Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo vs XTB, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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When comparing online brokers Saxo and XTB, it's clear that both have strong reputations, but they differ in several key areas. Saxo, founded in 1992, operates as a bank and is privately owned. It commands a top Trust Score rating of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, thanks in part to its seven Tier-1 licenses—indicating a high level of reliability. Meanwhile, XTB, founded a decade later in 2002, is publicly traded, which offers investors a layer of transparency. XTB achieves a Trust Score of 96, bolstered by its two Tier-1 and two Tier-2 licenses, showcasing its solid standing in the market.
Both brokers provide an array of trading services and maintain high trust levels, but Saxo's status as a bank and its extensive Tier-1 licensing set it apart as a highly dependable choice. XTB, however, stands out for those who prefer a publicly traded company that combines transparency with a strong regulatory foundation. Each broker, with its distinct background and regulatory credentials, caters to different trader preferences and risk tolerances.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2002 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Saxo and XTB both offer pricing that is competitive, but Saxo comes out ahead overall for commissions and fees. Saxo is rated 5 stars and ranked #8 out of 36 brokers for this category, while XTB is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #13 out of 36. Saxo’s forex trading is commission-free in most cases, though traders who trade less than 50,000 units per month pay a $3 ticket fee per side. Its spreads are especially appealing for larger, more active accounts, with average EUR/USD spreads in November 2023 of 1.1 pips for Classic, 1.0 pip for Platinum, and 0.9 pip for VIP.
XTB is also fairly priced, but it lands a bit behind Saxo in this comparison. XTB is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #13 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its Standard account uses spread-only pricing, and its Professional account is commission-based, though that option is now limited and being phased out in many regions. In Q4 2023, the average EUR/USD spread was 1 pip, which puts XTB in line with the market, but not quite among the cheapest options available.
For everyday retail traders, Saxo may be the better fit if you want lower costs at higher volumes or qualify for Platinum or VIP pricing, while XTB is a solid choice if you prefer a simple spread-only account. Saxo also offers potential savings through its loyalty program and waives custody fees for share trading when securities lending is enabled, while XTB provides active trader rebates through its Lower Spread Group program. Overall, Saxo has the edge on pricing, especially for larger accounts, but both brokers are reasonably competitive.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 0.92 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Saxo and XTB both give traders access to forex, stock investing, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but Saxo stands out for its much wider selection. Saxo lists about 71,000 tradable symbols and 190 forex pairs, while XTB offers around 10,900 symbols and 71 forex pairs. Both brokers also let clients buy real shares on U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange.
When it comes to range of investments, both Saxo and XTB earn 5 stars, but Saxo is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com at #3 out of 36 brokers, compared with XTB at #14. Neither broker offers copy trading or the option to buy actual cryptocurrency, but both do provide cryptocurrency CFDs. Overall, Saxo has the broader choice for traders who want more markets and instruments in one place.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 10900 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 71 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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 XTB both give traders a strong set of platform choices, with free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, desktop downloads for Windows, and browser-based web platforms. Each broker also lets you trade directly from a stock chart, which can make it easier to place orders while you are analyzing price moves. Neither broker supports copy trading, MetaTrader 4, or MetaTrader 5, so traders looking for those third-party tools will need to look elsewhere.
In terms of trading platforms and tools, Saxo has a slight edge overall. ForexBrokers.com rates Saxo 5 out of 5 stars and ranks it #3 out of 36 brokers, while XTB is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #9. For most everyday traders, both brokers offer the main features needed for charting, research, and order entry, but Saxo comes out ahead on platform quality and tool depth.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 39 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and XTB both make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus stock and forex price alerts. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves those drawings. One key difference is watchlist syncing: Saxo keeps watchlists synced between its mobile app and online account, while XTB does not.
When it comes to charting tools, Saxo gives mobile traders 64 technical studies, compared with 39 at XTB. Saxo is also rated higher overall for mobile trading apps, with 5 out of 5 stars and a #3 ranking out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while XTB earns 4.5 stars and ranks #8. For traders who want a stronger mobile charting experience and better watchlist syncing, Saxo has the edge.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 39 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Saxo and XTB both give traders the key market research basics, including daily market commentary, forex news from major names like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking upcoming global events. Both brokers also earn a top 5-star rating for research, so each offers a strong starting point for staying informed.
The main difference is that Saxo goes further with added research support from Autochartist, while XTB does not offer that tool. Saxo’s deeper research setup helps explain why ForexBrokers.com ranks it #1 out of 36 brokers for research, compared with XTB at #9. For traders who want more built-in analysis, Saxo has the edge, while XTB still covers the core research needs well.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 XTB both give beginner traders plenty of learning material, including forex and CFD education with at least 10 topic-specific pieces, monthly online webinars, and 10 or more videos each for both beginners and more experienced traders. In plain terms, that means either broker can help new users build confidence with basic trading concepts, while also offering content for traders who want to go further.
When it comes to education quality, both brokers are rated 5 out of 5 stars, which puts them in the top tier. XTB edges out Saxo slightly in ForexBrokers.com’s education ranking, placing #11 out of 36 brokers compared with Saxo’s #12, but the difference is small and both stand out as strong choices for learning support.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 XTB. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while XTB finished with an overall rank of #7.
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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XTB
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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Saxo vs XTB: Neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
In a Saxo vs XTB comparison of deposit and withdrawal methods, both online brokers do not offer ACH/SEPA and both support bank wire transfers, but XTB additionally accepts PayPal and Skrill while Saxo does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability for both is not specified.
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 | XTB | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | XTB Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | XTB | |
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| Regulation | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2002 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| 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) | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 10900 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 0.92 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 39 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 39 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB Review |
| Overall | Saxo | XTB | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | XTB Review |
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