost $0.65
- Client accounts sit with SIPC protection of SIPC up to USD 500,000
Cons
- Trading is limited to etfs, options and stocks
- The regulated entity is TRADEUP SECURITIES INC, so claims are made in the US
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
TradeUP
Who it suits
- Retail investors buying and holding US shares and ETFs
- Options traders who keep contract costs low
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, which covers a wider set of stocks, etfs and forex
- Vantage, which adds forex, cfds and stocks
- CFI, which lists stocks, etfs and forex
Country by country
| Country | Swissquote | TradeUP |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
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.
TradeUP
How much does it cost to buy shares?+
Buying and selling shares carries a fee of $0, and the pricing model is commission free. There is no listed account charge or inactivity charge to offset that, so the dealing cost sits entirely on the trade.
What does an options contract cost?+
An options contract is charged at $0.65. Options are part of the etfs, options and stocks range, so contracts can be traded alongside shares and ETFs in the same account.
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