Two well-regulated brokers clash on platform choice, pricing, and instrument breadth. A tension emerges between proprietary tooling and universal MT4/MT5 access.
Saxo Bank edges XM on the editorial score, underpinned by broader regulation coverage and a deeper multi-asset platform. XM remains competitive, but Saxo's higher score reflects its stronger safety, pricing, and platform offering.
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 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.9 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 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 | XM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| 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 |
The scores are close: Saxo Bank rates 4.7/5 and XM rates 4.3/5. Saxo Bank has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Both Saxo Bank and XM 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 XM requires at least $5. This makes Saxo Bank more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Saxo Bank and XM 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.
Saxo Bank lists maximum leverage of 30:1, while XM lists up to 1000:1. 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 XM supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Saxo Bank has exclusive access to SaxoTraderGO and Proprietary Web/Mobile. XM has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Saxo Bank wins for safety due to broader regulator coverage and Danish banking license.
Saxo Bank wins with tiered active-trader pricing that benefits larger, frequent traders.
Saxo Bank wins for platform choice because of its proprietary platform.
XM wins for beginners due to low $5 minimum deposit and educational content.
Saxo Bank wins for instrument variety with 71000 offerings.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.4 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1992 | 2009 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Copenhagen, Denmark | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $5 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.6 pips | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1▲ higher | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $100/quarter (low-balance accounts) | $5/month (after 90 days)▼ lower |
|---|
| 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 for most methods |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC JFSA MAS DFSA FINMA Finanstilsynet ACPR CNMV Finanstilsynet MFSA SFC Finansinspektionen CBI KNF CMA FSC | ASIC CySEC ASF FSC KNF |
|---|
| 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
USD 5 minimum deposit
Strong bonus program
Multilingual support
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
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
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
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
Spreads not as tight as ECN-style brokers
Not available to US clients
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
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