Swissquote Review 2026

Swissquote has a strong trust profile. Swissquote Bank Ltd is regulated by FINMA in Switzerland and holds a banking licence. The parent company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under SQN. Swissquote also operates through regulated entities in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malta, and South Africa. The regulation list includes FINMA, FCA, SFC, MAS, CySEC, FSCA, DFSA, and MFSA.

The UK company, Swissquote Ltd, is authorized and regulated by the FCA and is registered in England and Wales under number 07710095. The Swiss headquarters address is Chemin de la Crétaux 33, 1196 Gland, Switzerland.

Client funds are segregated from company funds. Eligible cash deposits in Switzerland are protected up to CHF 100,000 per client per bank. Negative balance protection applies mainly to retail Forex and CFD clients, especially in regions with retail protection rules. Professional clients and some non-EU clients do not receive the same level of protection.

KYC checks are strict. Swissquote requires proof of identity, proof of residence, tax information, and source of funds details. This is normal for a regulated Swiss bank, but it makes onboarding more detailed than with many offshore brokers.

Forex Spreads

Swissquote uses floating spreads. The account type controls the starting spread. Standard spreads start from 1.7 pips, Premium spreads start from 1.4 pips, and Prime spreads start from 1.1 pips. These are not the lowest spreads in the market, but the pricing is clear and tied to a regulated banking group.

CFD Spreads

Swissquote offers CFDs on markets such as indices, commodities, bonds, stocks, and other spot, forward, and synthetic CFD products. The average spread is 0.58 points on Gold, and 0.82 points on the S&P 500 CFD. Swissquote also offers CFD spreads from 0.03 points on OIL/USD.

Forex and CFD Commissions

For Standard, Premium, and Prime Forex accounts, Swissquote uses spread-only pricing with no Forex commission. Swissquote states that costs for Forex, metals, indices, commodities, and bonds are included in the spreads. Professional pricing can be different. Professional clients can access raw spreads from 0.0 pips with a commission of EUR 2.50 per lot.

Stock and ETF Commission

Swissquote charges commission on stocks and ETFs. On its Luxembourg pricing, stock and ETF commissions start from 0.1%, with access to more than 30 exchanges worldwide. On Forex account tiers, US stock pricing is $0.03 per share on Standard, $0.02 per share on Premium, and $0.01 per share on Prime. The minimum stock commission is $20 on Standard, $15 on Premium, and $10 on Prime.

Crypto Fees

Swissquote offers cryptocurrency trading with percentage-based fees. Crypto pricing starts from 0.08% at the highest listed pricing tier. Standard crypto pricing can be higher, so crypto traders should check the active tier before placing orders. 

Inactivity Fee

The inactivity fee is 10 units of the account base currency per month after 6 months of inactivity. This fee is important for traders who open a Forex or CFD account and then stop trading.

Overnight Swap Fees

Swissquote charges overnight swap fees on leveraged positions that stay open after the daily market close. These fees apply to products such as Forex, indices, commodities, bonds, and other CFDs. A swap can be a cost or a credit depending on the instrument, direction, and interest-rate difference.

Currency Conversion Fee

Swissquote charges currency conversion costs when the trade currency differs from the account currency. The standard online currency exchange fee is 0.95%. Foreign currency trades can include a 0.9% spread. Some major-to-minor or emerging-market currency pairs can have higher conversion fees from 1.25% to 1.50%.

Deposit Fees

Bank and postal wire-transfer deposits are free of charge at Swissquote Bank Ltd, although sending banks and intermediary banks can charge their own fees. Payment card deposits at Swissquote Bank Ltd are charged at 1.9% for SEPA countries, including Switzerland, and 0% for the rest of the world. Swissquote Bank Europe charges card deposit fees of 0.5% for SEPA card deposits and 2.9% for non-SEPA or corporate card deposits.

