Revolut and Swissquote both offer financial and investment services, but their product ranges, pricing structures and regulatory set-ups differ. Here is how they compare for investors in Switzerland.
Revolut vs Swissquote: what is the main difference?
Choosing a financial platform is not only about the design of an app or the cost of the next trade. It can also involve questions about regulation, investment choice, fees, currencies, trading tools and the services you may need as your finances become more complex.
Revolut and Swissquote overlap in some areas, but they were built around different financial needs.
Revolut combines payments, cards, foreign exchange and investment features in one app. For eligible Swiss customers, its investment services include stocks, ETFs, bonds, money market funds and Robo-Advisor portfolios, although availability depends on the Revolut entity with which the customer is registered.
Swissquote Bank Ltd is a Swiss bank and multi-asset investment platform. Its Swiss offering covers banking alongside stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, options and futures, structured products, cryptocurrencies, Forex and CFDs.
Neither model is automatically better for every investor. The relevant question is which combination of services, instruments, costs and protections best matches the way you intend to use the platform.
“A useful comparison starts with your needs: everyday payments, occasional investing, long-term portfolio building or access to more specialised markets and instruments.”
How are Swissquote and Revolut regulated?
The two providers operate under different legal and regulatory structures.
Swissquote
Swissquote Bank Ltd is a bank licensed in Switzerland and supervised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). Eligible deposits benefit from Swiss depositor protection of up to CHF 100'000 per client and bank, subject to the applicable conditions.
Swissquote also provides securities and investment services through the same Swiss banking relationship. Securities held in custody are generally segregated from the bank's bankruptcy estate.
Revolut
For Swiss customers, the Revolut entity providing a service matters.
Revolut states that a Swiss personal account may currently be registered with Revolut Bank UAB or Revolut Ltd. Most eligible deposits held with Revolut Bank UAB are covered by the Lithuanian deposit insurance scheme up to EUR 100'000 per depositor, subject to the scheme's conditions. Customers registered with Revolut Ltd instead hold an e-money account, where funds are subject to safeguarding arrangements rather than the Lithuanian deposit guarantee applicable to Revolut Bank UAB.
Investment services are provided by Revolut Securities Europe UAB, represented in Switzerland by Revolut (Switzerland) AG. Revolut states that these investment services are currently available only to eligible Swiss customers whose personal account is registered with Revolut Bank UAB.
Revolut Securities Europe UAB participates in Lithuania's liabilities-to-investors insurance scheme. Cash and financial instruments held in eligible investment accounts are protected up to EUR 22'000 in the event of the investment firm's liquidation and a failure to protect client assets. This protection does not cover losses caused by market movements.
The important point is not that one regulatory framework can be reduced to a larger or smaller number. Deposit protection and investor compensation protect different things, operate under different legal frameworks and are subject to their respective eligibility rules.
How broad are the investment choices?
Product breadth is one of the clearest differences between the two platforms.
Swissquote provides access to more than 60 markets worldwide, more than 9'000 ETFs and ETNs, more than 20'000 funds, more than 60'000 bonds and nearly one million options and futures. Its broader trading universe also includes cryptocurrencies, structured products, Forex and CFDs.
Beyond individual securities, Swissquote offers several investment solutions built around different ways of accessing the markets. Invest Easy provides predefined investment strategies with automatic investment and reinvestment. Themes Trading provides thematic portfolios through certificates built around sectors, trends and investment themes. Swiss DOTS, its OTC marketplace for leveraged products, provides access to more than 90'000 warrants, knock-out warrants, mini-futures and factor certificates across underlying assets including equities, indices, ETFs, currencies and commodities.
