Skip to main content

Saxo Bank vs Firstrade: 2023 Comparison

Franklin Carneiro da Silva| Updated: August 22, 2023

Are you confused about whether to choose Saxo Bank vs Firstrade as a broker for your investing needs?

In this side-by-side comparison, we analyse Saxo Bank vs Firstrade to help you understand how these apps compare on some of the most common features and make a better-informed decision about the best broker for you.

Below, you’ll find the pros and cons of each broker, as well as a comparison table that features the different fees charged, the financial instruments supported, the regulation, and more. Keep reading!

Ideal for
Advanced traders with a focus on reliability and security

Saxo Bank is a renowned online trading and investment bank that offers a wide range of financial services to individual and institutional clients.

Saxo Bank offers a range of trading platforms, including SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO, providing clients with user-friendly and advanced options to access global markets.

Security is a paramount concern for Saxo Bank, which is evident through its strong regulatory oversight, encryption protocols, and segregated accounts.

Ideal for
US investors looking for US options only

Firstrade is a traditional company founded in 1985 that recently changed its strategy to become a commission-free online trading platform for stocks, ETFs and options.

The broker is considered safe, with a long track record that survived a few crises and top-tier regulators’ supervision.

The main drawbacks are its limited products offering (no European ETFs, stocks,…) and the fact that it only offers fractional shares on reinvested dividends.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Excellent research materials
  • Outstanding trading platforms (SaxoTraderPRO and SaxoTraderGO)
  • Extensive range of investment products
  • Long track record
  • Supervised by worldwide top-tier regulators

Cons

  • High minimum deposit ($2,000)
  • Fees higher than average
  • Fee structure is complex
  • Does not accept US residents

Pros

  • Commission-free stock, ETF, mutual fund and options trading
  • Good research and educational content
  • No inactivity fees
  • No minimum deposit

Cons

  • You can trade only on US markets
  • No 24/7 customer support
  • No demo account
  • No fractional shares
Saxo
Saxo Bank vs Firstrade: 2023 Comparison 2
  •  
  • General Information
  • Founded in
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum
  • Interest on unninvested cash (annually)
  • Products
  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Commodities
  • Fees
  • US stocks
  • EU stocks
  • ETFs
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Custody Fee
  • Inactivity Fee
  • Withdrawal Fee
  • Connectivity Fee
  • Currency Conversion Fee
  • Security
  • Regulators
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)
  • Saxo BankAsset 3
  • General Information
  • Founded in1992
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum$0 to $10,000, depending on the country**$/€2,000 for international accounts; £500 (UK)
  • Interest on unninvested cash (annually)USD: Up to 4.31%; EUR: Up to 2.55%
  • Products
  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex
  • Cryptocurrencies*Only 9 Crypto FX pairs
  • Commodities
  • Fees
  • US stocksFrom $0.01, $0.015 or $0.02 per share**Min. $1, $5 or $7, depending on account type: VIP, Platinum, Classic
  • EU stocksBetween 0.05% and 0.35%**Min. between €6 and €12 depending on exchange and account type
  • ETFsFrom $1**Depending on exchange and account type
  • Cryptocurrencies-
  • Custody FeeMin. $5**Between 0.05% and 0.15% depending on account type
  • Inactivity Fee£25 (UK) after one quarter of inactivity, $150 after 6 months of inactivity (International)
  • Withdrawal Fee€/$/£0
  • Connectivity Fee€/$/£0
  • Currency Conversion FeeBetween 0.3% and 1.0%**Depending on account type
  • Security
  • RegulatorsASIC, FSA, FCA, SFC, MAS, FINMA, DFSA.
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)

    Depends on where the account is opened: up to €100,000 for cash and €20,000 for securities (Europe); up to £85,000 (UK); CHF 100,000 (Switzerland); HKD 500,000 (Hong Kong)

  • FirstradeAsset 3
  • General Information
  • Founded in1985
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum$1
  • Interest on unninvested cash (annually)0%
  • Products
  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Commodities
  • Fees
  • US stocks$0
  • EU stocksNot Applicable
  • ETFs$0
  • Cryptocurrencies1%**Spread on either side of a crypto trade.
  • Custody Fee$0
  • Inactivity Fee$0
  • Withdrawal Fee0$ for ACH**Wire transfers cost $30-35 (depends on your residency).
  • Connectivity Fee0$
  • Currency Conversion FeeNo available information
  • Security
  • RegulatorsFCA and FINRA.
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)Up to $500,000 **Including international clients.
Franklin Carneiro da Silva
Co-Founder & Fintech Analyst

Franklin is a CFA Level III Candidate with 3 years of experience in Wealth Management as a Fund Research Analyst and the Host of the "Edge Over Hedge" YouTube Channel.

linkedin
youtube