To find the best international online brokers in Canada, we went ahead and did the research for you. After testing, analyzing and comparing 58 brokers, 5 made it to the top. We highly recommend all 5 to you. And now, without further ado...
The top 5 picks for the best international online brokers of 2020 for citizens in Canada:
- Interactive Brokers is the number one international online broker in 2020. Wide range of products. Many great research tools. Regulated by several authorities.
- Tradestation is your runner-up. Great web and mobile trading platform. Low stock and ETF fees. High-quality educational tools.
- Swissquote rounds out the top three. Access to many markets and products. No inactivity fee. Rock-solid background.
- Oanda, numero quatro. Generally low fees. Easy-to-use web trading platform. Easy and digital account opening.
- XTB. Low forex and stock index CFD fees. Free and fast deposit and withdrawal. Easy and fast account opening. Just made it to the list at number five.
| Broker | Info | Score | Best in | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Interactive Brokers | US discount broker | 4.9 | Best online broker |
| #2 | Tradestation | US stockbroker | 4.7 | Best app for stock trading |
| #3 | Swissquote | Swiss investment bank | 4.7 | |
| #4 | Oanda | US forex broker | 4.6 | Best mobile trading platform |
| #5 | XTB | Global CFD and forex broker | 4.6 | Best CFD broker |
What makes a good online broker? First of all, they must offer fair fees and have a good safety score. It should also be easy to open an account and deposit money. They should give you access to many products, and they need to have a great trading platform.
Easy to list, but hard to figure out. That’s why we are testing brokers along more than 100 criteria, using real accounts and real money. We know what's up. You can find all the ranking criteria in our methodology.
Not sure which broker? For a tailored recommendation, check out our broker finder tool. You can enter your country, and it will narrow down the list of brokers to those that are available where you live. Want more details? Compare brokers with this detailed comparison table.
And now, let's see the best international online brokers in 2020 for citizens in Canada one by one, starting with the winner, Interactive Brokers.
#1 Best international online brokers for citizens in Canada
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers was founded in 1978 and is one of the biggest US-based discount brokers. The broker is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including top-tier ones like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
As it has licenses from multiple top-tier regulators, the broker is considered safe. Also, having a long track record and publicly disclosed financials while being listed on a stock exchange are also great signs for its safety.
Recommended for traders looking for low fees and a professional trading environment
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Wide range of products | • Extremely complex desktop trading platform |
| • Many great research tools | • Complicated account opening process |
| • Regulated by several authorities | • High inactivity fee |
#1 Interactive Brokers
Fees
Interactive Brokers has low trading fees and for US clients, stock and ETF trading is free. On the negative side, there is a high inactivity fee for non-US clients.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Inactivity fee |
| • Low stock and ETF fees | |
| • Low financing rate | |
| • Free stock and ETF trading for US clients |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $1.0 | $1.0 | $25.0 | - | $10.0 |
| UK stock | $7.2 | - | $30.0 | - | $10.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.9 | - | $15.8 | $15.9 | $15.0 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
#1 Interactive Brokers
Account opening
IB's account opening process is fully digital and the required minimum deposit is low. On the negative side, the online registration is complicated and account verification takes around 2 business days.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Not user-friendly |
| • No minimum deposit for most accounts types | • Confusing messages throughout the process |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $500 | $0 | $0 | $250 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day |
#1 Interactive Brokers
Deposit and withdrawal
Interactive Brokers offers many account base currency options and one free withdrawal per month. The main drawbacks are that you can only use bank transfer and the process is not user-friendly.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • Several account base currencies | • Not user-friendly |
| • First withdrawal each month free |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $35 | $10 | $0 | $0 |
#1 Interactive Brokers
Markets and products
Through Interactive Brokers you can access an extremely wide range of markets, with every product type available.
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
#1 Interactive Brokers
Web trading platform
Interactive Brokers's web platform is simple and easy to use even for beginners. On the negative side, it is not customizable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 | 2.5 | - | 3.8 | 4.4 |
#1 Interactive Brokers
Verdict
Interactive Brokers is one of the biggest US-based discount brokers, regulated by several top-tier regulators globally. We recommend this broker for advanced traders.
