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Written by: Adam N. Updated: Dec 2022
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Saxo Bank Alternatives

The best alternatives to Saxo Bank are

  1. Swissquote - Swiss investment bank
  2. Interactive Brokers - International broker providing all asset classes
  3. DEGIRO - German-Dutch discount broker

Let's see in a bit more detail how the Saxo Bank alternatives compare to Saxo Bank and each other:

Saxo Bank alternatives comparison
Saxo Bank Swissquote Interactive Brokers DEGIRO
Overall score 4.8 stars 4.5 stars 4.9 stars 4.9 stars
Fees score 3.0 stars 1.8 stars 4.5 stars 4.5 stars
Account opening score 4.3 stars 4.0 stars 3.2 stars 5.0 stars
Deposit and withdrawal score 4.8 stars 4.6 stars 3.0 stars 3.0 stars
Web platform score 5.0 stars 4.3 stars 3.8 stars 4.0 stars
Markets and products score 5.0 stars 5.0 stars 5.0 stars 3.8 stars
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Why are these brokers considered good alternatives to Saxo Bank? There are many areas based on which Saxo Bank can be compared with others. When we say a given online broker is a good alternative to Saxo Bank we mean these brokers are comparable in the following areas:

  • The products they offer, meaning you can buy mostly the same things, i.e. stocks, CFDs, options, etc.
  • The type of clients they target, i.e. beginners, experienced investors, or day traders.

Saxo Bank alternatives recommendations

Brokers are different in a number of ways, which means each of them may be suitable for different people. Here's how they compare overall:

  • Saxo Bank is recommended for investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research
  • Swissquote is recommended for affluent investors who value safety and are ok with higher fees
  • Interactive Brokers is recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment
  • DEGIRO is recommended for traders and investors looking for execution only

Important factors of finding Saxo Bank alternatives

So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 101 online brokers in detail, which gives this comparison a solid starting point.

Not only that, but all of these brokers are reviewed using the exact same broker review methodology, which makes everything easily comparable. For each broker, we

  • open a live account
  • check over 100 criteria, with weighting based on readers' preferences
  • refresh data regularly

Whether Saxo Bank or one of its alternatives is the best choice for you is on the following five broker characteristics that most interest people:

Fees. There are different types of fees that your online brokerage may charge, and both the number and the size of these fees may vary significantly from broker to broker. Both of these aspects can impact your returns and your overall experience. The amounts Saxo Bank charges you are considered average. When picking an alternative, you could prioritize brokers that are cheaper than Saxo Bank.

Account opening. To open an account some brokers require at least €50,000 to be invested, while others don't set a minimum first-time deposit. The time it takes to open your account can be very different as well. At Saxo Bank this is not a problem as you can have it ready on the same day you registered.

Deposit/withdrawal. The number of ways that you can deposit or withdraw money to or from your account matters a lot. For example, while you can make a deposit with a credit card at Saxo Bank, this might not be the case at its alternatives.

Web trading platform. While online brokers are usually available on various platforms like mobile apps, tablet apps or desktop software, most people use them through their web platform in a browser. User-friendly trading platforms that offer many different resources can significantly increase your trading comfort.

Markets and products. A lot of people have specific products they would like to invest in. Knowing whether stocks, forex, mutual funds, and other products are available at the given Saxo Bank alternative is a must.


Now let's dive into the details of how Saxo Bank and its alternatives perform in the most important areas!

Saxo Bank alternatives
Swissquote

Swissquote is a Swiss investment bank established in 1996. It has three main trading entities:

  1. Swissquote Bank - it provides all asset classes, including stocks and ETFs. This entity is based in Switzerland and has multiple regulations, including the top-tier Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). 
  2. Swissquote Bank Europe - it provides stocks, ETFs, funds, cryptos, forex, and CFD trading. This entity is based in Luxembourg and is regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), Luxembourg's regulator.
  3. Swissquote LTD - it provides CFD and forex trading. The entity is based in the UK and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The fact that Swissquote Bank Ltd has a banking license, is listed on the Swiss stock exchange, discloses detailed financials regularly, and has a long track record are all great signs with respect to Swissquote's safety. 

In this review, we focus mainly on the Swiss entity, sometimes referred to as "Swissquote Bank (CH)" and we will refer to the Luxembourg and UK-based entities as "Swissquote Europe (LUX)" and "Swissquote LTD (UK)", respectively.

Recommended for affluent investors who value safety and are ok with higher fees

Pros
Cons
Access to many markets and products
High trading fees
No inactivity fee
Confusing trading platform selection
Rock-solid background
Some research tools are not free

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Fees
1.8

Swissquote charges no inactivity fee and you can trade an impressive selection of funds for favorable fees. On the other hand, trading fees are generally high, including stock and ETF fees, and withdrawing money comes with a price tag.
Pros
Cons
Low fund fees
High stock and ETF fees
No inactivity fee
High bond fees
Saxo Bank vs. Swissquote: Trading fees
Swissquote Saxo Bank
Apple benchmark fee $50.3 $20.3
Vodafone benchmark fee $57.3 $18.9
EURUSD benchmark fee $15.0 $14.6

Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX

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Account opening
4.0

Swissquote offers a fully digital account opening process, although we encountered wait times. There is no minimum deposit for trading accounts, but a high minimum for forex and robo-advisory accounts.
Pros
Cons
Fully digital
Long wait times
No minimum deposit for trading account
Forex and robo-advisor accounts have high minimum deposit
Saxo Bank vs. Swissquote: Minimum deposit, time to open an account
Swissquote Saxo Bank
Minimum deposit $0 $2,000
Time to open account 1 day 1 day

If you are interested more in Swissquote minimum deposit, this overview will help you.

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Deposit and withdrawal
4.6

Depositing at Swissquote is quick with credit/debit card and can be done in several base currencies. On the negative side, you can only withdraw money via bank transfer and there is a withdrawal fee charged.
Pros
Cons
Credit/Debit card available
Withdrawal fee
Several account base currencies
Saxo Bank vs. Swissquote: Withdrawal options
Swissquote Saxo Bank
Bank transfer Yes Yes
Credit/debit card No No
Electronic wallets No No
Withdrawal fee $10 $0

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Web trading platform
4.3

The Swissquote eTrading platform has so many functions that sometimes the platform is hard to use. Customizability is good and there is a clear overview of trading fees, but it's easy to get lost on the platform.
Pros
Cons
Clear fee report
Easy to get lost among functions
Two-step (safer) login
Good search function
Web trading platform of Swissquote, a Saxo Bank alternative
Saxo Bank vs. Swissquote: Trading platform scores
Swissquote Saxo Bank
Web platform score 4.3 stars 5.0 stars
Mobile platform score 4.7 stars 5.0 stars
Desktop platform score 3.4 stars 5.0 stars

Learn more about Swissquote's web trading platform in the detailed Swissquote review.

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Markets and products
5.0

At Swissquote Bank (CH) and Swissquote Bank Europe (LUX), you can access many markets and trade a lot of different product types. At Swissquote LTD (UK) you can trade forex and CFDs.
Saxo Bank vs. Swissquote: Markets and products
Swissquote Saxo Bank
Stocks Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes
Forex Yes Yes
Funds Yes Yes
Bonds Yes Yes
Options Yes Yes
Futures Yes Yes
CFDs Yes Yes
Crypto Yes Yes

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Verdict

Swissquote is an investment bank with a rock-solid background. The key factors of its safety scoreboard are the following:

  • it is Swiss,
  • it is listed on a stock exchange
  • and it is a bank. 

It has two main entities, one based in Luxembourg and one in Switzerland.

Swissquote offers a broad range of products across many markets. Their product portfolio includes a great variety of stocks, mutual funds, and a variety of other products such as bonds and cryptos.

However, nothing is free: Swissquote's trading fees are relatively high

All in all, Swissquote is a great stockbroker. As you can trade many products and there is no inactivity fee, feel free to give it a try.

Swissquote
Summary Swissquote is a Swiss online broker with a banking license. It is listed on the Swiss stock exchange and regulated by several authorities globally, including the top-tier UK FCA.
Fees score 1.8 stars
Recommended for Affluent investors who value safety and are OK with higher fees

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Saxo Bank alternatives
Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers, one of the biggest US-based discount brokers, was founded in 1977. The broker is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including top-tier ones like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Given that the broker has licenses from multiple top-tier regulators, has a long track record and publicly disclosed financials while being listed on a stock exchange; it all points towards IB being a safe service provider.

Interactive Brokers recently launched a new app for global stock trading:. GlobalTrader is a simple platform where you can trade stocks and ETFs. If you are looking to trade only those two assets, GlobalTrader is the solution for you, since you will not get distracted with the other unnecessary information about other asset classes. In addition, you will have a more convenient time navigating through its simple user interface. It is also easier and quicker to create a GlobalTrader account than to create an Interactive Brokers account.  Read our review of IBKR GlobalTrader

In addition, Interactive Brokers also has an app you can use for ESG investing: read our review of IMPACT by Interactive Brokers.

Recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment

Pros
Cons
Low trading fees
Complicated account opening process
Wide range of products
Complex desktop trading platform
Many great research tools
Understaffed customer service

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Fees
4.5

Interactive Brokers has low trading fees and the best margin rates in the industry. For US clients, stock and ETF trading is free if they choose the Lite plan.
Pros
Cons
Low trading fees
None
Free stock and ETF trading for US clients
Low margin rates
Saxo Bank vs. Interactive Brokers: Trading fees
Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank
Apple benchmark fee $2.3 $20.3
Vodafone benchmark fee $7.6 $18.9
EURUSD benchmark fee $14.7 $14.6

Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX

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Account opening
3.2

IB's account opening process is fully digital and the required minimum deposit is low. On the negative side, the process is complicated and account verification takes relatively long.
Pros
Cons
Fully digital
Not user-friendly
No minimum deposit for most account types
Saxo Bank vs. Interactive Brokers: Minimum deposit, time to open an account
Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank
Minimum deposit $0 $2,000
Time to open account 1-3 days 1 day

If you are interested more in Interactive Brokers minimum deposit, this overview will help you.

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Deposit and withdrawal
3.0

Interactive Brokers offers several account base currencies and one free withdrawal per month. The main drawback is that you can only use bank transfer.
Pros
Cons
No deposit fee
Credit/Debit card not available
Several account base currencies
First withdrawal free each month
Saxo Bank vs. Interactive Brokers: Withdrawal options
Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank
Bank transfer Yes Yes
Credit/debit card No No
Electronic wallets No No
Withdrawal fee $0 $0

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Web trading platform
3.8

The Interactive Brokers web platform is simple and easy to use, even for beginners, however there are some minor but annoying glitches.
Pros
Cons
User-friendly
User experience could be better
Clear fee report
Two-step (safer) login
Web trading platform of Interactive Brokers, a Saxo Bank alternative
Saxo Bank vs. Interactive Brokers: Trading platform scores
Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank
Web platform score 3.8 stars 5.0 stars
Mobile platform score 3.5 stars 5.0 stars
Desktop platform score 3.8 stars 5.0 stars

Learn more about Interactive Brokers's web trading platform in the detailed Interactive Brokers review.

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Markets and products
5.0

At Interactive Brokers, you have access to an extremely wide range of markets and all product types are available.
Saxo Bank vs. Interactive Brokers: Markets and products
Interactive Brokers Saxo Bank
Stocks Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes
Forex Yes Yes
Funds Yes Yes
Bonds Yes Yes
Options Yes Yes
Futures Yes Yes
CFDs Yes Yes
Crypto Yes Yes

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Verdict

Interactive Brokers is one of the biggest US-based lowest spread brokers, regulated by several top-tier regulators globally. We recommend this broker both for advanced traders and for everyday investors who want to have access to many stock markets.

On the plus side, IB offers very low fees, a vast range of markets and products, and diverse research tools

There are some drawbacks, however. We weren't satisfied with the quality of the customer service and the account opening process is complicated. Unlike the web and mobile platforms, the desktop platform is complex and hard to get a handle on, especially for beginners.

If you have experience navigating complex platforms and enjoy transparent, low-cost trading, Interactive Brokers is a great fit for you.

Interactive Brokers
Summary Interactive Brokers is a US discount broker. It is listed on a stock exchange and regulated by several authorities, including top-tier ones like the FCA and the SEC.
Fees score 4.5 stars
Recommended for Traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment

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Saxo Bank alternatives
DEGIRO

DEGIRO is a German-Dutch online discount broker. It was established in 2008 by former employees of another brokerage company in the Netherlands. DEGIRO merged with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG in early 2021, creating the biggest online execution-only broker in Europe with its own banking license.

Check out our DEGIRO review tailored to the needs of beginner investors and traders.

DEGIRO is regulated by top-tier financial authorities such as the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, or BaFin) in Germany.

Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.

Disclaimer for UK clients: Deemed authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The nature and extent of consumer protections may differ from those applicable to firms based in the UK. Details of the Temporary Permissions Regime, which allows EEA-based firms to operate in the UK for a limited period while seeking full authorisation, are available on the FCA's website.

