Comparison of ActivTrades and Saxo
| Feature | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2001 | 1992 |
| Broker Type | MM | DMA |
| Dealing | B-book | A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | Danish FSA, FCA, MAS, FINMA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO, TradingView |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⮕ Average |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:400 | 1:30 |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $1 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, AUD, SGD, HKD, DKK, SEK, NOK |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months | ✖ |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✔ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | Danish Guarantee Fund, UK FSCS |
| Protection Size | £85 000 | DKK 100 000 / £85 000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✖ | ✖ |
| Copy Trading | ✖ | ✖ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✔ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✔ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities | Currencies, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Options, Futures, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies |
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Saxo Review |
About ActivTrades
ActivTrades is a well-regarded Forex and CFD broker known for its robust trading platforms, extensive range of financial instruments, and strong regulatory compliance. Established in 2001, ActivTrades serves clients globally, offering access to major and minor currency pairs, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and more. The broker provides multiple trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader 4 and 5, as well as its proprietary ActivTrader platform, catering to both desktop and mobile users. ActivTrades is regulated by several top-tier financial authorities, ensuring a secure and trustworthy trading environment. Additionally, the broker offers a variety of account types to accommodate different trading styles and experience levels, complemented by comprehensive educational resources and responsive customer support. With competitive spreads, flexible leverage options, and efficient withdrawal processes, ActivTrades stands out as a reliable choice for both novice and experienced Forex traders.
Pros
- Regulated by multiple reputable financial authorities
- Offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the proprietary ActivTrader platform
- Provides access to Forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and more
- Extensive tutorials, webinars, and market analysis tools available
- Offers tight spreads across numerous trading instruments
- Multilingual support available through various channels
Cons
- Maximum leverage available might be lower than what some experienced traders seek
- The proprietary ActivTrader platform offers fewer customization options
About Saxo
Saxo is a Danish multi-asset broker and fully licensed bank offering Direct Market Access across more than 190 FX pairs, 19 000+ equities and thousands of other instruments. Regulated by the Danish FSA, FCA, MAS and FINMA, Saxo provides the award-winning SaxoTraderGO/PRO platforms plus TradingView connectivity. Its Classic account has no minimum deposit, floating FX spreads from 0.9 pips and leverage up to 1:30, while Platinum and VIP tiers unlock tighter pricing and premium service. Traders benefit from segregated client funds, negative-balance protection in the EU, rich analytics and extensive education.
Pros
- Bank-grade regulation (DK FSA, FCA, MAS, FINMA)
- No-minimum Classic account; tight DMA pricing
- 190+ FX pairs and 40 000+ instruments overall
- SaxoTraderGO/PRO plus TradingView integration
- Tiered positive-balance interest on cash
- Extensive research, webinars and market tools
Cons
- High deposits (USD 200k / 1 M) for better Platinum / VIP pricing
- No MetaTrader support
- Islamic swap-free accounts not available
ActivTrades & Saxo Regulation
| Feature | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Companies | ActivTrades Corp, ActivTrades PLC, ActivMarkets - Empresa de Investimento, S.A., ActivTrades Europe SA, ACTIVTRADES CORRETORA LTDA | Saxo Bank A/S |
Countries | Bahamas, United Kingdom, Portugal, Luxembourg, Brazil | Denmark, United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, UAE, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, France |
Regulators | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | Danish FSA, FCA, MAS, FINMA |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | Danish Guarantee Fund, UK FSCS |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 | DKK 100 000 / £85 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Pro | — |
| Min Deposit | $1 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.5 | — |
| Fee | No | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | — |
| Stop Out | 30% | — |
| Margin Call | 100% | — |
DMA Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Classic |
| Min Deposit | — | $1 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0.9 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:30 |
| Stop Out | — | 50% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, AUD, SGD, HKD, DKK, SEK, NOK |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 12 months | |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO, TradingView |
Execution Speed | 5 ms | 9 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | average |
Trading Assets
| Asset | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 49 | 190 |
Indices | 31 | 29 |
Stocks | 1035 | 19000 |
Cryptocurrencies | 12 | 20 |
Bonds | 6 | 5000 |
Metals | 3 | 4 |
Energies | 7 | 5 |
Soft Commodities | 9 | 8 |
ETFs | 75 | 3000 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | ActivTrades | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
Email | englishdesk@activtrades.bs | salesCEE@saxobank.com |
Phone | +12426035200 | +4539774113 |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | — |
Twitter |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing ActivTrades and Saxo, ActivTrades comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
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Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.