Score card

Saxo Bank review

Every factor behind Saxo Bank's ranking, with the points each one contributed.

Last checked

Saxo Bank ranks mid-table, and the ranking is doing what it should: a good broker held below the top by specific, nameable weaknesses rather than by a general impression. Regulated by Danish FSA; FCA; ASIC; FINMA; MAS; JFSA; SFC Hong Kong; DFSA; AMF/ACPR and other European regulators, offering SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader, SaxoTraderPRO, TradingView.

Our rating

80/100

One rating, identical across our sites - only the way it is shown changes. It averages six assessments: regulation, trading costs, platforms, markets, support and education.

What it costs to trade

6.3/10
Spread from
0.7 pips
EUR/USD spread
Approx. 1.0 pip, Classic
GBP/USD spread
Approx. 1.1 pips, Classic
Commission
$0 on spot forex
All-in cost, EUR/USD
Approx. 1.0 pip
Spread type
Variable
Overnight swap
Both: FX rollover/financing charged or credited
Currency conversion
0.25%

Cost is the second heaviest, and the one most likely to move a broker several places.

Spreads from 0.7 pips suggest an all-in account, where the broker's fee is built into the price rather than charged separately. There is usually no commission on top, which makes the cost easier to predict.

Quoted spreads are best-case figures on the most liquid pair, in normal conditions. What you actually pay widens around news and at the session open.

Saxo Bank lists a minimum deposit of $0. Treat it as the cost of opening an account, not the cost of trading one - position sizing on a small balance is what tends to cause damage.

Markets and execution

9.8/10
Markets
Forex, FX Options, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Futures, Listed Options, Commodities, Crypto ETPs
Currency pairs
185+
Total instruments
71,000+
Crypto CFDs
Yes, jurisdiction-dependent
Maximum leverage
1:30
Execution model
Agency/principal hybrid with direct market access
Execution speed
Approx. 50ms
Order types
Market, limit, stop, stop-limit, trailing stop, OCO, algorithmic orders
Servers
Global institutional data-centre infrastructure including London

Leverage is capped at 1:30, which is the retail limit under tier-one regulation. It is a protection rather than a restriction: it caps how quickly a position can move against your balance.

Saxo Bank covers forex, fx options, stocks, etfs, bonds, mutual funds, cfds, futures, listed options, commodities, crypto etps. A wider range matters less than depth in the instruments you actually trade.

Funding options: bank transfer, credit/debit card and portfolio transfer. Check withdrawal routes as well as deposit ones - they are often not the same, and the difference only becomes apparent when you try to take money out.

Platforms and tools

9.6/10
Platforms
SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader, SaxoTraderPRO, TradingView
Own platform
Yes
Mobile app
Both proprietary and third-party
Browser trading
Yes
Automated trading
Yes, through API/OpenAPI integrations; no MetaTrader EAs
Copy trading
No
Indicators
50+ native; 100+ through TradingView
Third-party tools
TradingView, Autochartist, TipRanks and integrated trade signals
API access
Yes, OpenAPI and FIX API

TradingView integration lets you trade from charts you may already use, removing the need to run a second platform for analysis.

Regulation and safety

10.0/10
Regulated by
Danish FSA; FCA; ASIC; FINMA; MAS; JFSA; SFC Hong Kong; DFSA; AMF/ACPR and other European regulators
Regulator tier
Tier 1
Register entry
Danish Financial Supervisory Authority register
Client money segregated
Yes
Held at
Segregated bank/custodian accounts with regulated financial institutions
Negative balance protection
Yes, retail clients
Compensation scheme
Danish DGS: cash deposits up to €100,000 and unreturned securities up to €20,000
Audited by
Deloitte
Not available to
United States, Canada and sanctioned/restricted jurisdictions, plus countries where Saxo does not offer retail accounts

Regulation is the heaviest-weighted input into the position on this page.

Saxo Bank holds tier-one authorisations from ASIC, FCA, MAS and FINMA. That matters more than any headline spread: it determines your leverage cap, whether losses can exceed your deposit, and what happens to your money if the firm fails.

It also operates an offshore entity (FSA). Which one you are onboarded to depends on where you live, and the two carry very different protections - worth confirming before you deposit.

ASIC caps retail leverage at 1:30, requires negative balance protection, and obliges the broker to hold client money in a separate trust account.

The FCA caps retail leverage at 1:30, mandates negative balance protection, and covers eligible clients under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

The DFSA regulates from the Dubai International Financial Centre, a separate legal jurisdiction from the wider UAE.

Check the licence yourself: the FCA Register, ASIC Connect, the MAS Financial Institutions Directory, the SFC public register, the DFSA public register.

Accounts

Minimum deposit
$0
Account types
Classic, Platinum, VIP, Professional, Corporate, Joint, Demo
Account currencies
AUD, CAD, CHF, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NZD, SGD, USD and other regional currencies
Islamic account
No
Demo account
Yes
Professional account
Yes
Minimum trade size
1,000 currency units / 0.01 lot equivalent
Time to open
Usually a few minutes

Deposits and withdrawals

Deposit methods
Bank transfer, credit/debit card and portfolio transfer
Withdrawal methods
Bank transfer to verified external bank account
Deposit time
Cards generally instant; bank transfer typically 1-3 business days
Withdrawal time
Typically 1-3 business days
Minimum withdrawal
No minimum
Local payment methods
Local bank transfer options vary by country

Support and education

5.8/10
Support hours
24/5
Contact channels
Phone, support ticket, platform chat/help centre
Languages
Multilingual
Telephone
+45 3977 4000
Email
support@saxobank.com
Live chat response
Typically under 5 minutes
Education
Extensive: platform tutorials, trading guides, webinars, videos, investment education and Saxo Academy
Research
Extensive: SaxoStrats, daily market analysis, analyst research, trade signals, fundamental data and market commentary

The company behind the brand

Legal entity
Saxo Bank A/S
Company number
15731249
Headquarters
Hellerup, Denmark
Founded
1992
Publicly listed
No
Parent company
Independent
Employees
2,600+
Also trades as
Saxo; Saxo Markets

Information is regularly updated. Last compiled from Saxo Bank's own website on 26 August 2026.

Questions people ask about Saxo Bank

How long does a withdrawal from Saxo Bank take?

Saxo Bank gives a withdrawal time of typically 1-3 business days. The clock usually starts when the broker approves the request rather than when you submit it, and a first withdrawal is slower because identity checks run alongside it.

Does Saxo Bank offer a swap-free account?

Saxo Bank records swap-free accounts as No.