Saxo BankAktien-Broker-BewertungHas commissions

A bank, not just a broker

Saxo Bank holds a Danish banking licence, not a broker-dealer registration, a distinction that matters in ways most retail investors underestimate. Client assets are protected under Danish deposit guarantee rules, cash balances sit in 26 currencies simultaneously, and the balance sheet transparency is that of a regulated bank rather than a private brokerage. Saxo publishes audited annual accounts at bank-standard disclosure levels, a transparency requirement simply not present at most online brokers. The banking licence also means Saxo earns its funding through its own capital base, a structurally more stable model than pure brokerage.

For investors who have outgrown the limitations of fintech brokers and want institutional tooling with banking-grade safety, this is the core argument for Saxo Bank. The platform competes not against eToro or Trading 212, but against the private banking arms of major European banks, and it wins on price, access, and platform quality.

SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO

SaxoTraderGO is the best web-based trading platform we have tested in the retail-accessible segment, running entirely in the browser with no download required. The bond screener filters by issuer, credit rating, maturity, currency, and yield; options chains display live Greeks across multiple expiries with a visual payoff diagram. The stock screener allows simultaneous filtering across fundamental criteria (P/E, dividend yield, earnings growth) and technical signals. Reuters news and trading signals are integrated at the account level without additional subscription.

SaxoTraderPRO, available to Platinum and VIP tier clients, adds a fully customisable multi-monitor workstation layout with additional order types, streaming data configurations, and live market depth. Both platforms come within the same account; the level of access depends on your account tier.

The Saxo Trader mobile app replicates the core functions of TraderGO on iOS and Android with full order management, position monitoring, and account funding. Multi-leg options order entry works correctly on the mobile app, something many retail mobile platforms cannot say. The experience is one of the more capable trading mobile apps we have tested at the retail level.

60,000+ instruments across 50+ exchanges

The market breadth is Saxo's other structural differentiator: equities across 50+ exchanges (US, UK, European, Scandinavian, Asian, and Emerging Markets) alongside ETFs, listed options, futures, bonds, and forex in a single account. Currency cash balances sit in 26 currencies simultaneously, removing the FX conversion cost that accumulates at single-currency brokers.

Interactive Brokers reaches more markets in absolute terms; at Saxo's level of platform quality and banking-grade safety, no retail competitor comes close in breadth for the multi-asset investor.

Account tiers and pricing

Saxo's pricing is tiered: Classic, Platinum, and VIP, with progressively lower commissions as assets under management increase. Classic tier stock commissions start at 0.1% per trade for US equities (minimum $3), 0.1% for UK equities (minimum £3), and similar rates across European exchanges. For active investors trading meaningful position sizes, those rates are competitive with full-service alternatives. For someone placing a single £500 trade per month, the percentage-based fee structure will cost more than a flat-fee or commission-free alternative.

Platinum and VIP tiers unlock materially tighter commissions for clients who maintain higher asset levels or trading volumes. The thresholds are published on Saxo's website and updated periodically. There are no hidden fees on standard deposit or withdrawal methods, and the account has no annual platform fee.

Multi-currency accounts and custody

Saxo accounts can hold and settle trades in 26 base currencies without forced conversion between positions. For investors managing multi-currency portfolios, this removes the FX conversion cost that accumulates at brokers with single-currency accounts, a genuinely meaningful saving for active investors who trade across currency zones.

Client assets sit in segregated accounts at systemically important banks in Denmark. The custodian structure is separate from Saxo's own balance sheet, and the published annual accounts document the custodial arrangements in detail. There are no reported fund loss events in Saxo's operating history across its three-decade lifespan.

Who it suits, and who it doesn't

Saxo is the right platform for sophisticated investors who have outgrown app-based platforms and want institutional-grade tooling, multi-asset breadth, and banking-grade safety. It suits European and Scandinavian investors particularly well given the FSA (Denmark), FCA (UK), and MAS (Singapore) regulatory coverage. The multi-currency account capability is especially useful for investors who transact across different currency zones regularly.

It is not the right platform for casual investors or those starting with small amounts. The £2,000 / €2,000 / $2,000 minimum deposit is higher than every other broker we cover. Commission-free trading is not available at any tier. The interface complexity, while rewarding, is not built for a first-time investor's first account.

Danish FSA, FCA, MAS, FINMA, and JFSA: bank-standard multi-jurisdictional oversight

Saxo Bank is regulated by the Danish FSA (home regulator), the FCA in the UK, MAS in Singapore, FINMA in Switzerland, and the JFSA in Japan, with each regulator imposing capital adequacy, segregation, and reporting requirements independently and Danish FSA home supervision adding bank-standard prudential oversight. There are no reported regulatory enforcement actions against Saxo's core entities. The regulatory profile is among the strongest we cover for a retail-accessible platform.

Where it falls short

No Stocks & Shares ISA or SIPP, Saxo serves a broadly European institutional and high-net-worth audience, and UK retail tax wrappers are not part of its range. The minimum deposit threshold excludes investors starting with smaller sums. Classic tier commissions are not competitive for occasional small trades. The platform complexity can overwhelm investors who don't need its full capability, if you're buying a handful of ETFs per year, the depth here is surplus to requirements.

Bottom line

Saxo is the definitive choice for sophisticated investors who want institutional-grade tooling, access to 60,000+ instruments across 50+ exchanges, banking-grade safety, and the ability to manage multi-asset multi-currency portfolios in one place. If you need an ISA or SIPP wrapper, Saxo is the wrong answer. If you've outgrown retail platforms and want something that competes with professional tools without institutional minimums, Saxo delivers.