Best Stockbrokers in Nepal

Choosing the right brokerage is an important first step for investors in Nepal who want to participate in the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) and potentially explore global markets. A reliable broker provides access to trading, essential tools and support tailored to your investment goals. 

You must be a Nepalese citizen using a local broker to trade on the NEPSE. For exposure to foreign markets, Nepali investors must use global brokers.

This guide simplifies the selection process by highlighting some of the best stock brokers serving Nepali investors, detailing their strengths in areas like global market access, NEPSE expertise and customer support. 

Quick Look at the Best Stock Brokers in Nepal 

• Interactive Brokers — Best for Global Trading
• Plus500 — Best for Commission-Free CFD Trading 
• Nassa Securities — Best Local Broker for NEPSE Trading 
• Secured Securities — Best for High-Touch Support
• NMB Capital/Investop Equity — Best Local Alternative with Banking Integration

How We Chose the Best Stock Brokers in Nepal

We chose platforms based on their cost for trading asset classes available in Nepal, platform usability and account minimums. The quality and availability of customer service to provide support were key criteria. The presence and quality of educational content and support to new and experienced brokers in making decisions were also considered. 

5 Best Stock Brokers in Nepal

Interactive Brokers — Best for Global Trading 

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a good choice for Nepali investors who want to diversify their portfolios beyond the domestic market. It provides access to a range of international exchanges and asset classes with competitive commission structures and tight spreads, especially on forex. While it facilitates global investing, IBKR does not offer trading in NEPSE-listed shares for Nepali residents.   

Key Features: 

• Fees: IBKR offers low commission rates and tight spreads on forex, making it a cost-effective choice for investing abroad. It does not charge inactivity fees for IBKR Lite accounts and its forex conversion rates are close to the interbank rate at around 0.002%.

• Investment Access: IBKR provides global market access, including U.S. stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, commodities and forex across dozens of international exchanges in the U.S., Europe and Asia. However, Nepali residents can only open individual accounts for trading foreign stocks and cannot trade shares listed on the NEPSE through the platform.  

• Platform Experience: IBKR offers advanced trading platforms with powerful tools suited for active traders. It also has a simpler mobile app for casual investors. While the platform has numerous features, it allows Nepali clients to access foreign stocks with relative ease after setting up an account.  

• Tools/Education Highlights: IBKR provides educational resources, including the Trader’s Academy and FAQs, which can be beneficial for investors who are new to the complexities of using a global broker. 

• Drawbacks: Nepali residents cannot trade NEPSE-listed shares through Interactive Brokers. Funding requires international wire transfers, which means NPR must be converted to USD. Customer support responses may be delayed because of time zone differences.

Who It’s Best For: Nepali investors who are interested in accessing and trading international stocks and other global assets beyond domestic offerings. 

Plus500 — Best for Commission-Free CFD Trading

Plus500 is a global contract for difference (CFD) trading platform offering commission-free trading on various assets. Its user-friendly web and mobile interface, coupled with a low minimum deposit, is ideal for Nepali traders who want to speculate on global price movements through CFDs. Plus500 offers derivative contracts rather than actual ownership of the underlying assets. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: Plus500 operates on a bid/ask spread model and does not charge direct commissions on trades. A $10 monthly inactivity fee will be charged after three months of no trading activity. Currency conversion incurs a 0.7% fee if trading in a currency different from the account’s base currency, which is typically USD.

• Investment Access: Plus500 provides access to CFDs across multiple asset classes, including indices, forex, commodities, crypto, shares, ETFs and options. This allows Nepali traders to speculate on the price movements of global assets like U.S./EU stocks, gold, oil and Bitcoin from Nepal. With CFD trading, investors don’t own the underlying assets. 

• Platform Experience: Plus500’s platform is easy to use and features a simple web and mobile interface with quick onboarding and a fully functional demo mode for practice. It is geared toward short-term traders.

• Tools/Education Highlights: Plus500 offers basic trading guides and a free demo account. The educational depth of the platform is limited and beginners should educate themselves independently about the risks associated with CFD trading. 

• Drawbacks: Plus500 offers CFD trading, not actual stock ownership. NPR currency is not supported. Accounts are typically funded with USD. While the platform is translated into many languages, Nepali users are supported in English. 

Who It’s Best For: Nepali traders who want to speculate on the price movements of a range of global assets through commission-free CFD trading and are comfortable with the risk associated with leveraged derivative products. 

