Two brokers duel over access and safeguards. AMarkets leans on offshore CFD pricing and high leverage while Swissquote highlights real shares and top-tier regulation.
Swissquote achieves the higher editorial score (4.3 vs 3.2) and operates under FINMA, FCA, and DFSA. AMarkets runs under SVGFSA offshore regulation.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose AMarkets if…
Choose AMarkets if you want ECN pricing on stocks CFDs and leverage up to 3000:1. You also get MT4/MT5 with copy trading integration.
Choose Swissquote if…
Choose Swissquote if you want real share ownership with custody across 60 exchanges. You value FINMA regulation and depositor protection up to CHF 100,000.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Swissquote wins for safety & regulation with FINMA oversight and depositor protection.
| Editorial score | 3.2/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $100▼ lower | $1,000 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips▼ lower | 1.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AMarkets | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Fail |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| 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 |
Swissquote is the stronger choice: it rates 4.3/5 versus 3.2/5 for AMarkets, a gap that reflects clear differences across regulation, fees, and platform quality in our review.
AMarkets lists tighter spreads from 0, compared with Swissquote's 1.7. For stock trading, also factor in any per-trade or per-share commissions — spreads and commissions together determine the true cost per trade.
AMarkets has $100, while Swissquote requires at least $1000. This makes AMarkets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Swissquote holds top-tier regulation (DFSA, FCA, FINMA), providing stronger investor protections. AMarkets 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: AMarkets requires a lower minimum deposit ($100), lowering the barrier to entry, and Swissquote provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
AMarkets lists maximum leverage of 3000:1, while Swissquote lists up to 20:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
AMarkets charges $6 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Swissquote 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.
AMarkets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Swissquote supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. AMarkets has exclusive access to cTrader. Swissquote has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Neither AMarkets nor Swissquote is listed as offering commission-free trading in our data. Compare each broker's commission schedule directly, as fees vary by account type and the markets you trade.
Swissquote scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
AMarkets wins for active traders with ECN pricing and copy trading on MT4/MT5.
AMarkets is best for beginners due to a lower minimum deposit.
Swissquote wins for global market access with 60 exchanges.
Swissquote wins for long-term investors with real shares and custody across exchanges.
| 0.6 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | CHF 10/month (after 6 months) |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | SVGFSA | DFSA FCA FINMA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.2 / 5
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