Revolut's Swiss investment offering includes stocks and ETFs for eligible customers, alongside bonds, Flexible Cash Funds and Robo-Advisor portfolios. More than 2'500 stocks are currently available across US and EU markets. Flexible Cash Funds provide access to money market funds, while Robo-Advisor builds and manages diversified portfolios primarily through ETFs according to the investor's objectives and risk profile.
| Area | Swissquote | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | 60+ markets worldwide | 2'500+ stocks, currently US and EU markets |
| ETFs / ETPs | 9'000+ ETFs and ETNs | ETFs and other eligible ETPs available |
| Bonds | 60'000+ bonds | Bonds available to eligible customers |
| Investment funds | 20'000+ funds | Flexible Cash Funds provide access to money market funds |
| Managed / automated investing | Invest Easy predefined strategies with automatic investment and reinvestment | Robo-Advisor managed portfolios |
| Thematic investing | Themes Trading thematic portfolios through certificates | Thematic exposure may be available through eligible stocks and ETFs |
| Options & futures | Nearly one million options and futures | Not part of the standard Swiss investment offering |
| Leveraged products | Swiss DOTS: 90'000+ warrants, knock-out warrants, mini-futures and factor certificates | Not part of the standard Swiss investment offering |
| Forex & CFDs | Dedicated Forex and CFD offering, including around 400 CFDs | Not part of the standard Swiss investment offering |
| Cryptocurrencies | Direct crypto trading and related crypto-asset products | Crypto services available; provider depends on the customer's Revolut entity |
Product availability can change and may depend on residence, eligibility, account type and platform.
Payments, cards and currency exchange may matter most to someone looking for an everyday financial app.
The number of markets, securities and asset classes becomes more relevant as a portfolio becomes broader.
Options, futures, structured products, Forex and other specialist instruments require a different level of platform breadth and experience.
How do the trading fees compare?
Trading costs are about more than headline commissions. The range of markets and instruments available, custody, currency conversion, taxes and third-party charges can all influence the overall cost of investing.
Revolut offers a monthly allowance of commission-free stock and ETP orders depending on the customer's plan. The allowance is one order for Standard, three for Plus, five for Premium and ten for Metal and Ultra.
Outside this allowance, stock and ETP orders are generally charged the greater of 0.25% of the order value or CHF 1 for Standard, Plus, Premium and Metal customers. Ultra customers benefit from a 0.12% commission rate. Trading Pro also offers a 0.12% rate with no minimum commission, subject to its separate subscription and conditions.
Bonds follow a separate pricing structure. They are charged from the first trade at 0.25% of the transaction value or EUR 1, whichever is higher, while Trading Pro applies a 0.12% commission with no minimum. The monthly commission-free trading allowance does not apply to bonds.
Revolut does not charge custody fees on investments. Other costs may nevertheless apply, including regulatory fees, ADR pass-through fees, currency conversion costs and securities transfer fees.
Swissquote uses instrument-specific pricing across its considerably broader range of markets and investment products. Stocks and ETFs start from CHF 3, bonds and selected funds from CHF 9, while options and futures start from CHF/EUR 1.50 per contract. Minimum commissions, stock-exchange fees, stamp duty and other third-party charges may apply depending on the instrument and market.
Some Swissquote investment solutions also benefit from dedicated pricing. Themes Trading and Swiss DOTS currently have a CHF 9 flat transaction fee, excluding applicable third-party fees, stamp duty and real-time fees.
Swissquote charges quarterly custody fees for securities accounts. For private clients, the current schedule is CHF 20 per quarter for assets up to CHF 50'000, CHF 25 up to CHF 100'000, CHF 37.50 up to CHF 150'000 and a maximum of CHF 50 per quarter above CHF 150'000. For assets above CHF 1 million, an additional 0.0075% per quarter applies to cover external safekeeping fees. VAT and specific conditions for certain jurisdictions may also apply.
For investors comparing the two platforms, the relevant question is therefore not simply which has the lowest headline commission, but what they receive for the overall cost. Revolut's commission-free allowance can be attractive for certain trading patterns, while Swissquote's pricing provides access to a much broader investment universe, including international markets, funds, bonds, derivatives, structured products, Forex and CFDs.
Product availability, pricing and conditions may change and can depend on residence, eligibility, account type and platform.
How do the multi-currency features differ?
Both Swissquote and Revolut support multiple currencies, but they integrate them into different broader propositions.
Revolut places a strong emphasis on payments, spending and currency exchange. Customers can hold and exchange more than 30 supported currencies, making the service particularly relevant for travel, international transfers and everyday spending across currencies. Currency exchange costs and allowances vary according to the customer's plan and other applicable conditions.
