Markets.com and Saxo Bank face off on regulation, pricing, and platform strength. The tension centers on protection, cost, and the breadth of tradable instruments.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose Markets.com if you want MT4/MT5 support and a low $25 minimum deposit. You also avoid an inactivity fee and benefit from 24/5 live chat.
Choose if…
Choose Saxo Bank if you want access to 71,000+ instruments and premium multi-asset platforms SaxoTraderGO/PRO. You also benefit from tiered active-trader pricing.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.9 / 5▲ |
Pros
CySEC, FCA, ASIC, and FSCA four-jurisdiction regulation
$25 minimum deposit - lowest among brokers with this regulatory stack
2,200+ instruments including shares CFDs
FSCS protection (UK) and ICF compensation (EU)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Markets.com | 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 |
Saxo Bank rates 4.7/5 versus 4/5 for Markets.com. Saxo Bank edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Both Markets.com and Saxo Bank start from 0.6 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
Saxo Bank has no minimum deposit, while Markets.com requires at least $25. This makes Saxo Bank more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Markets.com 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, two factors stand out: Saxo Bank has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Markets.com lists maximum leverage of 30:1, 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.
Markets.com supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, while Saxo Bank supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, SaxoTraderGO. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Markets.com has exclusive access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Saxo Bank has exclusive access to SaxoTraderGO.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.60 pips.
Saxo Bank wins for safety with licensed bank status and broader regulator coverage.
Saxo Bank wins with tiered active-trader pricing that rewards higher volumes.
Saxo Bank wins for platform choice with SaxoTraderGO/PRO and deep multi-asset tools.
Markets.com wins for beginners due to low minimum deposit and user-friendly access.
Saxo Bank wins for instrument variety with 71,000+ instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 1992 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | Copenhagen, Denmark |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $25 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.6 pips | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | 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 | ASIC CySEC FCA FSCA | ASIC JFSA CNMV FCA MAS SFC DFSA MFSA KNF Finansinspektionen CBI CMA ACPR Finanstilsynet FINMA Finanstilsynet FSC |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | Proprietary Web/Mobile SaxoTraderGO |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Spread-only pricing, no raw ECN account
Research tools limited, no analyst reports or stock screener
Not available to US clients
Platform analytical depth below Saxo or IG
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
Saxo Bank leads overall with a higher editorial score; Markets.com trails in this comparison.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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