A head-to-head comparison of FXOpen and Swissquote across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Triple-regulated ECN specialist (FCA, CySEC, ASIC) and early cTrader adopter with one of the lowest commission structures in retail ECN - $1.5 per side per lot - making it highly cost-effective for active traders.
Swiss banking heritage with exceptional fund security, the broadest asset range in retail trading, and FINMA oversight - though minimum deposits are high.
FXOpen and Swissquote are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.2/5 and 4.2/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
FXOpen offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 1.7 pips for Swissquote, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
FXOpen has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
Swissquote offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.2/5, but FXOpen requires a lower minimum deposit ($100 vs $1120 for Swissquote), making it more accessible for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
| Founded | 2003 | 1996 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Gland, Switzerland |
| Min deposit | $100 | $1,120 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 1.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | $3/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 100:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC | FCA DFSA FINMA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit FXOpen | Visit Swissquote |
Pros
FCA, CySEC, and ASIC triple regulation
$3 round-turn ECN commission - one of the lowest in retail forex
Early cTrader adopter with mature integration
MT4, MT5, and cTrader all available
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
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
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Swiss banking heritage with FINMA regulation and bank-level fund security
Broadest multi-asset range including real stocks, bonds, and options
Listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SIX)
FCA and DFSA regulated for UK and UAE clients
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
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
$100 minimum deposit on ECN accounts
Less brand recognition than larger competitors
Customer support coverage narrower than global tier-1 brokers
No proprietary platform
No phone support
Cons
Very high minimum deposit (CHF 1,000, approximately $1,120)
Spreads wider than ECN peers on standard account
Primarily suited to larger, more sophisticated accounts
Inactivity fee applies
No 24/5 live chat
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | FXOpen | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
FXOpen and Swissquote share the same editorial score of 4.2/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
FXOpen offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Swissquote's spreads from 1.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
FXOpen has a lower minimum deposit of $100, while Swissquote requires at least $1120. This makes FXOpen more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both FXOpen and Swissquote 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: FXOpen has a lower minimum deposit ($100), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
FXOpen offers maximum leverage of 500:1, while Swissquote offers up to 100:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
FXOpen charges $3 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
FXOpen supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and Swissquote offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; FXOpen exclusively offers cTrader; Swissquote exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile.
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Score 4.2 / 5
Score 4.2 / 5
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