Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote vs FXCM, 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.
Swissquote and FXCM are two prominent online brokers, each with unique attributes that might appeal to different investors. Founded in 1996, Swissquote is a publicly traded entity listed on the stock exchange and operates as a bank. FXCM, established in 1999, is also publicly traded but does not function as a bank. This distinction may impact investors looking for banking services along with trading options.
When it comes to regulatory trust, Swissquote holds a notable edge with a perfect Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, aligning with its 5 Tier-1 highly trusted licenses and 2 Tier-2 trusted licenses. Meanwhile, FXCM garners a Trust Score of 95, reflecting its solid standing with 4 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses. Both brokers are well-regarded, but the higher trust score and additional Tier-1 license might make Swissquote a more appealing choice for those prioritizing trust and regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Swissquote and FXCM present differing approaches to commissions and fees, each catering to specific trader needs. Swissquote, rated 3.5 stars in commissions and fees and ranked 52nd out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, offers the prestige of a Swiss banking affiliation, albeit at a higher cost. Their UK entity provides the most competitive pricing within their offerings, with lower spreads on commission-based accounts, catering well to active traders depositing at least $10,000. Meanwhile, their Luxembourg and Swiss branches maintain similar pricing structures but with varying spreads and deposit requirements, which might not appeal to cost-conscious traders.
FXCM, with a superior 4-star rating and ranked 24th on the same list by ForexBrokers.com, generally offers more competitive pricing, though still slightly above the industry average. FXCM's standard account spreads average around 0.78 pips in the EU, UK, and Australia, with higher costs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Notably, FXCM's commission-based accounts offer tighter spreads, averaging 0.28 pips, excluding commissions, and benefiting from active trader group discounts based on monthly trading volume and location. This makes FXCM a more attractive option for traders focusing on cost-efficiency and willing to trade in significant volumes.
While Swissquote attracts with its banking reputation, FXCM stands out in fee competitiveness with additional savings through its Active Trader Rebate Program. FXCM's rebates cater best to high-volume traders, with discounts scaling up to $25 per million traded, albeit with specific regional availability. Therefore, potential users must weigh the prestige and range of Swissquote against the possibly lower costs and flexible pricing strategies offered by FXCM, aligning their choice with their trading style and volume.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | Starts from $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.78 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.78 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Swissquote stands out in the online trading world, offering a broad spectrum of investment options. With 472 tradeable symbols and a notable 80 forex pairs, it's a comprehensive choice for diverse trading opportunities. Traders can explore U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, enabling the purchase of significant stocks like Apple and Vodafone, without relying solely on CFDs. Swissquote also provides flexibility in trading both actual cryptocurrencies and derivatives. In addition, Swissquote supports copy trading, making it an attractive option for traders eager to follow successful strategies.
In comparison, FXCM, while offering a variety of opportunities, provides 440 tradeable symbols and a more limited range of 43 forex pairs. FXCM does not offer direct investment in exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, restricting clients to CFD-based trading in these markets. However, they do support copy trading and the trade of cryptocurrency derivatives, though not actual cryptocurrencies. Swissquote outshines FXCM with a higher rating of 5 stars for Range of Investments, significantly ranking #2 out of 62 brokers, while FXCM holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks at #47 in the same category.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 440 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 43 |
| 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 FXCM in terms of their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a variety of options tailored to different trading needs. Swissquote and FXCM provide simulated trading with complimentary virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to practice without risking real money. Each also has developed a proprietary trading platform, downloadable for Windows users, along with web-based platforms for browser trading. Traders have the flexibility to access popular platforms, with both brokers supporting MetaTrader 4, though only Swissquote extends support to MetaTrader 5. Additionally, both brokers facilitate copy trading, but FXCM offers ZuluTrade while Swissquote does not.
Both Swissquote and FXCM enable trading directly from stock charts, but they differ significantly in their charting tools. Swissquote stands out by offering a robust set of 75 drawing tools for chart analysis, compared to FXCM's 10. However, FXCM slightly edges out Swissquote in the number of columns available for creating custom watch lists, with FXCM offering 13 compared to Swissquote's 11. In terms of user ratings and industry rankings by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM receives a perfect 5-star rating and is ranked 6th among 62 brokers, whereas Swissquote is rated 4.5 stars and ranked 12th in the same category. This highlights FXCM's strong position in providing effective trading platforms and tools.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 10 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 13 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Swissquote and FXCM provide seamless trading experiences through their fully-featured mobile apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Users can enjoy stock and forex price alerts along with the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts. Both apps also support watchlist creation with real-time quotes and auto-save capabilities for chart drawings. A point of differentiation, however, is that FXCM offers watchlist symbol syncing between the app and the client’s online account, allowing for seamless transitions across platforms, a feature that Swissquote lacks.
In terms of technical analysis, FXCM provides 59 technical studies, nearly double the 30 studies offered by Swissquote, giving traders a broader range of tools for informed decision-making. Both platforms have received positive feedback, each earning a rating of 4.5 stars for their mobile apps. As ranked by ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote is positioned at 11th out of 62 brokers, slightly ahead of FXCM which holds the 16th spot. These rankings further highlight Swissquote’s edge in overall mobile app satisfaction, despite FXCM's superior toolset for technical study enthusiasts.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 59 |
| 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.
Both Swissquote and FXCM offer daily market commentary and deliver forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Swissquote stands out by providing technical analysis tools from Autochartist, yet FXCM offers a different kind of value with tools from Trading Central and sentiment-based trading tools that highlight the trading ratios across currency pairs. Both platforms feature economic calendars that provide insight into upcoming global news events, helping traders stay informed about the bigger economic picture.
While Swissquote is rated four stars for research, FXCM edges slightly ahead with a 4.5-star rating. This slightly higher rating reflects FXCM's additional offerings in market research, such as insights from TipRanks. Among a field of 62 brokers, Swissquote holds the 16th spot in ForexBrokers.com's research category, whereas FXCM is ranked 11th, underlining its strong research capabilities. With both platforms offering valuable tools for traders, the choice ultimately hinges on the specific features and research tools that most align with an individual's trading strategy.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners between online brokers Swissquote and FXCM, both platforms offer substantial educational content for those new to trading. Swissquote provides a rich assortment of learning materials, including more than ten pieces focusing on forex and CFDs, alongside monthly webinars and a comprehensive archive of past recordings. They also furnish a variety of beginner-friendly educational videos and a dictionary defining over 50 investing terms. Similarly, FXCM offers an impressive suite of educational resources, with over ten pieces on primary trading topics, ongoing monthly webinars, archived sessions, and a beginner video series. Like Swissquote, FXCM has an investor dictionary with more than 50 defined terms.
Both Swissquote and FXCM cater well to beginners with their educational offerings, but FXCM receives slightly higher recognition in the educational sphere. While Swissquote boasts a commendable education rating of four out of five stars and ranks 21st out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating and a higher ranking at 14th place. Whether you choose Swissquote or FXCM, beginners are met with solid educational content, making either broker a worthy choice for those starting their trading journey.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 FXCM. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15.
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
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 |
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Swissquote provides investors the capability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies in addition to cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas FXCM only offers the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Swissquote and FXCM both offer a wide range of deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, making them versatile choices for online brokerage services.
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 | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | FXCM | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 440 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 43 | |
| 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.78 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.78 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | Starts from $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 13 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 10 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 59 | |
| 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXCM Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | FXCM Review |
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