Swissquote Review 2025

Trust

Swissquote Regulations

In our reviews, we examine the licenses and regulations of each entity operated by a broker, allowing us to compare their different levels of protection. We rank licenses by various regulatory bodies on a three-tier system, where Tier-1 licensing indicates the highest level of regulation.

This is what I discovered about the several entities operating under Swissquote Group Holding Ltd:

• Swissquote Bank Ltd holds a banking license issued by its supervisory authority, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). We rate FINMA as a Tier-1 regulator. Swissquote Bank Ltd is also a member of the Swiss Bankers Association, and its clients are protected by up to CHF 100,000 under esisuisse.
• Swissquote Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK under license number 07710095. We rate the FCA as a Tier-1 regulator.
• Swissquote Asia Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong. We rate the SFC as a Tier-1 regulator.
• Swissquote Financial Services (Malta) Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) to provide custodian services (funds and pension schemes) as well as securities trading services (institutional). We rate MFSA as a Tier-1 regulator. The entity does not offer retail trading.
• Swissquote Pte. Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). We rate MAS as a Tier-1 regulator.
• Swissquote Bank Europe Ltd holds a banking license and is regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) in Luxembourg – an AAA-rated market known for its investor protection. We rate the CSSF as a Tier-1 regulator. The entity offers financial derivatives trading, including Forex and CFD, as well as Smart Portfolio managed accounts.
• Swissquote Capital Markets Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under license number 422/22. We rate CySEC as a Tier-1 regulator.
• Swissquote South Africa (Pty) Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Financial Supervisory Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa under license number 43908. We rate the FSCA as a Tier-2 regulator.
• Swissquote MEA Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) under license number FD001438. We rate the DFSA as a Tier-2 regulator.

Understanding the Regulatory Protections of Your Account

Brokers operate multiple entities globally, but regulatory protections vary. Some regulators enforce stricter financial standards than others, so traders should understand the safety measures of the entity they choose to open an account with.

Here is what you need to be looking for in a broker in terms of safety mechanisms:

• Segregation of client funds. Keeping client funds in segregated bank accounts from the ones used for the broker’s corporate capital negates the risk of accounting errors. Client funds are kept in segregated accounts from the company’s corporate capital across all Swissquote entities.
• Negative balance protection. This safety mechanism removes the risk of trading losses exceeding the account balance for retail clients. In other words, the losses you incur from trading are capped at the amount you have put in your trading account. The broker guarantees negative balance protection on all but three of its entities.
• Compensation scheme. A compensation scheme protects traders against the broker’s liabilities if the company becomes insolvent. As a reputable banking institution, Swissquote participates in several compensation schemes, including the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) in Europe, the ICF in Hong Kong, esisuisse in Switzerland, FSCS in the UK, and the FDGL in Luxembourg.
• Maximum leverage. Capping the maximum leverage restricts the extent of market exposure to retail traders. The higher the leverage, the higher the potential profits and potential losses. The maximum retail leverage of 1:100 is available with Swissquote Bank Ltd.

Stability and Transparency

In our Trust category assessments, we evaluate factors tied to stability and transparency, including the broker’s longevity, company size, and information transparency.

Founded nearly three decades ago, Swissquote has demonstrated long-term success, reflecting the strength of its business model. Additionally, with a global workforce of over 1,100 employees, the bank’s stability and growth further reinforce its industry leadership.

I appreciated Swissquote’s clear and transparent business structure, making it easy to understand the role of each broker subsidiary, the services it provides, the clients it serves, and its ownership.

I also appreciated that Swissquote displays live spread data so that visitors to the website can quickly assess the fee competitiveness across Swissquote’s several account types.

Finally, I reviewed Swissquote’s legal documents and assessed that all essential information is readily available and written in an easy-to-understand language. The Client Agreement, in particular, is exhaustive and easy to navigate.

During my research, I learned that Swissquote has issued a ‘best execution’ policy, which is a legal mandate to provide optimal price quotes under the prevailing market conditions.

