My Forex brokers in Switzerland review evaluated dozens of brokers to find the most competitive trading environment available to Swiss traders.
Additionally, my tips for starting Forex trading in Switzerland aim to shorten the learning curve for beginners.
- Plus500, multi-asset and CFD broker.
- Eightcap, Competitive pricing + excellent daily videos.
- AvaTrade, Highly regulated, choice of fixed or floating spreads.
- FP Markets, ECN trading with leverage up to 1:500.
- Pepperstone, Great ECN execution on MT4/5, cTader, TradingView and Pepperstone proprietary platform.
Best switzerland Brokers Comparison
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Regulators | ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FMA, FSCA, MAS | ASIC, CySEC, FCA, SCB | ASIC, BVI, Central Bank of Ireland, FFAJ, FSCA, KNF, MiFID | ASIC, CMA, CySEC, FSCA | ASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, SCB |
Year Established | 2008 | 2009 | 2006 | 2005 | 2010 |
Execution Type(s) | Market Maker | ECN/STP, Market Maker | Market Maker | ECN/STP | No Dealing Desk, NDD |
Minimum Deposit | |||||
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD | 1.3 pips | 1.0 pips | 0.9 pips | 1.2 pips | 1.1 pips |
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD | 1.7 pips | 1.2 pips | 1.5 pips | 1.4 pips | 1.4 pips |
Average Trading Cost Gold | - | $0.12 | $0.29 | $0.16 | $0.15 |
Trading Platform(s) | Proprietary platform, Web-based | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Trading View | Other, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary platform, Web-based+ | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Proprietary platform, Web-based | Other, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Proprietary platform, Trading View+ |
Islamic Account | |||||
Negative Balance Protection | N/A | ||||
Get Started Visit Website82% of retail CFD accounts lose money | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Get Started Visit Website75-95% of traders on margin lose |
Plus500
In Summary multi-asset and CFD brokerI rank Plus500 among the best CFD brokers in Switzerland due to its competitive, commission-free spreads of 0.6 pips or $6.00 per 1.0 standard round lot. Plus500 presents its user-friendly, web-based, manual-only proprietary trading platform and mobile app, where traders get a well-balanced asset selection, including ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and ETFs.
Plus500 publishes sentiment indicators and ESG scores and features its data-driven analytical tool +Insights. Traders receive real-time email, SMS, and push notifications based on price alerts, percentage-based hourly and daily price changes, and sentiment changes among buyers and sellers.
This information is NOT relevant to EU residents, who are to be serviced by EU subsidiaries of the Plus500 Group, such as Plus500CY Ltd, authorised by CySEC (Reg. 250/14). Different regulatory requirements apply in Europe, such as leverage limitations and bonus restrictions
Pros & Cons
- Broad asset selection in equities and options
- Free and unlimited demo account
- Advanced free-of-charge analytical trading tools
- Global and regulated fintech platform
- Sub-standard trading platform without support for automated or social trading
Eightcap
In Summary Competitive pricing + excellent daily videosEightcap offers Capitalise AI for algorithmic trading in a code-free environment via MT4, the leading algorithmic platform. Further upgrades are possible in MT5 with the FlashTrader plugin, which supports news traders with an AI-powered economic calendar. It makes Eightcap the broker with the most advanced trading environment within my Forex brokers in Switzerland listing. Social traders can connect their accounts to TradingView, where 50M+ traders exchange ideas.
The Raw account offers competitive trading fees, with spreads from 0.0 pips and a ticket-based commission from $7.00 per 1.0 standard round lot. The well-balanced asset selection includes cryptos, and Eightcap offers 24/5 customer support.
