Top 3 Online Brokers for International Trading

1. Fidelity Investments

Fidelity Investments is consistently rated one of the top online brokers, with high marks for its trading platform, mobile app technology and access to international trading in markets across North America, Europe and Asia’s South Pacific. “Fidelity is one of the most well-rounded brokerages available today, with no commissions on stock trades, ETF trades or options trades and a selection of no-expense-ratio index funds,” explains NerdWallet in its review of the firm.

For its part, Casey Research gives Fidelity high marks for its “perfectly decent interface and reasonable commissions and currency exchange rates” and calls it “the best choice for many investors looking to trade on foreign exchanges. You can trade directly on 12 major foreign exchanges.”

Stockbrokers.com is also impressed with the company’s international trading, saying if you reside in the US and want to invest on foreign exchanges using local currency, then Fidelity is one of the best brokers to consider. Barron’s agrees, giving Fidelity the top spot in its 2020 survey of the best online brokers.

2. Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers is on par with Fidelity in terms of its platform and access to international markets. “Interactive Brokers attracts active traders with low per-share pricing, an advanced trading platform, a large selection of tradable securities — including foreign stocks — and ridiculously low margin rates,” states NerdWallet. “Its new offering, IBKR Lite, offers commission-free trades of stocks and ETFs.”

Casery Research also lists Interactive Brokers as one of the top choices for international trading. The research firm calls the company “an industrial-strength online broker and one of the most popular among active traders and investors.”

In its review of the company, StockBrokers.com concurs: “Interactive Brokers provides the most diverse offering in the industry and leads by a wide margin in multiple areas, including international trading. Globally, customers can trade across more than 135 international markets in 33 countries.”

Interactive Brokers holds the top spot on Barron’s best online brokers list in a “dead heat” with Fidelity. Barron’s notes that Interactive Brokers “continues to offer the widest access to international markets.”

3. Charles Schwab

For the less experienced active trader, Charles Schwab is another of the top online brokers. It has a strong reputation for offering high-quality customer service, great investor education, affordable commissions and beginner-friendly web-based and mobile trading platforms.

“Schwab delivers for every type of investor, with $0 commissions, high-quality research and a robust investment selection — including a large selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds with low or no minimums,” NerdWallet’s review states. The online broker offers two mobile apps with above-average capabilities: Schwab Mobile and StreetSmart Mobile.

Schwab’s Global Trading account allows clients to trade online on 12 foreign exchanges, including Canada and Australia, eight European exchanges, Japan and Hong Kong. The company offers a large selection of commission-free ETFs across various global markets in 30 countries. “Regular Schwab accounts can also trade on foreign exchanges, including the TSX,” notes Casey Research.

“As a full-service brokerage, Schwab has a fantastic, diverse offering of investments that will satisfy any investor,” explains StockBrokers.com. “Schwab trading platforms and tools are robust and will satisfy the majority of traders, making it a respectable choice for day trading and options trading.”