Withdrawal Fees

Swissquote Bank Europe lists SEPA outgoing cash transfer as free and other outgoing cash transfers as €10. Securities transfers out cost €25 per line, and non-standard transfers cost €50. Crypto withdrawals carry a $10 fee. Intermediary banks can also deduct fees from international transfers.

Deposit Methods

Swissquote supports deposits through Wire Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Revolut, Wise, SEPA, and SWIFT. For bank transfers, Swissquote Bank Ltd uses BIC/SWIFT code SWQBCHZZXXX.

Withdrawal Methods

Withdrawals are available through Wire Transfer, Visa, and Mastercard. Bank transfer is the main withdrawal method. SEPA transfer is also relevant for eligible European payments.

Processing Times

Average deposit processing time is 2 hours for cards, instant for crypto, 1 to 3 business days for bank transfer, and 1 business day for SEPA. Average withdrawal processing time is 1 business day for bank transfer, 1 to 2 business days for SEPA, and within 24 hours for crypto.

Forex

Swissquote offers Forex trading on major, minor, and exotic currency pairs. The broker offers more than 130 currency pairs, metals, and CFDs on indices, commodities, and bonds in its Forex and CFD trading conditions. The minimum lot size starts from 0.01 lot. Standard account leverage on currency pairs is 1:100 outside strict retail leverage regions.

Stocks

Swissquote gives access to stocks through its multi-asset trading account and also offers stock CFDs in selected jurisdictions. Stock investing is commission-based. Stock CFD trading lets traders go long or short without owning the underlying share, but it uses leverage and carries higher risk.

ETFs

ETFs are available through Swissquote’s investing platform. Swissquote Bank Europe lists stock and ETF trading from 0.1% and access to more than 30 exchanges worldwide. It also lists a free-buy ETF offer with more than 150 ETFs from Amundi and WisdomTree, with zero commission on buy trades over €2,500.

Cryptocurrencies

Swissquote offers cryptocurrency trading through its Swissquote-developed SQX exchange. The broker offers more than 30 crypto assets. Crypto fees start from 0.08% at the highest pricing tier.

Commodities

Commodities are available mainly through CFDs. Traders can access popular markets such as oil, gold, silver, natural gas, and other commodity contracts. Swissquote offers CFDs on more than 20 popular commodities in its European CFD section. Leverage on commodities differs by entity and client type. In the global Forex and CFD offering, standard leverage is 1:50 for CFD commodities. In the UK retail framework, commodity leverage is lower.

Precious Metals

Swissquote offers precious metals such as gold and silver through Forex and CFD platforms. Standard leverage on precious metals is 1:50 in the global offering, while UK and EU retail leverage limits can be lower.

Indices

Index CFDs give exposure to markets such as the S&P 500, DAX, NASDAQ, and other major stock indices. Standard leverage on CFD stock indices is 1:50 in the global offering. UK retail leverage is limited to 1:20 for major stock indices and 1:10 for other stock indices.

Bonds

Swissquote offers bond investing and bond CFDs. The bond CFD product is useful for traders who want exposure to long-term interest rates. Standard leverage on CFD bonds is 1:50 in the global offering. UK retail leverage for bond CFDs is 1:5.

Leverage Restrictions

The maximum leverage is 1:400 for approved professional clients. Standard, Premium, and Prime accounts use 1:100 leverage for currency pairs in the global offering. Precious metals, CFD stock indices, CFD commodities, and CFD bonds use 1:50 leverage in that same offering. In the UK, retail leverage is 1:30 for major currency pairs, 1:20 for gold and minor currency pairs, 1:20 for major stock indices, 1:10 for commodities and other stock indices, and 1:5 for bonds and stock CFDs.

CFXD

CFXD is Swissquote’s web platform for Forex and CFD trading. It supports currency pairs, precious metals, stock CFDs, crypto CFDs, other spot CFDs, forward CFDs, and synthetic CFDs. It has web and mobile trading, TradingView connectivity, a customizable interface, 15 timeframes, 27 technical indicators, Autochartist, complex order types, FIX API access, and Multi Account Manager support.

