To find the best international online brokers in the U.S. Virgin Islands, 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 the U.S. Virgin Islands:
- Interactive Brokers is the number one international online broker in 2020. Low trading fees. Wide range of products. Many great research tools.
- Tradestation is your runner-up. Great web and mobile trading platform. Low stock and ETF fees. High-quality educational tools.
- Oanda rounds out the top three. Generally low fees. Easy-to-use web trading platform. Easy and digital account opening.
- IG, numero quatro. First-class web trading platform. Superb educational tools. Great deposit and withdrawal options.
- Zacks Trade. Low fees. Extensive stock and ETF selection. Great customer service.. 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 | Oanda | US forex broker | 4.6 | Best mobile trading platform |
| #4 | IG | Global CFD and forex broker | 4.6 | |
| #5 | Zacks Trade | US discount broker | 4.6 |
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 the U.S. Virgin Islands one by one, starting with the winner, Interactive Brokers.
#1 Best international online brokers for citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands
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
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Complicated account opening process |
| • Wide range of products | • Complex desktop trading platform |
| • Many great research tools | • High inactivity fee |
#1 Interactive Brokers
Fees
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.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Inactivity fee |
| • Low stock and ETF fees | |
| • Free stock and ETF trading for US clients | |
| • Low margin rates |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $1.0 | $1.0 | - | $15.0 | $1.0 |
| UK stock | $7.2 | - | - | $9.6 | $14.4 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.9 | - | $15.9 | $16.8 | - |
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 process is complicated, and account verification takes relatively long.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Not user-friendly |
| • No minimum deposit for most account types | • Confusing messages throughout the process |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1-3 days | >3 days |
#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 | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#1 Interactive Brokers
Markets and products
Through Interactive Brokers you can access an extremely wide range of markets and all product types are available.
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
#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 | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.5 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | 2.5 stars | 3.8 stars | - | 3.0 stars |
#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.
| 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 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders looking for low fees and a professional trading environment |
#2 Best international online brokers for citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands
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 you can choose from multiple fee structures. On the negative side, withdrawals are costly.
| 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 | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $1.0 | $1.0 | - | $15.0 | $1.0 |
| UK stock | $7.2 | - | - | $9.6 | $14.4 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.9 | - | $15.9 | $16.8 | - |
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 base currency can be only USD (with the exception of the futures account).
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Multiple base currencies only for futures accounts |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1-3 days | >3 days |
#2 Tradestation
Deposit and withdrawal
Tradestation's deposit and withdrawal could be better. Although there is no deposit fee and the process is user-friendly, you can use only bank transfer; and the fee for bank transfer withdrawals (wire transfers) is high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No deposit fee | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • Several account base currencies | • High fee for wire withdrawal |
| • Deposit and withdrawal in cryptocurrencies |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $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. Also, forex and CFDs are missing.
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
#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 | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.5 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | 2.5 stars | 3.8 stars | - | 3.0 stars |
#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 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders focusing on US markets and buy-and-hold investing |
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#3 Best international online brokers for citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands
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 |
#3 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 | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $1.0 | $1.0 | - | $15.0 | $1.0 |
| UK stock | $7.2 | - | - | $9.6 | $14.4 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.9 | - | $15.9 | $16.8 | - |
All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
#3 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 | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1-3 days | >3 days |
#3 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 | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#3 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 | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
#3 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 | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.5 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | 2.5 stars | 3.8 stars | - | 3.0 stars |
#3 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 stars |
| Recommended for | Forex traders who value a user-friendly platform and great research tools |
#4 Best international online brokers for citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands
IG
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
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • First-class web trading platform | • High stock CFD fees |
| • Superb educational tools | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Great deposit and withdrawal options | • Slow customer support |
#4 IG
Fees
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.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No withdrawal fee | • High stock CFD trading fees |
| • Low stock index CFD trading fees |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $1.0 | $1.0 | - | $15.0 | $1.0 |
| UK stock | $7.2 | - | - | $9.6 | $14.4 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.9 | - | $15.9 | $16.8 | - |
All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
#4 IG
Account opening
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.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Slower account opening |
| • Low minimum deposit | |
| • No minimum deposit for bank transfer |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1-3 days | >3 days |
#4 IG
Deposit and withdrawal
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.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | None |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#4 IG
Markets and products
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.
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
#4 IG
Web trading platform
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.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | None |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.5 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | 2.5 stars | 3.8 stars | - | 3.0 stars |
#4 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.
| IG | |
|---|---|
| Summary | IG is a CFD and forex broker. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and regulated by several authorities globally, including the top-tier FCA. |
| Fees score | 3.4 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders of any experience level looking for an easy-to-use trading platform |
#5 Best international online brokers for citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Zacks Trade
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
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fees | • Complex desktop platform and research tools |
| • Extensive stock and ETF selection | • Slow and complicated account opening |
| • Great customer service. | • Limited educational tools |
#5 Zacks Trade
Fees
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.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low stock and ETF fees | • High fund fees |
| • No inactivity fee | |
| • Low margin rates |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $1.0 | $1.0 | - | $15.0 | $1.0 |
| UK stock | $7.2 | - | - | $9.6 | $14.4 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $17.9 | - | $15.9 | $16.8 | - |
All spreads, commissions and financing rates are for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
#5 Zacks Trade
Account opening
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.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Slow |
| • No minimum deposit | • Not user-friendly |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $1 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1-3 days | >3 days |
#5 Zacks Trade
Deposit and withdrawal
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.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free withdrawal | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • No deposit fee | |
| • Several account base currencies |
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#5 Zacks Trade
Markets and products
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.
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| CFD | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
#5 Zacks Trade
Web trading platform
Zacks Trade 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 | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.5 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 4.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | 2.5 stars | 3.8 stars | - | 3.0 stars |
#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.
| Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Zacks Trade is a US discount broker, which also allows international clients to open an account. Zacks Trade is a division of LBMZ Securities, which is regulated by SEC and FINRA. Customers are protected by SIPC scheme, up to $500,000 (including $250,000 limit for cash). |
| Fees score | 4.3 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders and investors looking for comprehensive research tools, wide product selection, and low fees |
Best international online brokers for citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands
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 the U.S. Virgin Islands?
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 the U.S. Virgin Islands
Bottom line
You saw the details, now let's zoom out. Here are the best international online brokers of 2020 for citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands:
| Interactive Brokers | Tradestation | Oanda | IG | Zacks Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Best in | Best online broker | Best app for stock trading | Best mobile trading platform | ||
| Fees score | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 3.4 stars | 4.3 stars |
| Account opening score | 3.4 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.4 stars | 2.8 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 2.5 stars | 1.8 stars | 4.2 stars | 4.5 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Markets and products score | 5.0 stars | 2.7 stars | 1.5 stars | 3.5 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.5 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Find out more | Find out more |
Find out more
73.5% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
Find out more
76% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
Find out more |
Interactive Brokers is our winner, the best international online broker in the U.S. Virgin Islands 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.
