Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo vs ActivTrades, 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 (founded in 1992) and ActivTrades (founded in 2001) are online brokers that are not publicly traded. Saxo operates as a bank, while ActivTrades does not.
By ForexBrokers.com’s scale (90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted), Saxo scores 99/99 and ActivTrades scores 80/99. Saxo holds 7 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted) and 1 Tier-2 license (trusted). ActivTrades holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Saxo and ActivTrades both offer competitive pricing, but they suit different types of traders. Saxo is the stronger choice for commissions and fees overall, earning 5 stars and ranking #8 out of 36 brokers. Its pricing is especially appealing for active traders and larger accounts, with EUR/USD spreads around 1.1 pips on the Classic account, 1.0 on Platinum, and 0.9 on VIP as of November 2023. Saxo is also commission-free for forex in most cases, though traders who trade less than 50,000 units per month pay a $3 per-side ticket fee.
ActivTrades is a solid low-cost option, but it does not match Saxo on overall pricing. It earned 4 stars and placed #22 out of 36 brokers in the commissions and fees category. Its average EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024, which is slightly better than the industry average, but the broker does not offer special pricing for high-volume traders or active traders. Costs can also vary more by asset, since pricing depends on what you trade and which platform you use.
For traders comparing the two, Saxo stands out for flexible account tiers and stronger savings for larger balances, while ActivTrades keeps things simpler with one main account and fewer pricing perks. Saxo’s Classic account is now open with a $0 minimum deposit for new customers, while its Platinum and VIP tiers require much larger balances or trading volume. ActivTrades may be easier to start with, but Saxo is the better pick for lower fees if you qualify for its higher account levels.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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Saxo offers a much wider range of investments than ActivTrades, making it the stronger choice for traders who want access to many markets from one account. Saxo provides about 71,000 tradeable symbols and 190 forex pairs, while ActivTrades offers 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer international exchange-traded securities, but only Saxo also lets clients buy U.S.-listed shares such as Apple as actual stocks rather than CFDs.
When it comes to extra features, ActivTrades has copy trading, while Saxo does not. Neither broker lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, but both do offer cryptocurrency CFDs. Overall, Saxo is rated 5 out of 5 for range of investments and ranks #3 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s category rankings, compared with ActivTrades at 4 out of 5 and #26 out of 36.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| 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 and ActivTrades both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform. Each also lets users trade directly from a price chart, which can make order entry quicker and easier. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, Saxo scores higher overall, with a 5-star rating and a #3 rank out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranked #27.
The main difference is in the extra tools and platform access. ActivTrades supports copy trading and both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which may appeal to traders who want familiar third-party platforms or want to follow other traders. Saxo does not offer copy trading, MT4, or MT5, but it still provides a full in-house platform experience that may suit traders who prefer a more built-in setup. For platform quality and tools, Saxo comes out ahead overall, while ActivTrades offers more options for MetaTrader users and copy trading.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and ActivTrades both make it easy to trade on the go, since each offers iPhone and Android apps, along with price alerts for stocks and forex. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts and automatically save those drawings, which helps if you switch between devices or come back to a chart later. In terms of ratings, Saxo stands out more strongly, earning 5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranking #3 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #21.
The biggest difference is watchlist syncing and chart tools. Saxo lets watchlists sync between the mobile app and online account, so updates show up in both places, while ActivTrades does not offer this feature. Saxo also gives mobile traders more charting depth, with 64 technical studies compared with 30 at ActivTrades. For traders who want a smoother mobile experience with more chart options and synced watchlists, Saxo has the edge; ActivTrades still covers the basics well, but with fewer extras.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Saxo and ActivTrades both give traders useful market research, with daily market commentary, news from major providers like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, a sentiment tool showing long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for key global events. Both also cover the basics well for traders who want timely updates and an easy way to track what may move the market.
Where Saxo stands out is in the extra depth of its research offering. It includes Autochartist tools, while ActivTrades does not, and Saxo also earns a higher research score overall, with 5 out of 5 stars and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades is still solid, but it scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #27, making Saxo the stronger choice for market research in this comparison.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 and ActivTrades both give beginners a good range of learning tools, including forex and CFD education, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means each broker offers plenty of material for traders who want to start with the basics and then move on to more advanced topics. In simple terms, both platforms make it possible for new traders to learn at their own pace through articles, videos, and live sessions.
Where Saxo stands out is in the overall quality and recognition of its education offering. Saxo is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com education category, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranks #30. So, although both brokers provide helpful beginner-friendly learning content, Saxo comes across as the stronger choice for education overall.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 ActivTrades. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
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
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ActivTrades
|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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Comparing online brokers Saxo and ActivTrades for cryptocurrency, neither offers buying actual delivered crypto, while both provide access to trade cryptocurrency via CFDs.
In a funding-methods comparison, both Saxo and ActivTrades support bank wire transfers and do not support ACH/SEPA or PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, while only ActivTrades offers Skrill (Saxo does not).
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 | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | ActivTrades Review |
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| Regulation | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| 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) | No |
| Investments | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Saxo | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | ActivTrades Review |
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