Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs Saxo, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, Trading 212 offers better pricing than Saxo for share dealing.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £1 per year, while Saxo would cost £0 per year.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
When comparing Trading 212 and Saxo in terms of available investment choices, both brokers offer UK investors the ability to trade shares, ETFs, CFDs, and investment trusts. However, neither platform provides options for crypto trading, spread betting, or advisor services. Where Saxo distinguishes itself is through its additional offerings, including funds trading and the ability to trade both corporate and government bonds, which gives it a broader selection for those interested in diverse investment vehicles.
Rated by UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212 earns a commendable 4.5 stars for its investment choices, ranking it at #16 out of 18 brokers. In contrast, Saxo holds the top position with 5 stars, highlighting its expansive range of trading options. For UK investors seeking a more varied portfolio, Saxo may offer more versatility, although Trading 212 remains a strong contender for straightforward share and ETF trading.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Comparing Trading 212 and Saxo for trading tools, both platforms show similar capabilities in certain areas, but also have distinct differences. Trading 212 stands out with an impressive 106 technical indicators compared to Saxo's 64, and it offers more drawing tools, boasting 27 to Saxo’s 20. Both platforms provide the ability to add notes to charts and host browser-based trading platforms, ensuring versatile functionality for online traders. Additionally, users can create alerts for stock price updates on both platforms, supported by real-time market data.
However, Saxo holds an edge in certain functionalities that Trading 212 lacks, like the ability to add both index and stock overlays to charts, enhancing chart analysis options. Neither platform provides the feature to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, or dividends on their charts. For UK traders, the choice between these platforms may come down to the specific charting features they prioritize and their personal trading style.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 64 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Saxo for UK investors interested in retirement accounts, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing you to save and invest tax-efficiently. However, if you're looking to invest in a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP), Saxo is the better choice, as Trading 212 does not currently provide this option. Therefore, if your focus includes building a retirement portfolio through a SIPP, Saxo serves as a more comprehensive solution compared to Trading 212, which offers only ISA accounts.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing mobile apps for UK traders, both Trading 212 and Saxo offer impressive options for iPhone and Android users. Trading 212's mobile app holds a strong reputation with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at an admirable third position out of 18 brokers. On the other hand, Saxo matches this 5-star rating while securing the top spot, leading the chart for mobile app excellence. Both platforms deliver user-friendly experiences, making either a solid choice for trading on the go.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors offered by Trading 212 and Saxo, notable differences emerge. Saxo excels with live and on-demand educational webinars, while Trading 212 lacks these features. For those interested in learning about share trading and funds, Trading 212 provides resources, whereas Saxo does not cover these topics. Neither platform offers educational content specifically about retirement. In terms of user reviews by UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212 earns a respectable 4-star rating but ranks 13th out of 18 brokers. Conversely, Saxo is rated 5 stars and ranks an impressive 3rd, reflecting its strong educational offerings for beginners in the UK.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Trading 212 and Saxo for UK investors, Saxo provides a broader range of options. Both platforms allow users to see portfolio allocation by asset class and offer research on shares, ETFs, and CFDs. However, Saxo stands out by providing detailed research reports for funds and bonds, an area where Trading 212 falls short as it does not offer these insights. Overall, while both brokers provide useful tools for many investment types, Saxo offers more comprehensive research features, particularly for those interested in funds and bonds.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or Saxo? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.
Trading 212 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.
| Feature |
Trading 212
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Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
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| Mobile App |
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Both Trading 212 and Saxo do not offer crypto trading, making them similar choices for investors seeking platforms without cryptocurrency options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Saxo | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Saxo Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | 0.4% + 0% commission: £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | Up to £800 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £500 to £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | Up to £1,998 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £1,000 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | €20 minimum | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | €20 minimum | |
| ETFs - Fee | 0 | From $1 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0 | From $1 / £3 / €10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Saxo | |
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| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 64 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Saxo | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Saxo Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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