Two regulated brokers square off with contrasting strengths. The tension centers on platform sophistication and instrument breadth versus a familiar MT4 setup.
Saxo Bank edges ATFX on editorial score (4.7 vs 4.2) due to its proprietary platform and 71,000-instrument universe.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Saxo Bank offers tighter spreads from 0.60 pips vs 1.80 pips for ATFX, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.9 / 5▲ |
Pros
FCA (UK), CySEC (EU), and FSCA (SA) licensing
300+ instruments including ETF CFDs and bond CFDs
FSCS protection up to GBP 85,000 for UK clients
No minimum deposit, no inactivity fee
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ATFX | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Saxo Bank rates 4.7/5 versus 4.2/5 for ATFX. Saxo Bank edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Saxo Bank starts from 0.6 pips, tighter than ATFX's 1.8 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither ATFX nor Saxo Bank requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both ATFX and Saxo Bank hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
ATFX lists maximum leverage of 400:1, while Saxo Bank lists up to 30:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
ATFX supports MetaTrader 4, while Saxo Bank supports SaxoTraderGO, Proprietary Web/Mobile. ATFX has exclusive access to MetaTrader 4. Saxo Bank has exclusive access to SaxoTraderGO and Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Saxo Bank wins for safety and regulation with Danish licensing and broad regulator coverage.
Saxo Bank suits active traders with tiered pricing and a deep multi-asset platform.
Saxo Bank is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.60 pips.
Saxo Bank delivers a proprietary, best-in-class multi-asset platform.
ATFX is best for beginners because of zero minimum deposit and MT4 familiarity.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2017 | 1992 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Copenhagen, Denmark |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 1.8 pips | 0.6 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 400:1▲ higher | 30:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $100/quarter (low-balance accounts) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA FSCA CySEC | FCA ASIC JFSA MAS DFSA FINMA Finanstilsynet ACPR CNMV Finanstilsynet MFSA SFC Finansinspektionen CBI KNF CMA FSC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 | SaxoTraderGO Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
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
MT4 only, no MT5, cTrader, or proprietary platform
Standard spreads from 1.8 pips are not ECN-competitive
Relatively young broker, founded 2017
No raw spread account option
Limited charting capabilities
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
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
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