The best alternatives to CITIC Securities are
- Interactive Brokers - International broker providing all asset classes
- TradeStation - US stockbroker
- TD Ameritrade - US-based stockbroker
Let's see in a bit more detail how the CITIC Securities alternatives compare to CITIC Securities and each other:
| CITIC Securities | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.6 stars | 4.9 stars | 4.7 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Fees score | 4.0 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.1 stars | 4.1 stars |
| Account opening score | 5.0 stars | 3.2 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.0 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 3.8 stars | 3.0 stars | 2.2 stars | 2.2 stars |
| Web platform score | 3.2 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.3 stars |
| Markets and products score | 2.2 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.2 stars | 3.9 stars |
| Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker |
Why are these brokers considered good alternatives to CITIC Securities? There are many areas based on which CITIC Securities can be compared with others. When we say a given online broker is a good alternative to CITIC Securities we mean these brokers are comparable in the following areas:
- The products they offer, meaning you can buy mostly the same things, i.e. stocks, CFDs, options, etc.
- The type of clients they target, i.e. beginners, experienced investors, or day traders.
CITIC Securities alternatives recommendations
Brokers are different in a number of ways, which means each of them may be suitable for different people. Here's how they compare overall:
- CITIC Securities is recommended for investors and traders looking for assets in china and hong kong markets
- Interactive Brokers is recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment
- TradeStation is recommended for traders focusing on us markets and buy-and-hold investing
- TD Ameritrade is recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform
Important factors of finding CITIC Securities alternatives
So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 102 online brokers in detail, which gives this comparison a solid starting point.
Not only that, but all of these brokers are reviewed using the exact same broker review methodology, which makes everything easily comparable. For each broker, we
- open a live account
- check over 100 criteria, with weighting based on readers' preferences
- refresh data regularly
Whether CITIC Securities or one of its alternatives is the best choice for you is on the following five broker characteristics that most interest people:
Fees. There are different types of fees that your online brokerage may charge, and both the number and the size of these fees may vary significantly from broker to broker. Both of these aspects can impact your returns and your overall experience. CITIC Securities is one of the cheaper brokers, so if this is an important consideration for you, make sure you pick a similarly low-cost CITIC Securities alternative.
Account opening. To open an account some brokers require at least €50,000 to be invested, while others don't set a minimum first-time deposit. The time it takes to open your account can be very different as well. At CITIC Securities this is not a problem as you can have it ready on the same day you registered.
Deposit/withdrawal. The number of ways that you can deposit or withdraw money to or from your account matters a lot. For example, while you can make a deposit with a credit card at CITIC Securities, this might not be the case at its alternatives.
Web trading platform. While online brokers are usually available on various platforms like mobile apps, tablet apps or desktop software, most people use them through their web platform in a browser. User-friendly trading platforms that offer many different resources can significantly increase your trading comfort.
Markets and products. A lot of people have specific products they would like to invest in. Knowing whether stocks, forex, mutual funds, and other products are available at the given CITIC Securities alternative is a must.
Now let's dive into the details of how CITIC Securities and its alternatives perform in the most important areas!
CITIC Securities alternatives
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers, one of the biggest US-based discount brokers, was founded in 1977. 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).
Given that the broker has licenses from multiple top-tier regulators, has a long track record and publicly disclosed financials while being listed on a stock exchange; it all points towards IB being a safe service provider.
IB currently offers high interest on cash balances in several currencies for investors with assets over $10,000.
Interactive Brokers recently launched a new app for global stock trading: GlobalTrader is a simple platform where you can trade stocks and ETFs. If you are looking to trade only those two assets, GlobalTrader is the solution for you, since you will not get distracted with the other unnecessary information about other asset classes. In addition, you will have a more convenient time navigating through its simple user interface. It is also easier and quicker to create a GlobalTrader account than to create an Interactive Brokers account. Read our review of IBKR GlobalTrader
In addition, Interactive Brokers also has an app you can use for ESG investing: read our review of IMPACT by Interactive Brokers.
