Two long-standing CFD brokers face off in the crypto arena. The comparison weighs regulatory strength, platform depth, and coin selection to reveal where risk and access differ.
Saxo Bank edges Alpari International on the editorial score, underpinned by top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, transparent pricing, a proprietary platform, and negative balance protection.
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Choose Alpari International if…
Choose Alpari International if you want a $5 minimum deposit and MT4/MT5 with full EA and crypto charting support.
Choose Saxo Bank if…
Choose Saxo Bank if you value top-tier regulation, compensation coverage, and a proprietary platform with integrated crypto CFDs through SaxoTraderGO.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
Saxo Bank wins for security due to a broad, multi-jurisdiction regulatory footprint.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 3.4/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | $5 | No minimum▼ lower |
| Spreads From | 0 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
| Taker Fee | 6.00% | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each exchange meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Alpari International | Saxo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Security | ||
| Cold storage for assets | Fail | Fail |
| Proof of reserves published | Fail | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees | ||
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Fail | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Staking available | Fail | Fail |
| DeFi integration | Fail | Fail |
| NFT trading | Fail | Fail |
| 500+ coins listed | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Saxo Bank rates 3.9/5 versus 3.4/5 for Alpari International. Saxo Bank edges ahead on our composite score, though both exchanges meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Alpari International lists a lower spread from 0, compared with Saxo Bank's 0.6. Crypto trading costs are typically quoted as a percentage of the trade value; check each exchange's full fee schedule, as maker/taker rates and volume discounts vary.
Saxo Bank has no minimum deposit, while Alpari International requires at least $5. This makes Saxo Bank more accessible for traders looking to start with a smaller crypto investment.
Saxo Bank holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, JFSA), providing stronger investor protections. Alpari International may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
Saxo Bank stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Alpari International offers up to 2:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus Saxo Bank's 2:1 cap. Margin and futures trading carry higher risk than spot crypto; confirm product availability and jurisdiction-specific limits on each exchange's website.
Alpari International charges $6 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Saxo Bank are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Crypto fees are typically quoted as maker/taker rates rather than fixed per-trade commissions; check each exchange's fee schedule for volume-based discounts.
Alpari International supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Saxo Bank supports SaxoTraderGO, Proprietary Web/Mobile. Alpari International has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Saxo Bank has exclusive access to SaxoTraderGO and Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Equally matched; no clear evidence of cheaper fees from the provided data.
Equally matched; neither broker offers DeFi or Web3 features.
| 0.6 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity Fee | None | $100/quarter (low-balance accounts) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSC FSCA | FCA ASIC JFSA MAS DFSA FINMA Finanstilsynet ACPR CNMV Finanstilsynet MFSA SFC Finansinspektionen CBI KNF CMA FSC |
|---|
| Cold Storage | No | No |
|---|
| Proof of Reserves | No | No |
|---|
| Staking | No | No |
|---|
| DeFi Integration | No | No |
|---|
| NFT Trading | No | No |
|---|
| 500+ Coins | No | No |
|---|
| P2P Trading | No | No |
|---|
| Crypto Earn / Savings | No | No |
|---|
| Token Launchpad | No | No |
|---|
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Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.4 / 5
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