Pros & Cons
- Low minimum deposit and high leverage of up to 1:500
- Competitive cost structure
- Excellent technology infrastructure and seasoned management team
- Daily research and quality educational content
- Limited leverage in some areas
AvaTrade
In Summary Highly regulated, choice of fixed or floating spreadsAvaTrade is the broker in my Forex brokers in Switzerland listing with the widest array of trading platform choices. Besides its two core proprietary platforms, AvaTrade has its specialized trading platforms, Ava Option and Ava Social, while algorithmic and copy traders can rely on the trusted MT4/MT5 trading platforms. VPS hosting ensures 24/5 low-latency Forex trading, and the Guardian Angel plugin for MT4 provides an excellent risk management function.
The AvaTrade website is available in German. The spun-out Ava Academy offers industry-leading educational material for beginners. The high-paying affiliate program, with 145,000 registered partners and $300,000,000+ in commission payouts, offers passive income opportunities.
Pros & Cons
- High quality educational offering via AvaAcademy
- Excellent choice of trading platforms catering to various trading needs
- Broad asset selection and cross-asset diversification opportunities
- Well-regulated and trusted broker with oversight from a central bank
- Trading costs competitive but nothing special
FP Markets
In Summary ECN trading with leverage up to 1:500Besides MT4/MT5, traders can use the cTrader platform or connect their accounts to TradingView, where a community of 50M+ traders engage in social trading. Copy traders get the embedded services in MT4/MT5/cTrader, diversify via Myfxbook AutoTrade, fee-based Signal Start, or in-house FP Markets Copy Trading. MAM/PAMM accounts cater to traditional account management services. Therefore, FP Markets is considered one of the best brokers for passive trading strategies within my Forex brokers in Switzerland listing.
FP Markets offers 24/7 multilingual customer support and maintains a well-balanced asset selection, including cryptocurrency and ETF CFDs. It also offers competitive, commission-based trading fees and VPS hosting for 24/5 low-latency Forex trading.
Pros & Cons
- Choice of trading platforms and auxiliary trading tools
- Very competitive cost structure and excellent asset selection
- Low minimum deposit requirement and leverage of up to 1:500
- Well-regulated and trustworthy
- Availability of Iress geographically restricted
Pepperstone
In Summary Great ECN execution on MT4/5, cTader, TradingView and Pepperstone proprietary platformPepperstone is the broker within my Forex brokers in Switzerland, listing with the most advanced trading tool, Capitalise AI. It supports algorithmic trading in a code-free environment and separates Pepperstone from other Forex brokers. Active traders benefit from a cutting-edge trading infrastructure, same-day withdrawals, VPS hosting for 24/5 low-latency Forex trading, and direct API connectivity, allowing clients to run advanced algorithmic trading solutions with Pepperstone.
The 28-plugin Smart Trader Tools package upgrades MT4/MT5, and traders get Autochartist. Pepperstone additionally offers cTrader and connects accounts to TradingView, where 50M+ traders interact and share ideas. Traders also receive 24/5 + 18/2 customer support.
Pros & Cons
- Excellent choice of trading platforms consisting of MT4/MT5, cTrader, TreadingView and Pepperstone Platform
- Market-leading MT4/MT5 upgrade package, Autochartist, and API trading
- Social trading support via Signal Start, MetaTrader Signals, Copy Trading by Pepperstone, DupliTrade
- Leverage of up to 1:400 depends on jurisdiction and superb trade execution
- Demo accounts have 60-day time limits
Forex Trading in Switzerland
Switzerland has ranked first in the Human Development Index since 2021. It is a major global financial centre, home to the second-biggest Forex institution by volume, UBS. Several well-known Forex brokers and banks have headquarters in Switzerland. The country is also regarded as a leading cryptocurrency hub, often leading innovation in this area. Forex trading is popular amongst the Swiss population, and the brokers from our Forex brokers in Switzerland review provide cutting-edge products to the tech-savvy and well-educated Swiss Forex market.
What to Look for in a Forex Broker from Switzerland
Traders should look for the following:
- Regulation - 10+ years of a clean regulatory track record.
- Low trading fees - Competitive trading fees and swap rate mark-ups.
