2025 Comparison of US Stock Brokerage Trading Platforms! Review of Platforms for Buying US Stocks in Taiwan and Recommendations for Sub-delegation

In recent years, I have seen more and more Taiwanese investors turn their attention to overseas markets, especially the US stock market. However, just as buying Taiwanese stocks requires finding a Taiwanese brokerage, entering the US stock market also requires choosing the right brokerage platform. Here, I will share how to select a suitable US brokerage and trading platform, as well as the feasible options available for Taiwanese investors.

How to Choose a U.S. Stock Broker and Trading Platform

There are many US stock brokerage platforms available in the market, but before choosing, ask yourself: Am I a beginner? How much capital do I have? Do I need mobile convenience? After determining your investment goals and style, you can refer to these standards:

1. The security of US stock brokerage firms

When investing overseas, the first consideration should be the safety of funds. Check whether the broker is regulated by formal regulatory bodies such as Australia's ASIC, the US FINRA, and SIPC. Brokers regulated by these institutions can provide a certain level of protection for investors' assets even in the event of bankruptcy.

2. Trading varieties

Different brokers offer varying trading products; some restrict options combinations while others prohibit short selling. This may not be flexible enough for investors looking to hedge risks or for experienced traders.

3. Brokerage fees and promotional activities

Most brokerages charge a fee per trade for U.S. stock transactions, and some charge based on the number of shares traded. In addition to the basic fees, it's important to check for any additional fees and whether there are promotional activities that can help save costs.

4. Does it support Chinese services?

Language often leads to unnecessary trouble. Now many US stock brokers provide full Chinese services, which is very friendly for Taiwanese investors.

5. Fund Arrival Speed

The efficiency of capital turnover is very important for trading, and the speed of deposits, withdrawals, and transaction transfers directly affects our trading experience.

A Comprehensive Comparison of U.S. Stock Brokerage Trading Platforms

I have selected 5 larger and more well-known US stock brokerage platforms for everyone, and compared them based on trading fees, withdrawal fees, security, and types of trades:

Recommended Brokerage Trading Platforms for US Stocks in 2025

1. InteractiveBrokers (盈透證券)

Is there Chinese service: Yes, but there are no physical stores in Taiwan.

Transaction Fee: ◾ Fixed type $0.005 per share ◾ Tiered $0.0005 - $0.0035 per share

Advantages: ◾ The platform has powerful features, suitable for experienced traders. ◾ Large capital transactions are more cost-effective ◾ A rich variety of investment products, suitable for diverse traders.

Disadvantages: ◾ The platform is complex to operate, making it difficult for newcomers to get started. ◾ The trading fee cost for small capital is relatively high.

E*TRADE was established in 1977, with a minimum deposit requirement of $0. I think it is most suitable for large capital traders, as the larger the trading volume, the more cost-effective the per-share fee. However, the platform's operation is relatively complex, which may make it difficult for beginners to get started.

2. Mitrade

Is there Chinese service: Yes, there is local customer service in Taiwan.

Transaction Fee: ◾ 0 transaction fee ◾ Floating spreads can be as low as 0.01

Advantages: ◾ The interface is simple and easy to use, friendly for beginners. ◾ Low transaction costs for small amounts, suitable for small investors. ◾ Open a position in US stocks with 0.01 lots, leverage adjustable from 1-200x. ◾ A wide variety of trading options, suitable for diversified investment.

Disadvantages: The validity period of the simulated trading account is 3 months.

I believe that Mitrade is the easiest small-cap US stock investment platform for newcomers, and it has a large user base in Taiwan. It does not charge any fees and allows opening positions with as little as 0.01 lots, making it suitable for small investments. It offers contract for difference trading, which provides the opportunity for higher returns compared to traditional stock investments, but one must also be aware of the risks associated with leverage.

3. SogoTrade

Is there Chinese service: Yes

Transaction Fees: ◾ For less than 100 shares, it is统一为每笔2.88美元 ◾ Each share order principal exceeds $2,000, 0 commission

Advantages: The trading fees for small and medium-sized retail investors are relatively high, making it more suitable for large capital trades.

Note: Recently, there are phishing scam websites.

SogoTrade was established in 1986, with a minimum deposit threshold of $0. The account opening benefits are substantial, but the trading fees are not very cost-effective for small investors.

4. Firstrade (第一證券)

Is there Chinese service: Yes, but there is no Chinese instant online customer service.

Transaction Fee: ◾ No commission ◾ A withdrawal fee of 25 USD will be charged.

