Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote vs ATFX, 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 comparing online brokers Swissquote and ATFX, a few key differences emerge, particularly in their regulatory standings and trust scores. Swissquote was founded in 1996 and stands out as a highly established option in the market, particularly because it is publicly traded and operates as a bank. It boasts an impressive 99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com, supported by five Tier-1 licenses, which are regarded as highly trusted, and one Tier-2 license. These credentials reflect a strong level of trust and security for those considering Swissquote as their brokerage choice.
On the other hand, ATFX, founded in 2017, is a relatively newer player in the industry. While it is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank, it maintains a respectable standing with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85. This score is backed by four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, indicating a solid level of trustworthiness according to standard regulatory criteria. Both brokers offer reliable solutions, but their backgrounds and levels of regulatory assurance differ significantly, catering to diverse investment needs and preferences.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers Swissquote and ATFX, it's clear that Swissquote offers a slightly more premium service rooted in its Swiss banking heritage. However, this prestige comes with higher trading costs, making it less competitive against low-cost forex brokers. Swissquote's services are available across its U.K., Switzerland, and Luxembourg entities, with the U.K. entity offering the most cost-effective solutions, featuring lower deposit requirements and narrower product selections. Particularly, the Elite account within the U.K. branch benefits active traders with its lower spreads and a $5 charge per round-turn trade.
Conversely, ATFX does not publicly provide average spread data, making direct cost comparisons challenging. While Swissquote offers various account types with different deposit requirements and spreads, it should be noted that Swissquote's fees are generally not among the lowest in the industry. In terms of ratings, Swissquote scores 3.5 stars out of five for its commissions and fees, while ATFX receives a slightly lower 3-star rating.
In the ForexBrokers.com ranking for the Commissions and Fees category, Swissquote is positioned at #52 out of 62 brokers, reflecting its higher fee structure. Meanwhile, ATFX is ranked #59, indicating its slightly less competitive stance in terms of cost. Both brokers appear to cater to different segments of the trading market, with Swissquote appealing to those interested in the Swiss banking affiliation and ATFX offering a more straightforward fee structure without detailed spread data disclosure.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Swissquote and ATFX for their investment options, Swissquote stands out with a significantly larger variety. Swissquote offers 472 tradeable symbols and 80 forex pairs compared to ATFX's 150 symbols and 44 forex pairs. Additionally, Swissquote provides clients the opportunity to trade exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing the purchase of stocks like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, ATFX does not offer these options, focusing solely on CFDs.
Both platforms provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts and enable cryptocurrency trading. However, Swissquote also allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, while ATFX limits its offering to cryptocurrency CFDs. Furthermore, both brokers support copy trading. With these varied options, Swissquote earns a 5-star rating for its range of investments and ranks #2 out of 62 brokers in this category, while ATFX receives a 3.5-star rating and ranks #57.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 44 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 Swissquote and ATFX in terms of trading platforms and tools, both brokers deliver core functionalities such as simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, and support for popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5. Where they diverge is in their approach to platform offerings. Swissquote shines with its proprietary platform, developed in-house, delivering a tailored trading experience, while ATFX relies on established third-party solutions. Both offer windows-based desktop and browser-based web platforms, while providing copy trading features to benefit from experienced traders' expertise.
Charting capabilities reveal further differences, with Swissquote offering a more comprehensive suite, boasting 75 drawing tools versus ATFX's 15. This advantage extends to Swissquote’s handling of watch lists, which are more customizable with 11 columns compared to ATFX’s 7 columns. Both platforms support trading directly from stock charts, further enhancing their usability for active traders. In terms of accolades, Swissquote is rated higher with 4.5 stars, and ranks 11th out of 62 brokers for trading platforms and tools, whereas ATFX holds 3.5 stars and is ranked 61st. This distinction highlights Swissquote’s stronger platform versatility and tool selection, making it a more appealing choice for those prioritizing advanced charting and customization options.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Swissquote and ATFX, both platforms provide solid options for traders using iPhones or Android devices. They both enable users to receive stock and forex price alerts, create watchlists with real-time quotes, and offer features like drawing trendlines on charts and viewing various time frames from daily to intraday. However, neither of these brokers currently supports watchlist symbol syncing, which means any watchlist changes remain confined to the device where they were made.
Swissquote stands out by offering 30 technical studies for chart analysis, significantly more than ATFX, which offers just seven. Swissquote's app also boasts features like auto-saving drawings, contributing to its higher user rating of 4.5 stars compared to ATFX’s 3.5 stars. On ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for mobile trading apps, Swissquote holds the 10th spot out of 62 brokers, while ATFX is positioned much lower at 62nd. Overall, Swissquote seems to provide a more comprehensive mobile trading experience, particularly for those who rely heavily on in-depth chart analysis.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 |
| 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 comparing Swissquote and ATFX for market research tools, both brokers provide valuable insights through daily market commentary. However, Swissquote distinguishes itself by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which ATFX does not. Both brokers equip traders with technical and fundamental research tools from Autochartist, yet ATFX enhances its offering with Trading Central's tools where Swissquote does not. Neither provider includes sentiment-based trading tools or research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. Notably, both offer an economic calendar to track global news events.
Ranked high in research with a 4-star rating, Swissquote holds the 16th position out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. ATFX, with its solid 3-star rating, is positioned lower at 54th. Both brokers have distinct strengths that serve different trading needs, but Swissquote's access to premium news sources and its higher industry ranking provides a more comprehensive research platform overall.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For those entering the world of trading, educational resources can be a crucial differentiator. Both Swissquote and ATFX provide educational materials on forex and CFDs, offering at least ten pieces of content like articles and videos tailored to these topics. They also both host a searchable archive of previously recorded webinars, making it convenient for learners to access past discussions at their leisure. However, while Swissquote offers regular monthly webinars for their clients, ATFX lacks this offering. Additionally, both platforms supply a rich collection of beginner-friendly videos, but only Swissquote extends its video library to include advanced trading topics for seasoned traders.
Looking further at educational tools, Swissquote and ATFX each provide an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, aiding traders in understanding complex jargon. Despite these similarities, Swissquote holds a slight edge in overall educational quality, earning 4 out of 5 stars compared to ATFX’s 3-star rating. This difference is reflected in their respective rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Swissquote stands at 21st out of 62 brokers, while ATFX is positioned at 28th. For beginners seeking comprehensive educational resources, Swissquote might offer a more complete learning pathway.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Swissquote is better than ATFX. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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Swissquote allows investors to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and also offers cryptocurrency derivatives, while ATFX provides access only to cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual cryptocurrencies.
In comparing online brokers Swissquote and ATFX, Swissquote offers a more versatile array of deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while ATFX lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal but still supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | Swissquote | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | ATFX | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | 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) | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 | |
| 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 | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review |
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