The best alternatives to Swissquote are
- Saxo Bank - Danish investment bank
- DEGIRO - Dutch discount broker
- Strateo - Swiss online broker
- City Index - Global CFD and forex broker
Let's see in a bit more detail how the Swissquote alternatives compare to Swissquote and each other:
| Swissquote | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Strateo | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 4.6 |
| Fees score | 2.3 | 2.9 | 5.0 | 1.0 | 4.1 |
| Account opening score | 4.0 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 4.1 | 4.8 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 4.0 |
| Web platform score | 4.2 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.3 |
| Markets and products score | 4.9 | 5.0 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 2.1 |
| Visit broker | Visit broker |
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Waiting list and longer account opening time |
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71% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
Why are these brokers considered good alternatives to Swissquote? There are many areas based on which Swissquote can be compared with others. When we say a given online broker is a good alternative to Swissquote 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.
Swissquote 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:
- Swissquote is recommended for affluent investors who value safety and are ok with higher fees
- Saxo Bank is recommended for investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research
- DEGIRO is recommended for price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions
- Strateo is recommended for buy-and-hold investors of any experience level
- City Index is recommended for forex and cfd traders looking for low forex fees and great research tools
Important factors of finding Swissquote alternatives
So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 63 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 Swissquote 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. Swissquote is considered to be a rather expensive broker. This gives you a good chance to cut your costs by choosing a cheaper Swissquote alternative.
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 Swissquote 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 Swissquote, 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 Swissquote alternative is a must.
Now let's dive into the details of how Swissquote and its alternatives perform in the most important areas!
Swissquote alternatives
Swissquote
Swissquote is a Swiss investment bank established in 1996. It has two main trading arms: a Swiss unit for trading stocks, funds, options and futures and a company in the UK for CFDs and forex.
Formally, Swissquote Bank Ltd is based in Switzerland and is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), the country's financial regulator.
The other entity, Swissquote Ltd, is UK-based and offers CFDs and forex. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK's financial authority.
Swissquote is considered safe because Swissquote Bank Ltd has a banking license, it is listed on the Swiss stock exchange, discloses detailed financials regularly and it has a long track record.
For clarity, in this review we focus on the Swiss entity, but also discuss services of the UK arm, especially in the case of CFD and forex trading. To make it clear which company we are talking about, we will refer to the Swiss entity as "Swissquote (CH)" and to the UK-based entity as "Swissquote Forex (UK)".
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 |
Swissquote doesn't charge an inactivity fee and you can trade an impressive selection of funds for favorable fees. On the other hand, trading fees are generally high, including for stocks and ETFs, and there is a fee for withdrawing your money.
| Swissquote | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Strateo | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $25.0 | $10.0 | $0.6 | - | - |
| UK stock | $30.0 | $9.6 | $2.4 | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k
Swissquote offers a fully digital account opening, although we encountered some technical difficulties during the identification process. There is no minimum deposit for trading accounts, but a high minimum for forex and robo-advisory accounts.
| Swissquote | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Strateo | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $10,000 | $0 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | >3 days | >3 days | 1 day |
Learn more about Swissquote minimum deposit here.
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.
| Swissquote | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Strateo | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $10 | $0 | $0 | $15 | $0 |
The Swissquote (CH) eTrading platform has a lot of functions, so many that sometimes it can get complicated. Customizability is good and a there is a clear overview of trading fees, but you may run into some bugs.
| Swissquote | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Strateo | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.2 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.3 |
| Mobile platform score | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 4.3 |
| Desktop platform score | - | 5.0 | - | - | 3.0 |
Learn more about Swissquote's web trading platform in the detailed Swissquote review.
At Swissquote (CH) you have access to many markets and trade with a lot of different product types. At Swissquote Forex (UK) you can trade only forex and some CFDs.
| Swissquote | Saxo Bank | DEGIRO | Strateo | City Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| CFD | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Verdict
Swissquote is an investment bank with a rock-solid background:
- It is Swiss,
- it is listed on an exchange
- and it is a bank.
It has two main entities, one in the UK and one in Switzerland. If you open an account at the London-based entity you can trade forex and CFDs, while the Swiss entity gives you access to asset classes ranging from stocks to options.
Swissquote offers a broad range of products across many markets. There are many stocks, mutual funds, and a lot of different other types of products, from bonds to cryptos.
However, nothing comes for free: Swissquote's trading fees are relatively high.
All in all, Swissquote is a great stockbroker. As you can trade many products and no inactivity fee is charged, 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 | 2.3 |
| Recommended for | Affluent investors who value safety and are OK with higher fees |
Swissquote alternatives
Saxo Bank
Saxo Bank is a Danish investment bank founded in 1992, providing online trading and investments. The company is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the Danish Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Saxo Bank is a global service provider. In the different regions, its subsidiaries are present in the form of separate legal entities. The services offered by each entity might change slightly especially in case of their fees and products available to trade. In this review, we tested Saxo Bank UK.
