| Feature | XM Trading | Saxo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Regulation | ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), IFSC (Belize) | FSA (Denmark), FCA (UK), FINMA (Switzerland), ASIC (Australia) |
| Foundation Year | 2009 | 1992 |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Account Types | Micro, Standard, Ultra Low, Zero | Classic, Platinum, VIP, Professional |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5 | SaxoTraderGo, SaxoTraderPro |
| Tradable Instruments | 1,300+ (Forex, CFDs on indices, commodities, crypto, metals, stocks) | 71,000+ (Forex, CFDs, stocks, ETFs, futures, bonds, options, mutual funds) |
| Spreads (EUR/USD) | 0.7 pips (Standard Account) | 0.7 pips (Standard Account) |
| Commission Fees | $3.50 per lot (Zero Account) | $3.50 per lot |
| Leverage | Up to 1:888 (varies by region) | Up to 1:30 (varies by region) |
| Deposit Methods | Bank transfer, credit/debit cards, electronic wallets (Neteller, Skrill), Bitcoin | Bank transfer, credit/debit cards |
| Withdrawal Methods | Bank transfer, credit/debit cards, electronic wallets (Neteller, Skrill), Bitcoin | Bank transfer, credit/debit cards |
| Deposit/Withdrawal Fees | None | None |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 after 90 days of inactivity | $10 after 90 days of inactivity |
| Customer Support | 24/5 via email, phone, live chat | 24/5 via email, phone, live chat |
| Educational Resources | Webinars, video tutorials, articles, demo account | Webinars, video tutorials, articles, demo account |
| Research Tools | News feed, fundamental data, chart analysis, trading ideas, email reports | News feed, fundamental data, chart analysis, trading ideas, email reports |
| Bonuses/Promotions | Up to $5,000 forex bonus, up to 100% deposit bonus | None |
| Investor Protection | Yes, up to £85,000/€20,000 | Yes, up to £85,000/€20,000 |
| Order Execution Speed | Under 1 second | Under 1 second |
| Slippage Control | Low slippage due to fast execution | Low slippage with advanced order types |
| Trading Styles Allowed | Scalping, hedging, algo trading | Scalping, hedging, algo trading |
| Stop-Loss & Take-Profit Orders | Yes | Yes |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Order Types | Market, limit, stop, trailing stop | Market, limit, stop, trailing stop, OCO (One-Cancels-the-Other), conditional orders |
| API Trading | No | Yes, FIX API |
| Social Trading & Copy Trading | No built-in system (requires third-party tools) | No built-in system (requires third-party tools) |
| Automated Trading | Yes, via Expert Advisors (EAs) on MT4/MT5 | Yes, through SaxoTraderPro with APIs |
| Fractional Shares Trading | No | Yes |
| Market Data Subscription | Free for most instruments | Some market data feeds require paid subscriptions |
| Interest on Uninvested Cash | No | Yes, for eligible accounts |
| Islamic (Swap-Free) Accounts | Yes | No |
| Account Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN, HUF, and more | Multiple major currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, AUD, SGD, JPY |
| VIP/Exclusive Accounts | Yes, for high-net-worth clients | Yes, VIP (Platinum & Professional) accounts with lower spreads |
| Portfolio Management Services | No | Yes, managed portfolios available |
| Bond Trading | No | Yes, wide range of bonds available |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | Yes, supports managed account solutions | No dedicated PAMM/MAM service |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Yes, via CFDs (no direct crypto ownership) | Yes, via CFDs and ETNs (no direct crypto ownership) |
| ETF Trading | Limited selection via CFDs | Extensive selection of real ETFs |
| Futures & Options Trading | No | Yes |
| Trading Fee Discounts | Yes, for high-volume traders | Yes, for high-volume traders and VIP clients |
| Interest Rates on Margin | No | Yes, varies based on account tier |
| Tax Reporting Tools | Basic tax reports available | Advanced tax reporting tools and portfolio analysis |
| Partnership/Affiliate Programs | Yes, with commission-based rewards | Yes, institutional partnerships available |
| Regulatory Restrictions by Region | Leverage restrictions vary by country | Leverage and asset restrictions vary by region |
| Deposit Processing Time | Instant for most methods | 1–3 business days (varies by method) |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | 24 hours for most methods | 1–5 business days |
| Real Stock Trading | No (only CFDs on stocks) | Yes (real stocks available) |
| Direct Market Access (DMA) | No | Yes |
| Market-Making vs. ECN Model | Market-maker | ECN/DMA hybrid |
| Custom Indicators & Scripts | Yes, on MT4/MT5 via MQL | Yes, via SaxoTraderPro API |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss (GSL) | No | No |
| Slippage Protection Mechanism | Standard execution | Advanced order types to mitigate slippage |
| Dividend Adjustments on CFDs | Yes, for stock indices and shares | Yes, for stock indices and shares |
| CFD Rollover Policy | Automatic rollover | Automatic rollover |
| Mobile Trading App Features | Full MT4/MT5 functionality | Advanced trading tools, news, and research |
| Trading Signals | Yes, via MT4/MT5 | Yes, via in-house Saxo research |
| Sentiment Analysis Tools | Yes, via MetaTrader | Yes, via SaxoTraderGo |
| Backtesting Capabilities | Yes, with MT4 Strategy Tester | Yes, with advanced analytics tools |
| Tick-by-Tick Data Access | Limited (MT4/MT5 historical data) | Full access for premium accounts |
| Depth of Market (DOM) Visibility | No | Yes |
| Hedging Features | Allowed | Allowed |
| Interest on Held Positions | Standard swap rates apply | Competitive interest rates on margin accounts |
| Trading Contests & Promotions | Yes, periodic trading competitions | No |
| VIP Customer Support | Yes, priority support for high-volume traders | Yes, dedicated VIP relationship managers |
| Cryptocurrency Wallet | No | No (only CFD and ETN crypto trading) |
| Real-Time Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Technical Analysis Tools | Standard indicators via MT4/MT5 | Advanced charting with SaxoTraderPro |
| Third-Party Research Integration | Yes, via Trading Central | Yes, through Saxo Research & Morningstar |
| News Integration | Reuters, Bloomberg | Reuters, Bloomberg, Saxo Bank Insights |
| Account Tier System | Standard, VIP | Classic, Platinum, VIP |
| Multiple Sub-Accounts | No | Yes |
| Joint & Corporate Accounts | No | Yes |
| Segregated Client Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Best Execution Policy | Yes | Yes, with direct liquidity provider access |
| AI-Powered Trading Assistance | No | No |
| Multi-Language Support | Yes, over 30 languages | Yes, over 20 languages |
| Referral & Loyalty Programs | Yes | No |
| Minimum Trade Size | 0.01 lots (micro lot) | 1 share or contract (depends on instrument) |
| Account Verification Time | 24 hours | 1–3 business days |
| Multi-Asset Portfolio Support | Limited (CFD-focused) | Yes, wide asset-class portfolio support |
| Spreads on Exotic Forex Pairs | Wider compared to major pairs | Competitive, but depends on account type |
| Customer Support Languages | Over 30 languages | Over 20 languages |
| Availability of Proprietary Indicators | No | Yes, via SaxoTraderPro |
| Real Estate Investment Options | No | No |
| Institutional Trading Services | Limited (mainly retail-focused) | Yes, extensive institutional services |
XM Trading is ideal for retail traders with high leverage, low minimum deposits, and MT4/MT5, while Saxo Bank caters to professionals with real stock trading, API access, and institutional-grade tools.