Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo vs Trading 212, 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.
Saxo vs Trading 212: Saxo was founded in 1992 and Trading 212 in 2004. Neither company is publicly traded. Saxo is a bank, while Trading 212 is not. According to ForexBrokers.com, Saxo holds a Trust Score of 99 (highly trusted, 90–99), whereas Trading 212 scores 82 (trusted, 80–89).
On regulation, Saxo carries 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, signaling wider oversight from top-tier regulators. Trading 212 holds 3 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. If regulatory strength and trust ratings matter most to you, Saxo edges ahead; if you’re comfortable with a solid trusted rating and fewer licenses, Trading 212 may still fit your needs.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Saxo comes out ahead of Trading 212 on commissions and fees, especially for active and high-volume traders. Saxo is rated 5 stars and ranked #8 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its forex pricing is generally low, with EUR/USD average spreads in November 2023 of 1.1 pips on the Classic account, 1.0 pips on Platinum, and 0.9 pips on VIP. Saxo is commission-free for forex, though traders who do less than 50,000 units per month pay a $3 ticket fee per side.
Trading 212 is also advertised as zero-commission, but its costs are more tied to the spread, which was less competitive in this comparison. Trading 212 is rated 4 stars and ranked #29 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. For its CFD and forex trading, the average EUR/USD spread in April 2025 was 2.7 pips, which is higher than the industry average and makes it less appealing on price than Saxo for cost-conscious traders.
In short, Saxo offers better overall value for traders who care most about spreads and trading costs, while Trading 212 is simpler on the surface but tends to be more expensive once spread costs are factored in. Saxo’s pricing gets even better on higher-tier accounts, while Trading 212’s fee structure is easier to understand but not as competitive.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.0 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Saxo and Trading 212 both give investors access to forex trading, U.S. listed shares, international shares, and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker offers copy trading, and both support forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract. In terms of range, Saxo stands out with about 71,000 tradeable symbols and 192 forex pairs, while Trading 212 offers around 13,000 symbols and 180 forex pairs. That means Saxo gives traders a much wider choice overall, especially for those looking for more markets and instruments in one place.
Both brokers let you buy real exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, but only Trading 212 also offers delivered cryptocurrency, not just crypto CFDs. Even so, both platforms are rated 5 stars for Range of Investments. On ForexBrokers.com, Saxo ranks #3 out of 36 brokers in this category, compared with Trading 212 at #14, which reflects Saxo’s larger selection for traders who want more variety.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 13000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 192 | 180 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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.
Saxo and Trading 212 both give traders a free demo account, a web-based platform, and the ability to trade directly from a stock chart. Neither broker supports copy trading, MetaTrader 4, or MetaTrader 5. For everyday use, this means both platforms cover the basics well, especially if you want to test strategies first or manage trades in your browser.
The main difference is that Saxo offers more platform choice, including its own in-house software and a Windows desktop download, while Trading 212 does not offer a desktop app or proprietary platform. That extra flexibility helps explain why Saxo scores higher overall for trading platforms and tools, with a 5-star rating and a #3 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Trading 212’s 4 stars and #19 ranking.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 102 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and Trading 212 both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing between the app and online account, trendline drawing tools, and automatic saving of chart drawings. In day-to-day use, this means both apps give traders the basic tools they need to track markets, manage lists, and work on charts from a phone or tablet.
The main difference comes down to charting depth and overall app quality. Trading 212 offers more technical studies in its mobile app, with 104 compared with Saxo’s 64, but Saxo scores higher overall for mobile trading apps, earning 5 stars versus Trading 212’s 4 stars. Saxo is also ranked #3 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps by ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 sits at #17, which may make Saxo the stronger choice for traders who want a higher-rated app experience.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Saxo stands out for market research, offering daily market commentary, news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist tools, and an economic calendar for tracking key global events. It is also rated 5 stars for Research and ranked #1 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, making it a strong choice for traders who want more in-depth market insights. Trading 212 also provides forex news from leading sources and an economic calendar, but it does not offer daily market commentary or Autochartist tools.
Trading 212 does have one research feature Saxo does not: a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions across instruments. Even so, Trading 212 is rated 3.5 stars for Research and ranked #31 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. For market research overall, Saxo offers a wider set of tools and more frequent commentary, while Trading 212 gives a more basic research experience with a few useful extras.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Saxo and Trading 212 both give beginners a solid starting point for learning how to trade. Each broker offers at least 10 beginner videos, and each also has at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders. That said, Saxo goes further on forex and CFDs education, with a clear range of learning material focused on those markets, while Trading 212 does not meet the same threshold. Saxo also stands out with online client webinars held at least once a month, which can be helpful for traders who want regular live learning.
When it comes to overall education quality, Saxo has the edge. It is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category, compared with Trading 212’s 3.5-star rating and #23 ranking. For beginners looking for more frequent guidance, more market-specific content, and live webinars, Saxo is the stronger choice.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Saxo is better than Trading 212. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25.
Saxo is a 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
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 |
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In the Saxo vs Trading 212 comparison, Trading 212 allows you to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency CFDs, while Saxo supports cryptocurrency CFDs but does not offer the purchase of actual crypto.
When comparing Saxo vs Trading 212, both brokers support bank wire transfers for depositing and withdrawing funds, while neither offers PayPal or Skrill, and Saxo does not support ACH or SEPA transfers as a funding option.
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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 13000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 192 | 180 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.0 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 102 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Saxo Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Trading 212 Review |
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