A Must-Read for Taiwanese Investors Buying US Stocks! The Complete Guide to Trading Platforms and Fees in 2025

Three Questions You Need to Ask Before Buying US Stocks

Many Taiwanese investors are eager to try US stocks but face a dilemma when choosing from a variety of trading platforms. In fact, before starting, you need to clarify your investment scale, risk tolerance, and trading habits. Different entry methods can significantly affect fees, withdrawal speed, and available trading instruments.

Based on common needs of domestic investors, there are two main ways to buy US stocks: through Taiwanese brokers’ custodial trading services or by opening accounts on international trading platforms. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on your capital and trading frequency.

Local Account vs Overseas Account: Comparison of Taiwanese Broker Custodial Trading vs International Platforms

Advantages of Taiwanese Local Brokers:

• Direct deposits and withdrawals in New Taiwan Dollars, avoiding currency conversion hassle
• Chinese-language customer service and familiar account opening procedures
• Relatively transparent risk and clear regulation

Currently, the five major Taiwanese brokers all offer custodial trading services, with fees ranging from $0.1 per share to 1% of transaction amount:

Suitable for: Small investors, dollar-cost averaging plans, fewer than 5 trades per month

Opening an Overseas Account: In-Depth Review of International Trading Platforms

If you seek lower fees or more diverse trading instruments, opening an account on international platforms is another option. Here are five major platforms with their unique features:

1. Friendly for Small Investors: Mitrade

Minimum deposit: Starting from $50
Trading fees: Zero commission + floating spread (minimum 0.01)
Regulation: ASIC, CySEC dual regulation

Mitrade has gained popularity among Taiwanese investors for its friendly deposit minimums and comprehensive Chinese support. Founded in 2011, it serves over a million users worldwide.

Key advantages:

• Open positions with as little as 0.01 lot, equivalent to $50 (great for beginners testing waters)
• Zero commission trading, transparent cost structure, only spreads charged
• Leverage trading options (up to 200x), small capital can leverage big gains
• One-stop trading for stocks, ETFs, forex, cryptocurrencies, gold, and more
• Supports NTD deposits and withdrawals; latest policy: deposits under $10,000 USD are free once a month, subsequent withdrawals cost $5 each; over $10,000 USD deposits are free twice a month

Disadvantages:

• Demo account validity limited to 3 months
• Leverage trading involves risks; caution needed

2. Professional Choice: Interactive Brokers (盈透證券)

Minimum deposit: $0 (margin accounts require maintaining $2,000)
Trading fees: $0.005 per share (fixed) or tiered from $0.0005–$0.0035
Regulation: FINRA, SIPC protection

Since 1977, Interactive Brokers has been the preferred platform for institutional investors and seasoned traders.

Key advantages:

• Most comprehensive product range: stocks, options, futures, forex, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds
• Global market coverage: US, UK, Germany, Japan, Korea, and more
• Tiered fee structure favors large-volume traders (e.g., over 100 million shares/month at $0.0005/share)
• Powerful platform with professional analysis tools

Disadvantages:

• Interface is complex; steep learning curve for beginners
• Higher costs for small trades
• Requires certain investment knowledge to maximize benefits

3. Friendly for Small and Medium Investors: SogoTrade (索高證券)

Minimum deposit: $0
Trading fees: $2.88 per order under 100 shares; over $2,000 capital zero commission
Regulation: FINRA, SIPC

Founded in 1986, SogoTrade offers account opening services for Taiwanese investors.

Key advantages:

• Attractive sign-up bonuses and promotions
• Very competitive for high-volume trading

Disadvantages:

• Higher fees for small trades (around $3 per order)
• Recent issues with phishing scams; ensure opening through official channels

4. Beginner-Friendly: Firstrade (第一證券)

Minimum deposit: $0
Trading fees: Zero commission (watch out for PFOF hidden costs)
Withdrawal fee: $25
Regulation: FINRA, SIPC

Founded in 1985, Firstrade provides a simple trading environment suitable for inexperienced investors.

Key advantages:

• No minimum deposit or account balance requirements
• Completely commission-free trading
• Chinese app and some Chinese resources available

Disadvantages:

• Price quotes may lag
• Chinese customer service hours limited (EST), time zone issues
• Customer feedback indicates slow support response
• Be cautious of order flow to brokers (PFOF) costs

5. All-in-One Platform: Fidelity (富達投資)

Minimum deposit: $0
Trading fees: Zero commission
Regulation: FINRA, SIPC

Founded in 1946, Fidelity is one of the largest investment management firms globally.