On the plus side, IB has a vast range of markets and products available, with diverse research tools and low costs.
There are some drawbacks though: there is a high inactivity fee and the account opening process is complicated. The desktop platform is complex and hard-to-understand, especially for beginners.
If you have experience navigating complex platforms and you like transparent low-cost trading, Interactive Brokers could be a great fit for you.
| Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Interactive Brokers is a US discount broker. It is listed on a stock exchange and regulated by several authorities, including top-tier ones like the FCA and the SEC. |
| Fees score | 4.3 |
| Recommended for | Traders looking for low fees and a professional trading environment |
#2 Best international online brokers for citizens in Canada
Tradestation
Tradestation is a US stockbroker founded in 1982. It is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Clients are eligible for up to $500,000 (cash up to $250,000) investor protection per account.
Tradestation is considered safe because it has a long track record, discloses its financials, and its parent company, the Monex Group is listed on the Tokyo stock exchange.
Recommended for traders focusing on us markets and buy-and-hold investing
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Great web and mobile trading platform | • Not user-friendly deposit and withdrawal |
| • Low stock and ETF fees | • No forex trading |
| • High-quality educational tools | • Poor customer service |
#2 Tradestation
Fees
Tradestation has low trading fees and high non-trading fees. You can choose from multiple fee structures, but you still have to pay withdrawal.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • High non-trading fees |
| • Low stock and ETF fees | • Withdrawal fee |
| • Multiple fee structures to choose from |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $1.0 | $1.0 | $25.0 | - | $10.0 |
| UK stock | $7.2 | - | $30.0 | - | $10.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.9 | - | $15.8 | $15.9 | $15.0 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
#2 Tradestation
Account opening
Tradestation account opening is fully digital, user-friendly, and fast. On the other hand, the minimum deposit is $500 and multiple base currencies are only available for futures accounts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • $500 minimum deposit |
| • Fully digital | • Multiple base currencies only for futures accounts |
| • User-friendly |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $500 | $0 | $0 | $250 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day |
#2 Tradestation
Deposit and withdrawal
Tradestation's deposit and withdrawal could be better. For example, you can only use bank transfer and there is a high withdrawal fee. On the upside, the deposit is free and you can choose from multiple base currencies with a futures account.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • Several account base currencies | • High withdrawal fee |
| • Slow withdrawal - over 3 days |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $35 | $10 | $0 | $0 |
#2 Tradestation
Markets and products
Tradestation gives you access to a wide variety of US products, but its non-US market coverage is not competitive. Forex, CFDs and cryptos are missing.
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
#2 Tradestation
Web trading platform
Tradestation has a good web trading platform. It is user-friendly and it looks nice, and it provides a two-step verification. On the flip side, it lacks price alerts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No price alerts |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 | 2.5 | - | 3.8 | 4.4 |
#2 Tradestation
Verdict
Tradestation is a great US broker.
The web and mobile platforms are very user-friendly with many functions. It also offers low stock and ETF trading fees. Lastly, education is well-structured and high-quality.
On the other hand, the deposit and withdrawal are not user-friendly and you can use only bank transfer. There is no forex trading, and the customer service is of poor quality.
Feel free to try Tradestation if you prefer trading on US markets. We recommend it for buy and hold investors with some experience.
| Tradestation | |
|---|---|
| Summary | TradeStation is a US stockbroker regulated by FINRA, a top-tier US regulatory body. |
| Fees score | 4.3 |
| Recommended for | Traders focusing on US markets and buy-and-hold investing |
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#3 Best international online brokers for citizens in Canada
Swissquote
Swissquote is a Swiss investment bank established in 1996. It has two main trading arms: a Swiss unit for trading stocks, funds, options and futures and a company in the UK for CFDs and forex.
Formally, Swissquote Bank Ltd is based in Switzerland and is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), the country's financial regulator.
