Is Swissquote free?

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Is Swissquote free as of September 2024?

Swissquote does charge a commission for real stock trading on US markets, so in this sense it is not a free-to-trade broker. However, it might still be a reasonable choice for some of you, as there are many other aspects other than commissions that are important when you choose a broker. If you wish to stick with Swissquote though, then you will find the fees they charge below. Alternatively, you could check our article detailing the best zero commission brokers and how their apps scored in our test.

We should note that the payment-for-order-flow model, which is used by some zero-commission brokers to generate income (rather than relying on commissions), could potentially create a conflict of interest between you and your broker. This could result in trade execution (like routing your orders to specific market makers) that might be unfavorable for you under certain market conditions, especially when using market orders (as opposed to limit orders, which seem to be less affected).

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Confused about fees? Use this tool to see what the commission fee of a specific stock trade would be at Swissquote. To check and compare fees at other brokers, go to our main Fee calculator page.

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Swissquote

4.4/5

Minimum deposit

Stock fee

High

FX fee

Average

Inactivity fee

Account opening

1 day

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Overview of Swissquote fees and charges

Swissquote's fees are considered high. This is because of high fees across multiple fee types. It's important to be aware of this and to decide whether other advantages of Swissquote can still make it a good choice for you. Such features may include its research tools, education section or the general user experience you get on its trading platforms.

Here's a high-level overview of Swissquote's fees

Swissquote Fees snapshot
Assets	Fee level	Fee terms
US stock fee	High	Volume-tiered commission ranging between $9 and $190
EURUSD fee	High	Swissquote Premium account: the fees are built into the spread, 1.6 pips is the average spread cost during peak trading hours.
US mutual fund fees	Low	$9 per trade from Prime Partners (BlackRock, Fidelity, HSBC, etc.) and $0 per trade for funds under Swissquote's custody
Inactivity fee	Low	The activity fees will be applicable after 3 years of inactivity. The fees are 0310% on assests (securities, digital assets and precious metals), with a minimum of 50 euros per quarter.

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Swissquote fees explained

Online brokerages in general charge much lower brokerage fees than traditional brokerages do - this is largely because online brokerages' businesses can be much better scaled: from a purely technical standpoint, it doesn't make that much of a difference for them if they have 100 or 5,000 clients.

This is not to say, however, that they don't charge any fees at all. They make money by charging you various rates for various actions or events. Usually you need to keep an eye on the following three types of fees:

Trading fees - these are brokerage fees that you pay when you actually carry out a trade, like buying an Apple share or an ETF. What you pay is either a commission, a spread or a financing rate. Some brokers apply all of these.

A commission is either fixed or based on the traded volume.
A spread is the difference between the buy price and the sell price.
A financing rate or overnight rate is charged when you hold your leveraged positions for more than one day.

Non-trading fees. These are usually related to some operations you carry out in your account, such as depositing money, withdrawing money, or not trading for an extended period.

We compare Swissquote fees with its closest competitors, Saxo and Interactive Brokers.

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Swissquote trading fees

We consider Swissquote's trading fees high, as they exceed those of most competitors.

Let's break down trading fees according to the different asset classes available at Swissquote.

Trading fees

Swissquote's trading fees are high.

Stock fees and ETF fees

Swissquote has high stock trading fees.

Stock fees of a $2,000 trade
	Swissquote Swissquote	Saxo Saxo	Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers
US stock Estimated commission of a $2,000 trade, assuming a $50 stock price	$20.0 Volume-tiered commission ranging between $9 and $190	$1.6 0.08% of trade value with $1 minimum, but using VIP pricing the commission can be as low as 0.03% of trade value with $1 minimum	$1.0 Fixed pricing: $0.005 per share, min. $1, max. 1% of trade value. Free for US clients choosing IBKR Lite plan.
UK stock fee Estimated commission of a $2,000 trade, assuming a $50 stock price	$31.3 Tiered commission depending on the trade value, min £25, max £190	$3.8 0.08% of trade value with £3 min., but using VIP pricing the commission can be as low as 0.03% of trade value with £3 min.	$3.8 Fixed £3 for trade value less than £6,000, 0.05% of trade value for more than £6,000
German stock Estimated commission of a $2,000 trade	$27.0 Tiered commission depending on the trade value, min €25, max €190	$3.2 0.08% of trade value with €3 min., but using VIP pricing the commission can be as low as 0.03% of trade value with €3 min.	$3.2 Fixed €3 for trade value less than €6,000, 0.05% of trade value for more than €6,000

Data updated on September 23, 2024

Forex fees

Swissquote's forex fees are average.

