Two brokers vie for dominance in cost, tools, and global reach. The axis contrasts Admirals' commission-free options with Saxo Bank's wider exchange access and long-term investing features.
With Saxo Bank scoring higher editorially, it edges Admirals on regulation breadth, global access, and long-term features.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose Admirals if…
Choose Admirals if you want commission-free stock trading and a zero minimum deposit for entry.
Choose Saxo Bank if…
Choose Admirals if you value real shares via Invest.MT5 and the MT4/MT5 ecosystem with 4,500+ stocks and the Supreme Edition. Choose Saxo Bank if you want access to 50+ exchanges and a polished proprietary platform with advanced order types. Choose Saxo Bank if you value multi-asset investing, professional-grade research, and extended-hours trading in a single, cohesive account.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Admirals wins for low cost trading due to commission-free stock trading.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.5/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $2,000 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Admirals | Saxo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Pass | Fail |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Pass |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Saxo Bank rates 4.5/5 versus 4/5 for Admirals. Saxo Bank edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Admirals lists tighter spreads from 0.5, compared with Saxo Bank's 0.6. For stock trading, also factor in any per-trade or per-share commissions — spreads and commissions together determine the true cost per trade.
Admirals has no minimum deposit, while Saxo Bank requires at least $2000. This makes Admirals more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Admirals 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: Admirals 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.
Admirals lists maximum leverage of 20:1, while Saxo Bank lists up to 1:5. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Admirals charges $6 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Saxo Bank are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
Admirals supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Saxo Bank supports SaxoTraderGO, Proprietary Web/Mobile. Admirals has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Saxo Bank has exclusive access to SaxoTraderGO and Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Admirals offers commission-free stock trading while Saxo Bank does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
Both Admirals and Saxo Bank are covered by a compensation scheme according to our data, providing an additional safety net for your stock investments. Confirm the specific scheme and coverage limit that applies to your account before depositing.
Saxo Bank has a broader multi-jurisdiction regulatory profile.
Saxo Bank is best for long-term investing due to dividend reinvestment.
Saxo Bank wins for active traders with professional-grade tools.
Saxo Bank offers broader global access with more exchanges.
| 1.1 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month (after 24 months)▼ lower | $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 |
|---|
| Commission-free | Yes | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | Yes |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC KNF | FCA ASIC JFSA MAS DFSA FINMA Finanstilsynet ACPR CNMV Finanstilsynet MFSA SFC Finansinspektionen CBI KNF CMA FSC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | SaxoTraderGO Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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