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E*TRADE vs Saxo Bank : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

E*TRADE

E*TRADE

VS
Saxo Bank

Saxo Bank

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Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

Both ECN and STP broker

STP broker

Years of Existence / Established Year

1982

1992

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

5.2 million client accounts

1 million+ clients


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FRS, FINRA, SIPC, SEC, NFA, FDIC

FSA, FCA, MAS, JFSA, SFC, ASIC, DFSA, FINMA, MiFID

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Investor App and #1 Web Trading Platform for 2024, Benzinga's 2023 Global Fintech Awards

Best Prime-of-Prime Broker 2024, Best Trading Platform 2024, Best Forex Broker 2024, Best CFD Broker 2023 and Best DMA/Professional Trading Account 2023

Security Measures

SIPC

Danish Depositor and Investor Guarantee Scheme DGS upto EUR 100,000 per depositor

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Yes


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Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

Over 50,000 offerings, including US Treasury trades

over 71,000 financial instruments including Turbos

Currency Pairs

No

Yes

Commodities

No

Yes

Indices

No

No

Cryptocurrencies

No

Yes

CFDs

No

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Yes

Options

Yes

Yes

Futures

Yes

Yes

Bonds

Yes

Yes

Mutual Funds

Yes

Yes

Fractional Shares

No

No

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

No

Precious Metals

No

No

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

No

No

Equities

No

No


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

No

No

MT5

No

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

No

Yes

Copy Trading

No

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Power Etrade web, Power Etrade app

Saxo investor, SaxoTrader GO, SaxoTrader PRO

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Yes


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Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Brokerage, Retirement, Core portfolio, Managed portfolio, Small business retirement , bank

Saxo account, Joint account, Corporate account, Professional account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

No

No

Minimum Deposit

$0

$0

Leverage Available

No

1:50-1:100

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on assets class

Depends on the assets class

Commission (per account type)

$0

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginners to experienced traders

Beginners to experienced traders


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Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Transfer money, Wire transfer, Transfer an account, Deposit a check ,Direct Deposit

VAN bank transfer, Bank transfer, Telegraphic transfer, Credit/ debit card

Withdrawal Methods

E-wallets, check, Wire transfer

Telegraphic Transfer, MEPS

Other E-Wallets Supported

Electronic transfer

No


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Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

No

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Educational Resources, Tools, Market News and Insights, Tutorials and Webinars

Saxo Academy Trading Education, Market Analysis and Insights, Webinars, Trading Strategies and Ideas, Saxo TV Market News and Analysis


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Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs- $0, Bonds- $1, FINRA trading activity fee- $0.000166

Stocks - $1, ETFs-$1, Bonds- 0.05%, Mutual funds- $0, Spread on Major forex pairs- from 0.7 to 0.9 pips

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

NA

Variable

Per Lot Fees

NA

NA

Options Contract Fees

$0.65

$0.75

Futures Contract Fees

$1.50

$1

Markup Fees on Spread

NA

NA

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

NA

NA

Maximum Leverage

No

1:1000


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$0

$0

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

NA

100 EUR per ISIN

Advisory Fees

0.30%

NA

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

NA

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

$2

NA

Account Opening Fee

NA

NA

Account Maintenance Fee

$15/ month

NA

Deposit Fee

$0

Plus or minus 0.25%

Currency Conversion Fee

Direct trade-$0.005 per share, Broker assisted trader- $25

$0

Withdrawal Fee

Check return - $25, Electronic return -$25

$0 bank fees may apply


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

No


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Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Sunday 5 p.m. CT to Friday 4 p.m. CT

Varies by instrument


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Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

8 AM - 8 PM ET on weekdays

24/5

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Live chat, FAQ, Phone- 800-387-2331, 800-838-0908, Beneficiary Services: [email protected] General inquiries: [email protected]

Phone: +33 1 78 94 56 40, +44 (0)207 151 2100, +39 02 3668 2929, +31 (0)20 225 5900, +41 58 317 95 00. E-mail: [email protected], Live chat

Support Languages

1

24+


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Arlington, Virginia, United States Buyenlarge, Getty

Copenhagen, Denmark

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

No

No


At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.
E*TRADE is known for competitive pricing on basic trades, especially for beginners. However, Saxo Bank fee structure, though slightly higher, covers a broader range of services, making it more suitable for active traders.
While E*TRADE prioritizes fast registration with minimal steps, Saxo Bank focuses on a thorough vetting process that gives more flexibility in choosing account types and features.
New traders may find Freetrade interface more welcoming, while Saxo Bank appeals to experienced users looking for tools like heatmaps, screeners, and market sentiment overlays.
E*TRADE delivers a robust ecosystem for seasoned traders, whereas Saxo Bank focuses on ease of access and modern usability.