Forex fees of a $20,000 30:1 position (open, 1-week-hold and close)
	Swissquote Swissquote	Saxo Saxo	Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers
EURUSD benchmark fee Includes all fees (spread, commission, financing rate) of a $20,000 30:1 position open, 1-week-hold, and close	$25.6	$10.9	$13.3
EURGBP benchmark fee Includes all fees (spread, commission, financing rate) of a $20,000 30:1 position open, 1-week-hold, and close	$26.3	$10.5	$13.3

Data updated on September 23, 2024

Fund fees

Swissquote fund fees are low.

Fees of a $2,000 fund purchase
	Swissquote Swissquote	Saxo Saxo	Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers
Mutual fund Estimated commission of a $2,000 US domiciled fund trade	$9.0 $9 per trade from Prime Partners (BlackRock, Fidelity, HSBC, etc.) and $0 per trade for funds under Swissquote's custody	$0.0 Mutual funds are available only in certain countries. The broker doesn't charge any fee for mutual fund trading.	$15.0 $14.95 per transaction or 3% of trade value, whichever is lower. There are also more than 18,000 funds with no transaction fee
EU mutual fund Subscription fee of a $2,000 face value European stock fund	$9.0 $9 per trade	- Not available	$4.4 0.1% of trade value with €4 min and €29 max

Data updated on September 23, 2024

Bond fees

Swissquote has high bond fees.

Fees of a $10,000 bond trade
	Swissquote Swissquote	Saxo Saxo	Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers
US Treasury bond Estimated commission of a $10,000 US treasury bond trade	$75.0 0.3% of trade value with $75 min	$21.6 0.2% of trade value with €20 min, but with VIP pricing it can be as low as 0.05% of trade value and min €20	$5.0 For the first $1,000,000 face value: 0.002% of trade value with $5 min.
EU/UK government bond Estimated commission of a $10k EU or UK government bond trade	$54.0 0.3% of trade value with €50 min	$21.6 0.2% of trade value with €20 min, but with VIP pricing it can be as low as 0.05% of trade value and min €20	$10.0 Below €50,000 face value: 0.1% of trade value with €2 min

Data updated on September 23, 2024

Options fees

Swissquote's options fees are average.

Options fees for 10 contracts
	Swissquote Swissquote	Saxo Saxo	Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers
US stock options Estimated commission for opening 10 contracts	$14.9 $1.49 per contract and no minimum	$20.0 $2 per contract, but using VIP pricing it can be $0.75 per contract	$6.5 Less than 10,000 contracts per month and for a 10 contract trade: $0.65 per contract with a $1 minimum fee
US stock index options Estimated commission for 10 contracts	$19.9 $1.99 per contract commission with $5 min	$20.0 $2 per contract, but using VIP pricing it can be $0.75 per contract	$6.5 Less than 10,000 contract per month and for a 10 contracts trade: $0.65 per contract with $1 min
UK stock index options Estimated commission for 10 contracts	- Telephone only	$37.5 £3 per contract, but using VIP pricing it can be £1 per contract	$21.3 £1.7 per contract with £1.7 min
German stock index options Estimated commission for 10 contracts	$10.8 €1 per contract commission with €5 min	$8.1 €0.75 per contract FOR all accounts	$18.4 €1.7 per contract with €1.7 min

Data updated on September 23, 2024

Futures fees

Swissquote's futures fees are average.

Stock index futures fees for 10 contracts
	Swissquote Swissquote	Saxo Saxo	Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers
US micro e-mini stock index futures Estimated commission for 10 contracts	$19.9 $1.99 per contract commission with $5 min (E-Mini only)	$30.0 $3 per contract, but using VIP pricing it can be as low as $1 per contract	$2.5 $0.25 per contract
UK stock index futures Estimated commission for 10 contracts	- Telephone only	$37.5 £3 per contract, but using VIP pricing it can be as low as £1 per contract	$21.3 £1.7 per contract with £1.7 min
German e-mini stock index futures Estimated commission for 10 contracts	$10.8 €1 per contract commission with €5min	$43.2 €3 per contract, but using VIP pricing it can be as low as €1 per contract	$8.6 €0.80 per contract with €0.80 min

Data updated on September 23, 2024

CFD fees

Swissquote has average CFD trading fees.

