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 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Saxo and AvaTrade both deliver competitive pricing, but they cater to slightly different needs. Saxo shines for active and high‑volume traders who can unlock lower spreads through higher-tier accounts, while AvaTrade offers simple, industry-average pricing that gets sharper if you qualify as a professional. Ratings and rankings: Saxo earns 5/5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 for Commissions & Fees, while AvaTrade earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #13 out of 63 (ForexBrokers.com).
Saxo’s EUR/USD average spreads (Nov 2023) are 1.1 pips on Classic, 1.0 on Platinum, and 0.9 on VIP, with minimum spreads about 0.2 pips lower (e.g., Classic minimum 0.9). The Classic account now has a $0 minimum deposit. Platinum requires $200,000 (AUD 300,000 in Australia for forex), or you can upgrade by earning Loyalty points (for example, trading $40M in forex earns 120,000 points—enough for a 12‑month Platinum upgrade). VIP is for deposits of $1,000,000 or by qualification through trading roughly $167M in forex over a year, and it includes access to exclusive events and Saxo analysts; Saxo also won the 2024 award for the #1 VIP Client Experience. Forex trading at Saxo is commission-free, though trading under 50,000 units per month incurs a $3 per side ticket fee, and custody fees on share trading are waived if you opt into securities lending.
AvaTrade’s spreads are close to the industry average at about 0.9 pips on EUR/USD (June 2024), which is comparable to Saxo’s VIP average and narrower than Saxo’s Classic average. If you qualify as an elected professional, AvaTrade’s Professional account tightens spreads to around 0.6 pips, placing it among the more competitive options for experienced traders. Overall, choose Saxo if you can meet higher tiers or trade large volumes to maximize savings; pick AvaTrade if you want straightforward, near‑industry‑average pricing with the option to go lower on a 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 vs AvaTrade: When it comes to range of investments, Saxo offers far more choice. Saxo lists about 70,000 tradeable symbols and 190 forex pairs, while AvaTrade offers roughly 1,260 symbols and 53 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading (CFD or spot), offer copy trading, and let you trade cryptocurrency derivatives; neither lets you buy actual crypto. A big difference is stock market access: Saxo lets you buy and sell real shares on both U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple or Vodafone), whereas AvaTrade does not offer real share dealing.
Ratings back this up: Saxo scores 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #3 of 63 for Range of Investments at ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #33. If you want the widest selection and access to real stocks across global markets, Saxo is the stronger pick; if you only need a slimmer lineup focused on CFDs with features like copy trading and crypto derivatives, AvaTrade covers the essentials.
| 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.
Saxo and AvaTrade both provide free demo accounts, in-house trading platforms, and access on the web and Windows desktop. Each lets you place trades directly from charts and supports copy trading. A key difference is MetaTrader: AvaTrade offers both MT4 and MT5, while Saxo does not. For social trading networks, AvaTrade connects to ZuluTrade; Saxo does not support ZuluTrade.
When it comes to platform depth and personalization, Saxo stands out with 60 watchlist columns versus 7 at AvaTrade. According to ForexBrokers.com, Saxo earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while AvaTrade scores 4.5 stars and ranks #13.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 80 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| 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.
Saxo stands out for market research: it’s rated 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to AvaTrade’s 4 stars and #35 ranking. Saxo offers daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (e.g., Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones), Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental insights, a sentiment gauge showing long/short positioning, and a full economic calendar.
AvaTrade counters with Trading Central tools (which Saxo doesn’t provide), plus the same access to high-quality forex news, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar. However, AvaTrade lacks daily commentary and Autochartist. Both brokers do not offer TipRanks or Acuity Trading integrations. If you value frequent in-house commentary and Autochartist-driven ideas, Saxo is the stronger choice; if you prefer Trading Central’s analytics within a solid research lineup, AvaTrade can fit the bill.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | 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
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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 | ||
| 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) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| 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 Desktop Trading 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 [DELETED] | |||
| 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) [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
| Client sentiment data | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | AvaTrade Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill