Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo vs XTB, 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, XTB 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 - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Saxo would cost £0 per year, while XTB 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 it comes to the variety of investment options offered by online brokers, Saxo clearly leads in the breadth of choices available. Investors looking to trade shares, ETFs, and CFDs will find both Saxo and XTB meet these needs effectively. However, Saxo extends its portfolio further by providing the opportunity to trade in funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts, options that are absent from XTB's offerings. This extensive selection of investment choices earns Saxo a five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, making it the top-ranked option out of 18 brokers reviewed.
In contrast, XTB, which also allows for trading shares, ETFs, and CFDs, is noted for its slightly more limited array of investment choices. This narrower focus reflects in its 4.5-star rating on UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at the 14th position in their investment choice ranking. While both brokers excel in certain areas, if a diverse range of investment opportunities is crucial to your trading strategy, Saxo's wider spectrum of options may better meet your requirements compared to what XTB has to offer.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing Saxo and XTB in terms of trading tools, both brokers provide solid, user-friendly features, yet have noteworthy differences. Saxo impresses with the ability to add a more comprehensive array of overlays to charts, such as index and stock overlays, which offer deeper analysis opportunities to users. Additionally, Saxo's provision of 64 technical indicators stands out against XTB's 39, catering to traders who favor a technical approach. Both brokers match each other in the offering of 20 drawing tools and the capability to add notes to charts, ensuring traders can annotate and customize their visual trading data to suit their needs.
On the other hand, XTB differentiates itself by integrating corporate event data—like earnings, splits, and dividends—directly on its charts, something Saxo does not offer. This feature can be particularly useful for traders interested in understanding the impact of these events on stock performance. Both brokers excel in providing real-time market data and browser-based trading platforms, enabling seamless and efficient trading experiences. Additionally, Saxo and XTB grant traders the ability to set up alerts for stock price updates, keeping them informed and responsive to market changes.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 39 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers Saxo and XTB for retirement accounts, both offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), making them viable options for UK investors looking to save tax-free. However, Saxo holds an edge for those interested in Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) as it provides this option, unlike XTB, which does not. Therefore, for investors seeking comprehensive retirement account options, Saxo may be the more suitable choice.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Saxo and XTB both offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices, making trading on-the-go a breeze for users of both platforms. When it comes to user ratings, Saxo takes the lead with a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, while XTB follows closely with a respectable 4.5 stars. In a ranking of 18 brokers assessed by UK.StockBrokers.com for their mobile apps, Saxo clinches the top spot as number one, showcasing its commitment to providing a superior mobile trading experience. Meanwhile, XTB ranks at number ten, still offering a solid option for traders seeking a reliable mobile platform.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors, Saxo and XTB each have their strengths. Saxo excels with its offering of live and archived educational client webinars, whereas XTB does not provide this service. On the other hand, XTB stands out by offering educational content specifically on share trading, which Saxo does not cover. Neither broker provides resources on topics like funds or retirement. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Saxo is rated 5 out of 5 stars and holds the impressive rank of 2nd out of 18 brokers for beginner education. In contrast, XTB receives a 4.5-star rating and is ranked 8th. Both platforms present solid options, but Saxo holds a slight edge with its broader webinar access and higher overall rating.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Saxo and XTB for their market research features, Saxo clearly holds an edge by offering a more comprehensive suite of resources for informed investing. Both platforms provide insightful research on shares, ETFs, and CFDs, as well as the capability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, ensuring that investors have a broad understanding of their investments. However, Saxo distinguishes itself by also offering research reports for funds and bonds, resources that XTB lacks. This makes Saxo a more robust choice for investors looking for detailed research across a wider range of financial instruments.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Saxo or XTB? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Saxo to be a better trading platform overall.
Saxo Markets’ trading platform is highly sophisticated and offers a huge range of international shares and funds. The biggest downside is the cost, as its charges are higher than its U.K. competitors. It's best suited for experienced investors rather than beginners.
| Feature |
Saxo
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XTB
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When comparing online brokers Saxo and XTB, it's noteworthy that neither platform offers crypto trading, which may influence traders looking to invest in digital currencies.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | XTB | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.4% + 0% commission: £120 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £800 | 0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 to £1,000 | 0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,998 | 0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £1,000 | 0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | €20 minimum | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | €20 minimum | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | From $1 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | From $1 / £3 / €10 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | XTB | |
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| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 39 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Saxo | XTB | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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