Advanced Trader

Advanced Trader is Swissquote’s proprietary platform. It is designed for traders who want a Swissquote-built platform instead of a third-party platform. It supports desktop trading and gives access to advanced charting, order management, and market tools.

MetaTrader 4

MetaTrader 4 is available for Forex and CFD traders. It supports desktop, web, and mobile trading. It has 9 timeframes and 30 technical indicators. Autochartist is available as a plug-in. Expert Advisors are allowed, and copy trading is available through MetaTrader signals. MT4 fits traders who already use classic Forex tools and automated strategies.

MetaTrader 5

MetaTrader 5 offers broader market support than MT4. It supports currency pairs, precious metals, stock CFDs, crypto CFDs, other spot CFDs, and forward CFDs. It has desktop, web, and mobile trading, 21 timeframes, 80 technical indicators, Autochartist as a plug-in, algorithmic trading with Expert Advisors, copy trading, hedging capability, and Multi Account Manager support.

TradingView

Swissquote lets traders connect a CFXD account to TradingView. This gives access to TradingView charts and the TradingView social network while using Swissquote execution for Forex and CFDs. TradingView is useful for chart-focused traders who want cleaner technical analysis tools.

Copy Trading and Social Trading

Swissquote supports copy trading through third-party tools rather than a simple in-house social trading app. Traders can use MetaTrader signals and Myfxbook AutoTrade. Copy trading normally requires at least $1,000 in account equity. TradingView also adds a social trading layer through public charts, ideas, watchlists, and market discussions.

API Trading and VPS

Swissquote supports API trading through FIX API and REST API solutions. FIX API access is built for high-speed, low-latency execution and is more suitable for advanced or institutional traders. A $50,000 minimum deposit is commonly tied to FIX API access. VPS hosting is available for automated trading, especially for MetaTrader Expert Advisors that need to run 24 hours a day.

Account Opening Process

The account opening process is digital. A client fills in the application form, chooses a platform such as CFXD with TradingView, MetaTrader 4, or MetaTrader 5, and provides identity documents. Swissquote asks for a passport or ID card and proof of residence no older than 6 months for Forex and CFD accounts. The broker can also request proof of the origin of funds. The first transfer must come from an account in the client’s own name.

Standard Account

The Standard account is the entry-level Forex and CFD account. It has spreads from 1.7 pips and no Forex commissions. The minimum trade size is 0.01 lot. Standard leverage is 1:100, maintenance margin is 100%, and the stop-out level is 30%. The minimum deposit is $1,000. This account fits traders who want to start with the lowest Forex and CFD deposit at Swissquote.

Premium Account

The Premium account is built for higher trading volume. Forex spreads start from 1.4 pips with no commissions. The minimum trade size is 0.1 lot. Standard leverage is 1:100, maintenance margin is 100%, and the stop-out level is 30%. The minimum deposit is $10,000. Stock pricing in this tier is lower than the Standard account, with US stock pricing from $0.02 per share and a minimum commission of $15.

Prime Account

The Prime account is for larger account balances and more active traders. Forex spreads start from 1.1 pips with no commissions. The minimum trade size is 1 lot. Standard leverage is 1:100, maintenance margin is 100%, and the stop-out level is 30%. The minimum deposit is $50,000. US stock pricing starts from $0.01 per share with a minimum commission of $10.

Professional Account

The Professional account uses custom spreads and bespoke pricing. The minimum trade size is custom, and the minimum deposit is based on trading volume. Professional clients can request leverage up to 1:400. Professional status is not the same as a normal retail account. A client must meet professional criteria, such as significant trading volume, a portfolio above EUR 500,000, or professional experience in the financial sector. Professional clients also give up some retail protections.

Swissquote offers customer support through live chat, phone, email, and help center articles. Support hours for Forex support are 24/5. The Forex contact email is [email protected], and the phone number is +41 22 999 94 11. The support languages include English, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Czech, and Polish.