The other entity, Swissquote Ltd, is UK-based and offers CFDs and forex. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK's financial authority.
Swissquote is considered safe because Swissquote Bank Ltd has a banking license, it is listed on the Swiss stock exchange, discloses detailed financials regularly and it has a long track record.
For clarity, in this review we focus on the Swiss entity, but also discuss services of the UK arm, especially in the case of CFD and forex trading. To make it clear which company we are talking about, we will refer to the Swiss entity as "Swissquote (CH)" and to the UK-based entity as "Swissquote Forex (UK)".
Recommended for affluent investors who value safety and are ok with higher fees
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Access to many markets and products | • High trading fees |
| • No inactivity fee | • Confusing trading platform selection |
| • Rock-solid background | • Some research tools are not free |
#3 Swissquote
Fees
Swissquote doesn't charge an inactivity fee and you can trade an impressive selection of funds for favorable fees. On the other hand, trading fees are generally high, including for stocks and ETFs, and there is a fee for withdrawing your money.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex fees | • High trading fees |
| • Low fund fees | • High stock and ETF fees |
| • No inactivity fee | • High bond fees |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $1.0 | $1.0 | $25.0 | - | $10.0 |
| UK stock | $7.2 | - | $30.0 | - | $10.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.9 | - | $15.8 | $15.9 | $15.0 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
#3 Swissquote
Account opening
Swissquote offers a fully digital account opening, although we encountered some technical difficulties during the identification process. There is no minimum deposit for trading accounts, but a high minimum for forex and robo-advisory accounts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Technical difficulties |
| • No minimum deposit for trading account | • Forex and robo-advisor accounts have high minimum |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $500 | $0 | $0 | $250 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day |
#3 Swissquote
Deposit and withdrawal
Depositing at Swissquote is quick with credit/debit card and can be done in several base currencies. On the negative side, you can only withdraw money via bank transfer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Quick deposit and withdrawal - within 3 days | • Credit/Debit card withdrawal not available |
| • Several account base currencies for forex account |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $35 | $10 | $0 | $0 |
#3 Swissquote
Markets and products
At Swissquote (CH) you have access to many markets and trade with a lot of different product types. At Swissquote Forex (UK) you can trade only forex and some CFDs.
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
#3 Swissquote
Web trading platform
The Swissquote (CH) eTrading platform has a lot of functions, so many that sometimes it can get complicated. Customizability is good and a there is a clear overview of trading fees, but you may run into some bugs.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Clear fee report | • Account login and search function bugs |
| • Good customizability (for charts, workspace) | • Easy to get lost among functions |
| • Available in several languages |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 | 2.5 | - | 3.8 | 4.4 |
#3 Swissquote
Verdict
Swissquote is an investment bank with a rock-solid background:
- It is Swiss,
- it is listed on an exchange
- and it is a bank.
It has two main entities, one in the UK and one in Switzerland. If you open an account at the London-based entity you can trade forex and CFDs, while the Swiss entity gives you access to asset classes ranging from stocks to options.
Swissquote offers a broad range of products across many markets. There are many stocks, mutual funds, and a lot of different other types of products, from bonds to cryptos.
However, nothing comes for free: Swissquote's trading fees are relatively high.
All in all, Swissquote is a great stockbroker. As you can trade many products and no inactivity fee is charged, feel free to give it a try.
| Swissquote | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Swissquote is a Swiss online broker with a banking license. It is listed on the Swiss stock exchange and regulated by several authorities globally, including the top-tier UK FCA. |
| Fees score | 2.3 |
| Recommended for | Affluent investors who value safety and are OK with higher fees |
#4 Best international online brokers for citizens in Canada
Oanda
Oanda is an American forex broker founded in 1996.