Recommended for traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Low trading fees and high interest (up to 4.58% for USD) on cash balances
|
• Complicated account opening process
|
|
• Wide range of products
|
• Complex desktop trading platform
|
|
• Many great research tools
|
• Understaffed customer service
|
Fees
Interactive Brokers has low trading fees and the best margin rates in the industry. IB currently pays interest (up to 4.58% for USD) on cash balances if you have a $100k account (net asset value). For US clients, stock and ETF trading is free if they choose the Lite plan.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Low trading fees
|
None |
|
• Free stock and ETF trading for US clients
|
|
|
• Low margin rates
|
|
| Interactive Brokers | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $2.3 | - |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $8.2 | - |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $14.8 | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
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
|
|
| Interactive Brokers | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day |
If you are interested more in Interactive Brokers minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Interactive Brokers offers several account base currencies and one free withdrawal per month. The main drawback is that you can only use bank transfer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• No deposit fee
|
• Credit/Debit card not available
|
|
• Several account base currencies
|
|
|
• First withdrawal free each month
|
|
| Interactive Brokers | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
The Interactive Brokers web platform is simple and easy to use, even for beginners, however there are some minor but annoying glitches.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• User-friendly
|
• User experience could be better
|
|
• Clear fee report
|
|
|
• Two-step (safer) login
|
|
| Interactive Brokers | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.8 stars | 3.2 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.5 stars | 4.2 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.8 stars | 3.0 stars |
Learn more about Interactive Brokers's web trading platform in the detailed Interactive Brokers review.
Markets and products
At Interactive Brokers, you have access to an extremely wide range of markets and all product types are available.
| Interactive Brokers | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
Verdict
Interactive Brokers is one of the biggest US-based lowest spread brokers, regulated by several top-tier regulators globally. We recommend this broker both for advanced traders and for everyday investors who want to have access to many stock markets.
On the plus side, IB offers very low fees, a vast range of markets and products, and diverse research tools. IB currently also pays a high interest on cash balances in several currencies.
There are some drawbacks, however. We weren't satisfied with the quality of the customer service and the account opening process is complicated. Unlike the web and mobile platforms, 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 is 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 | 4.4 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment |
CITIC Securities alternatives
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 investor protection per account (including cash up to $250,000).
TradeStation is considered safe because it has a long track record; transparently 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
|
• Inconvenient deposit and withdrawal
|
|
• Low trading fees
|
• No forex trading
|
|
• High-quality research and education tools
|
• Mediocre customer service
|
Fees
TradeStation has low trading fees, and you can choose from multiple fee structures. On the negative side, there's an inactivity fee and only ACH is free for withdrawals.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Low trading fees
|
• Inactivity fee
|
|
• Low stock and ETF fees / Free stock trading
|
• WIthdrawal fee for bank wire transfers
|
|
• Free ACH withdrawals
|
|
| TradeStation | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $0.3 | - |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | - | - |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
TradeStation account opening is fully digital, user-friendly and fast. There are many account types, but USD is the only available base currency (except for futures accounts).
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Fast
|
None |
|
• Fully digital
|
|
|
• User-friendly
|
|
| TradeStation | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day |
If you are interested more in TradeStation minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
TradeStation's deposit and withdrawal functions are somewhat limited, as you can use only bank transfer; while the fee for wire transfer withdrawals is high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• No deposit fee
|
• Credit/Debit card not available
|
|
• Deposit/withdrawal in cryptocurrencies
|
• High fee for wire withdrawal
|
|
• ACH withdrawal is free
|
|
| TradeStation | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
TradeStation has a nice-looking, user-friendly web trading platform with a safe login process.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Clear fee report
|
None |
|
• Two-step (safer) login
|
|
|
• Good search function
|
|
| TradeStation | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.8 stars | 3.2 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.8 stars | 4.2 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 2.3 stars | 3.0 stars |
Learn more about TradeStation's web trading platform in the detailed TradeStation review.
Markets and products
TradeStation grants access to a wide variety of US products, but its non-US market coverage is poor. Also, forex and CFDs are not available.
| TradeStation | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
Verdict
TradeStation is a great US broker.
The web and mobile platforms are very user-friendly, with many great functions. TradeStation also charges low stock and ETF trading fees. On top of that, its education materials are well-structured and high quality.
On the other hand, deposit and withdrawal functions are not that convenient, as you can only use bank transfers. Among other negatives, there is no forex trading, and customer service has room for improvement.
As there is no minimum deposit, feel free to try TradeStation if you prefer trading on US markets.
| TradeStation | |
|---|---|
| Summary | TradeStation is a US stockbroker regulated by FINRA, a top-tier US regulatory body. |
| Fees score | 4.1 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders focusing on US markets and buy-and-hold investing |
CITIC Securities alternatives
TD Ameritrade
If you are an experienced trader looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform, we definitely recommend TD Ameritrade.
Founded in 1975, TD is one of the biggest US-based stockbrokers and is regulated by top-tier authorities like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
This online broker is considered safe as it has a long track record, is listed on a stock exchange, has a banking background, discloses its financials and is overseen by top-tier regulators.
Recommended for investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Low trading fees (free stock and ETF trading)
|
• You can trade only on US markets
|
|
• Superb desktop trading platform
|
• Accounts mostly limited to US residents
|
|
• Great customer support
|
• No credit/debit cards and electronic wallets for money transfer
|
Fees
TD Ameritrade offers free stock and ETF trading, while forex, bond and options fees are also low. On the other hand, it charges high fees for non-free funds and futures.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Low trading fees
|
• High fund fees
|
|
• Low non-trading fees
|
|
|
• Free stocks and ETFs
|
|
| TD Ameritrade | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $0.3 | - |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | - | - |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $14.1 | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
TD Ameritrade offers many different account types and there is no minimum deposit for US citizens.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Fully digital
|
None |
|
• No minimum deposit
|
|
|
• Many account types
|
|
| TD Ameritrade | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day |
If you are interested more in TD Ameritrade minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
The account funding is user-friendly with no deposit fees; however, USD is the only available base currency and wire transfers incur a high fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Free withdrawal
|
• Credit/Debit card not available
|
|
• No deposit fee
|
• Only one account base currency
|
|
• User-friendly
|
• High withdrawal fee for wire transfers
|
| TD Ameritrade | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
TD Ameritrade offers a good web trading platform with a clean design. On the flip side, the platform is not customizable.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• User-friendly
|
• Limited customizability (for charts, workspace)
|
|
• Two-step (safer) login
|
|
|
• Good variety of order types
|
|
| TD Ameritrade | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.3 stars | 3.2 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.8 stars | 4.2 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 4.5 stars | 3.0 stars |
Learn more about TD Ameritrade's web trading platform in the detailed TD Ameritrade review.
Markets and products
You can trade many asset classes, from stocks to futures and forex, while nice extras include social trading and robo-advisory. On the other hand, only the US market is covered.
| TD Ameritrade | CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
Verdict
TD is one of the biggest US online brokers and it charges no commission on stock and ETF trades.
Research and education are outstanding, the thinkorswim desktop platform is one of the best on the market, and customer service is great.
There are a few drawbacks, most notably high margin rates, and the fact that credit/debit cards and electronic wallets are not accepted for money transfers. Furthermore, the product portfolio covers only US markets.
We definitely recommend giving TD a try, especially as their education tools include a demo account.
| TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|
| Summary | TD Ameritrade is a US stockbroker regulated by top-tier authorities SEC and FINRA. The company is listed on NASDAQ and has a banking background as part of the TD Group. The brokerage was acquired by Charles Schwab Corporation in 2020. Client account conversion is expected between April and September of 2023. |
| Fees score | 4.1 stars |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform |
CITIC Securities alternatives
CITIC Securities
CITIC Securities is a Chinese financial company. The firm provides services ranging from brokerage to asset management. CITIC Securities was founded in 1995 and is regulated by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC).