Average response times are 2 to 5 minutes by phone, 3 to 10 minutes by live chat, and 24 to 48 hours by email. This support setup is enough for most retail traders, although urgent account or withdrawal issues are better handled by phone or live chat.

Swissquote offers market research through daily written articles, market summaries, technical analysis, sentiment tools, and market scanners. Its research tools analyze thousands of articles and provide sentiment scores, buzz, and the most-mentioned stocks. Autochartist is available on supported platforms and helps traders find chart patterns, key levels, and trading setups.

The research section is useful for traders who want a daily view of market movement before placing trades. It is also practical for beginners because it gives structure to common topics such as Forex, indices, commodities, crypto, and technical analysis.

Swissquote provides education through eBooks, guides, webinars, videos, platform tutorials, a trading glossary, and blog content. Its education covers Forex, CFDs, crypto, technical analysis, risk management, investing basics, and platform use. This is helpful for beginners, but Swissquote still feels more suitable for traders who already understand basic order types, margin, leverage, spreads, and swaps.

Deposit Bonus

A general standing deposit bonus is not listed as a current main offer. Swissquote Bank Europe previously had a transfer bonus of up to €1,000 for new assets transferred within 60 days of account opening, with tiers from €100 for €10,000 to €49,999 up to €1,000 for €500,000 or more. That campaign had a March 31, 2026 deadline, so it should not be treated as an active general offer after that date.

No-deposit Bonus

Swissquote does not offer a standard no-deposit cash bonus. Its current rewards are built around trading credits, referral campaigns, student offers, selected ETF promotions, and partner campaigns. Trading credits reduce trading fees and are not the same as withdrawable cash.

Welcome Bonus

The student welcome offer gives CHF 200 in Trading Credit when a student opens a Swissquote account with promo code MKT_STUDENTS. The credit is designed to cover early trading fees. The account must be opened and funded under the offer conditions.

Referral Program

The Swissquote trading referral program gives CHF 100 in Trading Credit to the referrer and the invited friend after the friend opens an account and deposits CHF 100. The Trading Credit is valid for up to 3 months. It cannot be withdrawn as cash and does not apply to cryptocurrency trading or currency exchanges.

Forex Referral Program

The Forex referral program pays cash bonuses up to CHF 800 per referral for each Swissquote Forex and CFD account opened under the referral terms. The reward depends on the referred client and the campaign conditions.

Affiliate Program

Swissquote offers partnership options for affiliates and introducing brokers. Forex and CFD affiliates can work under CPA-style reward structures, subject to funding, region, and trading conditions. Some programs restrict countries such as the United States, Canada, France, and Singapore.

Loyalty Program

Swissquote does not run a simple points-based loyalty program. Its loyalty and reward features include referral credits, VIP-style benefits for high-value or high-volume clients, the Elite Debit Card cashback feature, and passive income options such as securities lending. The Elite Debit Card cashback rate is 0.5%, paid in physical gold.

Trading Contests

Swissquote runs education-focused competitions and campaigns. The Swissquote Campus Challenge 2026 was aimed at students, and the top 3 teams could win cash prizes up to CHF 5,000. The next round is listed for 2027. Student participants can also receive CHF 200 in Trading Credit when opening an account under the campaign terms.

Swissquote is a regulated, bank-backed broker with broad market access and professional-grade tools. It is a good fit for traders who want Swiss banking oversight, strong platform choice, and access to Forex, CFDs, securities, ETFs, crypto, and other instruments from one group. The broker is less suitable for traders who want very low deposits or a simple low-cost Forex account.

The main strength is safety and market range. The main weakness is cost. The minimum deposit starts at $1,000 for Forex and CFD trading, and the best pricing requires $10,000 or $50,000 account tiers. Stock, ETF, crypto, currency conversion, withdrawal, and inactivity fees also need review before funding an account.

For beginner traders, Swissquote is easier to use after learning the basics of spread, margin, leverage, lot size, swap, and stop-out. For experienced traders, the platform range, API access, VPS support, hedging, scalping, and professional leverage make it a serious broker to consider.