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 |
If keeping trading costs low is your priority, Saxo generally beats Trading 212 on spreads for forex and CFDs, especially if you qualify for higher account tiers. Saxo is rated 5/5 stars for Commissions and Fees and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #50 out of 63.
Saxo is commission-free for forex (it earns from the spread), with a $3 per side ticket fee only if you trade less than 50,000 units per month. As of November 2023, average EUR/USD spreads were 1.1 pips (Classic), 1.0 pips (Platinum), and 0.9 pips (VIP), with minimums about 0.2 pips lower. Classic now has a $0 minimum deposit; Platinum requires $200,000, and VIP $1,000,000, though volume-based loyalty upgrades are available (e.g., roughly $40M traded for Platinum; ~$167M for VIP, each for 12 months). Saxo also waives custody fees on share trading if you opt into securities lending.
Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading, but you pay the spread. For April 2025, its published average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips—well above the industry average—making it pricier for frequent forex and CFD traders. Minimum deposits are low (Invest: €1; CFD: €10), which is appealing for newcomers, but if tight spreads and lower ongoing trading costs matter most, Saxo typically offers better value, particularly on its higher-tier accounts.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Saxo vs Trading 212 for range of investments: Saxo offers about 71,000 tradeable symbols and 190 forex pairs, while Trading 212 provides around 7,868 symbols and 146 forex pairs. Both support forex trading via spot and contracts for difference (CFDs), allow buying U.S. and international exchange-traded shares (think Apple and Vodafone), and offer crypto via CFDs but not actual coins. Neither platform provides copy trading.
Both brokers earn 5 stars for Range of Investments, but rankings differ: ForexBrokers.com places Saxo at #3 out of 63 brokers and Trading 212 at #16. If you want the widest market coverage and the largest selection of instruments, Saxo stands out; if you prefer a simpler lineup with plenty to trade, Trading 212 is a solid alternative.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 146 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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.
Saxo vs Trading 212: both brokers support a free demo account for paper trading, offer their own in-house platforms, and provide web-based trading with the ability to place orders directly from charts. Saxo also offers a Windows desktop download, while Trading 212 does not. Neither broker supports copy trading or third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5).
For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates Saxo at 5 stars and ranks it #1 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 earns 4 stars and ranks #20. If you want a downloadable Windows platform, Saxo has the edge; if you’re happy trading in your browser with chart trading and a clean proprietary platform, both are strong choices.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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) | 61 | 54 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and Trading 212 both check the key boxes for mobile trading: each has iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlist syncing between mobile and web. Charting is solid on both, with trendline drawing and auto-saving of your annotations. For technical studies, Trading 212 offers more built-in indicators (104) compared with Saxo (64), which may appeal if you like a wider set of tools.
When it comes to overall app quality, Saxo earns a higher score: 5 stars and a #2 ranking out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Trading 212 holds 4 stars and ranks #17, according to ForexBrokers.com. If top-rated execution and user experience are your priorities, Saxo’s mobile app stands out. If having more indicators matters most, Trading 212’s app gives you extra choice—while still covering the essentials traders expect.
| 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 with a 5-star rating and a #1 ranking out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 holds 3.5 stars and ranks #45. Saxo provides daily market commentary, plus forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones—something Trading 212 also offers. Both brokers include a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning and an economic calendar covering global events.
When it comes to research tools, Saxo offers Autochartist for technical or fundamental ideas, whereas Trading 212 does not. Neither broker integrates Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. In short, Saxo delivers a deeper set of built-in research features, while Trading 212 covers the basics with quality news, a calendar, and sentiment data but skips daily commentary and advanced third‑party tools.
| 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 | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Saxo vs Trading 212 for beginner education: both brokers offer sizable video libraries with at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos that explain trading basics, platform features, and strategy ideas. The big difference is live learning. Saxo hosts client education webinars at least once per month, giving newcomers a chance to learn in real time and ask questions. Trading 212 does not run monthly webinars, so its education leans more on on-demand content.
Independent reviews back this up. ForexBrokers.com rates Saxo 5 stars for Education and ranks it #13 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 earns 3.5 stars and ranks #21. If you want a structured path with frequent live sessions alongside videos, Saxo is the stronger choice for beginners exploring forex and CFDs. If you prefer self-paced videos without live classes, Trading 212 can still be a practical starting point.
| 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 #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
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Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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In the Saxo vs Trading 212 comparison, neither broker lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
For deposits and withdrawals, online broker Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA and PayPal while Saxo does not; both brokers accept bank wire transfers, neither supports Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability is unspecified.
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 (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 SCA 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 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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 | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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) | 61 | 54 | |
| 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | Yes | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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