For investing, currency conversion may also be required when funding an investment account or placing an order, depending on the currency of the transaction. Any applicable conversion costs therefore form part of the overall cost of investing.
Swissquote integrates multi-currency functionality directly into a broader banking, trading and investment relationship. Its Swissquote Account supports 27+ currencies, allowing investors to manage different currency balances alongside their investments within the same banking environment.
This can be particularly relevant for internationally diversified investors. Holding foreign currencies alongside securities can reduce the need to convert funds immediately every time money is invested or received, while investors can decide when to exchange their available currency balances. Swissquote also offers dedicated currency-exchange services, including spot transactions and the ability to set a future exchange rate in advance.
For investors, the practical questions are therefore broader than the number of supported currencies: Which currencies can I hold? Do I need to convert before investing? What does conversion cost? Can I maintain foreign-currency balances alongside my investments? And how often do I expect to exchange money?
The answers can have a meaningful impact on convenience and overall costs, particularly for investors with portfolios spread across several international markets.
What trading tools do Swissquote and Revolut offer?
Revolut's investment experience is centred on its mobile app, combining investing with its broader banking and payment services. Trading features include watchlists, price alerts, limit and stop orders and extended-hours functionality for eligible US-listed securities. Trading Pro adds features such as enhanced portfolio analytics and higher order limits.
Swissquote offers a broader trading environment designed to accommodate different levels of experience and investment activity. Its Securities & Crypto platform, available on web and mobile, combines portfolio management with watchlists, alerts, live quotes, financial news, analysis tools and a customisable Trading Space.
More specialised traders can access dedicated environments including CFXD, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradingView. Depending on the platform, these provide advanced charting and technical analysis, screeners, complex order types, algorithmic trading and strategy-testing capabilities. Swissquote's TradingView integration, for example, provides more than 20 chart types, 400+ pre-built indicators and over 110 drawing tools.
Swissquote also provides direct access to options and futures markets, alongside tools designed specifically for derivatives trading. Its Options Strategy Builder supports multi-leg strategies and provides visualisations of potential profit and loss, breakeven levels and scenario outcomes.
For investors who prioritise simplicity and mobile-first investing, a streamlined interface can be an advantage. For those who want to move across multiple asset classes, international markets and more advanced trading strategies, the depth and choice of trading platforms can become increasingly important.
The appropriate level of complexity ultimately depends on what the investor intends to do: the relevant question is not simply how many tools a platform offers, but whether those tools support the investor's needs as they evolve.
What services are available beyond buying stocks and ETFs?
The comparison changes considerably when looking beyond securities execution.
Revolut combines investing with everyday financial services, including payments, cards, international transfers and foreign exchange. Eligible Swiss customers can also access investment solutions such as Flexible Cash Funds and Robo-Advisor portfolios, alongside stocks and ETFs.
Swissquote combines investing with a broader Swiss banking and wealth-building ecosystem. Beyond trading, clients can access multi-currency banking, debit cards and savings solutions, as well as investment services such as Invest Easy, Saving Plan, Lombard lending, structured products and the Passive Income Plan for securities lending. Swissquote also offers retirement solutions through 3a Easy and mortgage services.
This broader range can become increasingly relevant as an investor's financial needs evolve. Someone primarily looking for payments, currency exchange and occasional investing may value a different set of features from someone looking to build and manage a diversified portfolio, plan for retirement, access financing against investments or combine banking and investing within one relationship.
The relevant question is therefore not only “What can I trade?”, but also “Which financial services might I need alongside my investments over time?”
Which platform might fit different investor needs?
Rather than declaring one platform the winner, it is more useful to consider which features and services match an investor's individual needs.
| Investor need | Features worth comparing |
|---|---|
| Everyday payments and travel | Cards, currency exchange, international transfers, app experience and plan costs |
| Occasional stock or ETF investing | Available securities, commissions, custody fees and recurring investment features |
| International portfolio building | Market coverage, currencies, bonds, funds, ETFs and portfolio-management tools |
| Advanced trading | Options, futures, Forex, CFDs, structured products, order types, analysis tools and market data |
| Long-term investing | Diversification options, recurring investments, managed solutions and access to different asset classes |
| Broader financial planning | Banking integration, retirement solutions, lending, savings and other long-term financial services |
Swissquote may be particularly relevant to investors looking for a more comprehensive investment and trading environment, with access to international markets, multiple asset classes, advanced trading tools and solutions such as Invest Easy, Themes Trading, Swiss DOTS and the Passive Income Plan, alongside Swiss banking, retirement and lending services.
