Comparison of AvaTrade and Saxo
| Feature | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2006 | 1992 |
| Broker Type | MM | DMA |
| Dealing | B-book | A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | Central Bank of Ireland, KNF, FCA, BVIFSC, ASIC, FSCA, JFSA, JFFA, FSRA, ISA, CIRO | Danish FSA, FCA, MAS, FINMA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), AvaTradeGO | SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO, TradingView |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⮕ Average |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:400 | 1:30 |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, AUD, SGD, HKD, DKK, SEK, NOK |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money, PayPal | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card |
| Inactivity Fee | $50 per month after 3 months | ✖ |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✔ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), The Investor Compensation Company DAC (ICCL) | Danish Guarantee Fund, UK FSCS |
| Protection Size | £85 000 / €20 000 | DKK 100 000 / £85 000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✖ | ✖ |
| Copy Trading | ✔ | ✖ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✔ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✔ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities | Currencies, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Options, Futures, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies |
| Review | AvaTrade Review | Saxo Review |
About AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a well-established Forex and CFD broker recognized for its comprehensive trading platforms, diverse range of financial instruments, and robust regulatory framework. Founded in 2006, AvaTrade serves clients worldwide, offering access to major and minor currency pairs, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and more. The broker supports multiple trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader 4 and 5, as well as its proprietary AvaTradeGo app, catering to both desktop and mobile traders. AvaTrade is regulated by several reputable authorities, ensuring a high level of security and trust for its clients. Additionally, the broker provides a variety of account types to suit different trading styles and experience levels, along with extensive educational resources and customer support to assist traders in making informed decisions. With competitive spreads, flexible leverage options, and efficient withdrawal processes, AvaTrade stands out as a reliable choice for both novice and experienced Forex traders.
Pros
- Regulated by multiple top-tier financial authorities
- Offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and AvaTradeGo app
- Provides access to Forex, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies
- Extensive tutorials, webinars, and market analysis available
- Offers tight spreads across numerous trading instruments
- Free demo accounts available for practice trading
- Multilingual support available through various channels
Cons
- Maximum leverage may be lower than what some traders desire
- AvaTradeGo app offers fewer customization options
About Saxo
Saxo is a Danish multi-asset broker and fully licensed bank offering Direct Market Access across more than 190 FX pairs, 19 000+ equities and thousands of other instruments. Regulated by the Danish FSA, FCA, MAS and FINMA, Saxo provides the award-winning SaxoTraderGO/PRO platforms plus TradingView connectivity. Its Classic account has no minimum deposit, floating FX spreads from 0.9 pips and leverage up to 1:30, while Platinum and VIP tiers unlock tighter pricing and premium service. Traders benefit from segregated client funds, negative-balance protection in the EU, rich analytics and extensive education.
Pros
- Bank-grade regulation (DK FSA, FCA, MAS, FINMA)
- No-minimum Classic account; tight DMA pricing
- 190+ FX pairs and 40 000+ instruments overall
- SaxoTraderGO/PRO plus TradingView integration
- Tiered positive-balance interest on cash
- Extensive research, webinars and market tools
Cons
- High deposits (USD 200k / 1 M) for better Platinum / VIP pricing
- No MetaTrader support
- Islamic swap-free accounts not available
AvaTrade & Saxo Regulation
| Feature | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Companies | Ava Trade EU Ltd, Ava Trade Markets Ltd, Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd, Ava Capital Markets Pty, Ava Trade Japan K.K., AVA Trade Middle East Ltd, ATrade Ltd, Friedberg Mercantile Group Ltd. | Saxo Bank A/S |
Countries | Ireland, British Virgin Islands, Australia, South Africa, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Canada | Denmark, United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, UAE, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, France |
Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, KNF, FCA, BVIFSC, ASIC, FSCA, JFSA, JFFA, FSRA, ISA, CIRO | Danish FSA, FCA, MAS, FINMA |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), The Investor Compensation Company DAC (ICCL) | Danish Guarantee Fund, UK FSCS |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 / €20 000 | DKK 100 000 / £85 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Standard | — |
| Min Deposit | $100 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.6 | — |
| Fee | No | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | — |
| Stop Out | 50% | — |
| Margin Call | 100% | — |
DMA Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Classic |
| Min Deposit | — | $1 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0.9 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:30 |
| Stop Out | — | 50% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, AUD, SGD, HKD, DKK, SEK, NOK |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money, PayPal | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card |
Inactivity fee | $50 per month after 3 months | |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), AvaTradeGO | SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO, TradingView |
Execution Speed | 0 ms | 9 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | average |
Trading Assets
| Asset | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 53 | 190 |
Indices | 46 | 29 |
Stocks | 614 | 19000 |
Cryptocurrencies | 20 | 20 |
Bonds | 2 | 5000 |
Metals | 7 | 4 |
Energies | 5 | 5 |
Soft Commodities | 7 | 8 |
ETFs | 61 | 3000 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | AvaTrade | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Email | customer@avatrade.com | salesCEE@saxobank.com |
Phone | +3228080310 | +4539774113 |
Telegram | Telegram | — |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | — |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing AvaTrade and Saxo, AvaTrade comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
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Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.