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.
When assessing online brokers, Saxo and Trading 212 stand out due to their regulatory strength, but they differ significantly in their trust ratings and credentials. Saxo, established in 1992, is not publicly traded but operates as a bank, which adds a layer of security for clients. It boasts a top Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its high standard in the industry. Saxo holds seven Tier-1 licenses, indicating a very high level of trust, along with one Tier-2 license.
On the other hand, Trading 212, founded in 2004, is not a bank and is also not publicly listed. It holds a Trust Score of 80, placing it in the trusted category but below the highest echelon. While it has three Tier-1 licenses, Trading 212 lacks Tier-2 licenses to further its credibility. For investors prioritizing regulation and trust, Saxo presents a sturdier option due to its higher regulatory endorsements and banking status compared to Trading 212.
| 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 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Saxo and Trading 212 cater to different types of traders with their unique pricing structures. Saxo stands out with their competitive all-around pricing, particularly favoring active and high-volume traders. Saxo provides various account types, including Classic, Platinum, and VIP, with spreads on the EUR/USD starting as low as 0.9 pips. Notably, Saxo offers commission-free forex trading, charging solely via spreads and waiving custody fees for some share traders who participate in securities lending. Saxo's packages require higher account balances for premium benefits, such as their Platinum account starting at $200,000, and the VIP account at $1,000,000. For its favorable pricing, Saxo earns a 5-star rating, placing it 9th out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category.
On the other hand, Trading 212 positions itself as an accessible option with their zero-commission trading, though traders should remember that trading CFDs and forex involves paying spreads. While Trading 212 has a very low entry barrier with minimum deposits of just 1 or 10 euros for its Invest and CFD accounts, respectively, the average spread of 2.7 pips on EUR/USD is noticeably above the industry standard. Consequently, Trading 212 might not appeal to those prioritizing low spreads. Despite the ease of access and advertised zero commissions, Trading 212 scores a 4-star rating, ranking 49th out of 63 brokers in the same category.
In comparing these brokers, Saxo clearly appeals to those who can capitalize on large trading volumes or who maintain larger account balances due to its attractive pricing and premium account benefits. Trading 212, meanwhile, offers low entry costs and simplicity, though with relatively higher spreads, might not be the top choice for traders who seek cost efficiency in their trades.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 2.7 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Saxo and Trading 212, both brokers offer a comprehensive range of trading options, providing access to forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. Saxo takes the lead with an impressive array of 70,000 tradeable symbols, including 190 forex pairs, while Trading 212 offers 7,868 symbols, featuring 146 forex pairs. Both platforms grant their clients the opportunity to trade U.S. and international exchange-listed securities, allowing investments in companies like Apple and Vodafone. Although Saxo includes copy trading among its features, Trading 212 does not offer this option. However, both brokers provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, albeit without offering the ability to purchase the actual digital currency.
In terms of range of investments, both Saxo and Trading 212 are rated 5 stars, highlighting their rich offerings. However, Saxo stands out by securing the 3rd position among 63 brokers ranked by ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 is positioned at 15th place. This distinction underscores Saxo's broader range of investment possibilities, making it a favorable choice for those seeking extensive trading opportunities, while Trading 212 still remains a strong contender for diverse investment access.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms of Saxo and Trading 212, both brokers offer unique strengths. Saxo provides a Windows-based desktop platform, appealing to traders who prefer robust software applications for intensive trading activities. Alternatively, Trading 212 opts for convenience with a strictly web-based platform, catering to users who value accessibility from any browser. Both brokers offer proprietary trading platforms with features like simulated trading, allowing users to practice and hone their strategies without risking real money. However, Saxo distinguishes itself with its advanced trading tools, including 60 adjustable columns for watch lists and comprehensive charting options featuring 20 drawing tools.
While both Saxo and Trading 212 enable you to trade directly from stock charts, Saxo offers added value through features like copy trading, which Trading 212 lacks. Despite not supporting popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 or 5, both brokers ensure a seamless trading experience through their in-house platforms. Saxo shines with a perfect 5-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, ranking #1 out of 63 brokers listed by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Trading 212 holds a 4-star rating, ranking #20, highlighting Saxo's superior toolkit for advanced traders.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 60 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and Trading 212 both provide comprehensive mobile trading experiences, available on iPhone and Android platforms. Each app features stock and forex price alerts and the option to synchronize watchlist symbols with clients' online accounts. This means users can effortlessly keep track of their preferences regardless of the device. While both apps offer the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts, they also automatically save these drawings for a seamless experience.
Where these apps differ is in the number of technical studies available for charting; Saxo offers 64 studies, whereas Trading 212 provides a more extensive selection of 104 studies. Both apps support the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, but when rated overall for mobile trading, Saxo earns a 5-star rating compared to Trading 212's 4-star rating. Additionally, Saxo is highly ranked at #2 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 holds the #17 spot, highlighting Saxo's slightly superior user experience.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 104 |
| 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.
When it comes to market research, Saxo stands out by offering a comprehensive suite of tools and resources that cater to the needs of both novice and experienced traders. Saxo includes daily market commentary, ensuring users stay informed with timely insights. Additionally, it provides access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. For those interested in technical analysis, Saxo includes advanced tools from Autochartist, and sentiment-based trading tools to gauge market positions effectively. An economic calendar is also available, keeping traders updated on global events. With a research rating of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com and a number one ranking among 63 brokers, Saxo clearly excels in delivering valuable market insights.
Trading 212, on the other hand, offers a solid platform but with fewer research features compared to Saxo. It provides forex news from reputable sources, ensuring that users are kept in the loop with essential market developments. Trading 212 also includes a sentiment-based trading tool and an economic calendar to help traders plan their strategies better. However, it lacks daily market commentary and tools from Autochartist that help in conducting technical analysis. Rated 3.5 stars for research and ranked 44 out of 63 brokers, Trading 212 offers a reliable research experience but does not match the depth and breadth of Saxo's market research services.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | 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 beginners, both Saxo and Trading 212 provide a range of materials to enhance learning in forex and CFDs trading. Saxo stands out with its commitment to ongoing education, offering monthly online webinars and a comprehensive archive of recorded sessions for easy access. Both platforms ensure a strong foundation by supplying over ten beginner-oriented videos, as well as content for advanced traders. Moreover, they each offer investor dictionaries that include definitions for at least 50 investing terms, providing users with a rich vocabulary to aid their financial journey.
Despite these similarities, Saxo's educational offerings earn higher accolades, receiving a 5-star rating compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars. Saxo ranks 13th in this category according to ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 holds the 20th spot. This rating difference underscores Saxo's superior access to educational webinars and its diverse range of beginner and advanced learning materials, making it a more comprehensive choice for those eager to deepen their trading knowledge.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Trading 212. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
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
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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Both Saxo and Trading 212 do not provide the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both Saxo and Trading 212 support deposits and withdrawals via Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, Trading 212 additionally offers ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options, which are not available with Saxo.
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 | 80 | |
| 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 | 80 | |
| 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) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 70000 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.1 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 2.7 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 60 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 20 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 104 | |
| 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 | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Trading 212 Review |
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