CFD fees and commissions on a $2,000 trade
	Swissquote Swissquote	Saxo Saxo	Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers
Apple CFD Commission for a $2,000 stock CFD trade	- Not available	$4.1 $0.02/share; min $4, but using VIP pricing the minimum can be as low as $1	$1.1 Below $300,000 monthly volume: $0.005 per share with $1 min
Vodafone CFD Commission for a $2,000 stock CFD trade	- Not available	$10.6 0.1% of trade value; min £8, but using VIP pricing it can be as low as 0.05% of trade value with £5 minimum	$4.3 Below £8,900 monthly value: 0.05% of trade value with £3 min
Germany Commission for a $2,000 stock CFD trade	- Not available	$11.4 0.1% of trade value; min €10, but using VIP pricing it can be as low as 0.05% of trade value with €6 minimum	$3.4 Below €10,000,000 monthly value: 0.05% of trade value; min €3 per order

Data updated on September 23, 2024

Currency conversion fee

Swissquote will charge a Currency Conversion Fee for all trades on instruments denominated in a currency different to the currency of your account. The fee is charged as the following: 0.9% charge for position value under €25,000 or equivalent in other currency .

Margin rates

Swissquote margin rates are average.

Swissquote margin rates
	Swissquote Swissquote	Saxo Saxo	Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers
USD margin rate	9.6% Debit interest rate	- Margin stock trading is not available to most clients. Clients from Hong Kong can use margin lending.	6.3% Tiered margin rate. Lowest tier has a rate of 6.33% at IBKR PRO (7.33% at IBKR Lite)
EUR margin rate	8.2% Debit interest rate	- Margin stock trading is not available to most clients. Clients from Hong Kong can use margin lending.	5.5% Tiered margin rate. Lowest tier has a rate of 5.483% at IBKR PRO (6.483% at IBKR Lite)

Data updated on September 23, 2024

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Swissquote non-trading fees

Some of Swissquote's non-trading fees are average.

Non-trading fees include various brokerage fees and charges at Swissquote that are not related to buying or selling assets. This can be a withdrawal fee, deposit fee, inactivity fee or account fee.

A high-level overview of how Swissquote stacks up in terms of non-trading fees
	Swissquote Swissquote	Saxo Saxo	Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers
Withdrawal fee Fee for withdrawing money from the broker account. It is zero if you can withdraw money for free via any method, e.g. credit/debit card or bank transfer.	$10 CHF 2/€2/$10 dependent on currency	$0 Free withdrawal	$0 One free per month, after that $10
Deposit fee	$0 Free bank deposit, but for credit/debit cards, between 2.2% and 2.5% charged	$0 Free deposit	$0 Free deposit
Inactivity fee Fee applied if a customer does not trade for a certain length of time	No The activity fees will be applicable after 3 years of inactivity. The fees are 0310% on assests (securities, digital assets and precious metals), with a minimum of 50 euros per quarter.	No No inactivity fee	No No inactivity fee
Account fee Monthly account fee	No No account fee	No No account fee	No No account fee

Data updated on September 23, 2024

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Swissquote

4.4/5

Minimum deposit

Stock fee

High

FX fee

Average

Inactivity fee

Account opening

1 day

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Swissquote deposit fee

Usually, brokers don't charge anything for deposits, and Swissquote is no different.

Swissquote deposit methods
	Swissquote Swissquote	Saxo Saxo	Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers
Bank transfer Bank transfer is available for deposit	Yes	Yes	Yes
Credit/debit card Credit/debit cards are available for deposit	Yes	Yes Not available to CEE clients	No IBKR debit cards are available for US customers
Electronic wallets Electronic wallets are available for deposit	No	No	No
Deposit fee	$0 Free bank deposit, but for credit/debit cards, between 2.2% and 2.5% charged	$0 Free deposit	$0 Free deposit

Data updated on September 23, 2024

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Swissquote withdrawal fee

Unfortunately, Swissquote does charge a withdrawal fee of $10 for bank transfers. This means that you need to pay this amount when you transfer money from your brokerage account back to your bank account. Sometimes this is a flat fee, but a percentage charge may be applied in some cases. It's up to you to decide whether you can tolerate this, keeping in mind that flat fees can hurt more if you withdraw small amounts only.

Swissquote withdrawal fees and options compared
	Swissquote Swissquote	Saxo Saxo	Interactive Brokers Interactive Brokers
Bank transfer Bank transfer is available for deposit	Yes	Yes	Yes
Credit/debit card Credit/debit cards are available for deposit	Yes	Yes Not available to CEE clients	No IBKR debit cards are available for US customers
Electronic wallets Electronic wallets are available for deposit	No	No	No
Withdrawal fee for bank transfer Fee for withdrawing money from the broker account. It is zero if you can withdraw money for free via any method, e.g. credit/debit card or bank transfer.	$10 CHF 2/€2/$10 dependent on currency	$0 Free withdrawal	$0 One free per month, after that $10

Data updated on September 23, 2024

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Swissquote inactivity fee

Swissquote does not apply an inactivity fee, which is great because your account won't be charged even if you do not trade for an extended period (like several months or years).

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Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

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