CITIC Securities is considered safe because it has a long track record, is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and is regulated by a top-tier financial authority.
CITIC Securities has two main legal entities, one based in Mainland China and one based in Hong Kong. In this review, we focus mostly on the Mainland China entity, but we cover some important information about the Hong Kong-based entity as well.
Recommended for investors and traders looking for assets in china and hong kong markets
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Low fees on Chinese markets
|
• Limited product selection
|
|
• Easy account opening
|
• No demo account
|
|
• Excellent research tools
|
• Platforms lack important features
|
Fees
CITIC Securities has generally low trading and non-trading fees. Fees for Chinese stocks are one of the lowest on the market; however, fees for Hong Kong stocks are a bit higher.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Low fees for Chinese stocks
|
• Higher fees for Hong Kong stocks
|
|
• Low non-trading fees
|
|
| CITIC Securities | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | - | $1.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
| UK stock | - | $3.7 | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k
Account opening
The account opening is easy and fully digital at CITIC Securities. There is also no minimum deposit required.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Fast
|
None |
|
• Fully digital
|
|
|
• No minimum deposit
|
|
| CITIC Securities | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1-3 days |
Learn more about CITIC Securities minimum deposit here.
Deposit and withdrawal
CITIC Securities charges no deposit or withdrawal fees, and these transactions are instant, which is a great plus. However, you can hold your cash only in CNY, HKD or USD.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• Free withdrawal
|
• Limited account currency selection
|
|
• No deposit fee
|
|
|
• Instant deposit and withdrawal
|
|
| CITIC Securities | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
The CITIC Securities web trading platform is simple and easy to use, with a great search function. However, the platform lacks two-step login, customizability, and the number of order types is limited.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
• User-friendly
|
• No two-step (safer) login
|
|
• Clear fee report
|
• Limited customizability (for charts, workspace)
|
|
• Good search function
|
• Limited order types
|
| CITIC Securities | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.2 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.3 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.2 stars | 3.5 stars | 4.8 stars | 4.8 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 3.0 stars | 3.8 stars | 2.3 stars | 4.5 stars |
Learn more about CITIC Securities's web trading platform in the detailed CITIC Securities review.
Markets and products
CITIC Securities gives access to many asset classes, including stocks, ETFs, funds and bonds. However, these asset classes cover only Chinese and Hong Kong markets. Also, forex and CFDs are not available.
| CITIC Securities | Interactive Brokers | TradeStation | TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes | No | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Verdict
CITIC Securities is great for investors and traders looking for a broker with a solid background and focusing on the Chinese and Hong Kong markets.
On the plus side, CITIC Securities has low fees for Chinese markets. The account opening is fast, and research tools cover great services, such as detailed fundamental data.
There are some drawbacks, though. The product selection covers only China and Hong Kong markets. There is no demo account and the trading platform lacks important features.
As your account will be ready within a few minutes and there is no minimum deposit, feel free to give CITIC Securities a try.
| CITIC Securities | |
|---|---|
| Summary | CITIC Securities is a Chinese full-service investment bank, regulated by the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). |
| Fees score | 4.0 stars |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for assets in China and Hong Kong markets |
CITIC Securities alternatives
Bottom line
Based on our analysis, there are several good alternatives to CITIC Securities. They all offer similar products and target similar customers. Here's a recap of the results in a table.
| Broker | Info | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| CITIC Securities | Chinese securities firm | Investors and traders looking for assets in China and Hong Kong markets |
| Interactive Brokers | International broker providing all asset classes | Traders looking for broad market access and a professional trading environment |
| TradeStation | US stockbroker | Traders focusing on US markets and buy-and-hold investing |
| TD Ameritrade | US-based stockbroker | Investors and traders looking for solid research and a well-equipped desktop trading platform |
Still unsure? Use our broker finder and find the best broker for you or learn more about investing your money.
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