It is considered safe because it has a long track record, discloses its financials, and is regulated by top-tier authorities, such as the US Retail Foreign Exchange Dealer (RFED) and the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73.5% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Recommended for forex traders who value a user-friendly platform and great research tools
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Generally low fees | • Only FX and some CFDs |
| • Easy-to-use web trading platform | • Poor customer service |
| • Easy and digital account opening | • High bank withdrawal fee |
#4 Oanda
Fees
Oanda charges low CFD and low forex fees. Non-trading fees are low, though the withdrawal fee is quite high for bank transfers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • High withdrawal fee for bank transfers |
| • Low forex fees | |
| • No withdrawal fee | |
| • No withdrawal fee in most cases |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $1.0 | $1.0 | $25.0 | - | $10.0 |
| UK stock | $7.2 | - | $30.0 | - | $10.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.9 | - | $15.8 | $15.9 | $15.0 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
#4 Oanda
Account opening
Oanda's account opening is straightforward, with no required minimum balance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Issues with ID verification can slow account opening |
| • No minimum deposit | |
| • Low minimum deposit |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $500 | $0 | $0 | $250 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day |
#4 Oanda
Deposit and withdrawal
There is no deposit fee and you can conveniently use your debit card for deposit. While withdrawal is free in most cases, it is expensive for bank transfers, and it involves a fee if you withdraw to your card more than once a month.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • High withdrawal fee for bank transfers |
| • No deposit fee | |
| • Withdrawal is free for PayPal and for the first debit card transaction each month |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $35 | $10 | $0 | $0 |
#4 Oanda
Markets and products
At Oanda you can trade only forex and CFDs. It offers fewer forex pairs but more CFDs than its closest competitors.
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
#4 Oanda
Web trading platform
Oanda's web trading platform is user-friendly and safe with good customizability. On the downside, you can't set price alerts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No price alerts |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 | 2.5 | - | 3.8 | 4.4 |
#4 Oanda
Verdict
Oanda is a good forex broker: its fees are great, and it has a good web trading platform where you will quickly feel comfortable. It provides a user-friendly and fully digital account opening process, as well as powerful research tools, especially API.
On the other hand, Oanda has a limited product portfolio, as only forex and CFDs are available. Customer support is slow, and bank withdrawal fees can be high.
Feel free to try Oanda: it is regulated by top-tier regulators, there is no minimum deposit, and the inactivity fee only kicks in after two years.
| Oanda | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Oanda is a US forex broker. It is regulated by top-tier authorities like the UK FCA and Australia's ASIC. |
| Fees score | 4.5 |
| Recommended for | Forex traders who value a user-friendly platform and great research tools |
#5 Best international online brokers for citizens in Canada
XTB
XTB is a global CFD and forex broker with headquarters in London and Warsaw. The company is regulated by several financial authorities worldwide, including the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF). XTB is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
XTB is considered safe because it is regulated by at least one top-tier financial authority, the FCA, and is listed on a stock exchange.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Recommended for forex and cfd traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex and stock index CFD fees | • High fee for stock CFD |
| • Free and fast deposit and withdrawal | • Limited product portfolio, mostly CFD and FX |
| • Easy and fast account opening | • Poor email support |
#5 XTB
Fees
XTB has low trading fees and low non-trading fees. Within trading fees, there are low fees for forex and stock index CFDs. On the other hand, stock CFD fees are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • High stock CFD fees |
| • Low non-trading fees | |
| • No withdrawal fee |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $1.0 | $1.0 | $25.0 | - | $10.0 |
| UK stock | $7.2 | - | $30.0 | - | $10.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.9 | - | $15.8 | $15.9 | $15.0 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
#5 XTB
Account opening
XTB's account opening process is hassle-free, fully digital and straightforward. Your account will be ready for trading on the same day.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • Low minimum deposit |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $500 | $0 | $0 | $250 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day |
#5 XTB
Deposit and withdrawal
XTB deposits and withdrawals are cost-friendly, fast, and can be done in several forms.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | None |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $35 | $10 | $0 | $0 |
#5 XTB
Markets and products
XTB's product selection covers only CFDs, forex and crypto assets. Some European clients can also trade with real stocks and ETFs. Popular asset classes like bonds, mutual funds, options and futures are not available.
