Head to head
Futubull vs Swissquote — which broker is better?
Futubull or Swissquote? Fees, regulation, platform and product range compared side by side — with a verdict drawn from the data.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Investments can fall in value. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.
Futubull
Futu's Hong Kong home platform: Hong Kong shares without commission (but with an HKD 15 platform fee), rich market data and one account for many markets — for Hong Kong residents.
- Stocks (per order)
- HK$15
- Minimum deposit
- HK$10,000
- FX conversion
- n/a
Risk warning: CFDs and other leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how these products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Swissquote
The Swiss bank that happens to be a broker — expensive per trade, hard to beat on structure.
- Stocks (per order)
- tiered
- Minimum deposit
- CHF 500
- FX conversion
- 0.95 %
Risk warning: CFDs and other leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how these products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
The verdict in numbers
Four decision axes, each derived from the recorded data.
Overall Futubull takes it, 4.1 against 4.0 out of 5. The two pricing models cannot be converted like for like; the fee rows in the table carry the detail. Swissquote scores 100 against 74 out of 100 on the group index. Your account's protection depends on its legal entity. Swissquote covers more ground with 12 of 14 asset classes against 11. On platform and app Futubull is ahead, 4.5 against 4.2 out of 5. Which one is right depends on which of these axes matters for your trading profile.
- Futubull
- 4.1 — Better
- Swissquote
- 4.0
- Futubull
- €1.80
- Swissquote
- tiered
- Futubull
- 74 of 100
- Swissquote
- 100 of 100
- Futubull
- 11/14
- Swissquote
- 12/14 — Better
- Futubull
- 4.5 — Better
- Swissquote
- 4.2
Compare brokers side by side
Up to four brokers at once — every row a decision point.
Data as of: 02 Nov 2026
| Criterion | Futubull 4.1 Risk warning: CFDs and other leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how these products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. | Swissquote 4.0 Risk warning: CFDs and other leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how these products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.1 — Better | 4.0 |
| Group index | 74 of 100 | 100 of 100 |
| Best for | Hong Kong residents trading HK and US sharesActive traders using Level 2 dataOne account for many marketsHong Kong IPO subscribers | Swiss residentsCHF-denominated portfoliosPillar 3a retirement saversCrypto buyers wanting bank custodyBuy-and-hold ETF investors |
| Regulation | SFC | FINMACSSFFCAMASSFCDFSACySECFSCA |
| Top-tier licences | 1 | 5 — Better |
| Investor protection | HK$500,000 | CHF 100,000 — Better |
| Listed group | Yes | Yes |
| Banking licence | No | Yes |
| Segregated client accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | No | Yes |
| Audited financials | Yes | Yes |
| Disclosed regulatory actions | 1 | None |
| Founded | 2012 | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong, HK | Gland, CH |
| Fees | 3.8 — Better | 3.0 |
| Safety & regulation | 4.0 | 4.8 — Better |
| Trading platform | 4.5 — Better | 4.2 |
| Product range | 4.4 | 4.6 — Better |
| Mobile app | 4.5 — Better | 4.2 |
| Research | 4.4 — Better | 3.9 |
| Customer support | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Deposit & withdrawal | 4.3 — Better | 3.6 |
| Account opening | 3.9 | 4.0 — Better |
| Education | 4.0 — Better | 3.7 |
| Reference order EUR 5,000 | €1.80 | tiered |
| Minimum deposit | HK$10,000 | CHF 500 — Better |
| Stocks (per order) | HK$15 | tiered |
| US stocks | US$0.0099/share | tiered |
| ETFs | HK$15 | tiered |
| Options | US$0.95 — Better | CHF 1.50 |
| Futures | HK$13 | CHF 1.50 |
| Crypto | 0.16 % — Better | 1 % |
| Bonds (order) | 0.04 % | tiered |
| Funds (order) | Free | CHF 9 |
| EUR/USD spread | n/a | 1.7 pips |
| Index CFD spread | n/a | 2.5 points |
| FX conversion | n/a | 0.95 % |
| Inactivity fee | HK$10 · after 24 months | None — Better |
| Custody fee | n/a | 0.1 % p.a. |
| Withdrawal fee | free — Better | €2 |
| Deposit fee | free — Better | 1.9 % |
| Overnight financing | n/a | n/a |
| Other fees |
|
|
| Asset classes (of 14) | 11 | 12 — Better |
| Exchanges | n/a | 60 |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Warrants | Yes | Yes |
| Spread betting | No | No |
| Social trading | No | No |
| Crypto access | Broker, real coins; coins to your own wallet: only for certain coins | Broker, real coins; coins to your own wallet: possible |
| Platforms | Futubull mobile appFutubull desktop (Mac and Windows)Futu OpenAPI | Swissquote eTradingSwissquote mobile appCFXDMetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5Swissquote FIX / REST API |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum leverage | Margin accounts for Hong Kong, US, China A-share, Japanese, Singapore and Korean shares with unified buying power across stock markets; Futu's margin page… | 1:100 · Pro 1:100 |
| Account opening | Online in the Futubull app: identity and address documents, an audio risk disclosure by a licensed representative and an e-signature, then a transfer of at least HKD 10,000 or USD 1,500 from your own Hong Kong bank account; Futu reviews applications within 1–2 working days. Alternatively in person at the Admiralty head office, by a witnessed appointment in Hong Kong or by cheque | Fully online with Swiss video or photo identification; typically 1–3 business days |
| Account types | Universal account (cash)Universal account (margin)Crypto accountCorporate account | eTradingInvest Easy3a EasyForex StandardForex PremiumForex Prime |
| Payment methods | Bank transferCheque | Bank transferSEPACredit cardDebit card |
| Account currencies | HKDUSDJPY | CHFEURUSDGBPAEDJPYAUDCADSEKNOK+7 |
| Deposit time | eDDA and Bank-Securities Transfer usually within 5 minutes and FPS within 2 hours on Hong Kong trading days; interbank online transfers 1–3 trading days; transfers from banks outside Hong Kong an estimated 3–5 trading days | Bank transfer 1–2 business days; card deposits near-instant but charged 1.9% in CH and Europe |
| Withdrawal time | Bank-Securities Transfer within 5 minutes on trading days; other Hong Kong banks the same day if requested before 11:00; Futu remits to banks outside Hong Kong within 1–2 business days | 1–3 business days |
| Free withdrawals | n/a | n/a |
| Languages | ChineseEnglish | GermanFrenchItalianEnglishSpanishArabicChineseRussian |
| Channels | PhoneLive chatBranch | PhoneEmailLive chatTicket systemBranch |
| Availability | Hotline and live chat 24 hours on trading days, 09:30–21:30 on weekends and public holidays (Hong Kong time) | Monday to Friday, extended Swiss business hours; forex desk covers market hours |
Strengths and weaknesses side by side
Editorial assessment based on the recorded data.
