A head-to-head comparison of FBS and Saxo Bank across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Offshore broker with CySEC and IFSC licensing, dominant in Southeast Asia and MENA through heavy localised marketing and generous bonuses - best evaluated on regulatory strength rather than promotion value.
Danish-licensed bank with the deepest multi-asset coverage we cover, premium SaxoTraderGO/PRO platforms, and tiered pricing for active traders.
Saxo Bank comes out ahead with an editorial score of 4.7/5 compared to FBS's 3.9/5.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
FBS offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.6 pips for Saxo Bank, reducing trading costs.
Saxo Bank has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
FBS has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
Saxo Bank offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, SaxoTraderGO, a proprietary platform.
Saxo Bank edges out FBS with a higher editorial score (4.7/5 vs 3.9/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 3.5 / 5 | 4.9 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2009 | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Belize City, Belize | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Min deposit | $1 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | $20/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 3000:1 | 30:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FSCA CySEC IFSC | FCA ASIC JFSA MAS SFC DFSA ACPR CNMV FINMA Finansinspektionen Finanstilsynet CMA FSC CBI KNF Finanstilsynet MFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | Proprietary Web/Mobile SaxoTraderGO |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit FBS | Visit Saxo Bank |
Pros
Very low $1 minimum deposit on Cent accounts
MT4 and MT5 on all account types
Multiple account types including Cent, Zero Spread, and ECN
Widely available across Southeast Asia, MENA, and Africa
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
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
Primary entity uses IFSC Belize - offshore, limited investor protection
Bonus turnover requirements are onerous
Very high leverage (3000:1) is a significant risk factor for retail clients
No top-tier regulatory licence
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | FBS | Saxo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | 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 |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Saxo Bank ranks higher with a score of 4.7/5 vs 3.9/5 for FBS. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; FBS and Saxo Bank may each suit different trader profiles.
FBS offers tighter spreads starting from 0 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.
Saxo Bank has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while FBS requires at least $1. This makes Saxo Bank more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Saxo Bank holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, JFSA), providing stronger investor protections. FBS may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Always verify regulatory status with the broker directly before depositing funds.
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.
FBS offers maximum leverage of 3000:1, 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.
FBS charges $20 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
FBS supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and Saxo Bank offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, SaxoTraderGO; FBS exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; Saxo Bank exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, SaxoTraderGO.
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