How to choose a Taiwan stock account? This article compares transaction fees, platforms, and promotions. For ETF account opening recommendations, check out this article.

Looking to invest in Taiwan stocks but don’t know where to start? With dozens of brokerages on the market, the sheer number of fee discounts can be overwhelming. But honestly, commissions are just one part of opening an account. How easy the trading platform is to use, whether customer service is reliable, and if there are suitable ETF account opening promotions are often the key factors that determine your long-term investment experience.

How to Choose a Taiwan Broker: Three Key Points at a Glance

Transparency in Fees, but don’t be fooled by low discounts

Taiwan brokerages have a variety of fee structures—some use fixed discounts, others tiered pricing. The larger your trading volume, the bigger the discount—this is standard in the industry. There are also extra perks for odd-lot trading and regular fixed investments, which can save small investors a lot of money. But don’t forget hidden costs: taxes, platform fees, and other seemingly minor expenses that can add up over time and eat into your profits.

Is the app user-friendly? It determines whether you’ll trade often

Even with low commissions, if the trading software is laggy or the interface is confusing, it’s a problem. A good app should have: a simple and intuitive order placement interface, comprehensive technical charts and financial reports, real-time push notifications, and one-click trading. These features may seem minor, but they really impact your ability to seize investment opportunities.

Customer service and risk education are essential

Beginners will inevitably encounter issues during investing. 24/7 online customer support, physical branches, and demo trading features are worth considering. Especially demo trading, which allows you to practice without risking real money—this is particularly helpful for beginners to get started.

Comparison of Major Taiwan Brokers: Top 10 by Market Share

According to data from the Taiwan Stock Exchange, here are the top ten brokers by trading volume and their basic info:

Frequent traders with larger amounts may negotiate even better discounts with their account managers.

ETF Account Opening Promotions: Fixed vs. Regular Investment Discounts

Many brokerages now offer exclusive promotions for regular fixed investments, ideal for those seeking steady ETF growth. Here are some competitive plans:

Low-threshold, diversified risk, and steady growth make ETF regular investment a popular choice for beginners. These promotions can further reduce your investment costs.

Three Ways to Invest in US Stocks: Custodian, Overseas Broker, CFD

First Way: Custodian (Most convenient but higher cost)

Place orders through a local Taiwan broker who then delegates to a US partner broker. Advantages include Chinese customer support and safer fund transfers within Taiwan; disadvantages are higher commissions (due to middlemen), slower trading speeds, and limited tradable instruments.

Custodian fee comparison (mainstream Taiwan brokers):

• Yuanta: 0.5%-1%, min US$35
• KGI: 0.5%, min US$39.9
• Cathay: 0.35%, min US$29
• E.SUN: 0.5%-1%, min US$35
• Fubon: 0.25%, min US$25
• Quanta: 0.2%, min US$3
• Yuanta FHC: 0.5%, min US$35
• Mega: 0.4%, min US$1

Second Way: Open an overseas account directly (Lowest cost but requires self-exploration)

Open accounts directly with overseas brokers like TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, Firstrade, or Interactive Brokers. No commissions, widest investment choices, fast execution, but need to handle wire transfers (~NT$600-1000 each time), deal with English interfaces, and face higher learning curve.

Third Way: CFD (Preferred for short-term trading)

CFD is a financial derivative similar to futures but more flexible, with smaller contract sizes. No commission, low spreads, starting from US$50 to open a position, but high leverage risk—suitable for experienced traders.

For small investors or short-term traders, Mitrade is worth trying—app is simple and intuitive, offers over 300 US stocks, HK stocks, Australian stocks, indices, etc., with zero trading commissions, low minimum deposit, and a new account bonus of up to US$100.

Quick FAQs on Opening Accounts

Q: How much money do I need to open an account?

Local Taiwan securities accounts usually have no minimum capital requirement, but beginners are advised to prepare NT$5,000-10,000 as initial capital. Odd-lot trading only requires the stock’s market price (e.g., NT$100 stock needs NT$100). For US stocks, most overseas brokers have low or no minimum deposit requirements, but withdrawals may incur US$10-25 fees.

Q: Is online account opening safe?

Licensed brokers use encryption to protect personal data, are strictly regulated by law, and online account opening is relatively safe. Just choose licensed and regulated brokers.

Q: What hidden fees should I watch out for?

Transaction commissions, stamp duty, bank transfer fees, account management fees, etc., should be clarified beforehand. Some deposits and withdrawals, especially international wire transfers, may also incur charges.