Futubull
Futu's Hong Kong home platform: Hong Kong shares without commission (but with an HKD 15 platform fee), rich market data and one account for many markets — for Hong Kong residents.
Pros
- SFC-licensed for seven regulated activities (CE AZT137, types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9) under a Nasdaq-listed parent, Futu Holdings (FUTU)
- No commission on Hong Kong shares under Futu's commission-free offer; on the default fixed plan each order costs an HKD 15 platform fee
- One universal account for Hong Kong, US, China Connect and Japanese shares, plus Singapore and Korean stocks, options, futures and leveraged FX; funds, bonds and spot crypto (in a separate crypto account) in the same app
- Free Level 1 quotes for Hong Kong shares and free Level 2 quotes for US shares, analyst ratings, an institutional tracker and a screener with 100+ indicators
- Fast, free HKD funding: eDDA and Bank-Securities Transfer usually credit within 5 minutes, FPS within 2 hours
- Hotline and live chat 24 hours on trading days, plus 13 physical service locations in Hong Kong
- Paper trading, fractional shares and regular savings plans from USD 10 (US) or HKD 1,000 (Hong Kong)
Cons
- Aimed at Hong Kong residents: online opening needs a Hong Kong bank account and at least HKD 10,000 (or USD 1,500); residents elsewhere are referred to customer service
- US shares are not commission-free: USD 0.0049 per share commission plus USD 0.005 per share platform fee, with USD 0.99 and USD 1.00 minimums and a USD 0.003 settlement fee per share
- Expensive exits: HKD 500 per Hong Kong stock and USD 150 per US stock to transfer out, and HKD 500 to close an account within 180 days
- A dormant-account fee of HKD 10 a month after two years without activity, and a 0.2% collection fee on Hong Kong cash dividends (minimum HKD 30 where the dividend net of the registration fee exceeds HKD 60)
- Investor compensation is capped at HKD 500,000 per person for securities, and Futu's SIPC statement for US shares does not name the SIPC member that holds them
- In 2022 China's CSRC issued an announcement on Futu's cross-border operations in mainland China; citing the CSRC's rectification requirements, Futu removed the Futubull app from mainland app stores in 2023
Best for
Swissquote
The Swiss bank that happens to be a broker — expensive per trade, hard to beat on structure.
Pros
- FINMA-licensed Swiss bank listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SQN) with published annual results — CHF 88.7 billion in client assets and around 750,000 accounts
- esisuisse depositor protection covers cash up to CHF 100,000, and custodied securities remain client property outside the bank's balance sheet
- Custody fee is capped at CHF 50 per quarter (CHF 200 a year) for private clients, so large portfolios pay a flat rather than percentage cost
- ETF Leaders pricing caps SIX-listed ETF commission at CHF 9 above CHF 1,000, regardless of order size
- Real cryptocurrency custody across 50-plus coins inside a regulated bank, with crypto custody included in the standard fee since 2025
- One login covers trading, Swiss banking, debit cards, payments, savings plans and pillar 3a retirement accounts
- Complimentary eTax statement for Swiss residents, which removes a genuine annual chore
- Four-language Swiss support including German, French, Italian and English, with local offices rather than an offshore call centre
Cons
- Commission is high by international standards — CHF 29 on a CHF 10,000 order and CHF 190 above CHF 50,000, where global discount brokers charge single digits
- Currency conversion costs 0.95% on major currencies, one of the most expensive markups among European brokers and the dominant cost for anyone buying US assets from a CHF or EUR balance
- A custody fee applies from the first franc — CHF 80 a year minimum plus 8.1% VAT — which is proportionally heavy on small portfolios
- Zero interest on cash balances across every currency and tier, at a time when several competitors pay a money-market rate
- Card deposits cost 1.9% in Switzerland and Europe, and SEPA withdrawals cost EUR 2
- The securities platform and the CFD/forex platform (CFXD) sit on separate logins, which fragments the experience for multi-product clients
Best for
Open an account with either
A demo account costs nothing and answers the platform question in ten minutes.
Risk warning: CFDs and other leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how these products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
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