Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote vs FXCM, 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.
Swissquote and FXCM are two prominent online brokers, each with unique attributes that might appeal to different investors. Founded in 1996, Swissquote is a publicly traded entity listed on the stock exchange and operates as a bank. FXCM, established in 1999, is also publicly traded but does not function as a bank. This distinction may impact investors looking for banking services along with trading options.
When it comes to regulatory trust, Swissquote holds a notable edge with a perfect Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, aligning with its 5 Tier-1 highly trusted licenses and 2 Tier-2 trusted licenses. Meanwhile, FXCM garners a Trust Score of 95, reflecting its solid standing with 4 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses. Both brokers are well-regarded, but the higher trust score and additional Tier-1 license might make Swissquote a more appealing choice for those prioritizing trust and regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Swissquote generally costs more than FXCM for forex trading, reflecting the premium of a Swiss bank brand. FXCM’s pricing is slightly above the industry average but often sharper than Swissquote’s, especially on commission-based setups and with volume discounts. Ratings and ranks for the Commissions & Fees category: Swissquote earns 3.5/5 stars and ranks #54 of 63; FXCM earns 4/5 stars and ranks #25 of 63.
Swissquote’s costs vary by entity. In the U.K., four account types are offered: Standard starts at 1.3 pips on EUR/USD; Prime lists a 0.6-pip minimum (not an average); Elite is commission-based with lower spreads plus $5 per round-turn (best if you deposit at least $10,000); Professional is similar to Elite with a different stop-out level. In Luxembourg, Standard ($1,000 min) carries minimum spreads up to 1.5 pips, Premium ($5,000) narrows that, and Prime ($50,000) lists 0.8 pips. In Switzerland, Standard ($1,000) starts at 1.7 pips, Premium ($10,000) at 1.4 pips, and Prime ($50,000) at 1.1 pips; custom pricing can be negotiated for very high volumes.
FXCM’s Standard account spreads averaged about 0.78 pips on EUR/USD in the EU, U.K., and Australia in May 2024 (about 1.38 pips via its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity). FXCM’s commission-based pricing averaged 0.28 pips before commissions that typically add about 0.50 pips per round-turn, putting the effective spread near 0.74 pips. The Active Trader Rebate Program (not available in the U.K. or EU) offers five tiers with $5–$25 per million traded in rebates starting from $10 million monthly volume. In the U.K., a $25,000 balance and at least $50 million per month can reduce commissions to $2.50 per side ($5 round-turn), with effective pricing dependent on your volume; spreads can widen during rollover or volatile markets.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | Starts from $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing Swissquote vs FXCM for range of investments, both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs and as spot. Swissquote lists 472 tradeable symbols and 80 forex pairs, while FXCM offers 440 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Both support copy trading, giving you a way to mirror strategies from other traders.
Swissquote stands out for access to exchange-traded securities: you can buy U.S. stocks like Apple and international shares such as Vodafone, which FXCM does not offer. For crypto, Swissquote provides both real (delivered) cryptocurrencies and crypto CFDs; FXCM offers crypto CFDs only. Reflecting this breadth, Swissquote earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while FXCM is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #48.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 440 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
Swissquote and FXCM both check the key boxes for platform flexibility and ease of use. Each offers a free demo account for practice, an in-house trading platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) support, and the choice of Windows desktop and web-based trading. You can place orders directly from charts with either broker, and both support copy trading. One clear difference: Swissquote also supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while FXCM does not.
For overall platform and tools quality, FXCM earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote scores 4.5 stars and ranks #12. Choose Swissquote if MT5 matters to you; pick FXCM if you want a top-rated platform suite. Either way, you can test-drive the experience first with a free demo.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Swissquote and FXCM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts for stocks and forex, lets you draw trendlines on charts, and automatically saves your drawings. For charting depth, Swissquote includes 30 technical studies, while FXCM offers 59, giving FXCM an edge for traders who like more indicators on the go.
There’s a key difference in watchlists: FXCM syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Swissquote does not. According to ForexBrokers.com, both apps earn 4.5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps; Swissquote ranks #12 out of 63 brokers and FXCM ranks #16. Choose FXCM if synced watchlists and a larger set of indicators matter most. Pick Swissquote if you want a higher category ranking with well-rounded mobile features.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 59 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Swissquote and FXCM provide valuable insights for traders by offering daily market commentary and keeping users informed with news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, their offerings diverge when it comes to specific research tools. Swissquote stands out by including tools from Autochartist, which are absent in FXCM's lineup. On the other hand, FXCM provides technical analysis resources through Trading Central, whereas Swissquote does not. Additionally, FXCM enriches its market insights with sentiment-based trading tools and research from TipRanks, features that are not available with Swissquote.
Despite these differences, both platforms offer an economic calendar to help traders stay aware of global economic events. When considering overall research capabilities, Swissquote is rated four stars, placing it at the 16th position out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's ranking for research. FXCM slightly edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating, securing the 11th spot. This evaluation suggests that while both brokers offer robust research offerings, FXCM has a slight advantage in providing a more comprehensive suite of market analysis tools.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Swissquote and FXCM both deliver beginner-friendly education for forex and CFDs, easily clearing the bar of 10+ learning pieces. Each broker provides ongoing client webinars at least once a month, plus large libraries that include 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos covering platform basics, strategy, and risk management. If you’re just getting started, you’ll find step-by-step videos and regular live sessions at either broker to help you learn at your own pace.
When it comes to overall quality, FXCM gets the edge: it holds a 4.5/5 Education rating and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Swissquote is close behind with a 4/5 rating and a #20 ranking. In short, both are solid picks for learning the ropes, with FXCM slightly ahead for its overall educational experience.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Swissquote is better than FXCM. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
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FXCM
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 |
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Swissquote vs FXCM: Swissquote offers both buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trading cryptocurrency CFDs, while FXCM provides cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not support purchasing real crypto.
Swissquote vs FXCM: both online brokers support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, while the availability of Visa/Mastercard funding is not specified for either.
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 | Swissquote | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | FXCM | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 440 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | Starts from $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 59 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Swissquote Review | FXCM Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | FXCM Review |
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