This comparison pits a Danish-licensed bank with deep multi-asset coverage against a cost-conscious, regulation-light model. The tension centers on regulation, pricing, and platform breadth.
Saxo Bank leads overall with the higher editorial score and deeper regulation, plus broader instrument coverage and a premium SaxoTraderGO platform, ahead of Trade Nation on trust and platforms.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Saxo Bank if…
Choose Saxo Bank if you value 71,000 instruments and the proprietary SaxoTraderGO platform.
Choose Trade Nation if…
Choose Trade Nation if you want fixed spreads from 0.6 pips with no commission and 24/5 live chat support.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.60 pips.
| Editorial score | 4.7/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.9 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Saxo Bank | Trade Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Saxo Bank rates 4.7/5 versus 4.1/5 for Trade Nation. Saxo Bank edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Both Saxo Bank and Trade Nation start from 0.6 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
Neither Saxo Bank nor Trade Nation requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Saxo Bank and Trade Nation 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.
Saxo Bank lists maximum leverage of 30:1, while Trade Nation lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Saxo Bank supports SaxoTraderGO, Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Trade Nation supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Saxo Bank has exclusive access to SaxoTraderGO. Trade Nation has exclusive access to MetaTrader 4.
Saxo Bank wins for safety and regulation due to licensing as a Danish bank and broader top-tier coverage.
Saxo Bank wins for active traders with tiered pricing and a large instrument universe.
Saxo Bank wins platform choice with SaxoTraderGO and advanced charting.
Trade Nation wins for beginners due to no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee.
Saxo Bank wins for instrument variety with 71,000 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1992 | 2014 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Copenhagen, Denmark | London, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.6 pips | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $100/quarter (low-balance accounts) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transfer | Bank transferCredit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC JFSA MAS DFSA FINMA Finanstilsynet ACPR CNMV Finanstilsynet MFSA SFC Finansinspektionen CBI KNF CMA FSC | FCA ASIC |
|---|
| Platforms | SaxoTraderGO Proprietary Web/Mobile | Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Pros
Fixed spreads from 0.6 pips with no commission
No minimum deposit and no inactivity fee
Strong FCA and ASIC multi-region regulation
Simple, transparent cost structure ideal for cost-conscious traders
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
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
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
Cons
Limited asset classes, no stocks or ETF CFDs
Proprietary platform is basic compared to MT4/MT5
Fixed spreads widen significantly during major news events
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.1 / 5
Personalised recommendation
Answer 6 quick questions and we’ll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
Find my broker