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
#5 XTB
Web trading platform
XTB's xStation 5 platform is user-friendly, can be customized and has a good search function. On the other hand, a two-step login is not available.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Good search function |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 | 2.5 | - | 3.8 | 4.4 |
#5 XTB
Verdict
XTB is a great CFD and forex broker. It is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the UK's FCA, and it is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
On the plus side, its forex and stock index CFD fees are low and the deposit and withdrawal process is free and fast. We also liked the seamless and hassle-free account opening process.
XTB has some drawbacks, though. The stock CFD fees are high. The product range is mainly limited to FX and CFDs, although real stock and ETF trading are available in some European countries. Lastly, its email support did not reply to our queries.
We recommend XTB for clients who prefer forex or CFD trading, and also want to enjoy great deposit and withdrawal options and a fast account opening. Feel free to test it using a demo account.
| XTB | |
|---|---|
| Summary | XTB is a global CFD and forex broker, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and regulated by financial authorities including the UK FCA and Poland's KNF. |
| Fees score | 4.0 |
| Recommended for | Forex and CFD traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service |
Best international online brokers for citizens in Canada
What makes a good online broker
Now you know the top 5. You are probably curious about how we came up with this list. Let's go through a few points quickly. What is an online broker? Why do we think these brokers are safe? What are the most important factors when selecting the best online brokers?
What is an online broker?
Thirty years ago if you wanted to buy a stock, you had to pick up the phone and call your broker, who executed the transaction in return for a commission. Brokers were like in the Wolf of Wall Street movie. They were checking the stocks' prices while holding a telephone and shouting. Everything changed after the internet appeared. Nowadays if you want to buy Apple shares, you open online an account, deposit money, and make the order through the brokers' online platform. These brokers are the online brokers. Online brokers help you buying and selling securities, like stocks. After making your order, the online broker executes it immediately. Everything is online.
Are these brokers safe?
You can be sure none of them is a scam. They are regulated by top-tier authorities. Some of them are also listed on an exchange, while some have a banking background.
However, also brokerage companies can go down. Remember Lehman Brothers? In these cases, it is important to know what happens with your securities and cash. These are usually held in segregated accounts, so even in case of a broker bankruptcy, you are safe.
If everything goes very bad and for example, the broker steals your assets, then you have a last resort, the compensation fund of the country where the broker is regulated.
How did BrokerChooser pick the best international online brokers for a citizen in Canada?
At BrokerChooser, we test online brokers along more than 100 criteria, using real accounts and real money. We don’t want to overwhelm you, so for now we’ll just list the five most important criteria.
The five most important criteria for best international online brokers are:
| 1. Fees | The trading fee of a typical US equity trade can be 50 times higher at one online broker compared to another. Worth to check the fees. |
| 2. Account opening | Some online brokers require a minimum to invest, others don't set a minimal first-time deposit. Check out what the best online brokers require. |
| 3. Deposit and withdrawal | Transferring money to your account can be 5 times longer and more expensive at one online broker compared to another. |
| 4. Products and markets | You want to invest in Amazon and Bitcoin? They might not be available. Check the product coverage before opening an account. |
| 5. Trading platform | A user-friendly and well-equipped trading platform can significantly increase your trading comfort. |
Best international online brokers for citizens in Canada
Bottom line
You saw the details, now let's zoom out. Here are the best international online brokers of 2020 for citizens in Canada:
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Swissquote | Oanda | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Best in | Best online broker | Best app for stock trading | Best mobile trading platform | Best CFD broker | |
| Fees score | 4.3 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Account opening score | 3.4 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 5.0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 2.5 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.5 |
| Markets and products score | 5.0 | 2.5 | 4.9 | 1.5 | 2.8 |
| Web platform score | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker |
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73.5% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
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75% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
Interactive Brokers is our winner, the best international online broker in Canada of 2020. Wide range of products. Many great research tools. Regulated by several authorities.
All of these brokers are considered a great choice. Pick the winner, or any of the runners-up, and take the next step in your investment journey. Let us know what you think in the comment section.
Still unsure? Use the broker finder and find the best international broker for you, or learn more about investing your money.
