Best international online brokers for citizens in Pakistan

To find the best international online brokers in Pakistan, we went ahead and did the research for you. After testing, analyzing and comparing 71 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 Pakistan:

1. Interactive Brokers is the number one international online broker in 2020. Low trading fees. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
2. Saxo Bank is your runner-up. Great trading platform. Outstanding research. Broad product portfolio.
3. IG rounds out the top three. First-class web trading platform. Superb educational tools. Great deposit and withdrawal options.
4. CMC Markets, numero quatro. Low forex fees. Great web and mobile platforms. Advanced research and educational tools.
5. Zacks Trade. Low fees. Extensive stock and ETF selection. Great customer service.. Just made it to the list at number five.

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 Pakistan one by one, starting with the winner, 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, Interactive Brokers is considered safe. 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

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#1 Interactive Brokers
Fees

4.3

Interactive Brokers has low trading fees; while for US clients, stock and ETF trading is free. On the negative side, there is a high inactivity fee for non-US clients.

All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.

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#1 Interactive Brokers
Account opening

3.4

IB's account opening process is fully digital and the required minimum deposit is low. On the negative side, the process is complicated, and account verification takes relatively long.

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#1 Interactive Brokers
Deposit and withdrawal

2.5

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.

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#1 Interactive Brokers
Markets and products

5.0

Through Interactive Brokers you can access an extremely wide range of markets and all product types are available.

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#1 Interactive Brokers
Web trading platform

4.3

Interactive Brokers's web platform is simple and easy to use, even for beginners. On the negative side, it is not customizable.

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#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 low fees, a vast range of markets and products available with diverse research tools. 

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 get a handle on, especially for beginners.

If you have experience navigating complex platforms and enjoy transparent, low-cost trading, Interactive Brokers could be a great fit for you.

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Saxo Bank is a Danish investment bank founded in 1992, providing online trading and investments. The company is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the Danish Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). 

Saxo Bank is a global service provider. In the different regions, its subsidiaries are present in the form of separate legal entities. The services offered by each entity might change slightly especially in case of their fees and products available to trade. In this review, we tested Saxo Bank UK.

Saxo Bank is considered safe because it has a long track record, has a banking background, and is regulated by top-tier financial authorities.

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

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#2 Saxo Bank
Fees

2.9

Saxo Bank has average trading and non-trading fees overall. The fees for forex, mutual funds and stock index CFDs are low, while they are average for real stocks, ETFs or stock CFDs. Bond, options and futures fees are high.

All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.

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#2 Saxo Bank
Account opening

2.5

Saxo's account opening is fully digital, user-friendly, and available in most of the world. On the other hand, the minimum deposit is high in certain countries, and account verification can take longer.

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#2 Saxo Bank
Deposit and withdrawal

4.8

Saxo provides multiple deposit and withdrawal options free of charge on a user-friendly interface.

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#2 Saxo Bank
Markets and products

5.0

Saxo Bank's product portfolio is great. It covers all asset classes and a lot of markets globally. Mutual funds and crypto are the only areas where its selection could be improved.

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#2 Saxo Bank
Web trading platform

5.0

Saxo Bank's web trading platform is one of the best among online brokers. It's easy to use, but also provides features favored by professionals, such as an advanced order panel.

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#2 Saxo Bank
Verdict

Saxo Bank is a great broker, providing a complex and good service.

Saxo offers a user-friendly and well-designed trading platform, backed by great research. The product portfolio covers all asset types and many international markets.

It has some drawbacks though. The fees for bonds, options and futures are high. There is also a high minimum deposit for certain countries. Lastly, there is no live chat or 24/7 customer support.

In general, Saxo Bank is one of the best online brokerage companies out there. By opening an account, you will get a broad, well-developed service constantly responding to the needs of clients.

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IG was established in the UK in 1974 and is one of the biggest CFD brokers in the world. It is regulated by several bodies globally, including top-tier regulators like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). IG Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

IG is considered safe because it is listed on a stock exchange, discloses its financials and is overseen by top-tier regulators.

Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% 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. CFDs are not provided for US clients. Forex trading involves risk. Losses can exceed deposits.

Recommended for traders of any experience level looking for an easy-to-use trading platform

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76% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#3 IG
Fees

3.4

IG has low fees for stock index CFDs, while forex fees are average to low. There is no fee for withdrawals and an inactivity fee is charged only after 2 years. On the negative side, the stock CFD fees are high.

All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.

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76% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#3 IG
Account opening

4.4

IG's account opening is seamless and fully digital. There is no minimum deposit for bank transfers and a low, $/€300 minimum deposit for credit/debit cards and PayPal. On the other hand, account verification takes around 3 business days, which is slower than at some other brokers.

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76% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#3 IG
Deposit and withdrawal

4.5

IG offers free and fast deposits and withdrawals. There are various options for funding your account, including traditional methods such as bank wire transfer and credit card funding, as well as PayPal.

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76% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#3 IG
Markets and products

3.5

At IG, most clients can only trade with CFDs, forex and options. There are literally thousands of CFDs available to trade. Residents in the UK and some other countries can also trade with real stocks. Other popular assets, however, like mutual funds and bonds, are not available.

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76% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#3 IG
Web trading platform

5.0

IG's web trading platform is great for both beginners and professional traders. It is easy to use, has all the necessary functions and can be customized.

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76% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#3 IG
Verdict

IG is one of the biggest and most reliable CFD brokers. It is regulated by several financial authorities around the world. IG Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

IG has one of the best web trading platforms BrokerChooser has tested. The deposit and withdrawal conditions are great. You can also expand your knowledge with great educational materials.

On the other hand, there are some drawbacks. The stock CFD fees are high and the product portfolio in most countries is limited to forex, CFDs and options. Customer support could be better.

Feel free to test IG's first-class trading platform, since there is no minimum funding amount for bank transfers and you can also easily open a demo account. 

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76% of retail CFD accounts lose money

CMC Markets was founded in 1989 and it is a global CFD and forex broker. It is regulated by several authorities globally, including the top-tier FCA. The company is also listed on the London Stock Exchange.

CMC Markets is considered safe because it has a long track record, is listed on stock exchange, and is regulated by top-tier regulators.

Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 79% 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 an advanced trading platform with many research tools

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79% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#4 CMC Markets
Fees

4.0

CMC Markets has competitive forex fees and there is no fee charged for deposit or withdrawal. However, the stock CFD fees are high.

All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.

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79% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#4 CMC Markets
Account opening

3.9

CMC Markets' account opening is fully digital and there is no required minimum deposit to activate your account. On the other hand, the instructions about how many documents we should upload are unclear, which can lead to a longer verification process.

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79% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#4 CMC Markets
Deposit and withdrawal

4.9

You can use multiple options for deposit and withdrawal, and a lot of account base currencies are accepted at CFD accounts. The domestic bank, credit/debit card, and electronic wallet withdrawals are free of charge, however, if you use a same-day or international bank withdrawals, a £15 fee is charged.

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79% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#4 CMC Markets
Markets and products

2.2

CMC Markets' product selection covers only CFDs, forex and crypto assets. You can't trade with popular asset classes, such as real stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options or futures.

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79% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#4 CMC Markets
Web trading platform

4.4

CMC'S Next Generation has a clean and modern design. The platform is highly customizable and includes several great features, such as an advanced order panel. On the other hand, there is no two-step authentication.

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79% of retail CFD accounts lose money

#4 CMC Markets
Verdict

CMC Markets is regulated by top-tier regulators and one of the best CFD and forex brokers among brokers. 

On the plus side, it has low forex fees, well-developed trading platforms, and useful research and educational tools.

There are a few drawbacks though. The stock CFD fees are high and the account verification is not seamless. Also, product selection covers only CFD and forex asset classes, no real stock, bond, or mutual fund are provided.

Feel free to test CMC Markets' first-class trading platform since it has great features and there is no minimum required deposit to open an account. 

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79% of retail CFD accounts lose money

Zacks Trade is a US-based discount broker and division of LMBZ Securities. LMBZ Securities was founded in 1978 and regulated by the top-tier SEC and FINRA.

LMBZ Securities' clearing and execution services are provided through Interactive Brokers, a global stockbroker regulated by many top-tier financial authorities globally.

If you've used Interactive Brokers' service, you might notice that many of Zacks Trade's services are the same. To summarize it:

• Zacks Trade has a different fee structure, product selection, educational tools, and customer support.
• The account opening, deposit/withdrawal, trading platforms, and research tools are the same as at Interactive Brokers.

Zacks Trade is considered safe because it has a long track record, discloses its financial statements annually (as a part of LBMZ Securities), and is regulated by top-tier regulators. 

Recommended for traders and investors looking for comprehensive research tools, wide product selection, and low fees

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#5 Zacks Trade
Fees

4.3

Zacks Trade has both low trading fees and low non-trading fees. The stock, ETF, and bond fees are especially low and the stock margin rates are spectacular. However, mutual fund fees are quite high.

All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.

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#5 Zacks Trade
Account opening

2.8

Zacks Trade has a fully digital account opening and accepts clients from all over the world. You can start using your account by depositing less than $2,500, however, Zacks Trade recommends to deposit this amount. On the negative side, we found the process slow and hard to navigate.

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#5 Zacks Trade
Deposit and withdrawal

3.5

Zacks Trade has one free withdrawal per month for nearly all currencies offered. However, credit/debit cards and electronic wallets are not authorized to deposit or withdraw funds.

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#5 Zacks Trade
Markets and products

3.8

Zacks Trade offers stocks, ETFs, and bonds from international markets, which is fairly unique for a US-based broker. There are also US mutual funds and options provided. On the other hand, futures or forex asset classes are missing.

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#5 Zacks Trade
Web trading platform

4.5

Zacks Trade web platform is simple and easy to use even for beginners. On the negative side, it is not customizable.

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#5 Zacks Trade
Verdict

Zacks Trade is a great US discount broker. Zacks Trade is a division of LMBZ Securities, which is regulated by the SEC and FINRA.

On the plus side, Zacks Trade has low fees, outstanding stock and ETF selections, and great customer service.

There are some drawbacks though, the desktop trading platform and research tools are complex. The account opening is complicated and slow. Lastly, we missed some useful educational tools.

As Zacks Trade provides a demo account and doesn't require any minimum deposit, feel free to try it.

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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 Pakistan?

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:

You saw the details, now let's zoom out. Here are the best international online brokers of 2020 for citizens in Pakistan:

Interactive Brokers is our winner, the best international online broker in Pakistan of 2020. Low trading fees. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
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.