2025 US Stock Trading Platform Selection Guide: Essential Broker Fees and Choice Options for Taiwanese Investors

Three Fundamental Concepts Before Starting US Stock Investment

Taiwanese investors aiming to invest in US stocks in 2025 face a common question: which US stock trading platform should I choose? The myriad options on the market can often be overwhelming. Instead of blindly comparing, it’s better to first understand your own investment needs.

First, investors need to honestly answer three questions:

1. What is the size of my investment capital? Am I testing with a small amount or making a large investment?
2. What are my requirements for the platform’s usability? Do I need Chinese language support?
3. Am I most concerned about trading costs, platform features, or capital liquidity?

The answers to these questions will directly determine which US stock trading platform is most suitable for you. Next, we will start from practical considerations to help clarify your thinking.

Five Key Criteria for Choosing US Stock Investment Platforms

Before selecting a US stock trading platform, investors should focus on the following dimensions:

Regulatory Security — Ensure that your funds are protected from platform risks. Legitimate US stock trading platforms should be regulated by authorities such as FINRA, SIPC, ASIC, etc. If the platform goes bankrupt, these regulators will safeguard investors’ assets.

Range of Trading Products — Different platforms support different investment products. Some only offer stocks and ETFs, while others support options, futures, forex, and derivatives. If you have specific needs (like short selling or options strategies), confirm whether the platform supports them in advance.

Transparency of Fee Structure — Costs such as trading commissions, withdrawal fees, overnight fees vary greatly. Some platforms advertise “zero commissions” but charge spreads or other hidden fees. Investors must fully understand the fee composition.

Service Availability — Language support, customer service hours, and platform stability directly impact your trading experience. For Taiwanese investors, Chinese language support and local customer service are especially important.

Capital Liquidity Efficiency — Factors like deposit/withdrawal speed, supported remittance methods, and minimum deposit requirements influence your investment efficiency.

Comparison of Domestic Taiwanese Brokers’ Sub-Account Schemes

Many Taiwanese investors prefer to use local brokers for “sub-account” trading, where a Taiwanese broker places orders on behalf of clients through foreign brokers. The advantage is familiarity with local service environments; the disadvantage is often higher fees.

Yuanta Securities (founded 1961) has branches across Taiwan. The US stock sub-account fee is 0.5% to 1% of the transaction amount, with a minimum fee of US$35. For large transactions, this rate is relatively reasonable.

Fubon Securities (established 1988) offers a 0.25% fee with no minimum charge. Supports linkage with over 40 banks, making deposits and withdrawals quite convenient, suitable for medium-sized investors.

KGI Securities (founded 1988) integrates accounts for Taiwan stocks, overseas stocks, funds, etc., with simplified account opening. US stock sub-account fees are 0.5% to 1%, with a minimum of US$39.9.

Fubon Securities (founded 1988) charges 0.2% with a minimum fee of $35 , making it highly competitive among local brokers. Also supports sub-accounts and linkage with multiple banks.

Mega International Commercial Bank Securities (founded 1989) uses a unique pricing model of US$0.1 per share, with a minimum of US$1 per transaction. This is cost-effective for frequent small trades.

Comprehensive Evaluation of International US Stock Platforms

Besides local sub-accounts, opening accounts directly on international US stock platforms is also popular among Taiwanese investors. These platforms often feature lower fees, richer trading varieties, and more powerful tools.

Interactive Brokers: Professional Investor’s Choice

Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a veteran in the industry. It supports account opening worldwide, including Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, etc.

Fee Structure: Offers two models—fixed at $0.005 per share or tiered based on monthly trading volume (from $0.0035 to $0.0005). Margin accounts require a minimum balance of US$2,000.

Platform Advantages: Powerful features, extensive product range (stocks, ETFs, options, futures, forex, funds), ideal for cross-market arbitrage and complex strategies. Supports trading in multiple countries’ stocks including US, Germany, Japan, Korea, etc.

Disadvantages: Complex interface, steep learning curve for beginners; higher costs for small trades; requires learning detailed platform operation.

Mitrade: Friendly for Small Investors

Unlike IBKR’s professional focus, Mitrade (founded 2011) emphasizes ease of use and low entry barriers. It has a large user base in Taiwan, Australia, Vietnam, and more.

Cost Advantages: Zero commissions, spreads as low as 0.01, no hidden trading fees.

Low Deposit Requirement: Only US$50 needed to start trading, ideal for small capital investors. Supports NTD deposits/withdrawals, with free withdrawal options based on total deposits.

Platform Features: Over 400 trading products (stocks, indices, forex, gold, cryptocurrencies, ETFs), leverage from 1x to 200x. Intuitive interface, 24/5 Chinese customer support.

Considerations: Demo accounts valid for only 3 months; CFD trading involves leverage risk; use cautiously.

SogoTrade: Large Capital Trading Focus

Founded in 1986, SogoTrade is known for large capital trading optimization. Fees are $2.88 per trade (under 100 shares), or free if order principal exceeds US$2,000.