Nassa Securities — Best Local Broker for NEPSE Trading 

Naasa Securities is Nepal’s largest broker and a leading choice for Nepali investors who want to trade on the NEPSE. The brokerage adheres to regulatory commission structures, offers a modern online trading platform accessible via web and Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) banking mobile service. It’s known for good customer service with local support. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: Naasa’s commissions are set by regulators on a sliding scale of around 0.36% for mid-sized trades and decreasing for larger trades. It also charges low Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) and NEPSE fees. It costs about NPR 100 to open an account and an annual maintenance fee of about NPR 50, but there are no additional platform fees or online trading.

• Investment Access: Naasa Securities provides access only to domestic stocks, specifically NEPSE-listed equities and mutual funds. This complies with Nepal’s regulations requiring its citizens to use local brokers for NEPSE trades. Foreign stocks are not available through Naasa, which also offers margin lending facilities for some blue-chip stocks. 

• Platform Experience: Naasa’s online trading platform is accessible through a simple web portal and USSD mobile service that connects directly to NEPSE’s trading system. Investors can view live prices and place orders electronically. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: Naasa offers investor education through its Trading School and user manuals. It provides guidance on using the trading system and basic stock market knowledge. Research is limited, leaving investors to rely on NEPSE filings and Naasa’s market updates.  

• Drawbacks: Access is limited to NEPSE-listed stocks nd mutual funds, with no access to international markets. Research resources are not extensive. 

Who It’s Best For: Nepali residents who want to trade stocks and mutual funds listed on NEPSE with a well-established local broker known for its customer service and modern trading platform.

Secured Securities — Best for High-Touch Support

Secured Securities trades on the NEPSE and is known for its adherence to standard regulated commission rates and emphasis on providing responsive, high-touch customer support. It offers online and traditional broker-assisted trading. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: Secured Securities charges the standard regulated commission rates for NEPSE transactions of around 0.4% for small trades and 0.27% for large trades, including broker, exchange and regulator fees. It does not specify additional platform fees. No minimum deposit is required. 

• Investment Access: Secured Securities provides Nepali citizens with access to NEPSE-listed stocks and government bonds. As a full-service broker, it may also facilitate initial public offering applications and offer access to the Nepalese government bond market through the NEPSE platform.

• Platform Experience: Secured Securities provides online trading and traditional broker-assisted trading. Its online platform is considered stable and user-friendly. The interface is the NEPSE Trading Management System, which is functional but basic. Investors often use MeroShare for portfolio tracking.

• Tools/Education Highlights: Secured Securities offers investor awareness initiatives through the FAQs on its website as well as occasional seminars. While formal research is limited, Secured Securities guides new investors on how to use its trading system and understand market basics. It also provides market alerts to clients.  

• Drawbacks: The online trading platform is functional but basic and investors often rely on third-party tools like MeroShare for portfolio tracking. Access is limited to NEPSE-listed stocks and Nepalese government bonds.  

Who It’s Best For: Nepali investors who value responsive, high-touch customer support and a stable online trading platform for accessing NEPSE-listed stocks and government bonds.  

NMB Capital/Investop Equity — Best Local Alternative with Banking Integration

NMB Capital’s Investop online trading platform, along with brokerages like Nabil Investment Banking, represent local alternatives for Nepali investors for integrated trading services with banking facilities. The platforms typically charge standard commissions and provide online trading access, benefiting from the trust associated with established financial institutions. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: The platforms usually charge standard commission rates for trading on NEPSE. Specific fee schedules should be confirmed with each broker. 

• Investment Access: Investments are typically limited to NEPSE-listed shares and Nepalese government bonds. The platforms do not provide access to international markets. 

• Platform Experience: The platforms offer online trading access with technology and interfaces comparable to other NEPSE brokers. Specific platform features and usability vary between providers. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: Being backed by financial institutions implies a degree of customer support for account management. Specific educational resources or trading tools offered should be verified with each provider. 

• Drawbacks: The technology and interfaces are comparable to other NEPSE brokers and might not offer advanced features. The assets offered are limited to local equities and government bonds.  

Who It’s Best For: Nepali investors who prefer the convenience of trading services integrated with their banking and value the trust associated with established local financial institutions for managing their investments in NEPSE-listed assets.

Choosing the Right Stockbroker in Nepal

Choosing the right broker is a decision that can significantly impact your investment success. 

If your goal is to diversify internationally, Interactive Brokers provides access to a range of global markets. Plus500 offers a commission-free platform for investors interested in speculating on global price movements through CFDs. 

When making your choice, consider your investment goals — determine whether you want to focus on the Nepali market or want international exposure. 

Aligning your needs with the strengths of each broker will guide you to the partner best suited to help you succeed in the Nepali stock market. 

Frequently Asked Questions