Loading …
Head to head
Saxo or CapTrader? Fees, regulation, platform and product range compared side by side — with a verdict drawn from the data.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Investments can fall in value. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.
A Danish bank that trades like a professional platform — broad, polished, and no longer expensive.
Interactive Brokers' market access wrapped in German regulation, German support and a German phone number.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
Four decision axes, each derived from the recorded data.
Overall Saxo takes it, 4.4 against 4.2 out of 5. Saxo is the cheaper of the two: a reference EUR 5,000 stock order costs €4.00 there against €5.00. Saxo scores 96 against 81 out of 100 on the group index. Your account's protection depends on its legal entity. Both cover 11 of 14 asset classes. On platform and app Saxo is ahead, 4.7 against 4.3 out of 5. Which one is right depends on which of these axes matters for your trading profile.
SaxoCapTraderSaxoCapTraderSaxoCapTraderSaxoCapTraderSaxoCapTraderUp to four brokers at once — every row a decision point.
Data as of: 30 Aug 2026
| Criterion | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.4 — Better | 4.2 |
| Group index | 96 of 100 | 81 of 100 |
| Best for | Multi-asset portfoliosBond investorsOptions and futures tradersPlatform quality seekersEuropean investors wanting a bank | German-speaking options and futures tradersActive traders who want IBKR pricing with German supportMulti-currency and global stock investorsCompany accounts (Firmendepot) and trading GmbHsTraders who value a person on the phone |
| Regulation | DFSAFCAFINMAMASJFSA | BaFinCBIFCA |
| Top-tier licences | 5 — Better | 3 |
| Investor protection | CHF 100,000 — Better | £85,000 |
| Listed group | No | No |
| Banking licence | Yes | No |
| Segregated client accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | Yes | Yes |
| Audited financials | Yes | No |
| Disclosed regulatory actions | None | None |
| Founded | 1992 | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Copenhagen, DK | Düsseldorf, DE |
| Fees | 4.2 — Better | 4.1 |
| Safety & regulation | 4.7 — Better | 4.0 |
| Trading platform | 4.7 — Better | 4.6 |
| Product range | 4.8 — Better | 4.7 |
| Mobile app | 4.6 — Better | 4.0 |
| Research | 4.5 — Better | 4.0 |
| Customer support | 3.8 | 4.7 — Better |
| Deposit & withdrawal | 4.0 — Better | 3.8 |
| Account opening | 4.2 — Better | 4.0 |
| Education | 4.0 | 4.2 — Better |
| Reference order EUR 5,000 | €4.00 — Better | €5.00 |
| Minimum deposit | None — Better | €2,000 |
| Stocks (per order) | 0.08 % — Better | 0.1 % |
| US stocks | 0.08 % | US$0.01/share — Better |
| ETFs | 0.08 % — Better | 0.1 % |
| Options | US$2 — Better | €2 |
| Futures | US$3 | €2 — Better |
| Crypto | n/a | Not offered |
| Bonds (order) | 0.2 % | €8 — Better |
| Funds (order) | Free | n/a |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.7 pips | n/a |
| Index CFD spread | n/a | n/a |
| FX conversion | 0.25 % | 0.003 % — Better |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Custody fee | 0.15 % p.a. | None — Better |
| Withdrawal fee | free — Better | €1 |
| Deposit fee | free | free |
| Overnight financing | n/a | n/a |
| Other fees |
|
|
| Asset classes (of 14) | 11 | 11 |
| Exchanges | 50 | 160 — Better |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Warrants | Yes | Yes |
| Spread betting | No | No |
| Social trading | No | No |
| Platforms | SaxoTraderGOSaxoTraderPROSaxoInvestorSaxo mobile appSaxo OpenAPITradingView integration | Trader Workstation (TWS)CapTrader DesktopCapTrader Trading AppCapTrader Easy AppAgenaTrader (Andromeda)TradingViewTraderFox Trading-DeskIB API / FIX CTCI |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional shares | No | Yes |
| Maximum leverage | 1:30 · Pro 1:200 | 1:30 · Pro 1:200 |
| Account opening | Fully online with electronic ID in most markets; often same day, otherwise 1–3 business days | Fully online; German tax ID plus ID and address verification. Usually 1–3 business days |
| Account types | ClassicPlatinumVIP | Cash accountMargin accountFirmendepotFamiliendepot |
| Payment methods | Bank transferSEPA | Bank transferSEPA |
| Account currencies | EURUSDGBPCHFDKKSEKNOKAUDCADJPY+9 | EURUSDCHFGBPAUDCADJPYHKDSGDSEK+6 |
| Deposit time | SEPA same day to 2 business days; international wire 1–3 business days | SEPA 1–2 business days; international wire 1–4 business days |
| Withdrawal time | Usually 1 business day to the registered bank account | 1–3 business days |
| Free withdrawals | n/a | 1/month |
| Languages | EnglishDanishGermanFrenchItalianSpanishDutchPolishCzechSwedish+4 | GermanEnglish |
| Channels | PhoneEmailLive chatTicket system | PhoneEmailLive chatTicket system |
| Availability | Monday to Friday, local office hours across 16 service locations; trading desks cover market hours | Monday to Friday, 08:30–20:00 CET; Interactive Brokers emergency desks cover the remaining hours |
Editorial assessment based on the recorded data.
Saxo
A Danish bank that trades like a professional platform — broad, polished, and no longer expensive.
Pros
Cons
Best for
CapTrader
Interactive Brokers' market access wrapped in German regulation, German support and a German phone number.
Pros
Cons
Best for
Open an account with either
A demo account costs nothing and answers the platform question in ten minutes.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
Alternatives people weigh up alongside these two.
