ActivTrades vs Saxo Bank Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and Saxo Bank across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Score 4.3 / 5
2 bonusesFCA-regulated UK broker with 23 years of history, SMSG membership, and a proprietary ActivTrader platform featuring built-in volatility protection - strong in southern European markets.
VS
Danish-licensed bank with the deepest multi-asset coverage we cover, premium SaxoTraderGO/PRO platforms, and tiered pricing for active traders.
Our Verdict
Saxo Bank winsby 0.4 pts
Saxo Bank edges ahead with a score of 4.7/5 vs ActivTrades's 4.3/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
ActivTrades offers tighter spreads from 0.5 pips vs 0.6 pips for Saxo Bank, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Best for active traders
Recommended
ActivTrades has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0.5 pips.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
ActivTrades offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
Saxo Bank edges out ActivTrades with a higher editorial score (4.7/5 vs 4.3/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
ActivTrades vs Saxo Bank: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.9 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2001 | 1992 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 30:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | FCA ASIC DFSA FINMA Finansinspektionen Finanstilsynet CMA CBI FSC Finanstilsynet KNF MFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit Saxo Bank |
ActivTrades vs Saxo Bank Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
FCA regulated with supplemental insurance up to GBP 1,000,000 per client
ActivTrader's volatility protection feature is a genuine risk management differentiator
No minimum deposit
Strong southern European presence - Italian, Spanish, Portuguese support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Licensed bank (Denmark)
Best-in-class multi-asset platform
Tiered active-trader pricing
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Product range narrower than IG or Saxo
No cTrader or raw ECN account option
Less known outside Europe compared to global competitors
Cons
Higher minimums on classic accounts than ECN brokers
No MT4 / MT5
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
ActivTrades vs Saxo Bank: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
3
ActivTrades
criteria wins
0
Saxo Bank
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | ActivTrades | Saxo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
ActivTrades vs Saxo Bank: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Saxo Bank ranks higher with a score of 4.7/5 vs 4.3/5 for ActivTrades. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ActivTrades and Saxo Bank may each suit different trader profiles.
ActivTrades offers tighter spreads starting from 0.5 pips, compared to Saxo Bank's spreads from 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither ActivTrades nor Saxo Bank requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and Saxo Bank hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
ActivTrades offers maximum leverage of 400:1, while Saxo Bank offers up to 30:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader and Saxo Bank offers Proprietary Web/Mobile; ActivTrades exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader; Saxo Bank exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile.
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Score 4.3 / 5
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