Swissquote Broker Review

Swissquote Broker Review

Founded in 1996 and later going public on the SIX Swiss stock exchange in 2000 (SIX: SQN), Swissquote has evolved into a well-established banking group. With 410,000 client accounts reported in its H1 2021 statement, the bank’s subsidiaries across Europe and Asia manage a total of CHF 50.2 billion.

Swissquote Bank, headquartered in Switzerland, offers access to over 2.5 million products, spanning shares, ETFs, funds, bonds, warrants, futures, forex, options, and other securities. The bank also provides comprehensive wealth management and advisory services, making it an attractive choice for traders willing to pay a premium for the benefits of a Swiss banking conglomerate.

Traders often opt for Swissquote due to its high-quality research and diverse multi-asset offerings. The U.K. branch stands out for its competitive pricing, even though it has a more limited selection of markets.

Trading Instruments at Swissquote

Swissquote holds the distinction of being the first bank to allow trading in underlying cryptocurrencies (non-CFDs). The platform supports 23 cryptocurrencies, including popular ones like Dogecoin, Polkadot, Cardano, and Uniswap. Swissquote is also gearing up to introduce cryptocurrency lending and staking.

Customers can trade cryptocurrencies and a wide array of products across 60 global market exchanges using the Swissquote eTrading account. However, for trades involving forwards, options, forex, and CFDs, traders must turn to the eForex account, which offers a more modest selection of 292 tradeable symbols compared to competitors like Saxo Bank and CMC Markets.

Fees and Commissions

The allure of holding an account with a Swiss banking giant is the primary advantage of Swissquote, even though it comes at a slight premium. However, when it comes to trading costs, Swissquote falls short compared to the more budget-friendly forex brokers.

Swissquote Ltd in the United Kingdom offers different commissions and spreads compared to its Swiss subsidiaries. U.K.-based accounts, with a smaller product selection, have the lowest costs and the most straightforward deposit requirements among the three entities.

Swiss branch: Swissquote’s eTrading account for forex clients in Switzerland offers three main account options—Standard, Premium, and Prime—with varying spreads on the EUR/USD starting at 1.7 pips for the Standard account and going down to 1.1 pips for the Prime account.

Cryptocurrency trading fees on the eTrading account are 1% of the trade value, 0.75% for trades over CHF 10,000, and 0.5% for trades exceeding CHF 50,000. There are no custody fees for cryptocurrencies, but deposits below $500 are subject to a $10 fee.

Apps for Mobile and Trading Platforms

Swissquote’s Advanced Trader mobile app, with a user-friendly design and a range of research features, is complemented by integrated educational content. However, due to limitations in charting, users are recommended to opt for the MetaTrader suite.

Swissquote offers the Advanced Trader app alongside the MetaTrader mobile app suite (MT4 and MT5) for forex and CFD traders. The Swissquote app is compatible with Android, iOS, and Huawei smartwatches, catering to those interested in trading stocks and cryptocurrencies.

The Advanced Trader platform, accessible through desktop and web, undergoes regular updates. However, for a comprehensive trading experience, the complete MetaTrader suite serves as a reliable alternative.

Market Research

Swissquote distinguishes itself with a robust selection of research materials, including webinars, economic calendars, blog commentary, and streaming news headlines. The bank’s research is of higher quality compared to industry norms.

Themes Trading articles, a bimonthly magazine with rich content covering global markets, along with daily written articles through the Morning News series, are part of Swissquote’s research offerings. The bank’s quantitative research team contributes to the structure of products like the exchange-traded certificate for cryptocurrency.

Trading Central, providing automated chart pattern analysis and analyst commentary, is accessible through Swissquote. AutoChartist, a similar service, comes in the form of a MetaTrader plugin. Swissquote platforms stream news from Dow Jones Newswire and other elite sources, complemented by free Morningstar reports. The Market Talk series features daily videos and podcasts covering both technical and fundamental analysis, available on the Swissquote YouTube channel.

Swissquote Education

Swissquote excels in video content for education, available on its YouTube channel through numerous educational videos and webinars. However, the absence of interactive lesson programs and limited written content results in an educational experience that falls short compared to top forex brokers.