- Trading platforms - Algorithmic, copy, and mobile trading capabilities.
- Asset diversity - A well-balanced asset selection.
- Deposits/Withdrawals - No deposit fees and low minimum requirements.
Forex Trading Regulations in Switzerland
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) regulate the Swiss Forex market and brokers. FINMA-regulated brokers offer a CHF 100,000 investor compensation fund, but Switzerland does not require off-shore brokers to obtain a FINMA license to accept Swiss-resident Forex traders. The brokers from our Forex brokers in Switzerland ranking have well-regulated subsidiaries outside Switzerland.
How Much is Forex Leverage Available to Traders in Switzerland?
The maximum Forex leverage allowed in Switzerland is 1:200. While it is not as high as other jurisdictions, it ensures Swiss traders benefit from a competitive trading environment. Swiss Forex leverage is the second highest among developed countries. Negative balance protection exists and is available at all brokers from our Forex brokers in Switzerland review. Traders should understand the relationship between leverage and risk management and execute proper risk management protocols.
How to Start Forex Trading in Switzerland?
My Forex brokers in Switzerland listing consists of highly competitive trading environments. Still, before beginners open and fund a trading account for the first time, they should consider my tips below. They will shorten their learning curve and highlight areas of study they must focus on to improve their chances of success.
Here are my Forex trading tips:
- Start with in-depth education.
- Approach and respect Forex trading as the high-skilled profession it represents.
- Trading psychology separates up to 90% of unprofitable traders from profitable ones.
- Understand the relationship between leverage and risk management.
- Leverage equally magnifies profits and losses.
- Risk management is as important as having the right trading strategy.
- A suitable trading strategy will reflect your personality and individual strengths and circumstances.
- Low trading fees determine a competitive trading environment.
- Learn to place orders, such as taking profit and stop loss levels properly.
What is the Best Trading Platform in Switzerland
MT4 is widely thought of as the best trading platform in Switzerland. It enables algorithmic trading, which accounts for 80%+ of daily Forex trading volume. It also supports API trading, has an embedded copy trading service, and MAM/PAMM account modules cater to traditional account management. MT4 has 25,000+ upgrades. All Forex brokers from our Forex brokers in Switzerland review offer MT4.
Forex Trading Taxation in Switzerland
As part of my Forex brokers in Switzerland listing, I concluded that private Forex traders are not liable for taxes on their Forex income. Should the Swiss tax office classify a trader as a commercial trader, the trader must pay taxes. The criteria for the classification are not completely clear, and a private investor might be given a commercial classification by the tax authorities, meaning capital gains become income for tax purposes.
Therefore, Forex traders in Switzerland should consult a legal professional to seek tax advice based on their situation in Switzerland to ensure compliance with local rules and regulations.
Pros & Cons of Forex Trading in Switzerland
Before opening and funding a trading account with any of the brokers within my Forex brokers in Switzerland listing, traders should consider the known pros and cons of Forex trading in Switzerland.
The pros of Forex trading in Switzerland are:
- 24/5 decentralized market
- Low-latency algorithmic trading
- Passive income opportunities
- Lower capital requirements needed versus other investments
- Copy and social trading via mobile apps
The cons of Forex trading in Switzerland are:
- Manual trading in an algorithm-dominated market
- Emotion-based decision-making
- Disrespect for Forex trading as a high-skilled profession
- False sense of accomplishment from demo trading
- Disconnect between leverage and its relationship to risk management
Bottom Line
Switzerland is a wealthy country and a pillar of the global Forex market. It has several significant domestic Forex brokers and banks. Still, my Forex brokers in Switzerland listing analyzed non-Swiss brokers only with the most competitive trading tools for Swiss Forex traders. As a global wealth management centre, traditional account management remains a popular Forex strategy, available via MAM/PAMM accounts. Algorithmic trading is an equally popular approach, with Switzerland leading in this category. Copy trading among millennial and GenZ traders presents a high-growth niche.
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