Saxo Bank is considered safe because it has a long track record, has a banking background, and is regulated by top-tier financial authorities.
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 |
Saxo Bank has average trading and non-trading fees overall. The fees for forex, mutual funds and stock index CFDs are low, while they are average for real stocks, ETFs or stock CFDs. Bond, options and futures fees are high.
| Saxo Bank | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $20.2 | $50.2 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $19.7 | $60.5 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $15.7 | $15.8 |
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
Saxo's account opening is fully digital, user-friendly, and available in most of the world. On the other hand, the minimum deposit is high in certain countries, and account verification can take longer.
| Saxo Bank | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10,000 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day |
If you are interested more in Saxo Bank minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Saxo provides multiple deposit and withdrawal options free of charge on a user-friendly interface.
| Saxo Bank | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $10 |
Saxo Bank's web trading platform is one of the best among online brokers. It's easy to use, but also provides features favored by professionals, such as an advanced order panel. On the negative side, there is no two-step login.
| Saxo Bank | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Mobile platform score | 5.0 | 4.7 |
| Desktop platform score | 5.0 | - |
Learn more about Saxo Bank's web trading platform in the detailed Saxo Bank review.
Saxo Bank's product portfolio is great. It covers all asset classes and a lot of markets globally. Mutual funds and crypto are the only areas where its selection could be improved.
| Saxo Bank | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFD | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Verdict
Saxo Bank is a great broker, providing a complex and good service.
Saxo 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 responding to the needs of clients.
| Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Saxo Bank is a Danish investment bank. It is regulated by more than 10 financial authorities, including the top-tier UK FCA. |
| Fees score | 2.9 |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research |
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Swissquote alternatives
DEGIRO
Disclaimer: As of March 25, 2020, DEGIRO has introduced a temporary waiting list for new client registrations, until further notice. This is due to the surge of new registrations amid the ongoing heavy market volatility. Because of this situation, the account creation process may take much longer, although it is uncertain how long exactly. We will update the review as we find out more details. Be also aware that investing involves a risk of loss.
DEGIRO is a Dutch online discount broker. It is privately owned and was established in 2008 by former employees of another brokerage company.
DEGIRO is regulated by top-tier financial authorities, the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and the Dutch Central Bank (DNB). It is registered with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Amsterdam.
Recommended for price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • One of the lowest fees on the market | • Waiting list for new accounts |
| • Regulated by multiple top-tier regulators | • Limited research and education |
| • Easy to use web and mobile trading platform | • No forex trading |
DEGIRO has low trading and non-trading fees. In most asset classes, it is the best on the market. There are some ETFs that you can trade once a month for free, which is a great deal for buy-and-hold investors.
| DEGIRO | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $1.4 | $50.2 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $5.3 | $60.5 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | $15.8 |
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
At DEGIRO, no minimum deposit is required. On the other hand, as of March 25, 2020, DEGIRO has introduced a waiting list for new accounts. To test this, we have applied for multiple accounts, but sadly we are still on the waiting list and could not proceed.
| DEGIRO | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | >3 days | 1 day |
If you are interested more in DEGIRO minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
DEGIRO deposits and withdrawals are free of charge via bank transfer. On the other hand, you cannot deposit with credit or debit card.
| DEGIRO | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $10 |
DEGIRO's web platform is simple and easy to use. Even beginners can easily navigate it and buy stocks. On the negative side, you cannot set price alerts.
| DEGIRO | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.9 | 4.2 |
| Mobile platform score | 4.5 | 4.7 |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about DEGIRO's web trading platform in the detailed DEGIRO review.
At DEGIRO you can access many markets and trade with a lot of different products. CFD and forex are not available.
| DEGIRO | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFD | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Verdict
DEGIRO is a good choice if you want a simple platform and don’t want to spend too much on fees.
It is far cheaper than its big European competitors and only TradeStation Global comes close to competing with DEGIRO's fees. The account opening process is also fast, you will usually have your account ready to use within a day. It is also one of the best trading platforms for Europeans.
However, its low prices come with some shortfalls. Education and research tools are limited, there is no forex trading, and you can only deposit and withdraw money by bank transfer. Also, there is a waiting list for new accounts at the moment.
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 Dutch discount broker established in 2008. It is regulated by the Dutch FMA. As of March 25, 2020, DEGIRO introduced a waiting list for new customers. Longer than usual account opening times are expected. |
| Fees score | 5.0 |
| Recommended for | Price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions |
Swissquote alternatives
Strateo
Strateo is a Swiss broker, regulated by FINMA, the Swiss financial regulator. It holds a full Swiss banking license, but it is not listed on any stock exchange.
