Swissquote Review 2026
A licensed kitchen with real, checkable paperwork.
Swissquote opened its doors in 1996 and cooks as a regulated CFD broker, carrying FINMA licence Registered.
What's on the menu
Swissquote has been serving since 1996, with the kitchen based in Gland, Switzerland. Its shares trade publicly under the ticker SWX:SQN. The order book runs deep: 3,000,000 CFD instruments spanning forex, indices, commodities and crypto. Beyond the CFD menu, you can also own real shares outright.
MetaTrader comes plated on every account type. There is no copy-trading option here.
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Gland, Switzerland |
| Instruments | 3,000,000+ |
| Platforms | Advanced Trader, MT4, MT5 |
| MetaTrader | Yes, MT4 and MT5 |
| Copy trading | No |
| Real stocks | Yes |
Kitchen inspection: is Swissquote safe?
The Seychelles FSA is an offshore regulator. It requires broker registration and basic conduct rules, but does not offer the same client protections as the FCA, CySEC, or ASIC. There is no compensation scheme and leverage limits are not imposed.
| Regulator | Licence | Entity |
|---|---|---|
| FINMA | Registered ✓ | Swissquote Bank Ltd |
| FCA | 562379 ✓ | Swissquote UK Ltd |
| DFSA | F004885 ✓ | Swissquote MEA Ltd |
| MAS | 200916272W ✓ | Swissquote Pte Ltd |
Want to inspect the kitchen yourself? Pull up investingchef.com and look up the FINMA licence. The listing lays out the entity name, its authorisation status and the full list of what it is cleared to do. A minute, tops.
Ready to open an account?
Swissquote - FINMA regulated, min deposit $1000, 3,000,000+ instruments.
Ingredient costs: Swissquote spreads
Here is what the raw ingredients cost on a standard Swissquote account. Spreads breathe with the market and with your account tier; step up to an ECN or raw-spread table and the spread shrinks, but a per-trade commission joins the bill.
| EUR/USD | 1.3 pips pips |
| GBP/USD | 1.6 pips pips |
| USD/JPY | 1.4 pips pips |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 28c/oz |
| S&P 500 | 0.5pt |
That EUR/USD figure of 1.3 pips pips carries a bit more markup than the ECN-first kitchens, though it is normal fare for a table with no per-trade commission.
The bill: Swissquote withdrawal fee and timing
Cost to take money out: None. Swissquote does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees. Your payment provider may apply their own transfer fees.
How long it takes: 1 to 3 business days. E-wallet and card withdrawals are typically faster than bank wire transfers.
No cash leaves the till until your identity checks out. If your proof of ID and address are not yet filed and cleared, the payout waits; once you are fully verified, cash-outs follow the timings shown above.
The cover charge by entity
The opening deposit at Swissquote depends on which entity seats your country. Offshore branches tend to set a smaller cover charge, but you dine with a thinner layer of regulatory protection.
| Entity | Regulator | Min deposit | Max leverage (forex) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swissquote Bank Ltd | FINMA Registered | $1000 | 1:200 |
| Swissquote UK Ltd | FCA 562379 | $1000 | 1:30 |
| Swissquote MEA Ltd | DFSA F004885 | $1000 | 1:200 |
| Swissquote Pte Ltd | MAS 200916272W | $1000 | 1:20 |
Swissquote vs XM
| Swissquote | XM | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FINMA N/A | CySEC 120/10 |
| Min deposit | $1000 | $5 |
| EUR/USD spread | 1.3 pips pips | 1.6 (std) / 0.1 (ultra-low) pips |
| MetaTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Instruments | 3,000,000+ | 1,400+ |
| Copy trading | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | None | None |
Both kitchens hold real licences, so neither is a bad table. Pull up a chair at Swissquote if you value MetaTrader and running algorithms. XM plates up better for anyone who leans on leaner spreads.
The licences, line by line
| FINMA | Registered, Swissquote Bank Ltd |
| FCA | 562379, Swissquote UK Ltd |
| DFSA | F004885, Swissquote MEA Ltd |
| MAS | 200916272W, Swissquote Pte Ltd |
Under ESMA house rules, retail traders in the EU and UK are served leverage no higher than 1:200 on the major forex pairs.
What tastes good, what leaves a bad aftertaste
Cooked well
- FCA regulated, Swissquote UK Ltd
- MetaTrader 4 and 5 available
- Real stock ownership available
- Regulated in 4 jurisdictions
- 3,000,000+ instruments
Sent back
- No copy trading
- Inactivity fee: $10/month after 12 months
- Higher minimum deposit of $1000
- High leverage only via offshore entity
Compare Swissquote before you commit
4.0/5 rating - FINMA regulated - min deposit $1000
The verdict
Nothing on the plate here is fake: Swissquote is a genuine, regulated broker, and FINMA licence Registered checks out on the public register. The table is set best for traders who want MetaTrader served on a regulated platform. We rate it 4.0 out of 5.
Other tables worth a look
If Swissquote is not quite to your taste, these regulated kitchens are worth comparing:
Frequently asked questions
Is Swissquote safe?
The Seychelles FSA is an offshore regulator. The kitchen holds FINMA licence Registered, and you can confirm it for yourself on the official register.
What is the Swissquote minimum deposit?
The cover charge is $1000 at the main regulated entity. Offshore branches may plate it differently, so check the entity table above for the full spread.
What is the Swissquote EUR/USD spread?
On a standard Swissquote account the EUR/USD ingredient runs about 1.3 pips pips. It moves with the market; an ECN or raw table trims the spread in exchange for a per-trade commission.
How long does Swissquote take to process withdrawals?
1 to 3 business days. E-wallet and card withdrawals are typically faster than bank wire transfers.
Does Swissquote charge withdrawal fees?
None. Swissquote does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees. Your payment provider may apply their own transfer fees.
Does Swissquote have MetaTrader?
Yes. Both MT4 and MT5 are on the menu across every account type, so automated strategies, custom indicators and expert advisors are all on the table.