Swissquote is a Swiss banking group offering institutional-grade security, public stock exchange listing, and access to forex and multi-asset CFDs.
Spreads from
1.7 pips
Commission
$0 (spread-only)
Min deposit
$1000
Established
1996
Regulated by
FINMA · FCA · MAS (Singapore) · SFC (Hong Kong) · DFSA (Dubai)
Written byLaverlane Team·Updated5 Oct 2026
Researched with AI assistance and verified by our editors
Regulation
Key facts
Client-facing entity
Swissquote Ltd
Regulators
FINMA, FCA, MAS (Singapore), SFC (Hong Kong), DFSA (Dubai)
Restricted countries
US
Negative-balance protection
jurisdiction-only
Minimum deposit
$1000
Max leverage (UK/EU retail)
1:30
Max leverage (professional)
Custom
Max leverage (offshore entity)
1:100
Typical EUR/USD spread
1.7 pips
Platforms
MT4, MT5, Proprietary, TradingView
Account currencies
USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CHF, CAD, TRY, PLN, SEK, NOK, SGD, HUF, CZK, XGD
Best for
Pros & cons
Fund safety
Account terms
Costs
| Instrument | Asset class | Typical spread | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Forex CFD | 1.7 | pips |
| GBP/USD | Forex CFD | 2 | pips |
| USD/JPY | Forex CFD | 1.6 | pips |
| US 100 (Nasdaq) | Index CFD | 2.2 | points |
| US 500 (S&P 500) | Index CFD | 1.15 | points |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | Commodity CFD | 0.46 | $ / oz |
| US Crude Oil | Commodity CFD | 0.05 | $ / bbl |
Spreads shown are typical, not guaranteed, and widen during volatile sessions or outside main market hours. Figures reflect the broker's standard retail account.
Markets
Forex CFD
80 pairs
Index CFD
Commodity CFD
Metals, energies, softs
Single-Stock CFD
Real ownership: Stocks / ETFs
Stocks, ETFs
Platforms
Execution
Leverage
Account types
| Account | Min deposit | Commission | Swap | Spread | Demo | Islamic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $1000 | Spread-only | Standard swap rates apply | From 1.7 pips · Variable | Yes | Not stated |
| Premium | $10000 | Spread-only | Standard swap rates apply | From 1.4 pips · Variable | Yes | Not stated |
| Prime | $50000 | Spread-only | Standard swap rates apply | From 1.1 pips · Variable | Yes | Not stated |
Funding
Support
Availability
Verdict
Swissquote looks like one of the more secure options for retail traders, given its banking licence and public listing, though no broker is risk-free. Spreads on retail accounts sit above discount-broker averages, but the trade-off is Tier-1 regulatory oversight, a transparent balance sheet and deposit protection that depends on the entity you use.
If safety of capital and banking credibility outweigh the demand for ultra-tight spreads, If safety of capital and banking credibility matter more to you than ultra-tight spreads, Swissquote gives you a bank-backed setup. If you're a high-volume day trader chasing sub-pip pricing without a high minimum deposit, you may find cheaper alternatives elsewhere.
Traders with larger balances are likely to get the most out of Swissquote's infrastructure.
FAQ
Swissquote is a Swiss banking group offering online financial services, trading platforms, and multi-asset CFD brokerage. It operates under Swissquote Group Holding Ltd, which is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker SQN. The firm serves both retail traders and institutional clients with execution across forex, CFDs, and traditional bank securities.
You can start closing your account by contacting customer support or submitting a written termination request through the secure client portal. The procedure requires closing all open positions, cancelling pending orders, and transferring the remaining cash balance to an external bank account in your name. Once the account balance reaches zero, the formal termination request is finalised.
The broker lists over 80 currency crosses, which is a broad forex offering for a bank-backed broker. These pairs include major, minor, and exotic currency combinations traded on tiered pricing schedules across different account levels. The broker provides these instruments alongside indices, commodities, and share CFDs on its proprietary platforms and MetaTrader.
Withdrawals are requested through the online banking portal via the payment menu. Outgoing wire transfers are processed back to a verified bank account held in the primary account holder's name. Depending on the receiving bank and currency route, international transfers typically take more than 48 hours, excluding weekends.
The bank is owned by Swissquote Group Holding Ltd, which is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Founders Marc Bürki and Paolo Buzzi hold major stakes alongside institutional investors, and as a listed company the group publishes audited financial reports.
Alternatives
Eightcap offers CFDs on 850+ markets through TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradeLocker, with a Raw account that starts from 0.0 pips. Clients outside the regulated regions contract with Eightcap Global Limited in The Bahamas, which carries no statutory compensation scheme.
Octa offers swap-free forex and CFD trading on OctaTrader, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, with no trading commission and a $25 minimum deposit. Accounts on octabroker.com are with Versustrategy Inc, registered in Saint Lucia, and the legal documents page lists no financial regulator.
JustMarkets offers leverage of up to 1:3000, swap-free trading and MT4, MT5 and its own app, but international clients contract with an offshore Seychelles entity without a statutory compensation scheme.
FXCM offers forex and CFD trading on Trading Station, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and TradingView. Accounts on the international website are with Stratos Global LLC, an offshore entity in St Vincent and the Grenadines that sits outside the group’s regulated companies.
ThinkMarkets offers ThinkTrader, TradingView, MT4 and MT5 with 4,000+ instruments and leverage of up to 1:500 on Standard and ThinkZero accounts. International clients contract with a Seychelles-licensed entity.
IronFX operates as a retail CFD broker providing high leverage up to 1:1000 on MetaTrader 4, but international clients contract through an offshore entity without statutory compensation protection.
CFI Financial offers MT5, TradingView and its own app with no minimum deposit and leverage of up to 1:500. International clients trade with CFI International Ltd, licensed in Mauritius.
EC Markets offers MT4, MT5 and its own app with a $10 minimum deposit on STD and ECN accounts and leverage of up to 1:1000. International clients trade with the Mauritius-licensed entity.
General CFD risk warning
CFDs are complex leveraged products and carry a high risk of rapid losses. They do not give you ownership of the underlying asset. Depending on your jurisdiction, broker entity and client classification, protections such as leverage limits and negative-balance protection may differ or may not apply. Where negative-balance protection is not provided, losses may exceed the funds you deposit. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money.
Disclaimer
This page is provided for general information only. Nothing on this page constitutes investment, tax or trading advice, or a recommendation to open an account or trade with a particular broker. Laverlane does not provide personalised investment advice. We are not a broker or financial institution, we do not arrange or execute trades, and we do not hold client funds.
Broker availability, spreads, fees, leverage, products and legal protections, including compensation schemes and negative-balance protection, vary by the broker’s legal entity, your country of residence and your client classification, and may change over time. Where a broker is required to publish its retail CFD loss rate, that figure is shown on its review page. Spreads shown are typical figures as at our verification date; they are not guaranteed and may widen, particularly during volatile market conditions.
Laverlane Scores reflect the information available at our most recent review. They are editorial assessments, not guarantees of a broker’s financial strength, reliability or future performance. Where we report a regulator warning or enforcement notice, it reflects the official public information available at the time of our review.
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Always verify the broker’s current terms, regulatory status, product availability and eligibility directly with the broker before opening an account or depositing funds.