Is Swissquote Safe to Trade With?

I determined that Swissquote is one of the safest brokers to trade with due to the following factors:

• Established brand with nearly 30 years of track record
• Globally regulated by multiple Tier-1 regulators
• Listed on a major stock exchange
• Extremely transparent
• Adhering to all essential safety requirements

Fees

Swissquote Trading Fees

Swissquote Spreads

I tested Swissquote’s spreads on 26 February 2025 during the London and New York opens. The results are shown in the table below:

Broken down by asset class and compared to the industry average, Swissquote charges low share CFDs spreads, average-to-high indices spreads, and high spreads across currency pairs, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.

Swissquote Commissions

With respect to Forex and CFD trading, Swissquote offers commission-free trading on most asset classes, except for stocks and forward contracts.

Commissions on Stocks

Commissions on Forward Contracts

Swissquote Swaps

A swap fee is a trader’s cost for holding an open position overnight because of changing interest rates. Swap long refers to the charge deductible or credit receivable for holding a buy position open overnight. In turn, swap short relates to the charges/credits deductible or receivable for holding a selling position open overnight.

The values listed below are for one full base currency contract (100,000 units).

I concluded that Swissquote’s overnight charges are average-to-high compared to the industry benchmark. However, swaps change over time.

Swissquote Non-Trading Fees

Swissquote does not charge a handling fee for deposits and will even reimburse its clients for any third-party processing fees. However, the broker does impose a handling fee on withdrawals.

I also learned that Swissquote imposes a $10 inactivity fee on dormant accounts that have been inactive for a period of 6 calendar months. The fee is charged monthly until activity resumes or the account balance drops to zero.

Are Swissquote’s Fees Competitive?

I found that Swissquote’s spreads generally fall behind the industry benchmark in terms of competitiveness. The broker also has comparatively high deposit requirements of $1000, making its trading accounts less affordable. However, its non-trading fees are generally aligned with the industry standard.

Platforms and Tools

Swissquote CFXD Web Trader

I performed my testing on Swissquote’s flagship CFXD, which features advanced charting capabilities powered by the seamless TradingView – arguably the best charting software in the industry. The platform impresses with its diverse range of trading tools and features, such as one-click trading, fully integrated market research, and more.

The first thing that stood out to me was CFXD’s advanced tradable instruments filter. As shown above, it is extremely easy to search for individual tradable instruments directly from the search bar or to scan by separate markets and industries.

I also appreciated that the CFXD platform is fully integrated with market research content by Autochartist, helping users make informed trading decisions with ease. Traders have instant access to valuable research data, such as volatility analyses, daily pivot points, viable entry/exit levels, and more.

General Ease of Use

Swissquote’s CFXD platform is available on Windows and Mac in various languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic, and more.

I have listed some of the most important tools and features of CFXD:

• Alerts-Setting Option: Traders can set alerts for when the price of a given instrument falls/rises to a predetermined level, which could potentially signal a viable entry opportunity.
• Watchlist Customization: Traders can populate watchlists with their favorite instruments and track market changes more easily.
• One-click Trading: This feature enables instant market entries at the spot price and is invaluable for high-precision traders, such as scalpers.
• Trading from the Chart: Traders can place conventional trading orders directly from the chart, specifying the entry price, volume level, stop and take-profit levels, and more.

Charts

The CFXD platform has extremely fluid and easily scalable charts, allowing traders to smoothly examine price action behavior from multiple angles. They can apply various indicators, drawing tools, and overlays to the same chart without obscuring price action behavior. This makes the platform a great choice for conducting comprehensive technical analysis.

I have broken down the available analytical tools and chart configurations below:

• 86 technical indicators: This includes trend-based and volume-based indicators and oscillators to analyze price action and assess market sentiment, helping predict market movements.
• 64 drawing tools: Tools like Fibonacci retracement levels and Elliott waves help identify price patterns, support/resistance levels, and breakout points. However, MT5’s design can make price action harder to interpret.
• 15 timeframes: For multi-timeframe analysis, enabling detailed price action analysis.
• 16 chart types: Price action can be displayed as line, bars, or candlesticks, offering diverse perspectives on trading opportunities.