Advantages: suitable for novice investors who want to quickly get started with trading

Disadvantages: ◾ There may be delays in quoting. ◾ Although there are no commissions, it is important to pay attention to the hidden costs of PFOF. ◾ Some users have reported that the customer service response time is slow.

Firstrade was established in 1985, has no deposit threshold, no minimum account balance, and no commission fees. However, I found that its Chinese customer service operates on Eastern Time in the United States, which can create time zone issues.

5. Fidelity

Advantages: ◾ Individual investors commission-free ◾ More suitable for Taiwanese traders who have registered accounts in other countries or regions.

Disadvantages: ◾ Only trading is supported in Taiwan, account opening is not available. ◾ High financing interest rate

Fidelity was founded in 1946, has no minimum deposit threshold, no minimum account balance, and charges no commission. However, in Taiwan, only mutual funds can be purchased, and account opening is not supported, which is really inconvenient.

Local US Stock Brokers and Trading Platforms for Buying US Stocks in Taiwan

Buying US stocks through Taiwanese brokerages is called a sub-brokerage, where Taiwanese brokerages entrust foreign brokerages to help us purchase stocks or ETFs. I have compiled a list of five Taiwanese brokerages that offer sub-brokerage services:

◆ Yuanta Securities

Founded in 1961, one of the oldest brokerage firms in Taiwan, with the most business locations. The commission fee for US stock agency trading is 0.5% to 1% of the transaction amount, with a minimum fee of 35 USD.

◆ Fubon Securities

Founded in 1988, supports over 40 banks as binding deposit and withdrawal accounts. The trading fee for US stocks is 0.25%, with no minimum.

◆ KGI Securities

Founded in 1988, it integrates three types of accounts: Taiwan stocks, overseas stocks, and funds into one. The commission fee for U.S. stock entrusted trading is 0.5% to 1%, with a minimum fee of 39.9 USD.

◆ Yuanta Securities

Founded in 1988, supports sub-accounts, and can bind multiple banks as deposit and withdrawal accounts. The fee for US stock agency transactions is 0.2%, with a minimum of 3 USD.

◆ Mega International Commercial Bank

Founded in 1989, the U.S. stock trading pioneered a commission fee of $0.1 per share, with a minimum fee of $1 per transaction.

I personally think that the fees of Yuanta Securities are the most reasonable and more friendly to small investors.

How much startup capital is needed for investing in US stocks?

Many people mistakenly believe that opening a US stock account requires a lot of fees, but in fact, opening a US stock account at a legitimate financial institution is usually free.

The minimum trading unit for US stocks is 1 share. Taking Facebook as an example, the current stock price is $256. If no margin is used, you need to actually pay $256 to trade one share.

Now, in addition to traditional stock trading, you can also invest in US stocks through contracts for difference (CFDs). CFDs use margin and leverage mechanisms for trading, allowing you to start trading with a smaller capital. However, I must remind you that while leverage can amplify profits, it can also amplify risks, so it must be used with caution.

The trading costs of contracts for difference mainly include the spread, commission, and overnight fees. Mitrade does not charge any commission, only the spread and overnight fees.

What tools does the US stock brokerage trading platform provide?

Modern US stock brokerage platforms offer a variety of useful tools to help analyze market trends. Taking Mitrade as an example, it provides:

• Trading Strategy: Based on recent trends, forecast future trends through fundamental and technical analysis.
• Trading Perspective: Industry experts' short to medium-term views on popular assets
• Economic Calendar: Highlights important events that may affect prices
• Real-time news: covering various information on foreign exchange, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and more.
• Real-time quotes: No delay in quotes and various charting tools
• Sentiment Index: Market Bear and Bull Ratio Situation
• Risk Management: Provides Take Profit/Stop Loss and Trailing Stop Loss functions

Summary

When choosing a US stock brokerage, you first need to determine your own needs and investment style, and then comprehensively consider the services, fees, and safety of different brokerages. For overseas investments, we can only rely on brokerages, so Taiwanese investors must consider thoroughly and choose carefully before buying US stocks.

In my opinion, for beginners and small investors, both Mitrade and Firstrade are good options; for experienced large capital investors, Interactive Brokers may be more suitable. If you want to go through a local brokerage in Taiwan for entrusted trading, then the fees of Yuanta and Mega are relatively friendly.

No matter which platform you choose, remember to do your homework first, understand the various fees and service contents clearly, and you will be able to find the most suitable US stock trading platform for yourself.