This fee structure favors large traders but is costly for small investors. Account opening promotions are often attractive, serving as a key way to attract new users.

Note: Beware of recent scam phishing sites; always verify official channels when opening accounts.

Firstrade: Quick Entry Option

Founded in 1985, Firstrade offers commission-free trading, no minimum deposit, and no minimum account balance. The account opening process is straightforward.

Advantages: Low trading costs, Chinese app support, some customer service support.

Disadvantages: Possible quote delays; PFOF (payment for order flow) costs behind free trades; slower customer service response; time zone issues with Chinese support; cannot open accounts in Taiwan directly, need other methods.

Fidelity: Institutional-Level Service

Founded in 1946, Fidelity targets professional and high-net-worth investors. Only supports trading in Taiwan, no direct account opening.

Advantages: No commissions for individual investors, free stock and ETF trading.

Disadvantages: Margin interest rates as high as 5.5% to 9.825%; no US stock account opening in Taiwan, mainly limited to fund trading.

Quick Comparison Table of US Stock Platforms

Practical Guide to Opening an Account

Taking Mitrade as an example, the account opening process is completed in three steps, entirely online without visiting a physical location:

Step 1: Create an Account
Visit the official website and click “Create Account,” fill in email, set password, choose base currency (USD, AUD, etc.). You can also log in quickly via Facebook or Google.

After this step, the system automatically opens a demo account with US$50,000 virtual funds for practice. The demo environment is identical to real trading, suitable for beginners to familiarize themselves with features and test strategies.

When ready for real trading, complete your account info, including country of residence, real name, ID type and number, date of birth, contact number, etc. All information must be truthful.

Submit for KYC verification. Customer support in Chinese is available to assist with any issues.

Step 2: Deposit Funds
Supports multiple deposit methods: Skrill, Poli, Visa, MasterCard, bank wire transfer. NTD deposits/withdrawals are supported, very convenient.

Step 3: Start Trading
The platform offers nearly 400 financial products, including global stocks, major indices, forex pairs, precious metals, energy commodities, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, etc.

Breakdown of Actual Costs in US Stock Investment

Many beginner investors misunderstand the costs of opening a US stock account, thinking they need to pay large fees. The fact is: opening a US stock account at a licensed financial institution is completely free.

The real costs come from trading itself. The minimum trading unit in US stocks is 1 share, far lower than the 1000-share lot in Taiwan stocks. For example, a tech stock priced at US$631 requires paying US$631 for 1 share (without leverage).

CFD trading opens a new door for small investors. Using margin and leverage, you can participate in US stocks, indices, gold, forex, and more with less capital.

CFD costs mainly include three components:

Spread: The difference between buy and sell prices. Buy price is usually slightly higher than sell. Spreads widen with larger trade sizes and are the main cost in CFD trading. Platforms like Mitrade offer relatively low spreads.

Commission: A percentage of the trade amount or fixed fee. Mitrade’s advantage is zero commission.

Overnight Fee: Charged when holding positions overnight, calculated as: trade size × contract units per lot × opening price × daily overnight percentage. For gold, overnight buy fee might be -0.0168%, sell fee -0.014%.

Core Toolbox of US Stock Trading Platforms

Modern platforms provide far more tools than traditional brokers. For example, Mitrade offers:

Trading Strategy Module: Based on fundamental and technical analysis, predicting market trends to help plan phased operations.

Market View Column: Aggregates expert opinions on hot assets for short- and medium-term outlooks, reflecting market sentiment.

Economic Calendar: Highlights key events affecting prices—data releases, holidays, central bank speeches—and grades their importance.

Real-Time News Feed: Covers forex, commodities, crypto, indices, technical analysis, economic health, geopolitical issues, ensuring investors stay updated.

Real-Time Quotes and Charts: Supports lag-free price tracking, with various timeframes of candlestick charts for precise trend analysis.

Market Sentiment Index: Shows the proportion of long vs. short positions, helping gauge market attitude.

Risk Management Tools: Includes take profit/stop loss and trailing stop. Trailing stops automatically adjust as profits grow, protecting gains without constant monitoring.

How to Choose the Most Suitable US Stock Trading Platform

For well-funded professional investors: IBKR’s extensive product range, support for complex strategies, and global market coverage make it the top choice. Although steep learning curve, its comprehensive features are unmatched.

For small investors new to the market: Mitrade, starting at US$50, with zero commissions and full Chinese support, is an ideal entry platform. Its user-friendly interface and quality customer service stand out.

For beginners seeking quick start: Firstrade’s zero-commission, no minimum deposit model is simple and easy to begin trading.

For Taiwanese investors prioritizing local support: Using local brokers for sub-accounts (like KGI or Fubon) offers higher fees but provides familiar support and security.

Summary of selection points: Clearly define your capital size, trading frequency, investment strategies, and risk tolerance, then compare and weigh the options above. There is no absolute “best platform,” only the “most suitable platform.”

Investing abroad differs from domestic stocks; reliance on brokers is higher. Before your first trade, fully understand the platform’s operation, fee details, and regulation background. Choose carefully to make your US stock investment journey smoother.