Key advantages:

• Free trading of US stocks and ETFs
• Access to numerous Fidelity mutual funds with no transaction fees
• Stable and reliable infrastructure

Disadvantages:

• Taiwanese investors cannot open accounts directly; only accounts registered abroad can operate in Taiwan
• Only supports fund purchases in Taiwan, no US stock accounts
• Margin rates are relatively high (5.5%–9.825%)

Platform Comparison Table

Which to Choose? Decision Tree to Help You Quickly Decide

I’m a small investor beginner (capital 30,000–50,000 RMB)
→ Recommend Mitrade: starting from $50, zero commission, adjustable leverage, Chinese support anytime

I want to do dollar-cost averaging for long-term holding
→ Recommend Taiwanese broker custodial services: direct NTD deductions, no currency exchange hassle, automated investing

I’m a trading expert, making over 50 trades per month
→ Recommend InteractiveBrokers: comprehensive instruments, tiered low fees, global markets at your fingertips

I just want to try US stocks with minimal investment
→ Recommend Mitrade or Firstrade: free account opening, low threshold for testing, easy withdrawals

How to Open an Account: A 3-Step Example with Mitrade

Step 1: Register and create a demo account

Visit Mitrade’s official website, click “Register,” fill in basic info (email, password, base currency USD/AUD, etc.). You can also log in quickly via Facebook or Google.

After completing step 1, you get a demo account with $50,000 virtual funds. Use this to familiarize yourself with the platform, test strategies, and practice trading—highly recommended for beginners to operate for 1-2 weeks before risking real money.

Step 2: Upgrade to a real account and pass KYC verification

When ready to deposit, complete personal info (residence, ID number, date of birth, phone, etc.), submit KYC documents. As an ASIC-regulated platform, all processes are compliant and transparent, usually reviewed within 3-5 working days. During this period, Chinese customer support is available 24/5 for inquiries.

Step 3: Choose deposit method and start trading

Support multiple deposit options: Skrill, Poli, Visa/Mastercard, bank transfer, etc. A minimum deposit of $50 USD is enough to start trading.

The platform offers nearly 400 financial products, including popular US stocks (Tesla, Apple, Google, etc.), ETFs, forex, gold, cryptocurrencies, and more—one account for multiple markets.

How Much Capital Do You Need to Start Investing in US Stocks?

A common misconception is: You need a lot of money to open a US stock account.

In reality, opening an account at a licensed financial institution is completely free. Costs are incurred only when you buy stocks or trade.

Traditional Stock Trading

Taiwan stocks have a minimum unit of 1 lot (1000 shares), while US stocks are traded per share, offering more flexibility. For example, Facebook’s stock price is $631; buying 1 share without leverage costs $631.

CFD Trading — A Leverage Option for Small Investors

CFDs allow you to use margin to control larger positions with less capital. Mitrade offers up to 200x leverage, meaning $50 can control a $10,000 position.

Main cost components of CFDs:

Spread — The difference between buy and sell prices, which is the broker’s main income. Smaller spreads save money; Mitrade offers competitive spreads.

Commission — Some platforms charge a percentage of the trade amount. Mitrade has zero commission, making costs transparent and simple.

Overnight Fees — Costs for holding positions overnight. Calculation: trade size × contract units × entry price × overnight rate(%). For gold, Mitrade’s overnight fee on Nov 11, 2025, was -0.0168% for buy and -0.014% for sell.

Risk Management Tools Every Taiwanese Investor Must Know

Before trading, understand these built-in safeguards:

Take Profit / Stop Loss — Set target prices when opening a new order to automatically lock in profits or limit losses. No need to watch the screen constantly.

Trailing Stop — The stop-loss level moves up automatically as profits increase, protecting gains while aiming for higher returns.

Risk Calculator — Simulates maximum potential loss based on position size, leverage, and volatility, helping you allocate funds reasonably.

Market Sentiment and Index — Refer to expert opinions and market popularity to judge whether current sentiment is overheated or oversold, avoiding chasing highs or panic selling.

Final Advice

There’s no absolute correct platform for US stock trading; the key is to match your investment scale, trading frequency, and risk appetite precisely.

• Small trial, beginner → Mitrade is the most friendly
• Dollar-cost averaging, low-maintenance → Taiwanese broker custodial services
• High volume, diverse instruments → InteractiveBrokers is the most professional

No matter which path you choose, remember these three points: practice on demo first, start with small amounts, and understand the risks. Overseas investing is more complex than local stocks; step-by-step is the way to long-term profit.