Recommended for traders and investors looking for execution only

Pros
Cons
One of the lowest fees on the market
Forex not available
Regulated by top-tier authorities
Limited research tools
Easy-to-use web and mobile platform
No credit/debit card deposit

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Fees
4.5

DEGIRO has low trading fees for all asset classes. Non-trading fees are also low, as there are no inactivity or withdrawal fees. On the negative side, trading US options or futures will come with a €5 monthly fee. If you need currency conversion, a 0.25% fee will apply.
Pros
Cons
Low fund fees
€5 monthly fee for trading US derivatives (options and futures)
No inactivity fee
0.25% FX conversion fee
Low stock and ETF fees
Saxo Bank vs. DEGIRO: Trading fees
DEGIRO Saxo Bank
Apple benchmark fee $2.3 $20.3
Vodafone benchmark fee $7.0 $18.9
EURUSD benchmark fee - $14.6

Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX

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Account opening
5.0

The account opening process at DEGIRO is fast, fully digital, and no minimum deposit is required.
Pros
Cons
Fast
None
Fully digital
No minimum deposit
Saxo Bank vs. DEGIRO: Minimum deposit, time to open an account
DEGIRO Saxo Bank
Minimum deposit $0 $2,000
Time to open account 1 day 1 day

If you are interested more in DEGIRO minimum deposit, this overview will help you.

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Deposit and withdrawal
3.0

DEGIRO deposits and withdrawals are free of charge via bank transfer. A big drawback though is that you can't deposit funds using a credit or debit card.
Pros
Cons
Free withdrawal
Credit/Debit card not available
No deposit fee
Several account base currencies
Saxo Bank vs. DEGIRO: Withdrawal options
DEGIRO Saxo Bank
Bank transfer Yes Yes
Credit/debit card No No
Electronic wallets No No
Withdrawal fee $0 $0

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Web trading platform
4.0

DEGIRO's web platform is very basic and easy to use, even for beginners. On the negative side, you can't set price alerts.
Pros
Cons
User-friendly
Limited customizability (for charts, workspace)
Clear fee report
No price alerts
Two-step (safer) login
Web trading platform of DEGIRO, a Saxo Bank alternative
Saxo Bank vs. DEGIRO: Trading platform scores
DEGIRO Saxo Bank
Web platform score 4.0 stars 5.0 stars
Mobile platform score 4.5 stars 5.0 stars
Desktop platform score - 5.0 stars

Learn more about DEGIRO's web trading platform in the detailed DEGIRO review.

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Markets and products
3.8

At DEGIRO, you can access many markets and trade a lot of different products. CFDs and forex are not available, though.
Saxo Bank vs. DEGIRO: Markets and products
DEGIRO Saxo Bank
Stocks Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes
Forex No Yes
Funds Yes Yes
Bonds Yes Yes
Options Yes Yes
Futures Yes Yes
CFDs No Yes
Crypto No Yes

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Verdict

DEGIRO is a good choice if you want a simple platform and don’t want to spend too much on fees.

Transaction costs are generally very low. In addition, the account opening process is fast.

On the other hand, as DEGIRO is an execution-only broker, its research tools are limited. We should also mention that it offers no forex trading, and most clients can only deposit and withdraw by bank transfer.

All in all, DEGIRO is a great online broker. There is no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee, so feel free to go ahead and give it a try.

DEGIRO
Summary DEGIRO is a discount broker that merged with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG and is supervised by the German financial regulator.
Fees score 4.5 stars
Recommended for Traders and investors looking for execution only

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Saxo Bank alternatives
Saxo Bank

Saxo Bank, a Danish investment bank founded in 1992, provides online trading and investment services. The company is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the Danish Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Saxo Bank is a global service provider and as such it operates a number of separate legal entities in different regions of the world. The services offered by the various entities may differ slightly, especially with respect to fees and product portfolios. In this review, we tested Saxo Markets UK.

Being regulated by top-tier financial authorities, having a long track record and a banking background are all good signs for Saxo Bank's safety.

Recommended for investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research

Pros
Cons
Great trading platform
High bond, options and futures fees
Outstanding research
High minimum deposit
Broad product portfolio
Lacks live chat and 24/7 availability

Fees
3.0

Saxo Bank has overall average trading and non-trading fees, but the structure is quite mixed, with great differences between the fees for various asset classes.
Pros
Cons
Low forex fees
Inactivity fee
Low fund fees
Custody fee
No withdrawal fee
High fees for options and futures
Saxo Bank alternatives trading fees
Saxo Bank Swissquote Interactive Brokers DEGIRO
US stock $10.0 $25.0 $1.0 $1.0
UK stock $9.0 $28.3 $3.4 $3.1

Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k

Account opening
4.3

Saxo's account opening is fully digital, user-friendly and available in most countries. However, the minimum deposit is high in certain countries (can be $2,000).
Pros
Cons
Fully digital
Minimum deposit is high in certain countries
User-friendly
Available in almost every country
Saxo Bank alternatives minimum deposit and account open times
Saxo Bank Swissquote Interactive Brokers DEGIRO
Minimum deposit $2,000 $0 $0 $0
Time to open account 1 day 1 day 1-3 days 1 day

Learn more about Saxo Bank minimum deposit here.