The learning center offers 31 videos and ten eBooks as part of forex and CFD educational courses. The Advanced Trader mobile app includes at least 15 instructional videos alongside platform tutorials.

Conclusion on Swissquote

As an internationally recognized brand, Swissquote has received accolades for the best banking services in 2023 and ranks among the Best in Class for crypto trading and trust score.

The U.K. subsidiary of Swissquote, utilizing the MetaTrader platform, provides an excellent overall forex trading experience. However, the Swiss-based provider of forex and CFDs presents a mixed offering, as forex or CFD trading is absent from its otherwise extensive multi-asset selection.

SimpleFX Broker Review 

SimpleFX Broker Review 

SimpleFX stands out as a CFD broker catering to traders seeking a diverse set of trading instruments. Their offerings span currency pairs, cryptocurrencies, indices, equities, and commodities. A notable highlight is the flexibility in deposit options, encompassing five cryptocurrencies and fifteen fiat currencies, coupled with no minimum deposit requirements. Leverage reaching up to 1:500 and starting spreads from 0.1 reinforce SimpleFX’s appeal, providing accessibility to traders round the clock.

Security measures rank high at SimpleFX, evident through features like negative balance protection, secure deposit methods, and client segregated accounts. The platform thrives on a global trading community, gathering traders from over 130 countries, fostering real-time interaction via a live shoutbox for instant opinions and chart sharing across shoutbox and social media.

Aside from trading, SimpleFX boasts an advanced affiliate program with marketing tools, robust statistics, and intricate analytics to bolster their affiliate network. The program’s allure lies in offering up to 50% of referral trading spread, ensuring scalable and enduring benefits.

SimpleFX: Advantages & Drawbacks

Pros:

  • Diverse array of trading instruments, encompassing cryptocurrencies, equities, commodities, and forex.
  • Multiple deposit options, embracing cryptocurrencies, bank transfers, Skrill, Neteller, and credit cards.
  • No minimum deposit requirement.
  • 24/7/365 trading and online support.
  • Robust negative balance protection.
  • Advanced affiliate program with detailed statistics and scalable benefits.

Cons:

  • Limited regulatory oversight.
  • Scarce educational resources.
  • Absence of MetaTrader platform.
  • Lack of phone support.

Tools for Trading and Investment

  • One Click Trading: Yes
  • Trade off Charts: Yes
  • Email Alerts: Yes
  • Mobile Alerts: Yes
  • Stop Order: Yes
  • Market Order: Yes
  • Trailing Stop Order: Yes
  • OCO Orders: Yes
  • Limit Order: Yes
  • 24hr Trading: Yes
  • Charting Package: Yes
  • Streaming News Feed: Yes

Fees & Commissions

SimpleFX operates on a commission-free structure, solely charging traders based on spreads. Competitive spreads commence at 0.1 pips for major currency pairs, contingent on market conditions and trading instruments. Moreover, the broker refrains from levying fees on deposits or withdrawals, although traders may encounter charges from payment providers.

Regulation and Safety

SimpleFX operates under SimpleFX Ltd., registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, abiding by the International Business Companies Act. Notably, being a Saint Vincent and the Grenadines-registered broker means it operates without oversight from major regulatory authorities. The broker emphasizes safeguarding client funds via segregated accounts in reputable banks and SSL encryption for transactional and personal data protection, alongside offering negative balance protection.

However, trading with an unregulated entity like SimpleFX entails risks due to the absence of regulatory oversight. Traders should exercise caution and conduct thorough research before engaging with such brokers.

Final Thoughts on SimpleFX

SimpleFX presents a versatile and adaptable trading environment appealing to novices and seasoned traders alike, thanks to its extensive instrument offerings, minimal deposit requirements, and advanced trading tools. While the no-dealing desk model ensures swift order execution, features like negative balance protection and segregated accounts bolster trader security. However, the absence of major regulatory oversight might concern some traders. In sum, SimpleFX proves an enticing choice for those seeking a user-friendly and innovative trading platform.