The chart screen is undeniably one of the most crucial features of a trading platform. It equips traders with essential tools and configurations to analyze price action and spot trading opportunities. Just as important is the ability to easily scale price action, allowing for a clearer and more detailed view of market movements.

Orders

The CFXD platform supports spot and forward contract execution. It also features trading from the chart and one-click execution.

I have broken down the available order types on the CFXD platform below:

• Market Orders: Used for immediate entry at the best available price. They guarantee volume filling, though the entry price may differ from the requested price.
• Limit Orders: Guarantee exact price entries but won’t be filled if the price doesn’t reach the trigger level.
• Stop Orders: They are used to support open positions by limiting the maximum loss that can be incurred if the market turns in the opposite direction. A stop-loss order is placed at a fixed price below or above the spot price. If the market does indeed turn and triggers the stop-loss, it will transform into a market order and get filled at the best possible price.

CFXD Web Trader: My Key Takeaways

I enjoyed the CFXD platform because of its intuitive design and powerful charting capabilities. I particularly liked scaling price action up and down and looking for viable trading opportunities. CFXD is a great choice for day traders because of the Autochartist-powered actionable trading signals and for conducting probing technical analysis.

Swissquote Mobile App

The Swissquote app is available on iOS and Android, enabling quick and easy access to the market on the go. It is very useful for opening, terminating, and adjusting open positions.

You can also use the app to place market, limit, and stop orders, as well as to adjust the exposure of your open trades. Furthermore, the app allows traders to access the broker’s wealth of market research and also manage their accounts.

Swissquote App: My Key Takeaways

The convenient Swissquote app is easy to navigate and facilitates market research, simple order execution, account management, and trading on the go. This makes it an indispensable tool in a trader’s arsenal.

FIX API

Swissquote offers a variety of trading API solutions for low-latency trading, Direct Market Access (DMA) trading, advanced reporting, and more. These are suitable for institutional trading, as well as professional traders looking for even more sophisticated trading conditions.

Swissquote Execution Model

Swissquote operates on a hybrid principal/ECN (Electric-Communication-Networks) model whereby client orders are either filled internally or matched electronically. This allows the broker to achieve ultra-fast order execution speeds averaging 9 milliseconds.

Tradable Instruments

Forex and CFD Products

What Are CFDs?

Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are financial derivative instruments that allow traders to speculate on the price movements of an asset without owning the asset itself.

For instance, taking a long position in gold would result in a profit for the trader if the price goes up or, respectively, a loss if the price goes down. The opposite would be true for a short position in gold.

A key advantage of trading CFDs is the ability to enter and exit the market almost instantly, enabling traders to capitalize on even minor price fluctuations in the derivative.

CFDs You Can Trade with Swissquote

Swissquote Instruments: My Key Takeaways

Swissquote offers a perfect selection of instruments from different markets and contract types, catering to various needs of traders and investors. With hundreds of thousands of forex, CFD, securities, and structured products*, clients gain access to an extensive and diverse pool of trading and investment opportunities.

Customer Support

Customer Support Channels

Customer Support Test

When we test a broker’s customer support, we evaluate the agent’s knowledge of their own website, how long it takes them to respond to questions, and how detailed their answers are.

I performed my test on 27 February at around 11:42 a.m. CET via live chat. I asked a mix of simple and complex questions and got satisfactory answers across the board.

The chatbot was easy to use, responding quickly and with detailed answers. Overall, I found Swissquote’s customer support to be top-notch.

Deposit and Withdrawal

Swissquote Deposits

Swissquote Withdrawals

Account Types and Terms

Swissquote Account Opening Process

To create an account with Swissquote, follow these simple steps:

1. Click ‘Sign Up’ at the top-right corner of the main page.
2. Choose an account type.
3. Provide your personal details, legal address, and contact details.
4. Build your client profile.
5. Elaborate on your financial background.
6. Upload proof of ID and proof of address to verify your account.

