How to choose US stock investments in 2025? 5 major international platforms vs. 5 Taiwanese brokers, a complete analysis of fees & account opening

Looking to invest in US stocks but unsure which platform to start with? This comprehensive comparison will help clarify your options.

First, look at Taiwan local brokerages’ US stock repurchase and entrustment plans

If you’re used to operating on familiar platforms, Taiwan brokerages’ repurchase and entrustment services are a safe choice. Simply put, they place orders with foreign brokers on your behalf.

For small investors: Capital Securities and Fubon Securities have the most friendly fees, especially for small trades. If you want to invest regularly and long-term, Capital’s 0.16% fixed rate is the lowest.

International platform overview: choose big platforms or rising stars?

International brokers offer a wide variety of products and flexible fees, but you need to pay attention to fund safety and regulatory credentials.

Major platform: InteractiveBrokers (IBKR)

Trading costs: $0.005 per share (fixed) or $0.0005–$0.0035 (tiered), suitable for high-volume trading

Suitable for: Experienced traders, large capital investors

Disadvantages: Complex platform, difficult for beginners, relatively expensive for small trades

Founded in 1977, IBKR supports accounts in multiple countries, with no minimum deposit, but margin accounts require a $2,000 deposit. Trades stocks, ETFs, options, futures, forex, and more, covering markets in UK, Germany, Japan, Korea, etc.

Rising star: Mitrade

Trading costs: 0 commission, floating spreads as low as 0.01, starting from 0.01 lot for US stocks

Minimum deposit: Only $50, can open positions with 0.01 lot

Leverage options: 1-200x adjustable, high leverage for small investments

Suitable for: Small investors, beginners, diversified asset allocation

Mitrade was established in 2011, regulated by ASIC and CySEC. Besides US stocks, it covers indices, forex, gold, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, etc. It has a large user base in Taiwan, with Chinese customer support available 24/5. New users get demo funds and up to $3,000 bonus.

Withdrawal policy: For total deposits under $10,000, one free withdrawal per month; over $10,000, two free withdrawals per month.

Traditional brokers: SogoTrade, Firstrade, Fidelity

SogoTrade

• Founded in 1986, offers Chinese language support
• Trading fee: $2.88 per trade under 100 shares; free for orders over $2,000
• Disadvantage: Higher costs for small trades, recent risk of scam websites

Firstrade

• Founded in 1985, Chinese app available but no real-time online support
• Trading fee: Completely commission-free
• Disadvantage: Quote delays, hidden PFOF costs, slow customer service

Fidelity

• Founded in 1946, globally renowned
• In Taiwan, only funds can be purchased; cannot open accounts for US stock trading
• Margin interest rates: up to 5.5%-9.825%

How should you choose? Core comparison guide

Funds < $5,000 → Mitrade is the best choice, with 0 fees + starting at $50 + low spreads

Funds $5,000–$50,000 → Either Capital Securities repurchase/entrustment (0.2% fee, minimum $3) or Mitrade, depending on whether you prefer domestic or international platforms

Funds > $50,000 → InteractiveBrokers with tiered fees, lower costs as trading volume increases; or choose the platform with the lowest fees among Taiwan local brokerages

Want CFD leverage trading? → Only Mitrade offers this, with up to 200x leverage adjustable, but beware of risks

Practical account opening: take Mitrade as an example, done in 3 steps

Step 1: Register an account

• Fill in email, set password, choose base currency (USD/AUD/EUR, etc.)
• Or log in quickly via Facebook/Google
• Upon registration, get a $50,000 demo account to familiarize yourself risk-free

Step 2: Upgrade to a real account

• Complete personal info: country of residence, ID documents, date of birth, phone number
• Pass KYC verification (Mitrade’s Chinese support can assist anytime)
• Choose deposit method: Skrill, Poli, Visa, MasterCard, or wire transfer

Step 3: Start investing

• The platform offers nearly 400 financial products
• Select assets, set take profit/stop loss, place orders

The real costs of US stock investing you need to know

Account opening fees: All legitimate institutions are free; beware of scams

Purchase costs:

• Traditional stocks: buy share by share, e.g., Facebook currently $631/share
• CFD contracts: use margin + leverage to control large assets with small capital

Hidden costs of CFDs:

1. Spread: buy-sell difference, Mitrade’s spreads are relatively low in the industry
2. Commission: percentage of trade amount or fixed; Mitrade charges no commission
3. Overnight fee: incurred when holding positions overnight, formula = lots × contract units × opening price × overnight rate%

For example, in Mitrade gold, as of 2025-11-11, overnight fee is buy -0.0168%, sell -0.014%

5 core standards for choosing a US stock platform

1. Fund safety first

Check if regulated by ASIC, FINRA, SIPC, etc. Once the broker fails, investor assets are protected.

2. Variety of trading products

Different platforms have different trading scopes; some restrict options, prohibit short selling. Confirm on official sites beforehand.

3. Fees + hidden costs

Most charge per trade or per share, with little difference. Focus on whether there are other fee traps.

4. Chinese language support

Language barriers can cause trouble; ensure the platform has Chinese customer service and interface.

5. Deposit and withdrawal speed

Fast fund transfers directly impact trading efficiency and capital turnover.

Built-in tools to help you invest smarter

Good US stock platforms provide practical tools:

• Trading strategies: professional fundamental + technical analysis for scientific planning
• Market insights: industry experts’ short- and medium-term views, tracking market sentiment
• Economic calendar: highlights important data, market holidays, speeches, etc., with importance levels
• Real-time news: feeds in forex, commodities, crypto, indices, technical analysis, etc.
• Live quotes: zero-latency chart tools, multiple timeframes showing price movements
• Sentiment index: shows market long/short positions, judging market attitude
• Risk management: take profit/stop loss + trailing stop, automatically lock in profits or cut losses

Summary: How to make decisions without regrets

First step: Ask yourself 3 questions

• Am I a beginner or experienced trader?
• How much funds do I have available?
• Do I want high leverage or a conservative strategy?

Second step: Match your choice to your funds

• Less than $5,000 → Mitrade
• $5,000–$50,000 → Domestic broker or Mitrade
• Over $50,000 → InteractiveBrokers or the best fee option among local brokers

Third step: Confirm before opening an account at a legitimate platform

• Fully regulated
• Chinese language support available
• Supports NT$ deposits and withdrawals

Investing abroad is not as familiar as investing in your home country stocks. Choosing the wrong platform can affect costs and safety. Between big platforms and rising stars, small investors often find that new platforms are more advantageous due to simpler interfaces, lower fees, and flexible leverage. The key is to assess your actual needs and risk tolerance, then make a rational choice.