Two veteran forex players, Saxo Bank and Windsor Brokers, face off on trust, pricing, and platforms. The scene centers on regulation strength and cost transparency versus platform choice.
Saxo Bank edges Windsor Brokers on editorial score (4.7 vs 4.0), driven by stronger trust/regulation and platform capabilities.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Saxo Bank if…
Choose Saxo Bank for a proprietary trading platform. You also gain strong regulation and clear pricing.
Choose Windsor Brokers if…
Choose Windsor Brokers for MT4/MT5 access. You get ECN pricing with a fixed $8/lot commission.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Windsor Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.60 pips for Saxo Bank, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.7/ 5 | 4.0/ 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 | Windsor Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Saxo Bank rates 4.7/5 versus 4/5 for Windsor Brokers. Saxo Bank edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Windsor Brokers starts from 0 pips, tighter than Saxo Bank's 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Saxo Bank has no minimum deposit, while Windsor Brokers requires at least $100. 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. Windsor Brokers may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
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.
Saxo Bank lists maximum leverage of 30:1, while Windsor Brokers 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.
Windsor Brokers charges $8 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Saxo Bank are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Saxo Bank supports SaxoTraderGO, Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Windsor Brokers supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Saxo Bank has exclusive access to SaxoTraderGO and Proprietary Web/Mobile. Windsor Brokers has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Saxo Bank wins for safety and regulation due to broader top-tier regulatory coverage and licensing.
Saxo Bank wins for active traders with tiered pricing and advanced platform tools.
Windsor Brokers is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
Saxo Bank wins for platform choice with a proprietary multi-asset platform.
Saxo Bank wins for instrument variety with thousands of assets.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1992 | 1988 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Copenhagen, Denmark | Nicosia, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.6 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $8/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 0.8 pips |
| 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 cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transfer | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC JFSA MAS DFSA FINMA Finanstilsynet ACPR CNMV Finanstilsynet MFSA SFC Finansinspektionen CBI KNF CMA FSC | CySEC FSCA |
|---|
| Platforms | SaxoTraderGO Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 5 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
35+ years of continuous operation, one of the longest track records in retail forex
CySEC regulated with EU investor protections
ECN Zero account from 0.0 pips + $8 commission
Islamic swap-free accounts available
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
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
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
Platform limited to MT4 and MT5, no cTrader or proprietary option
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
ECN commission slightly above IC Markets and Pepperstone
No top-tier regulatory licence
Limited charting capabilities
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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