Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote vs Xtrade, 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 Xtrade are two notable names in the online brokerage industry, each bringing unique characteristics to the table. Swissquote, established in 1996, stands out as a highly trusted broker with a perfect Trust Score of 99 as rated by ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded entity and a bank, it holds a significant position in the financial market, backed by five Tier-1 licenses. In contrast, Xtrade, founded in 2003, presents a moderate risk profile with a Trust Score of 74. Unlike Swissquote, Xtrade is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank. With only one Tier-1 license, it might not offer the same level of regulatory confidence as Swissquote.
When it comes to regulation, Swissquote clearly leads in providing a secure and regulated trading environment, as evidenced by its multiple Tier-1 licenses. These licenses are a strong indicator of the broker's credibility and commitment to safety for clients. Xtrade, although holding a Tier-1 license, may not offer the same level of assurance to cautious investors. Both brokers hold one Tier-2 license, reflecting different levels of trust and regulatory assurance. Ultimately, for investors prioritizing safety and trust, Swissquote's extensive regulatory credentials and high Trust Score make it a compelling choice over Xtrade.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Swissquote and Xtrade offer different experiences when it comes to trading commissions and fees, reflecting their unique market positions. Swissquote, known for its Swiss banking heritage, commands a slight premium in costs, making lower-cost forex operators seem more attractive on this front. The commission and spread structures vary notably across its different geographic entities. Swissquote U.K. provides four account types with the Elite account offering the most competitive terms for active traders, featuring specific benefits such as lower spreads and a $5 charge per round-turn trade. However, their Standard and Prime accounts come with higher spreads, starting at 1.3 pips for EUR/USD for the Standard and 0.6 pips as a minimum for the Prime account.
This pricing structure continues across Swissquote's Luxembourg and Swiss entities with nuances in minimum deposit requirements and spread ranges. For instance, the Luxembourg Prime account starts at 0.8 pips while Swiss offerings begin at higher thresholds, such as 1.7 pips for the Standard account in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Xtrade’s lack of available average spread data provides less transparency compared to Swissquote's clearly stated costs, which can affect decision-making for traders concerned with precise fee structures.
In terms of ratings, Swissquote also holds a higher edge with 3.5 stars out of five for commissions and fees—ranking #52 out of 62 by ForexBrokers.com—while Xtrade scores 2.5 stars and finds itself at the bottom of the rankings, positioned at #62. This discrepancy suggests Swissquote might offer a more satisfactory fee structure for those evaluating brokers based on financial costs alone.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $250 |
| 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 Xtrade for their range of investments, both platforms provide opportunities in forex trading, offering forex as both a CFD and spot contract. Swissquote features 472 tradeable symbols, while Xtrade offers a slightly higher number at 482. However, Swissquote stands out with 80 tradeable forex pairs compared to Xtrade's 56, showcasing a broader selection for forex traders.
Swissquote extends its offering with the ability to buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing clients access to stocks like Apple and Vodafone. Xtrade, on the other hand, does not offer this capability, focusing solely on non-CFD instruments. Additionally, Swissquote supports copy trading and allows clients to buy both actual cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives. Meanwhile, Xtrade restricts its cryptocurrency services to derivatives only. Ultimately, Swissquote receives a superior rating of 5 stars and ranks second among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade earns a 3.5-star rating, securing the 49th spot.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 evaluating the trading platforms and tools of Swissquote and Xtrade, both brokers allow traders to practice with a virtual demo account. Swissquote impresses with its proprietary platform, alongside its offerings of MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, providing diverse choices for trading. Although both brokers offer web-based platforms, only Swissquote provides a Windows desktop download option. Swissquote also supports copy trading, a feature absent in Xtrade’s lineup. Both platforms enable trading directly from stock charts, yet Xtrade boasts a broader selection of drawing tools with 100 available, compared to Swissquote's 75.
For those focused on customization, Swissquote provides more extensive options with 11 watch list columns, surpassing Xtrade’s nine. Despite both brokers abstaining from third-party integrations like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, Swissquote earns a higher rating for its platforms and tools with 4.5 stars versus Xtrade’s 3.5 stars. Swissquote's superior standing is further confirmed by its ForexBrokers.com ranking of 11th, significantly outperforming Xtrade, which ranks 58th among 62 brokers in the same category. This makes Swissquote a more favorable choice for traders who prioritize advanced functionality and choice in trading platforms.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Swissquote and Xtrade, both platforms offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, allowing traders to stay connected on the go. Swissquote stands out with features like stock and forex price alerts, which are not available with Xtrade. Swissquote also provides 30 technical studies for charting, while Xtrade does not specify the number of technical studies available. Swissquote users benefit from tools that allow them to draw trendlines and view various time frames on charts; Xtrade, however, lacks these functionalities. Moreover, Swissquote's app auto-saves chart drawings, ensuring users' technical analysis is never lost, unlike Xtrade.
Both Swissquote and Xtrade do not offer watchlist symbol syncing, but Swissquote supports real-time quotes for creating watchlists, a feature absent in Xtrade's app. The overall user experience is reflected in their ratings, with Swissquote scoring 4.5 stars compared to Xtrade's 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote ranks significantly higher at #10 out of 62 brokers for mobile trading apps, while Xtrade is positioned at #53. These distinctions make Swissquote a more feature-rich option for those looking for comprehensive mobile trading tools.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Swissquote and Xtrade provide daily market commentary and forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay informed about market developments. Swissquote enhances its market insights with advanced tools from Autochartist, a feature Xtrade does not offer. However, neither platform includes tools from Trading Central or sentiment-based trading tools, and both lack market research from TipRanks and tools from Acuity Trading.
For economic planning, both brokers provide economic calendars with global news events. Despite these similarities, Swissquote holds a higher research rating at four stars compared to Xtrade's 3.5 stars. This superior performance is reflected in their rankings, with Swissquote positioned at #16 and Xtrade at #52 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. This suggests that Swissquote may be the preferred choice for traders seeking comprehensive market research tools and insights.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| 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.
When it comes to educational resources aimed at helping beginners learn about forex and CFDs, both Swissquote and Xtrade provide a comprehensive array, each offering a minimum of 10 educational pieces such as articles and videos. However, Swissquote sets itself apart with a more interactive learning experience by hosting monthly online webinars for clients, which Xtrade doesn't offer. Moreover, Swissquote provides a searchable archive of these webinars, granting users easy access to past learning sessions, a feature that is notably absent with Xtrade.
For those who prefer video content, Swissquote again has an edge by offering well over 10 beginner-focused educational videos alongside resources aimed at advanced traders. Xtrade, although supportive with educational content, lacks this extensive video library tailored for novices and experienced traders alike. Both platforms maintain investor dictionaries with extensive entries to help demystify trading terminology. Overall, Swissquote's educational offerings earn it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, while Xtrade receives 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote takes the 21st spot among 62 brokers for education, significantly ahead of Xtrade, which ranks 46th.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Xtrade. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #59.
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
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 |
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While both Swissquote and Xtrade provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, Swissquote uniquely enables investors to purchase actual cryptocurrencies directly, distinguishing it from Xtrade, which does not offer this feature.
In comparing online brokers Swissquote and Xtrade, both offer Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing and withdrawing account funds, but Swissquote additionally supports ACH, SEPA, and PayPal transfers, whereas Xtrade does not provide these options.
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 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | Xtrade | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $250 | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Swissquote | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Xtrade Review |
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