AvaTrade vs Saxo Bank Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of AvaTrade and Saxo Bank across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Heavily regulated across 6+ jurisdictions with a unique AvaOptions platform for vanilla options trading and strong educational content.
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 0.3 pts
Saxo Bank edges ahead with a score of 4.7/5 vs AvaTrade's 4.4/5. 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
Saxo Bank offers tighter spreads from 0.6 pips vs 0.9 pips for AvaTrade, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
Saxo Bank has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Best for active traders
Recommended
Saxo Bank has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0.6 pips.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
AvaTrade offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
Saxo Bank edges out AvaTrade with a higher editorial score (4.7/5 vs 4.4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
AvaTrade vs Saxo Bank: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.9 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2006 | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Min deposit | $100 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.9 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 30:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FSCA ASIC ADGM CBI MFSA | FCA ASIC JFSA SFC MAS ACPR CNMV DFSA FINMA Finansinspektionen Finanstilsynet FSC CBI KNF Finanstilsynet MFSA CMA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile | Proprietary Web/Mobile SaxoTraderGO |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit AvaTrade | Visit Saxo Bank |
AvaTrade vs Saxo Bank Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
Heavily regulated across 6+ jurisdictions
AvaOptions platform for vanilla options trading
Strong educational content and structured courses
Multiple platforms including MT4, MT5 and proprietary AvaTradeGo
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app 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
Inactivity fee of $50 after 3 months of no trading
Not available to US residents
Spread-only model means no raw ECN pricing
No investor compensation scheme
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
AvaTrade vs Saxo Bank: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
2
AvaTrade
criteria wins
1
Saxo Bank
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | AvaTrade | 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) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | 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 |
AvaTrade vs Saxo Bank: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Saxo Bank ranks higher with a score of 4.7/5 vs 4.4/5 for AvaTrade. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; AvaTrade and Saxo Bank may each suit different trader profiles.
Saxo Bank offers tighter spreads starting from 0.6 pips, compared to AvaTrade's spreads from 0.9 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Saxo Bank has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while AvaTrade requires at least $100. This makes Saxo Bank more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both AvaTrade 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: Saxo Bank has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
AvaTrade 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.
AvaTrade supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile and Saxo Bank offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, SaxoTraderGO; both support Proprietary Web/Mobile; AvaTrade exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; Saxo Bank exclusively offers SaxoTraderGO.
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Score 4.4 / 5
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