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 | N/A | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Swissquote offers a wider range of investments than FXCM. You’ll find 472 tradeable symbols at Swissquote versus 440 at FXCM, and 80 forex pairs compared with FXCM’s 46. Both brokers let you trade forex either as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support copy trading.
Only Swissquote provides access to exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international markets (so you can buy stocks like Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone in London), while FXCM does not offer direct share dealing. For crypto, Swissquote lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies as well as crypto derivatives, whereas FXCM offers crypto derivatives only. Reflecting this breadth, Swissquote is rated 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments; FXCM holds 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
Swissquote and FXCM both give traders a free demo (paper) account and multiple ways to trade. Each broker has a proprietary platform, plus a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform. MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is available at both, while MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is only offered at Swissquote. Both support copy trading; however, FXCM integrates ZuluTrade, which Swissquote does not. You can place trades straight from the chart at either broker.
For platform details, FXCM offers 13 watchlist columns versus 11 at Swissquote. In the Trading Platforms and Tools category at ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while Swissquote earns 4.5 stars and ranks #12. In short, choose Swissquote if you want MT5 in addition to MT4, and choose FXCM if you want access to ZuluTrade and a slightly higher-rated platform experience.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 13 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
For those interested in mobile trading apps, both Swissquote and FXCM have a lot to offer. Both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android users, allowing traders to stay updated with stock and forex prices through alerts. Swissquote and FXCM also enable users to create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, Swissquote does not support watchlist symbol syncing, which means changes on the app or online account will not automatically sync, while FXCM does offer this feature. When it comes to charting, Swissquote provides 30 technical studies, whereas FXCM offers nearly double with 59 studies. Both brokers allow traders to draw trendlines and view various time frames such as daily, weekly, or intraday, with all drawings automatically saved.
In terms of app ratings, both Swissquote and FXCM achieve an impressive 4.5 stars for their mobile trading platforms. In a ranking by ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote comes in slightly ahead at 12th place out of 63 brokers, while FXCM ranks 16th. Overall, each app has its unique strengths, making them both solid choices for traders, depending on individual preferences for features like symbol syncing and the number of technical studies available.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 59 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Swissquote and FXCM both make it easy for beginners to learn forex and CFDs. Each broker offers a sizable library with at least 10 educational pieces, hosts live client webinars every month, and keeps a searchable archive of past sessions so you can catch up anytime. Both brokers also provide 10+ beginner trading videos, a separate set of advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up, and an investor dictionary with 50+ terms to help explain trading jargon.
If you’re comparing education quality, FXCM has the edge with a 4.5/5 star rating and a #14 rank out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote is rated 4/5 stars and ranked #20. In short, beginners will find complete learning support at both brokers; choose FXCM if you want the higher-rated education suite, or go with Swissquote if you prefer its platform and still want strong learning tools.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 |
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Swissquote provides investors the capability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies in addition to cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas FXCM only offers the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Swissquote and FXCM both offer a wide range of deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, making them versatile choices for online brokerage services.
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 (SFC 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | Starts from $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | |||
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 13 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 59 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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