Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Swissquote, 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.
FXCM (founded 1999) and Swissquote (founded 1996) are well-known online brokers with strong regulatory standing. Both are publicly traded; Swissquote is also a bank, while FXCM is not. According to ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score system (90–99 = highly trusted, 80–89 = trusted, 70–79 = average risk, 60–69 = high risk, below 59 = do not trust), FXCM scores 95 and Swissquote scores 99—both in the highly trusted range.
Licensing tilts slightly in Swissquote’s favor. Swissquote holds five Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, while FXCM holds four Tier-1 and two Tier-2 licenses. In short, both offer high-trust regulation and public-market transparency, with Swissquote edging FXCM on Trust Score and the number of top-tier licenses, and FXCM still providing extensive top-tier oversight.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1996 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | Yes |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
FXCM and Swissquote both publish clear pricing, but FXCM comes out ahead for commissions and fees. FXCM earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #17 of 63 brokers for this category, while Swissquote earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #35 of 63. In short, FXCM’s effective spreads can be more competitive if you qualify for its active-trader pricing, whereas Swissquote typically charges a slight premium across its various entities.
FXCM’s forex pricing is slightly higher than the industry average on its standard accounts, with May 2024 average EUR/USD spreads of 0.78 pips in the EU, U.K., and Australia, and 1.38 pips via its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. Commission-based accounts averaged 0.28 pips (excluding commissions) in May, with the effective spread closer to about 0.74 pips after adding commissions. FXCM’s Active Trader Rebate Program offers $5 to $25 per million traded if you do at least $10 million in monthly volume, but it isn’t available in the U.K. or EU. Active-trader pricing varies by entity; for example, in the U.K., a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume can drop commissions to $2.50 per side ($5 round-turn), yielding an effective EUR/USD spread around 0.78 pips. As with many brokers, spreads can widen during rollover or volatile markets.
Swissquote’s pricing depends on where your account is held, and it generally sits above the cheapest brokers. In the U.K., the Elite account is the most cost-effective for active traders with at least a $10,000 deposit, pairing lower spreads with a $5 round-turn commission. The Standard account starts at 1.3 pips on EUR/USD, while the Prime account’s 0.6-pip figure is a minimum, not an average. In Luxembourg, minimum spreads range from 1.5 pips (Standard, $1,000 minimum) to 0.8 pips (Prime, $50,000 minimum). In Switzerland, spreads start at 1.7 pips on Standard, 1.4 pips on Premium ($10,000 minimum), and 1.1 pips on Prime ($50,000 minimum), with custom pricing negotiated by volume. Overall, Swissquote’s costs trail the lowest-cost options, which is reflected in its 3.5/5 star rating and #35 of 63 ranking for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $1000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| 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 FXCM vs Swissquote for range of investments: both brokers support forex trading (via CFDs or spot), offer copy trading, and provide crypto CFDs. FXCM lists 440 tradeable instruments with 46 forex pairs, while Swissquote edges ahead with 472 instruments and 80 forex pairs.
Where Swissquote pulls away is access to more markets. It lets you buy exchange‑traded stocks on U.S. and international exchanges and purchase actual cryptocurrencies, in addition to crypto CFDs. FXCM does not offer direct stock investing or delivered crypto. Reflecting this breadth, ForexBrokers.com rates Swissquote 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments (ranked #2 of 63), while FXCM earns 3.5 out of 5 stars (ranked #21 of 63).
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 472 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 80 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes |
| 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.
FXCM vs Swissquote: Both brokers check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each provides a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web platform. Copy trading is available at both, and each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4). The main platform difference is MetaTrader 5 (MT5): Swissquote offers MT5, while FXCM does not. Both let you place trades directly from charts, making it easier to go from analysis to execution.
For charting and watch lists, FXCM and Swissquote include technical indicators and customization options, along with chart-based trading for a streamlined workflow. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Swissquote earns 4.5 stars and ranks #12 out of 63. If you want MT5, Swissquote has the edge; if top-tier platform ratings matter most, FXCM comes out ahead.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 86 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and Swissquote both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, drawing trendlines on charts, and auto-saving your drawings. Both earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com; in the category, Swissquote ranks #12 out of 63 brokers, while FXCM ranks #16.
For charting tools, FXCM provides 59 technical studies in its app, nearly double Swissquote’s 30. FXCM also syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, so changes carry over across devices, while Swissquote does not support watchlist syncing. If you want deeper technical analysis and synced watchlists, FXCM stands out; if overall category standing is your tie-breaker, Swissquote’s higher ranking may appeal.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing FXCM vs Swissquote for market research, both brokers cover the basics well. Each provides daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. That means you can track global events and market moves in real time with either platform.
The differences come down to research tools. FXCM includes Trading Central, a sentiment tool that shows long/short ratios, and TipRanks; Swissquote counters with Autochartist for pattern recognition. Neither offers tools from Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). Based on ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns 4.5 stars and ranks #11 out of 63 for Research, while Swissquote earns 4 stars and ranks #15. Choose FXCM if you want sentiment data, Trading Central insights, and TipRanks; pick Swissquote if Autochartist is a priority.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM vs Swissquote for beginner education: both brokers provide forex and CFD learning libraries that meet the 10+ piece threshold, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Beginners will find at least 10 starter videos at each broker that cover core concepts and platform know‑how, plus ongoing client webinars at least once a month to learn in real time and ask questions.
When you’re ready to advance, both FXCM and Swissquote also offer 10+ videos for more experienced topics. That said, FXCM holds a slight edge in third‑party reviews: it earns 4.5 stars and ranks #13 out of 63 for Education at ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote earns 4 stars and ranks #19. If education is a top priority, FXCM may be the stronger choice, though Swissquote still delivers a wide range of helpful learning materials for new traders.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 FXCM is better than Swissquote. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 95 | 99 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
In the FXCM vs Swissquote comparison, FXCM provides cryptocurrency CFD trading only (no delivered coins), while Swissquote offers both real cryptocurrency purchases and crypto CFDs.
FXCM and Swissquote both support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 95 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1996 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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) | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 472 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 80 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 86 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 59 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FXCM Review | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 95 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Swissquote Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill