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Best international online brokers in India in 2024

Written by
Adam N.
Fact checked by
Updated
Dec 2023
Dive into our toplist of regulated and trusted brokers that we tested with real money. Every broker is available in India.

Find below the strengths of the best brokers available in India, updated for 2024:

  1. Interactive Brokers is the best international online brokers in India in 2024. - Low trading fees and high interest on cash balances. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
  2. Saxo Bank - Great trading platform. Outstanding research. Broad product portfolio. Interest paid on uninvested cash.
  3. NinjaTrader - Low trading fees. Great platform and research. Quality educational materials.
  4. CMC Markets - Low forex fees. Great web and mobile platforms. Advanced research and educational tools.
  5. Optimus Futures - Low trading fees and free ACH withdrawal. Great platform and research. Fast customer service.
  6. tastytrade - Low trading fees. Great educational materials. Good research tools.
  7. Alpaca Trading - Great API trading service. Free stock & ETF trading. Fantastic charting tools.
  8. Swissquote - Access to many markets and products. No inactivity fee. Rock-solid background.
  9. TradeStation - Great web and mobile trading platform. High level of investor protection. High-quality research and education tools.
  10. Axi - Low forex fees. No withdrawal/deposit fees. Fully digital account opening.
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Comparison of international online brokers in India

While many international online trading brokers catering to clients in India offer an excellent service, the ones in our toplist go the extra mile. These international online trading platforms offer a broad range of markets and asset classes and are suitable for beginners and experienced traders alike.

Broker
Overall score
Minimum deposit
Interactive Brokers
4.9
/5
$0
Saxo Bank
4.9
/5
$0
NinjaTrader
4.5
/5
$0
CMC Markets
4.5
/5
$0
Optimus Futures
4.5
/5
$500
tastytrade
4.5
/5
$0
Alpaca Trading
4.4
/5
$0
Swissquote
4.4
/5
$0
TradeStation
4.4
/5
$0
Axi
4.4
/5
$0
Best international online brokers in 2024

Popularity of the best online brokers in India

Interested in what others think? Here's how many people chose these brokers at BrokerChooser in the last 6 months.

Fee comparison at the best online brokers in India

In most cases the key broker selection criteria is how much you have to pay for a trade in spreads, commission and other trading costs, so we collected the most important fees for you in the table below.

Broker
US stock
Indian stock
Interactive Brokers
$1.0
$0.20
Saxo Bank
$1.6
-
NinjaTrader
-
-
CMC Markets
-
-
Optimus Futures
-
-
tastytrade
$0.0
-
Alpaca Trading
$0.0
-
Swissquote
$20.0
-
TradeStation
$5.0
-
Axi
-
-
Fees at the best international online brokers in December 2023

Other fees at the best online brokers in India

Other or non-trading fees are charges not directly related to a given trade and typically include the account maintenance fee, deposit/withdrawal fees, and the inactivity fee.

Broker
Account fee
Inactivity fee
Interactive Brokers
Saxo Bank
NinjaTrader
CMC Markets
Optimus Futures
tastytrade
Alpaca Trading
Swissquote
TradeStation
Axi
Non-trading fees at the best international online brokers in December 2023

If you are unsure how brokerage fees work, check out this article on the various fees, charges and costs.

Financial market regulation in India

Online brokers and trading platforms that serve Indian citizens are regulated, licensed and overseen by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, or SEBI, the country’s financial markets regulator. The SEBI and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are responsible for issuing licenses to these brokers and ensuring that their activities comply with existing regulations.

SEBI has implemented several regulations to ensure that all participants in the financial markets are protected and the markets are free from manipulation. Despite these efforts, unregulated and illegal platforms that make promises of high or exorbitant profits are quite widespread in India.

As a general rule, if something sounds too good to be true, it most often is. Do not expect to become a millionaire overnight by trading stocks or forex or CFDs. You may easily end up losing all your invested money if you start working with an unregulated or scam broker.

All the brokers featured in our top list are registered with at least one top-tier regulator and are licensed to operate in India.

Taxation of stock trading in India

Capital gains realized through stock trading are subject to income tax in India. The Indian tax office makes a distinction between:

  • Short-term capital gains and
  • Long-term capital gains.

Short-term capital gains are realized when an Indian trader sells the shares within 12 months of purchasing them and the sales price is higher than the purchase price. The income tax rate applicable to short-term capital gains is 15%.

If the trader sells the stocks after 12 months of purchase and makes a capital gain of more than Rs.1 lakh on the sale, the profit will attract a long-term capital gains tax of 10%. The tax applies to shares traded outside of India as well.

If a trader buys/sells shares within the same trading day (i.e. engages in intraday trading), the gains will be treated as business income and taxed according to the income tax slab of the trader.

And now, let's see the top international online brokers for residents in India in 2024 one by one, starting with the winner, Interactive Brokers.

Recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment

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Interactive Brokers snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer
Withdrawal method Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1-3 days
Inactivity fee No
Read review For a detailed analysis of Interactive Brokers services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research

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Saxo Bank snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Average
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards
Withdrawal method Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee No
Read review For a detailed analysis of Saxo Bank services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for active traders focusing on futures

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NinjaTrader snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer
Withdrawal method Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account >3 days
Inactivity fee Yes
Read review For a detailed analysis of NinjaTrader services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for forex and CFD traders looking for an advanced trading platform with many research tools

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67% of retail CFD accounts lose money

CMC Markets snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards
Withdrawal method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1-3 days
Inactivity fee Yes
Read review For a detailed analysis of CMC Markets services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for day traders focusing on futures and technical trading

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Optimus Futures snapshot
Minimum deposit $500
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer
Withdrawal method Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee $20
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee No
Read review For a detailed analysis of Optimus Futures services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for options and futures traders focusing on US markets

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tastytrade snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer
Withdrawal method Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee No
Read review For a detailed analysis of tastytrade services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for traders interested in algorithmic stock trading

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Alpaca Trading snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer
Withdrawal method Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee No
Read review For a detailed analysis of Alpaca Trading services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for affluent investors who value safety and are OK with higher fees

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Swissquote snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class High
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards
Withdrawal method Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee $10
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee No
Read review For a detailed analysis of Swissquote services, check out our review for 2024

Recommended for traders focusing on US markets and buy-and-hold investing

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TradeStation snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer
Withdrawal method Bank transfer
Withdrawal fee $35
Time to open account 1 day
Inactivity fee Yes
Read review For a detailed analysis of TradeStation services, check out our review for 2024
Axi Logo

Axi

Recommended for forex traders familiar with the MetaTrader 4 platform

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76.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money

Axi snapshot
Minimum deposit $0
Fees class Low
Deposit method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Neteller, Skrill, Sofort, GiroPay, iDeal, Polish Internet Banking, Global Collect, China Union Pay
Withdrawal method Bank transfer, Credit/debit cards, Neteller, Skrill, Sofort, GiroPay, iDeal, Polish Internet Banking, Global Collect, China Union Pay
Withdrawal fee $0
Time to open account 1-3 days
Inactivity fee Yes
Read review For a detailed analysis of Axi services, check out our review for 2024

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How did we select the best international online brokers in India in 2024?

  • We checked whether the broker is regulated by a trusted regulator,
  • Compared fees (including spreads, withdrawal fees, commissions),
  • We checked and compared every aspect of their services,
  • Opened an account and tested the platform (charting, features, usability) with real money.
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FAQ

What is the minimum deposit needed to start trading in India?

There is no set minimum deposit for trading stocks, bonds, forex or CFD in India. but pro traders recommend starting with at least $100.

Is Zerodha an expensive broker?

Zerodha, one of the biggest discount brokers in India, charges low fees and offers free equity delivery trading. The broker is a good choice for beginner investors as well. The account opening is slow and not fully digital and the product portfolio covers only the Indian market. As a Zerodha client, you will not be covered by investor protection.

Which are the best online brokers in India?

The top online brokers in India in 2024 are:

  1. Interactive Brokers - Low trading fees and high interest on cash balances. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
  2. Saxo Bank - Great trading platform. Outstanding research. Broad product portfolio. Interest paid on uninvested cash.
  3. NinjaTrader - Low trading fees. Great platform and research. Quality educational materials.
  4. CMC Markets - Low forex fees. Great web and mobile platforms. Advanced research and educational tools.
  5. Optimus Futures - Low trading fees and free ACH withdrawal. Great platform and research. Fast customer service.
  6. tastytrade - Low trading fees. Great educational materials. Good research tools.
  7. Alpaca Trading - Great API trading service. Free stock & ETF trading. Fantastic charting tools.
  8. Swissquote - Access to many markets and products. No inactivity fee. Rock-solid background.
  9. TradeStation - Great web and mobile trading platform. High level of investor protection. High-quality research and education tools.
  10. Axi - Low forex fees. No withdrawal/deposit fees. Fully digital account opening.
Got questions?
Engage with our growing community of traders and investors like you to find your answers.
Join now

Author of this article

Adam Nasli

Financial Wizard | Trading • Safety • Market Analysis

I bring extensive financial expertise as one of BrokerChooser's earliest team members. Personally, I tested nearly all 100+ brokers on our site, opening real-money accounts, executing trades, assessing customer services, and providing firsthand assessment. My professional background includes roles in the banking sector and a degree from Central European University, where I teach finance. My passions lies in in-depth research of the financial industry, building trading algorithms, and managing long-term investments.

Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology.

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