Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo vs Plus500, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
When comparing the online brokers Saxo and Plus500, both firms demonstrate a high level of trustworthiness with perfect Trust Score ratings of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. Saxo, established in 1992, operates as a bank and is known for its strong regulatory framework with 7 Tier-1 licenses, the highest level of trust. Plus500, founded later in 2008, and publicly traded on a stock exchange, also maintains a solid regulatory position with 6 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses, which indicates a trusted status.
While Saxo is not publicly traded, its status as a bank may offer an added sense of security for some investors. Plus500’s status as a publicly traded entity, however, can provide transparency in its operations. Both brokers are highly regarded in the industry for their regulatory compliance and have established strong reputations over the years since their respective inceptions.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Saxo earns 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #8 of 63, while Plus500 earns 4.0 stars and ranks #24 of 63. In practice, that lines up with costs: Saxo’s pricing is very competitive for high-balance or high-volume traders, whereas Plus500’s spreads tend to sit a bit above the industry average. For EUR/USD, Saxo’s average spreads were 1.1 pips (Classic), 1.0 pips (Platinum), and 0.9 pips (VIP) as of November 2023, with minimums about 0.2 pips tighter. Plus500’s EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, and it doesn’t discount pricing for retail clients (Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates).
For forex, Saxo is commission-free and earns on the spread; the one exception is a ticket fee of $3 per side if you trade under 50,000 units in a month. Saxo’s Classic pricing is slightly higher than the industry average, while Platinum and VIP sit closer to the average. Saxo also waives custody fees for share trading if you opt into securities lending. By contrast, Plus500 keeps things simple with spread-only pricing, but its costs are generally higher than leading active-trader options.
Saxo’s tiers can unlock lower costs if you qualify: Classic has a $0 minimum deposit; Platinum requires $200,000 (AUD 300,000 in Australia) or an upgrade via Loyalty points (e.g., about $40 million in forex volume for 12 months of Platinum); VIP requires a $1,000,000 deposit or an upgrade with roughly $167 million in forex volume and includes extra perks. Plus500 doesn’t offer retail discounts or tiers, so pricing is more straightforward but typically not as sharp for very active traders.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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Saxo and Plus500 both cover the essentials: each supports forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, lists exchange-traded stocks on U.S. and international exchanges, and offers cryptocurrency CFDs (but not actual, delivered crypto). Neither broker provides copy trading.
Where they differ is scale. Saxo offers about 71,000 tradeable symbols and 190 forex pairs, while Plus500 lists roughly 5,500 symbols and 65 forex pairs. For range of investments, Saxo earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Plus500’s 4.5 stars and #17 ranking. If sheer market access is your priority, Saxo is the wider pick, while Plus500 still covers a broad lineup for most traders.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Saxo vs Plus500: both brokers offer proprietary trading platforms and free demo accounts for practice, plus browser-based web platforms. Saxo also provides a Windows-based desktop download, while Plus500 does not. Neither broker supports copy trading, and neither offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5). A key difference is chart trading: Saxo lets you place trades directly from a chart; Plus500 does not.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, Saxo is rated 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #14. If you want a desktop platform and the ability to trade from charts, Saxo is the stronger pick. If you prefer a straightforward web platform and a quick demo setup, Plus500 is an easy option.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
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Saxo and Plus500 both deliver mobile trading on iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, synced watchlists across devices and web, and drawing tools like trendlines. For charting indicators, Plus500 includes 115 technical studies, while Saxo offers 64, so traders who want a larger indicator library may prefer Plus500.
Saxo stands out for saving chart drawings automatically, which helps if you mark up charts often; Plus500 does not auto-save drawings. In reviews by ForexBrokers.com, Saxo’s mobile app earned 5 stars and ranked #3 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earned 4.5 stars and ranked #14. Choose Saxo if keeping your chart work intact matters most; choose Plus500 if you want more built-in indicators without giving up core alerts and syncing.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Saxo vs Plus500 for market research: both brokers deliver daily market commentary and a clear economic calendar, along with sentiment tools that show the ratio of long and short positions. Saxo stands out by providing premium forex news from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and by offering Autochartist for technical and fundamental ideas. Plus500 does not include premium news or Autochartist, but it does integrate Trading Central for technical analysis. Neither broker offers TipRanks or Acuity Trading research.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Saxo earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earns 4.0 stars and ranks #17. In short, choose Saxo if you want top-tier news and Autochartist-driven insights, or pick Plus500 if you prefer Trading Central alongside straightforward commentary and calendar coverage.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing education from Saxo and Plus500, both brokers make it easy to get started. Each hosts monthly client webinars and offers at least 10 beginner videos that explain trading basics, plus a deeper set of advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. In independent testing, Saxo stands out with a 5-star Education rating and a #12 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 earns 4.0 stars and ranks #26. If you want a higher-rated learning experience with a clear path from beginner to advanced, Saxo has the edge; if you prefer quick, simple lessons, Plus500 is also a solid pick.
Saxo’s education blends videos, articles, and archived webinars that walk through forex and CFD topics in plain language, supported by ongoing live sessions each month. Plus500 also provides clear video lessons and regular webinars that cover platform how-tos and key trading concepts. Beginners will find useful guidance at both brokers, but Saxo’s higher rating and ranking suggest a more comprehensive learning journey as your skills grow.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Saxo is better than Plus500. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
Saxo is an exclusive multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
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Plus500
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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In a Saxo vs Plus500 comparison for crypto trading, neither online broker lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Saxo and Plus500 both accept bank wire transfers and do not support ACH/SEPA funding, but Plus500 additionally offers PayPal and Skrill while Saxo does not.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 190 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
| Cost | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.0 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 61 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Saxo Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | Saxo | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Plus500 Review |
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