Recommended for buy-and-hold investors of any experience level
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Great research | • High trading fees |
| • Easy-to-use trading platform | • Minimum account balance of 1000 CHF/EUR/USD |
| • Good product portfolio | • No full digital account opening for some countries |
Strateo has high trading fees and an ok non-trading fee structure.
| Strateo | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | - | $50.2 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | - | $60.5 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | $15.8 |
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
Strateo account opening was not fully digital for our location, and rather slow. $/€/CHF 1000 minimum deposit is required. You can choose from 6 base currencies to open your account.
| Strateo | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,000 | $0 |
| Time to open account | >3 days | 1 day |
If you are interested more in Strateo minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Strateo only offers funding and withdrawing via bank transfer. However, the process is user-friendly and fast.
| Strateo | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $15 | $10 |
Strateo's standard platform has safe login, a clean and easy-to-use interface with a great search function and well-designed order panel.
| Strateo | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.0 | 4.2 |
| Mobile platform score | 3.2 | 4.7 |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about Strateo's web trading platform in the detailed Strateo review.
Strateo has an excellent product portfolio offering, you can find all of the asset classes you would like to trade with.
| Strateo | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFD | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
Verdict
Strateo is a great online Broker, regulated by Swiss financial authorities and providing account protection up to CHF100,000. It also has a banking license, which allows for stringent oversight.
Strateo has a great product portfolio. Further highlights include the easy-to-use trading platform and the well-rounded research functions, which is a plus for beginner traders.
On the flip side, they have relatively high trading fees, and require a minimum of CHF 1,000 balance. They could also improve their account opening process, as it isn't fully digital from all countries.
To sum up, we recommend Strateo for buy and hold investors with any experience level.
| Strateo | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Strateo is a Swiss online broker offering an extensive product portfolio. It is regulated by Swiss financial authority FINMA, whose account protection terms are among the strongest in Europe. |
| Fees score | 1.0 |
| Recommended for | Buy-and-hold investors of any experience level |
Swissquote alternatives
City Index
City Index was founded in 1983 and it is a global CFD and FX broker. City Index is the brand name of GAIN Capital, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The company is regulated by top-tier financial authorities, such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) or Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
City Index is considered safe because it has a long track record, is regulated by top-tier financial authorities, and its parent company is listed on a stock exchange.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% 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.
Recommended for forex and cfd traders looking for low forex fees and great research tools
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fees for forex and index CFDs | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Fast and smooth account opening | • High stock CFD fees |
| • Diverse research tools | • Not user-friendly desktop platform |
City Index has low fees for forex and stock index CFDs. On the other hand, stock CFD fees are high and there is an inactivity fee.
| City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $21.9 | $50.2 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $25.7 | $60.5 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $12.8 | $15.8 |
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
City Index account opening is fully digital and there is no minimum deposit. It took us one day to have an approved open account.
| City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day |
If you are interested more in City Index minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
City Index provides multiple options for deposit and withdrawal and they are free of charge. However, the withdrawal with some credit cards is not possible.
| City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | Yes | No |
| Electronic wallets | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $10 |
City Index's web trading platform is user-friendly and extremely customizable. It has also a lot of order types. On the flip side, there is no two-step login.
| City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Mobile platform score | 4.3 | 4.7 |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 | - |
Learn more about City Index's web trading platform in the detailed City Index review.
At City Index, you can only trade with CFDs, forex, and cryptos. Unfortunately, real stocks, bonds and ETFs are not available.
| City Index | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | No | Yes |
| ETF | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | Yes |
| Bond | No | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| CFD | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Verdict
City Index is a great CFD and forex broker regulated by top-tier financial authorities, such as the UK FCA.
On the bright side, it has low forex and stock index CFD fees, a smooth account opening process, and high-quality research tools.
It has some drawbacks though. The product portfolio is limited, the stock CFD fees are quite high, and the desktop platform is not easy-to-use.
As there is no minimum balance, no withdrawal fee and inactivity fee only kicks in after one year, feel free to try City Index out.
| City Index | |
|---|---|
| Summary | City Index is a global CFD broker, regulated by many financial authorities including the top-tier UK FCA. Its parent company, GAIN Capital is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. |
| Fees score | 4.1 |
| Recommended for | Forex and CFD traders looking for low forex fees and great research tools |
Swissquote alternatives
Bottom line
Based on our analysis, there are several good alternatives to Swissquote. They all offer similar products and target similar customers. Here's a recap of the results in a table.
| Broker | Info | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| Swissquote | Swiss investment bank | Affluent investors who value safety and are OK with higher fees |
| Saxo Bank | Danish investment bank | Investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research |
| DEGIRO | Dutch discount broker | Price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions |
| Strateo | Swiss online broker | Buy-and-hold investors of any experience level |
| City Index | Global CFD and forex broker | Forex and CFD traders looking for low forex fees and great research tools |
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