Investing beyond domestic borders offers opportunities for diversification and growth, but navigating the global markets requires a reliable partner. Choosing the right international broker is the key to accessing the foreign exchanges you want and getting the tools you need to manage a global portfolio. 

Here are the 5 best international brokers to help you make an informed decision when trading in global markets.

5 Best International Brokers

• Interactive Brokers — Best Overall
• Fidelity — Best for Beginners
• Charles Schwab — Best for Customer Service
• Saxo Bank — Best for Advanced Traders
• eToro — Best for Social and Copy Trading 

How We Chose The Best International Brokers

We made our selections by evaluating each broker’s global market access, competitive fees and the quality of their trading platforms across desktop and mobile. Key considerations also included the breadth of investment products, research tools and customer service.

5 Best International Brokers

Interactive Brokers — Best Overall

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) offers unparalleled access to more than 160 global markets with comprehensive trading tools. It caters to both professional traders with its flagship Trader Workstation and more casual investors with its simpler platforms like IBKR GlobalTrader. Low costs and a range of tradable securities make it a powerful option for serious investors who want to diversify internationally. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: IBKR’s competitive pricing includes its Lite plan with zero commission on U.S. exchange-listed stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Its fee structure varies by product type, exchange and country. Its tiered pricing is a per-share fee that decreases as your trading volume increases. Its fixed pricing is a flat per-share fee, often with a minimum per order. For more active traders on its Pro tier, trades range from $0.0005 to $0.005 per share. There are no account minimums. 

• Investment Access: Provides access to more than 160 markets in 33 countries, allowing trading in stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds and funds. IBKR also offers fractional share trading. 

• Platform Experience: Different platforms are suited for different experience levels. The feature-rich desktop Trader Workstation platform is for advanced and active traders. IBKR Desktop combines popular TWS tools with even more features. For traders on the go, there’s IBKR Mobile and IBKR GlobalTrader. The client Portal is an easy-to-use web platform for account management and basic trading.

• Tools and Education: Offers tools like IBKR GlobalAnalyst for international portfolio diversification, a Bond Marketplace and a Mutual Fund Marketplace. It provides educational resources and webinars.

• Drawbacks: The breadth of features and platforms can be overwhelming for beginners.

Who It’s Best For: Experienced and active traders who want extensive market access, advanced tools and competitive pricing for international investments. 

Fidelity — Best for Beginners

Fidelity offers a good entry point for novices venturing into international investing. Known for its user-friendly platforms, excellent customer support and robust research, Fidelity provides a comfortable environment for people who want to build a diversified global portfolio, even if they are new to international markets.

Key Features: 

• Fees: There may be fees for international trades, but there are no fees to open an account and zero commissions for trading U.S. stocks and ETFs.

• Investment Access: Provides access to 25 international markets, including major markets in Canada, Europe and Asia. You can settle trades in U.S. dollars or local currency. It offers a range of investment products, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options. 

• Platform Experience: Fidelity offers several user-friendly platforms. Its main platform, Fidelity.com, is intuitive and easy to navigate. Active Trader Pro is a downloadable desktop platform for more active traders. The Fidelity Mobile App is designed for trading and account management on the move.

• Tools and Education: Offers extensive research and educational resources, including articles, webinars and coaching. It also offers 24/7 live customer support. 

• Drawbacks: Fidelity doesn’t cover as many niche markets as International Brokers. International trading capabilities are strong but may be more limited than brokers focused solely on global markets. 

Who It’s Best For: Beginner investors and users who prioritize strong customer service and a user-friendly experience for long-term international diversification. 

Charles Schwab — Best For Customer Service

Charles Schwab is a great option for international investors who value excellent customer service and a range of offerings at a single brokerage. Its dedicated international services desk and various ways to access foreign markets cater to investors who want support and comprehensive financial solutions for international trading. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: International fees vary depending on the region and asset type. There is no account minimum, and Schwab offers zero commission for online U.S. stocks and ETFs.

• Investment Access: Allows trading of foreign stocks through American depositary receipts (ADRs) and direct trading in local currency in 12 major markets by setting up a Schwab Global account. Provides access to more than 30 global markets and multicurrency options.  

• Platform Experience: Offers multiple trading platforms, including Schwab.com, the Schwab mobile app and the advanced thinkorswim desktop and mobile platforms. The platforms cater to various trading styles, from beginners to active traders. 

• Tools and Education: Features an international services desk with global investment specialists available for assistance. Provides research, market insights and educational materials. Offers 24/5 trading for more than 800 stocks and ETFs on Schwab’s thinkorswim platforms. 

• Drawbacks: Direct international trading in local currencies is limited to 12 markets. 

Who It’s Best For: Investors who value strong customer support, a range of investment products and the convenience of managing domestic and international holdings with a single brokerage. 

Saxo Bank — Best For Advanced Traders

Global investment bank Saxo Bank provides advanced trading platforms and extensive market access, making it a good choice for experienced traders and investors who want a range of financial instruments. With its robust research tools and professional-grade platforms, Saxo Bank caters to people who want sophisticated capabilities for multiasset international trading. 

• Fees: Saxo charges commissions starting as low as $1 on U.S. stocks, ETFs and futures. Because of the many markets and products Saxo offers, its fee structure is a combination of different charges that depend on product type, country and exchange, account tier and trade volume. It charges no more than a 0.25% currency conversion fee

• Investment Access: Provides access to a variety of instruments across global markets, including stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, options, futures, forex and contracts for difference (CFDs). 

• Platform Experience: Saxo Bank offers two platforms. SaxoTraderGo is a user-friendly web and mobile platform suitable for intermediate and advanced traders. SaxoTraderPRO is a customizable downloadable desktop platform designed for professional and active traders, with advanced charting, order management and analytical tools. 

• Tools and Education: Features extensive research and analysis tools, professional-grade charting, economic calendars and a comprehensive news feed. It also offers a library of educational content and webinars for market insights.  

• Drawbacks: The platforms can be complex for beginners, and minimum deposit requirements may be higher than what casual investors are willing to commit. Saxo’s fee structure, while competitive for active traders, is less straightforward for those who trade infrequently.

Who It’s Best For: Experienced and professional traders who want advanced trading tools, multiasset access and comprehensive research for international markets. 

eToro — Best for Social and Copy Trading

eToro allows users to trade a variety of global assets and connect with other traders to learn about their investment strategies. Its CopyTrader feature lets users automatically replicate the portfolios of successful investors, appealing to people who want to leverage the expertise of others or engage in a community-driven investment experience. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: It’s free to open an account, but if you withdraw funds, you’ll pay a $5 fee. There’s also a $10 per month inactivity fee if you don’t log into your account for 12 months. Currency conversion fees vary depending on location. A $1 or $2 commission fee may apply when opening and closing a stock position, depending on your country.

• Investment Access: Offers a range of international stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, commodities and forex. Its stock and ETF selection is not as extensive as some traditional brokers.  

• Platform Experience: eToro’s platform is designed for social interaction. Its mobile-friendly interface is easy for beginners to navigate, and the CopyTrader and Smart Portfolios are seamlessly integrated. 

• Tools and Education: The social trading network allows users to view other traders’ performance, strategies and discussions. It offers a news feed, market insights and a demo account for practice.  

• Drawbacks: Social trading might not appeal to all investors. While commission-free for stocks, other fees can add up. The range of tradable assets isn’t as extensive as traditional brokers for some asset classes like options and mutual funds.

Who It’s Best For: Beginner investors, those interested in social trading and people who want to explore cryptocurrencies and automatically copy the strategies of successful traders.

Choosing The Best International Brokers

Selecting the right international broker is important for anyone looking to expand their investments globally. 

Interactive Brokers stands out for comprehensive access and low costs. Beginners will find Fidelity’s user-friendly platform and strong support beneficial, while Charles Schwab excels in customer service for those seeking a complete financial relationship. Advanced traders will appreciate Saxo Bank’s sophisticated tools and multiasset offerings, and eToro is unique for its social and copy trading features. 

The best platform should align with your investing goals, desired market access and comfort level with fees and platform complexity. 

Frequently Asked Questions