Swissquote Account Types

Swissquote’s Standard account offers floating spreads from 1.7 pips with zero commissions, which is higher than the industry average. It also comes with a relatively high $1,000 minimum deposit requirement.

I appreciated the combination of a 100% margin call and 30% stop-out, which protect traders against adverse market volatility. However, the broker’s Swiss-based entity lacks negative balance protection, meaning it is possible for a trader’s losses to exceed their account equity.

Demo Accounts

Swissquote offers a demo account that introduces traders to the broker’s services and allows them to tweak their strategies in a risk-free environment. The market is continually evolving and never static, so it is important to hone your skills in a safe environment. You can set up a demo account for yourself before or alongside your live CFD account.

Islamic Accounts

Swissquote offers Islamic accounts for swap-free trading under Shariah law. Regular Forex accounts can be converted to Islamic accounts. For further assistance, please contact Swissquote.

What is CFD Leverage?

Leverage determines a trader’s overall market exposure. When trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs), positions can be opened for a fraction of their value because of leverage. Essentially, the broker lends the trader money so that they can open bigger positions. Leverage multiplies the profits a trader generates from winning positions but also the losses incurred from failed trades.

Maximum Leverage By Asset Class

In the table below, I have listed the maximum retail leverage available with Swissquote for instruments from different asset classes:

Swissquote Restricted Countries

Swissquote does not accept as clients residents of certain jurisdictions, such as Morocco, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Belgium, France, Spain, Russia, Ukraine, Malta, Turkey, Canada, the USA, and Uruguay.

Research

Research Tools

I have broken down the most important research materials with Swissquote below:

• Market Breakdowns: Swissquote publishes daily market recaps of the most significant financial news. This type of content helps traders stay on top of the latest market developments.
• Autochartist Content: Integrated directly on the CFXD platform, Autochartist’s actionable trading signals inform traders of trading opportunities that are currently unfolding. They can read about the type of trading setup (e.g. ABCD emerging pattern), pivot points, viable take-profit and stop-loss levels, and more.
• Podcast: Swissquote hosts a podcast that covers a wide spectrum of trading and investing topics. Listeners can gain practical insights on how to grow their portfolios and make their money work for them.
• Swissquote Magazine: The magazine offers traders and investors an even broader and more abstract take on current topics of interest in the financial industry.

Swissquote Research: My Key Takeaways

Swissquote’s market research is both wide and diverse. It offers traders unique market insights as well as practical trading signals, catering to the needs of day traders, swing traders, and long-term investors alike. The content is easy to assimilate, even by inexperienced traders, and fully integrated into the CFXD platform.

Education

The broker holds regular webinars in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Swissquote also impresses with its massive assortment of 19 ebooks covering different topics – from the basics of trading to building a diversified portfolio. My only gripe is that new blog posts are rarely published.

The Bottom Line

Swissquote is a renowned banking institution offering sophisticated trading solutions. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Switzerland, it is regulated by some of the world’s most trusted financial authorities and adheres to strict safety standards. Additionally, Swissquote is publicly traded on the Swiss Stock Exchange, reinforcing its transparency and credibility.

The broker provides 400+ forex and CFD instruments alongside hundreds of thousands of investment securities. It stands out for its lightning-fast execution speeds, averaging 9 milliseconds, and its advanced CFXD platform, which features powerful charting tools and integrated market research. Swissquote also supports MT4 and MT5 and offers the SQX platform for crypto trading.

However, Swissquote’s spreads are above average across most instruments, except for share CFDs. Additionally, its $1,000 minimum deposit is relatively high, and withdrawal methods are limited to bank transfers.

Overall, Swissquote caters to all types of traders and investors, including day traders, swing traders, position traders, scalpers, and portfolio managers. However, given its sophisticated tools and services, I found it best suited for professional traders.

FAQ