Revolut may be particularly relevant to users who already rely on the app for payments, travel, currency exchange and everyday money management and want to add investing within the same mobile-first experience.
As an investor's needs become more complex, factors such as market access, product breadth, trading tools, multiple currencies and integration with broader banking and investment services may become increasingly important.
Ultimately, these are differences in fit and functionality, not indications that either provider will produce better investment outcomes.
What should you check before choosing an investment platform?
Before opening or transferring an investment account, consider five questions.
First, what will you actually invest in? A platform only needs to offer the products you intend to use, but your needs may evolve.
Second, what will the complete cost be? Include commissions, custody, FX, product costs, taxes, exchange charges and any other fees relevant to your activity.
Third, which legal entity will provide the service? This can affect regulation, deposit protection, investor compensation and product availability.
Fourth, which tools do you genuinely need? A simple interface can be valuable. So can advanced functionality. Complexity should serve a purpose.
Finally, how might your needs change? A platform that fits an occasional investor today may or may not fit a more diversified portfolio later.
“The real question is not how many features a platform offers, but how far it can take you as your financial ambitions evolve.”
Revolut and Swissquote increasingly overlap, particularly in stocks, ETFs and selected investment services. But the two propositions remain different.
Revolut combines everyday financial services and investing in a streamlined app, with plan-based trading allowances and no investment custody fee.
Swissquote combines Swiss banking with a broader multi-asset investment offering, including international securities markets and more specialised instruments and services.
Which matters more depends on the investor.
Someone focused on everyday payments and occasional investing may prioritise simplicity and low fixed costs. Someone building a broader international portfolio may prioritise market coverage, asset-class choice and specialist investment infrastructure.
A fair comparison therefore does not need a universal winner. It needs clear criteria, current information and an understanding of what you expect from your financial platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is Swissquote or Revolut cheaper for investing?
It depends on how and what you invest in. Revolut offers plan-based allowances for commission-free stock and ETP orders and does not charge investment custody fees. Swissquote charges transaction and custody fees while providing access to a much broader range of markets, asset classes and investment solutions. The most meaningful comparison is therefore the total cost in relation to the products, currencies, markets and trading frequency you expect to use.
Is Revolut available for investing in Switzerland?
Yes, although investment services are not currently available to every Swiss Revolut customer. Eligibility depends on the Revolut entity with which the customer's retail account is registered. For eligible customers, investment services are provided by Revolut Securities Europe UAB, represented in Switzerland by Revolut (Switzerland) AG.
Is Swissquote a Swiss bank?
Yes. Swissquote Bank Ltd is a Swiss bank licensed and supervised by FINMA. Eligible deposits benefit from Swiss depositor protection of up to CHF 100'000 per client and bank, subject to the applicable conditions.
Does Revolut offer bonds in Switzerland?
Yes, bonds are available to eligible Swiss investment customers. They have a separate commission structure and are not included in Revolut's plan-based monthly commission-free trading allowances. Availability depends on the customer's eligibility for Revolut investment services.
Which platform offers more investment products?
Swissquote offers a substantially broader investment universe, spanning international stock markets, ETFs and ETNs, funds, bonds, cryptocurrencies, structured products, options and futures, Forex and CFDs. It also provides specialised solutions such as Invest Easy, Themes Trading and Swiss DOTS. Swissquote's options and futures offering alone provides direct access to nearly one million derivatives, while Swiss DOTS includes more than 90'000 leveraged products.
Revolut offers a more focused investment range for eligible Swiss customers, including 2'500+ US and EU stocks, ETFs and other ETPs, bonds, Flexible Cash Funds and Robo-Advisor portfolios.
The content in this article is provided for educational and marketing purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or financial recommendations.
