Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Saxo (founded in 1992) and ActivTrades (founded in 2001) are online brokers that are not publicly traded. Saxo operates as a bank, while ActivTrades does not.
By ForexBrokers.com’s scale (90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted), Saxo scores 99/99 and ActivTrades scores 80/99. Saxo holds 7 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted) and 1 Tier-2 license (trusted). ActivTrades holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Saxo is the stronger choice for commissions and fees overall, earning 5 stars and ranking #8 out of 36 for this category. It is especially appealing for active, high-volume, and well-funded traders, with pricing that can be among the lowest in the market for those who qualify for its higher account tiers. Saxo’s forex trading is commission-free for most traders, though accounts trading under 50,000 units per month are charged a $3 per-side ticket fee. Its average EUR/USD spread was 1.1 pips for Classic, 1.0 pips for Platinum, and 0.9 pips for VIP, with the best rates reserved for larger balances or loyalty-based upgrades.
ActivTrades scores well, but not as strongly as Saxo, with 4 stars and a ranking of #21 out of 36 for commissions and fees. Its spreads are generally a little better than the industry average, but it does not offer special low-cost pricing for high-volume traders. ActivTrades has a simple account lineup, including Individual, Professional, and Islamic accounts, and spreads are mostly the same across account types. The broker’s reported average EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024, which is competitive, though not quite at the level of the cheapest forex brokers.
In short, Saxo offers better pricing for traders who can meet its balance or trading-volume requirements, while ActivTrades may suit traders who want a simpler setup with decent spreads and fewer tier-based pricing rules. If low fees are your top priority, Saxo has the edge; if you want straightforward pricing without high entry requirements, ActivTrades is still a solid option.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Saxo offers a much wider range of investments than ActivTrades, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more markets in one place. Saxo supports forex trading, 190 currency pairs, and a huge total of 71,000 tradeable symbols. It also lets clients buy actual shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, including names like Apple and Vodafone. ActivTrades also offers forex trading, 49 currency pairs, and international exchange-traded shares, but it does not provide U.S. exchange-listed stocks in the same way.
Both brokers let you trade cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. ActivTrades does have copy trading, while Saxo does not. Overall, Saxo earns a 5-star rating for Range of Investments and ranks #3 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with ActivTrades at 4 stars and #25 out of 36. For investors looking for the broadest selection, Saxo is the more complete platform.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Saxo and ActivTrades both give traders a solid set of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Each broker also lets users trade directly from a chart, which is helpful for making quick decisions while watching price moves. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools review, Saxo is rated 5 stars and ranked #3 out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranked #26.
The main difference is in the extras. ActivTrades supports copy trading plus MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which may appeal to traders who want popular third-party tools and the chance to follow other traders. Saxo does not offer copy trading, MT4, or MT5, but it still stands out for its higher overall platform score and stronger category ranking, making it the better pick for traders focused on platform quality and tools.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and ActivTrades both make it easy to trade on the go, since each offers iPhone and Android apps, along with price alerts for stocks and forex. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts and automatically save those drawings, which helps if you switch between devices or come back to a chart later. In terms of ratings, Saxo stands out more strongly, earning 5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranking #3 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #21.
The biggest difference is watchlist syncing and chart tools. Saxo lets watchlists sync between the mobile app and online account, so updates show up in both places, while ActivTrades does not offer this feature. Saxo also gives mobile traders more charting depth, with 64 technical studies compared with 30 at ActivTrades. For traders who want a smoother mobile experience with more chart options and synced watchlists, Saxo has the edge; ActivTrades still covers the basics well, but with fewer extras.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Saxo and ActivTrades both give traders useful market research tools, including daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar for tracking key global events. That means either broker can help you stay on top of news and market moves, but Saxo goes further with Autochartist research tools, which ActivTrades does not offer.
When it comes to overall research quality, Saxo clearly stands out. It earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers for Research at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26. If research depth is a top priority, Saxo has the stronger edge, though ActivTrades still covers the basics well.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Saxo and ActivTrades both give beginners a good range of learning tools, including forex and CFD education, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means each broker offers plenty of material for traders who want to start with the basics and then move on to more advanced topics. In simple terms, both platforms make it possible for new traders to learn at their own pace through articles, videos, and live sessions.
Where Saxo stands out is in the overall quality and recognition of its education offering. Saxo is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com education category, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranks #30. So, although both brokers provide helpful beginner-friendly learning content, Saxo comes across as the stronger choice for education overall.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Saxo is better than ActivTrades. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
Saxo is a multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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Comparing online brokers Saxo and ActivTrades for cryptocurrency, neither offers buying actual delivered crypto, while both provide access to trade cryptocurrency via CFDs.
In a funding-methods comparison, both Saxo and ActivTrades support bank wire transfers and do not support ACH/SEPA or PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, while only ActivTrades offers Skrill (Saxo does not).
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Saxo Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | ActivTrades Review |
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