Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo vs AvaTrade, 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.
Founded in 1992, Saxo is a well-established online broker with a reputation for trustworthiness. Holding seven Tier-1 licenses, Saxo is considered highly reliable by ForexBrokers.com, earning a perfect Trust Score of 99. Additionally, Saxo operates as a bank, further bolstering its credibility. Although it is not publicly traded, its comprehensive regulatory credentials make it a go-to choice for many investors.
On the other hand, AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and is not a bank, but it still offers a solid level of security in the online trading world. AvaTrade holds four Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, earning a commendable Trust Score of 94 from ForexBrokers.com. Like Saxo, AvaTrade is privately held. With multiple trusted licenses, AvaTrade provides a reliable platform for traders seeking safe and secure investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When considering commissions and fees, Saxo and AvaTrade both offer competitive pricing, though they differ in specific offerings and conditions. Saxo impresses with its comprehensive pricing structure and earns a perfect 5-star rating. This broker ranks #9 out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com. Saxo's pricing is particularly appealing for active or high-volume traders as well as those who maintain large account balances, with average spreads on EUR/USD ranging from 0.9 pips to 1.1 pips across their different account types. Notably, the Classic account has now removed its minimum deposit, providing easier access for new traders, whereas the Platinum and VIP accounts require significant investments but offer more competitive spreads and exclusive benefits.
In contrast, AvaTrade maintains its position with a respectable 4.5-star rating and is ranked #12 out of 63 brokers in the same category. While its spreads average slightly under one pip (0.9 pips), they fall in line with industry standards, though they can be marginally higher than those of some entry-level accounts from competitors like CMC Markets and Tickmill. Professional traders at AvaTrade can enjoy even more competitive spreads of 0.6 pips, comparable to what FP Markets offers, provided they qualify for the Professional account.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.61 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Saxo and AvaTrade both offer a diverse range of investment options, allowing traders to engage in forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. While Saxo impressively provides access to 70,000 tradable symbols, AvaTrade offers a smaller, yet substantial, selection of 1,260. For forex enthusiasts, Saxo provides 190 forex pairs, completely overshadowing AvaTrade's 53 pairs. Saxo sets itself apart by offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, enabling clients to invest in giants like Apple and Vodafone. On the contrary, AvaTrade does not offer these securities, keeping its offerings focused on derivatives. Both platforms support copy trading and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
When evaluating the range of investments, Saxo holds a strong position, earning a full 5-star rating and securing the 3rd spot among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade, with its 4-star rating, ranks 32nd on the same list. This comparison highlights Saxo's extensive investment range, catering to those looking for a broad wallet of options, whereas AvaTrade is suited for traders focusing on more specific derivatives without direct access to U.S. and international exchange-traded securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When comparing the online trading platforms and tools of Saxo and AvaTrade, both brokers present strong features appealing to traders. Saxo and AvaTrade each provide a proprietary platform developed in-house, along with versatile access through both Windows-based desktop software and web-based platforms. Furthermore, their offerings include simulated trading accounts that allow users to practice before committing real funds. However, AvaTrade distinguishes itself by supporting popular platforms MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, alongside social trading services like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. In contrast, Saxo emphasizes customization with 20 drawing tools for charting and a more comprehensive watchlist, offering up to 60 columns for detailed tracking.
Despite AvaTrade’s appealing MetaTrader suite and copy trading options, Saxo surpasses in terms of charting capabilities and watchlist customization, helping it earn a 5-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools, compared to AvaTrade's 4.5-star rating. Saxo is recognized as the leading broker in this category, ranked #1 by ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers, while AvaTrade holds the #13 spot. This positions Saxo as an excellent choice for traders seeking top-tier platform functionality and detailed market analysis tools, whereas AvaTrade remains a strong contender for those inclined towards social trading and using well-known MetaTrader platforms.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 80 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 13 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 60 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
If you're considering a mobile trading app for managing your investments, both Saxo and AvaTrade offer user-friendly options for iPhone and Android users. Both platforms provide important features such as price alerts and the ability to sync watchlists between your mobile app and online account. This means any changes you make on one platform will automatically reflect on the other. When it comes to charting tools, Saxo and AvaTrade offer the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames for stock or forex analysis. However, Saxo takes the lead in convenience by offering auto-save capabilities for chart drawings, a feature not available with AvaTrade.
When comparing technical studies, AvaTrade offers slightly more with 73 options compared to Saxo's 64. Both apps allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, ensuring you stay updated on market conditions. With a mobile trading app rating of 5 stars, Saxo is ranked #2 by ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers, while AvaTrade holds a commendable rating of 4.5 stars and ranks #13. Choosing between the two largely depends on your specific needs, but Saxo stands out as the top choice for comprehensive mobile trading features.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 73 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When choosing between Saxo and AvaTrade for market research capabilities, Saxo stands out for offering daily market commentary, while AvaTrade falls short in this area. Both platforms provide access to forex news from renowned sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay well-informed with the latest updates. However, Saxo distinguishes itself by offering tools from Autochartist for technical analysis, whereas AvaTrade offers tools from Trading Central. Both brokers offer a sentiment-based trading tool to help traders make informed decisions based on the ratio of long and short positions.
For those looking for comprehensive global insights, both Saxo and AvaTrade deliver economic calendars with upcoming news events from economies worldwide. Despite this, Saxo maintains an edge with its top-rated research, earning a 5-star rating and securing the #1 spot in the research category according to ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade, while reliable, rates slightly lower at 4 stars and ranks #34 among 63 brokers. This suggests that Saxo has a stronger overall offering when it comes to market research tools and resources.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner traders, both Saxo and AvaTrade provide a wealth of materials, making them excellent choices for new investors looking to learn about forex and CFDs. Saxo offers a comprehensive range of over 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and webinars focused on forex and CFDs. They also host online webinars monthly, with a searchable archive of past sessions for easy access. Beginners can benefit from over 10 beginner-focused videos, along with more advanced content for experienced traders. Additionally, Saxo supplies an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms. Rated 5 stars for education, Saxo holds the 13th position in the ForexBrokers.com education rankings.
AvaTrade matches Saxo in offering substantial educational content, including a generous selection of over 10 educational materials on forex and CFDs. They provide monthly online webinars and maintain an archive for past sessions to support learners at every stage. Beginners have access to over 10 specialized videos, alongside advanced content crafted for seasoned traders. Like Saxo, AvaTrade also offers an investor dictionary with detailed definitions of over 50 terms. While AvaTrade holds a 4-star rating for education, it impressively ranks 2nd out of 63 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com education category, making it a top contender for those prioritizing educational resources.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 AvaTrade. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13.
Saxo is an exclusive 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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AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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Saxo and AvaTrade both provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, without offering the ability to purchase the actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
When comparing the fund transfer options between Saxo and AvaTrade, both brokers support Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers, but while AvaTrade offers additional flexibility with options like PayPal and 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 | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | AvaTrade Review |
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| Regulation | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.61 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 60 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 80 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 13 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 73 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Saxo Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | AvaTrade Review |
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