Deposit and withdrawal
4.8

Saxo Bank provides multiple deposit and withdrawal options free of charge, on a user-friendly interface.
Pros
Cons
Credit/Debit card available
Electronic wallets not available
Free withdrawal
No deposit fee
Saxo Bank and alternatives withdrawal options and fees
Saxo Bank Swissquote Interactive Brokers DEGIRO
Bank transfer Yes Yes Yes Yes
Credit/debit card No No No No
Electronic wallets No No No No
Withdrawal fee $0 $10 $0 $0

Web trading platform
5.0

Saxo Bank's web trading platform is one of the best on the market. Easy to use, the platform also provides features tailored for professionals, such as an advanced order panel.
Pros
Cons
User-friendly
None
Clear fee report
Two-step (safer) login
Saxo Bank - Web trading platform
Saxo Bank and alternatives trading platform scores
Saxo Bank Swissquote Interactive Brokers DEGIRO
Web platform score 5.0 stars 4.3 stars 3.8 stars 4.0 stars
Mobile platform score 5.0 stars 4.7 stars 3.5 stars 4.5 stars
Desktop platform score 5.0 stars 3.4 stars 3.8 stars -

Learn more about Saxo Bank's web trading platform in the detailed Saxo Bank review.

Markets and products
5.0

Saxo Bank's product portfolio covers all asset classes and a lot of markets globally. Mutual funds are the only area where the selection could be improved.
Saxo Bank and alternatives markets and products
Saxo Bank Swissquote Interactive Brokers DEGIRO
Stocks Yes Yes Yes Yes
ETFs Yes Yes Yes Yes
Forex Yes Yes Yes No
Funds Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bonds Yes Yes Yes Yes
Options Yes Yes Yes Yes
Futures Yes Yes Yes Yes
CFDs Yes Yes Yes No
Crypto Yes Yes Yes No

Verdict

Saxo Bank is a great broker that provides a complex and good service.

It offers a user-friendly and well-designed trading platform, backed by great research. The product portfolio covers all asset types and many international markets.

It has some drawbacks though. The fees for bonds, options and futures are high. There is also a high minimum deposit for certain countries. Lastly, there is no live chat or 24/7 customer support.

In general, Saxo Bank is one of the best online brokerage companies out there. By opening an account, you will get a broad, well-developed service constantly adapted to the needs of clients.

Saxo Bank
Summary Saxo Bank is a Danish investment bank. It is regulated by several top-tier financial authorities globally, including the UK regulator called FCA (Financial Conduct Authority).
Fees score 3.0 stars
Recommended for Investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research

Saxo Bank alternatives
Bottom line

Based on our analysis, there are several good alternatives to Saxo Bank. They all offer similar products and target similar customers. Here's a recap of the results in a table.

Saxo Bank alternatives
Broker Info Recommended for
Saxo Bank Danish investment bank Investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research
Swissquote Swiss investment bank Affluent investors who value safety and are OK with higher fees
Interactive Brokers International broker providing all asset classes Traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment
DEGIRO German-Dutch discount broker Traders and investors looking for execution only

Still unsure? Use our broker finder and find the best broker for you or learn more about investing your money.

Author of this article

Adam Nasli

Author of this article

Adam is a motivated finance expert. He joined BrokerChooser in 2018 and has since tested almost all 100+ brokers covered by BrokerChooser. Adam holds a professional degree from CEU and he helps teach finance and programming courses at his alma mater. Previously he worked in the banking sector, including at Citi Bank. He loves researching the financial industry, managing his long-term investments, and trading with algorithms.

Adam Nasli

Analyst Head

Adam is a motivated finance expert. He joined BrokerChooser in 2018 and has since tested almost all 100+ brokers covered by BrokerChooser. Adam holds a professional degree from CEU and he helps teach finance and programming courses at his alma mater. Previously he worked in the banking sector, including at Citi Bank. He loves researching the financial industry, managing his long-term investments, and trading with algorithms.

Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology

Our top alternative brokers to Saxo Bank

Interactive Brokers Swissquote

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