Charles Schwab
Trusted US giant, $0 stock trades
4.4/ 5
Best for: Long-term US-index investors opening via Schwab One International.
Compare Charles Schwab with others →US broker review
Interactive Brokers review
Pro-grade global market access
4.6/ 5
- Since 1978
- Stocks Fixed $0.005/share (min $1); tiered from $0.0035/share
- Options $0.65/contract fixed; tiered from $0.15
Reviewed by LetsInvest Research DeskUpdated 17 Sept 2026Pricing verified 17 Sept 2026How we test
Overview
Interactive Brokers is the pro-grade route for Indians investing in US stocks: tiered Pro pricing from $0.0035/share, options from $0.15/contract, fractional shares and 150+ global markets in one account. Indian residents onboard via IBKR India and fund a foreign-currency account under the RBI's LRS ($250,000/year). Powerful but complex for beginners.
Best for: Serious Indian investors funding $10k+ via LRS who want direct US market access.
Pros & cons
What we like
- Direct onboarding for Indian residents (IBKR India + LRS funding)
- Cheapest high-volume US pricing + fractional shares
- 150+ markets, strong research and margin rates
Watch out for
- Complex platform for beginners
- Lite $0 plan is US-residents-only; Indian accounts use Pro pricing
- Forex spread + TCS costs sit on top of brokerage
Fees & charges (USD)
Account charges
- Account openingWhat it costs to open the account. All four open free; IBKR margin accounts need a $2,000 minimum deposit.
- $0 to open✓ Verified 17/9/2026Source: Official pricing page · Static-verified
- Annual / inactivity feeYearly account fee. None of these US brokers charges one.
- $0✓ Verified 17/9/2026Source: Official pricing page · Static-verified
Equity
- US stocks & ETFs (Pro plan)Commission on US stock/ETF trades. $0 online everywhere — except IBKR, where Indian accounts use per-share Pro pricing (Lite $0 is US-only).
- Fixed $0.005/share (min $1); tiered from $0.0035/share✓ Verified 17/9/2026Source: Official pricing page · Static-verified
Derivatives (F&O)
- OptionsPer-contract fee on US options, on top of a $0 base commission. Exchange and regulatory pass-throughs apply on top everywhere.
- $0.65/contract fixed; tiered from $0.15✓ Verified 17/9/2026Source: Official pricing page · Static-verified
Source & freshness
- Source
- Each broker's official pricing page (per-row source links above)
- Timeliness
- Static-verified
- Verified
- 17/9/2026
- Method
- reported
- Note
- Re-checked against official pages; unverified rows show Confirming. Never a live tick.
Sources: official broker pricing pages linked in our verification log. Brokerage is only part of the cost — forex spread, LRS/TCS and US withholding sit on top.
India access
✓ Available: Indian residents onboard via IBKR India; global stocks through a foreign-currency account funded under LRS
Platforms & protection
platforms
- Trading platforms✓ · Client Portal, Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Mobile
protection
- Account protection✓ · SIPC member
Support & company
Customer support
Support channels not yet listed — check the broker's contact page.
Company facts
- Founded
- 1978
- Regulation
- SEC, FINRA, SIPC member
The best US route for serious Indian investors: direct onboarding, honest Pro pricing and global markets in one account. Run the US-cost calculator before funding.
Funding from India (LRS)
Indian residents can remit up to $250,000/year under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme to fund a US brokerage account. Budget for TCS on remittances above ₹10 lakh, a 0.5–1.5% forex spread, and 25% US dividend withholding on top of the brokerage above.
US-cost calculator →How US investing from India works →NRI corner →
Alternatives to Interactive Brokers
Fidelity
Zero-fee index funds pioneer
4.2/ 5
Best for: US residents; a benchmark quote for everyone else.
Compare Fidelity with others →
Webull
Mobile-first $0 trading
3.9/ 5
Best for: Mobile-first traders with a US tax ID.
Compare Webull with others →Interactive Brokers FAQs
Can Indians open an Interactive Brokers account?
Yes. Indian residents onboard through IBKR India (interactivebrokers.co.in) and trade global stocks via a foreign-currency account funded under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme ($250,000/year). A demat-style NSE-only account is also available.
What does IBKR charge Indian investors for US stocks?
Indian accounts use Pro pricing: fixed $0.005/share (minimum $1) or tiered from $0.0035/share, capped at 1% of trade value. The advertised $0 Lite plan is US-residents-only. Options run $0.65/contract fixed, tiered from $0.15.
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Affiliate disclosure: LetsInvest earns a commission if you open an account via links on this page — at no extra cost to you. Rankings are editorial and never sold. Read how we make money and our methodology.
How we research. Every fee on this site carries a source and a verification date. Data is re-checked against official broker pages; read our editorial methodology. LetsInvest is a research publication, not a financial adviser — see our terms.
Visit Interactive Brokers
Official site — pricing varies by plan, verify before acting.