AvaTrade vs Saxo Bank (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared
Advertiser disclosure: some links on this page may be affiliate links, meaning BrokerCatalogue may earn a commission if you open an account. This never affects the data shown here, which is drawn from our catalogue and compared mechanically. How we make money.
Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan
AvaTrade is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering multiple trading platforms, broad market access, and educational resources. It provides market research and risk management tools with an emphasis on platform reliability…
Saxo Bank is a well-regarded forex broker with a proprietary multi-asset trading platform, broad access to currency pairs, advanced charting, and research-driven tools. It emphasizes robust technology, risk management features, and a…
AvaTrade (Ireland, founded 2006) holds 8 regulatory licences (ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ…), 3 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. Saxo Bank (Denmark, founded 1992) holds 6 regulatory licences (ASIC, DFSA, FCA, FINMA, MAS…), 5 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary, TradingView and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 40 countries; AvaTrade is available in 176 countries where Saxo Bank is not, and Saxo Bank in 2 where AvaTrade is not.
Verdict at a glance
AvaTrade leads on regulatory coverage, platform choice and country coverage.
Saxo Bank leads on trust rank, track record and tier-1 licences.
Level on instrument range and fee level.
Scored on 8 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.
AvaTrade vs Saxo Bank: side-by-side data
Criteria
AvaTrade
Saxo Bank
Editorial rating
Not verified
10 / 10
Trust rank
#12
#4
Founded
2006
1992
Headquarters
Ireland
Denmark
Regulators
ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ, FSCA, ISA, JFSA
Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.
Pros
AvaTrade
Multi-jurisdiction regulation
MT4/MT5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader, AvaOptions support
Deep liquidity aggregation; competitive FX spreads
Wide FX product suite: spot, forwards, swaps, options
DFSA-regulated bank; segregated client funds
OpenAPI/FIX access for algorithmic trading
Cons
AvaTrade
Market-maker model (no ECN/DMA)
Higher spreads than ECN brokers
Inactivity and administration fees
Not available to U.S. residents
Not FCA-regulated (UK)
Saxo Bank
- No MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) support
- Higher spreads/commissions for Classic-tier accounts
- Best pricing/features require high balances (Platinum/VIP)
- Not available to U.S. residents
- Netting-only FX positions (no true hedging)
Key features
AvaTrade
Multi jurisdiction regulation client fund segregation and negative balance protection
MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 AvaTradeGO and WebTrader platforms
Forex and CFD trading on indices commodities metals equities and cryptocurrencies
Vanilla FX options trading with AvaOptions
Copy trading with ZuluTrade DupliTrade and AvaSocial
AvaProtect risk management for loss protection
Saxo Bank
Multi asset trading across forex cfds futures options stocks and bonds
Tier one regulation and banking license with segregated client funds and two factor authentication
SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO platforms with advanced charting and depth of book
Forex spot forwards and vanilla options with multi source aggregated liquidity
OpenAPI and FIX connectivity for algorithmic trading and platform integration
Volume based pricing tiers classic platinum and vip with reduced costs for high volume
Country availability: AvaTrade vs Saxo Bank
Available at both (40): Australia, Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates.
Only AvaTrade (176): Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria and 151 more.
Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.
AvaTrade vs Saxo Bank: common questions
Which broker is more regulated, AvaTrade or Saxo Bank?
AvaTrade holds more regulatory licences: AvaTrade (ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ, FSCA, ISA, JFSA) versus Saxo Bank (ASIC, DFSA, FCA, FINMA, MAS, SFC). Tier-1 licences: AvaTrade 3, Saxo Bank 5.
Which trading platforms do AvaTrade and Saxo Bank offer?
AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary; Saxo Bank offers Proprietary, TradingView.
Which has lower fees, AvaTrade or Saxo Bank?
Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.
Which is older, AvaTrade or Saxo Bank?
Saxo Bank is the older of the two, founded in 1992; AvaTrade was founded in 2006.
Are AvaTrade and Saxo Bank available in the same countries?
They overlap in 40 countries. AvaTrade is additionally available in 176 countries (Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda and 170 more) and Saxo Bank in 2 countries (Belgium, United Kingdom).
Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.