2025 Taiwan Investors' Must-Read Guide to Buying US Stocks | Platform Selection, Fee Benchmarking, Account Opening Process Explained

Why Is It Essential to Know How to Buy US Stocks in This Era?

The US stock market has become the most关注ed overseas asset allocation option for Taiwanese investors. Compared to other markets, US stocks offer advantages such as high liquidity, diverse varieties, and transparent trading. However, to profit in the US stock market, the first threshold is choosing a suitable platform for buying US stocks — this not only affects your trading costs but also directly relates to fund safety and investment experience.

How to Choose a US Stock Platform? Five Core Considerations

Faced with numerous US stock platforms, investors can easily fall into decision paralysis. In fact, by focusing on these five core dimensions, you can quickly find the platform that best suits you.

Primary Consideration: Fund Security and Regulatory Qualifications

The first lesson of overseas investment is to clarify who holds your money. The most direct way to judge whether a platform for buying US stocks is reliable is to see if it is recognized by authoritative regulatory agencies. Internationally recognized regulators include the US FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation), Australian ASIC, and others.

Platforms regulated by these agencies, even in extreme situations (such as broker insolvency), will have investor assets protected by law. This is a safeguard that no other factor can replace.

Are the Trading Instruments in Line with Your Investment Plan?

Different platforms support different trading instruments. Some restrict options strategies, prohibit short selling, or limit cryptocurrency trading. Before opening an account, be sure to confirm on the platform’s official website whether they support your planned trading strategies.

Cost Structure Directly Impacts Final Returns

Trading fees may seem like small figures, but over the long term, they can significantly affect your yield. Most US stock platforms charge per trade, with some charging per share. Besides basic commissions, watch out for hidden costs such as extra charges after exceeding share limits, withdrawal fees, overnight holding fees, etc.

Additionally, many platforms regularly offer account opening bonuses and rebate activities. Proper utilization can greatly reduce actual trading costs.

Chinese Customer Service and Language Friendliness

Poor language communication often leads to trading errors or inability to resolve issues promptly. Many platforms offer Chinese services, but distinctions exist — some only have Chinese websites with support in English; others provide 24/7 Chinese customer support. For novice investors, choosing a platform with local Chinese support can reduce unnecessary trouble.

Fund Flow Speed Affects Trading Efficiency

All operations—from deposits, withdrawals, to transfers—must go through the US stock platform. The faster the platform processes funds, the higher your fund turnover efficiency. Slow fund arrivals not only cause missed trading opportunities but may also lead to liquidity crises.

In-Depth Comparison of Mainstream US Stock Platforms

Based on the five core indicators above, here is a comparison table of five of the largest and most reputable US stock platforms:

*Under 100 shares per trade: $2.88; orders over $2,000 in principal are commission-free

Detailed Explanation of the Five Mainstream US Stock Platforms

InteractiveBrokers: The First Choice for Professional Traders

Platform Positioning: Powerful features, rich varieties, suitable for experienced traders and large capital investors

Founded: 1977, with 47 years of history, supporting accounts in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, etc.

Minimum Deposit: Starting from $0, but margin accounts require at least $2,000

Trading Cost Structure:

• Fixed: $0.005 per share
• Tiered: Lower per-share fees with higher monthly trading volume ($0.0005–$0.0035)

Chinese Support: Offers Chinese customer service

Platform Advantages:

• Most diverse trading instruments, including stocks, ETFs, options, futures, forex, funds
• Covers major global markets like US, UK, Germany, Japan, Korea
• Tiered fee structure suitable for high-frequency traders, more volume equals lower costs
• Preferred by institutional investors

Platform Disadvantages:

• Complex interface, steep learning curve, takes time for beginners
• Higher costs for small trades
• Complex fee calculations may cause confusion

Suitable For: Experienced investors, large-volume traders, professionals needing multiple hedging instruments

Mitrade: Friendly Choice for Small Investors and Beginners

Platform Positioning: Simple interface, low costs, beginner-friendly US stock platform

Founded: 2011, serving millions worldwide, supporting accounts in Taiwan, Australia, Vietnam, Thailand

Regulatory Qualifications: Licensed by CIMA (SIB license 1612446), ASIC (AFSL license 398528)

Minimum Deposit: Starting from $50, supports TWD deposits/withdrawals

Cost Structure:

• No commission
• Variable spreads, as low as 0.01
• Can open positions with 0.01 lot, leverage adjustable from 1-200x

Chinese Support: 24/5 full Chinese customer service, local Taiwanese team

Withdrawal Policy (2024 latest):

• Total deposits < $10,000: 1 free withdrawal per month, subsequent withdrawals cost $5
• Total deposits ≥ $10,000: 2 free withdrawals per month, subsequent withdrawals cost $5

Platform Advantages:

• Zero commission trading, very low costs
• Lowest entry threshold, start with $50
• Supports TWD deposits/withdrawals, avoiding currency conversion losses
• User-friendly interface, simple operation, ideal for beginners
• Rich trading instruments: stocks, ETFs, forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, gold
• Offers CFD trading, flexible leverage, suitable for small amounts seeking high returns
• Free demo account (with $50,000 virtual funds), risk-free platform familiarization

Platform Disadvantages:

• Demo account valid for only 3 months
• Based on CFD operations, requires understanding leverage risks

Suitable For: Newcomers to US stocks, small investors, quick learners

SogoTrade: Account Opening Promotions but Higher Fees

Founded: 1986, supporting accounts in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore

Minimum Deposit: $0

Cost Structure:

• Under 100 shares: $2.88 per trade
• Orders over $2,000 principal: commission-free

Chinese Support: Available

Platform Features: Usually offers large sign-up bonuses

Platform Advantages:

• Attractive sign-up bonuses, appealing to new customers
• Trading instruments include stocks, ETFs, options, cryptocurrencies

Platform Disadvantages:

• Higher costs for small trades ($2.88 per trade)
• Recent risks of phishing scam sites, verify official website before opening

Suitable For: Large-volume traders (orders > $2,000), those valuing sign-up rewards

Firstrade: Zero-Commission Quick Entry Solution

Founded: 1985, supporting accounts in Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore

Minimum Deposit: $0, no minimum account balance

Trading Fees: Completely commission-free

Withdrawal Fee: $25

Chinese Support: Available via app and basic resources, but no live online Chinese customer service

Platform Advantages:

• No minimum deposit, zero commissions, low trading costs
• Supports US stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds
• Friendly for quick onboarding

Platform Disadvantages:

• Quotes may have delays
• Despite zero commissions, watch for hidden PFOF costs
• Slower Chinese support response, time zone issues
• Chinese support only during US Eastern working hours

Suitable For: Beginners seeking quick entry, cost-conscious investors

Fidelity: Extended Choice for International Account Holders

Founded: 1946, one of the largest asset management firms globally

Account Opening Restrictions: Supports account opening in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore; Taiwan only allows trading, not opening accounts

Key Limitation: Taiwanese investors can only buy funds, not open US stock accounts

Trading Fees: No commissions for individual investors

Platform Advantages:

• Free trading of stocks and ETFs
• No regular fees (e.g., phone, brokerage service fees)
• Suitable for Taiwanese traders with accounts elsewhere

Platform Disadvantages:

• Cannot open accounts directly in Taiwan
• Margin interest rates high (5.5%-9.825%)
• Many restrictions for Taiwanese investors

Suitable For: Investors with existing overseas accounts, seeking extended services

Taiwan Local Discretionary Trading Options Comparison

Besides directly opening accounts with international US stock platforms, Taiwanese investors can also buy US stocks via local brokerage discretionary services — that is, Taiwan brokers acting as agents to place orders with foreign brokers. This method’s advantages are familiar operation and comprehensive Chinese support; disadvantages include generally higher costs.

Below are five Taiwanese brokers offering discretionary US stock trading:

Discretionary Trading Advantages: Local service, familiar operation, unified account management

Discretionary Trading Disadvantages: Usually 1-2x higher fees than direct international accounts, limited product variety from Taiwanese brokers

How Much Capital Do You Need to Start Buying US Stocks?

Many people misunderstand US stock investing, thinking high fees are required to open an account. In fact, opening an account with a licensed financial institution is almost free; the real cost is in purchasing the stocks.

Traditional Stock Trading Method

In Taiwan, stock trading units are in lots (1000 shares), but US stocks are traded per share. For example, Meta’s current price is around $631. Without leverage, you need to pay $631 to buy one share.

CFD Trading Method (More Suitable for Small Investors)

CFD (Contract for Difference) is a trading tool using margin and leverage. For example, with Mitrade, you can start trading with $50, controlling larger assets with 1-200x leverage.

CFD Trading Cost Structure:

• Spread (main cost): difference between buy and sell prices; larger trade sizes mean larger spreads
• Commission: Platforms like Mitrade do not charge commissions, reducing overall costs
• Overnight Holding Fees: calculated as = trade size × contract units per lot × opening price × overnight fee rate (%)

For gold, Mitrade’s overnight fee:

• Long position: -0.0168%
• Short position: -0.0140%

Three Steps to Open an Account Online: Using Mitrade as Example

Most US stock platforms today support online account opening, free and simple. Using Mitrade as an example, just three steps:

Step 1: Create an Account

Visit the official website, enter basic info (email, password, base currency like USD/AUD), or quickly link via Facebook or Google. After completion, you get a demo account with $50,000 virtual funds, allowing risk-free familiarization.

Step 2: Complete Information and Verification

When opening a real account, provide residence, name, ID type and number, date of birth, phone, etc. The platform performs KYC verification. As a regulated Australian platform, Mitrade supports Chinese communication, ensuring compliant operation.

Step 3: Deposit and Start Trading

Deposit via Skrill, Poli, Visa/MasterCard, or bank transfer, then access nearly 400 financial products including stocks, indices, forex, gold, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, etc.

Trading Tools and Resources Offered by US Stock Platforms

Modern US stock platforms go far beyond simple trading; Mitrade and others provide investors with various professional tools for free:

Trading Strategies and Market Views

Based on recent price trends, fundamental and technical analysis are used to develop scientific trading strategies, along with summaries of industry experts’ short- and medium-term outlooks and trend forecasts, helping investors gauge market sentiment.

Economic Calendar

Automatically marks events that may impact prices, including data releases, holidays, speeches by key figures, and categorizes event importance.

Real-Time News and Quotes

Covers forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, indices, technical analysis, economic health, and national sectors, providing real-time quotes without delay and multiple charting tools.

Sentiment Index and Risk Management

Aggregates market sentiment indicators showing bearish/bullish proportions, helping investors judge market attitude. Features like take-profit/take-loss can automatically lock profits or cut losses; trailing stops can adjust automatically as profits grow.

Overall Advice: How to Find the Most Suitable US Stock Platform

The key to choosing a US stock platform is: first clearly define your actual needs and investment style, then evaluate systematically based on safety, costs, varieties, and services.

For small investors and beginners, low-cost, user-friendly platforms like Mitrade are ideal; for large-cap traders, platforms like InteractiveBrokers with complex features and rich varieties are advantageous; for convenience seekers, local discretionary services offer familiar Chinese support.

Regardless of your choice, be sure to thoroughly understand the platform’s regulatory status, fee structure, and risk disclosures before investing, to ensure steady progress in the US stock market.