Invest Anywhere on Earth

Whether you are an American expat needing a US brokerage that will not freeze your account abroad, or an international investor wanting access to US markets, these are the top platforms in 2026.

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Top 3 Options — Ranked & Reviewed

⭐ Editor's Choice 2026
Rank #1

Interactive Brokers (IBKR Pro)

★4.9 / 5.0Issuer: Interactive Brokers LLC

Interactive Brokers is the closest thing retail investors have to an institutional platform. It operates in over 200 countries and territories. If you are a digital nomad, expat, or just want absolute lowest margin rates and spot-rate currency conversion, IBKR is the only serious choice.

Top Benefits

  • The FX fees are virtually non-existent compared to competitors
  • You can keep your account open no matter what country you move to
  • Interest paid on uninvested cash balances

Considerations

  • The Trader Workstation (TWS) desktop app looks like it was built in 1995 and is highly complex
  • Customer service is designed for professionals, not beginners
Spot-rate currency conversion (2 basis points)Fractional shares on US & EU equitiesIrish-Domiciled UCITS ETF accessUnmatched low margin rates
⭐ Editor's Choice 2026
Rank #2

Charles Schwab International

★4.6 / 5.0Issuer: Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab International allows non-US residents to open a US-based brokerage account. It is highly popular among American expats because it also grants access to a Schwab checking account, which reimburses all ATM fees globally.

Top Benefits

  • Customer service is legendary, arguably the best in the finance industry
  • The attached debit card is a lifesaver for expats needing physical cash abroad
  • Thinkorswim is an elite charting and trading software

Considerations

  • High $25,000 minimum deposit just to open the account
  • Margin rates are extremely high compared to IBKR
  • Does not provide easy access to non-US stock exchanges
$0 Commissions on US TradesGlobal ATM Fee Reimbursement (Checking)24/7 Excellent Customer SupportThinkorswim platform access
Rank #3

Saxo Bank

★4.8 / 5.0Issuer: Saxo Bank A/S (Denmark)

Headquartered in Copenhagen and holding strict European banking licenses, Saxo Bank is the premier choice for international investors, expats, and European residents seeking access to global equities, bonds, FX, and derivatives across 50+ international exchanges.

Top Benefits

  • Direct access to global stock exchanges not supported by US domestic brokers
  • Full Danish banking license provides European deposit guarantee protection
  • Award-winning charting and institutional order execution tools

Considerations

  • Inactivity fee or platform fee on certain inactive tiers in some regions
  • Does not accept US residents due to SEC and FATCA restrictions
Access to 70,000+ stocks, ETFs, bonds, and options worldwideSaxoTraderGO (intuitive web/mobile) & SaxoTraderPRO (multi-screen desktop)Strict Danish FSA and Tier-1 European banking regulatory safetyMulti-currency sub-accounts in 18+ base currenciesComprehensive European bond and UCITS ETF market access

Direct Head-to-Head Matchups in Global & Expat Brokerages

Still torn between two top contenders? Inspect our side-by-side mathematical showdowns:

1v1 Showdown
Interactive Brokers (IBKR Pro) vs Charles Schwab International

The Problem with Domestic Brokerages

If you move abroad, traditional domestic brokerages (like Fidelity or Vanguard US) will often freeze your account once they detect a foreign IP address or receive a W-8BEN / foreign tax residency form. They simply do not have the compliance infrastructure to handle international retail clients.

To maintain your investments across borders, you need an International Brokerage.

Key Features to Compare

  1. Market Access: Do you just want to buy US ETFs (like VOO or QQQ), or do you want direct access to the London Stock Exchange (LSE) to buy Irish-Domiciled UCITS ETFs to avoid the US 30% dividend withholding tax?
  2. Currency Conversion: If your salary is in EUR but you are buying USD assets, what is the FX spread? Some brokers charge 1.5% hidden spreads, which destroys your returns. Others charge near spot-rate (0.002%).
  3. Margin Rates: If you trade on leverage, margin rates vary wildly. Schwab might charge you 12%, while IBKR charges less than 7%.

Crunch the Numbers

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