9 Best Online Investing Platforms for Expats in 2026

The best online investing platforms for expats in 2026 are Ark7, Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab, CMC Markets, XTB, Robinhood, HSBC Expat, AvaTrade, and TradingView, with Ark7 evaluated for its monthly rental-income distributions and 0% ongoing assets-under-management fee; property-management fees are drawn from rental income.

1. Ark7: fractional shares in professionally managed U.S. rental homes
2. Interactive Brokers: global multi-asset broker trading stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and more
3. Charles Schwab: full-service brokerage with online self-directed and managed accounts
4. CMC Markets: CFD, spread betting, and stockbroking provider across 12,000+ instruments
5. XTB: automated Investment Plans covering 2,200+ ETFs and individual stocks
6. Robinhood: mobile app for trading stocks, options, and crypto
7. HSBC Expat: mutual fund investing linked to an HSBC Expat bank account
8. AvaTrade: CFD, forex, and options trading across multiple markets
9. TradingView: charting, screening, and market-analysis platform with broker connections

Platform	Core Fee / Commission	Distribution / Income Model	IRA / Retirement Account Support
Ark7	0% AUM fee; 3% one-time sourcing fee; 8-15% property-management fee on rental income	Monthly rental income distributions to account	Yes; $100/yr custodial fee per property, capped at $400/yr; waived for balances of $100,000 or more
CMC Markets	Standard: $11.00 or 0.10% per trade (first buy under $1,000 free); ALPHA: $9.90 or 0.075%; $15 AUD/mo inactivity fee	Not published	Not published
Interactive Brokers	IBKR Lite: $0 US stocks/ETFs (US residents); IBKR Pro Fixed: $0.005/share; IBKR Pro Tiered: $0.0005 to $0.0035	Not published	Not published
XTB	Free up to €100,000/mo turnover; 0.2% (min €10) above that; 0.5% FX conversion on foreign ETFs	Auto Invest recurring payments; no stated income distribution	Not published
Robinhood	$0 commission trades; Gold subscription $5/mo; $0 management fee on amounts over $100K (Gold)	Not published	Not published
Charles Schwab	$0 online stock/ETF commissions; other fees vary by product and channel	Not published	Not published

Moving abroad does not have to mean starting an investing strategy from zero, but it usually means re-checking it from scratch. The platform you had back home may not accept your new address, and the one everyone recommends online may not accept your passport. The sections below walk through what actually changes for expats, which platforms are worth evaluating, and where the real costs show up.

The Pain Point: Why Expat Investing Gets Complicated Fast

A recent Dubai Islamic Bank survey of expatriate investors found that 69% preferred investing in their home country, compared with 49% who invested through local platforms where they currently live. That gap is a sign of how much friction expats run into: unfamiliar eligibility rules, unclear tax treatment, and platforms that quietly restrict accounts once a mailing address changes.

The category itself is growing quickly. The global online investment platform market is forecast to grow from $4.53 billion in 2025 to $5.18 billion in 2026, a 14.4% compound annual growth rate. More investors are moving money and managing portfolios digitally regardless of where they live. More platforms competing for international business is good news for expats, but it also means more due diligence before opening an account.

The guide below covers the best online investing platforms for expats in 2026, including a real estate platform, Ark7, that offers a different kind of answer to a common expat problem: owning U.S. assets while living somewhere else entirely.

Key Takeaways

• Eligibility depends on residence, not just citizenship. Brokers approve accounts by legal entity and country, so the same person can be accepted in one country and rejected in another.
• International investing carries extra costs. The SEC notes that cross-border investing can involve unexpected withholding taxes on dividends and higher transaction costs than investing purely in U.S. markets.
• American expats carry extra tax paperwork. U.S. tax residents are taxed on worldwide income much like citizens, which affects reporting obligations abroad.
• Rankings vary by criteria. DayTrading.com and Kiplinger have named different platforms as top choices for expats and international traders, which reflects differences in evaluation criteria rather than one clear winner.
• Asset class matters as much as broker choice. Diversifying into income-producing real estate is one way to build U.S.-based holdings without needing to be physically present to manage them.
• The market is growing fast, which means more account options, but also more variation in fee structures and country eligibility to check before funding an account.

What Makes an Online Investing Platform Work for Expats

A platform that works well for expats has to solve problems a domestic investor never thinks about. The first is eligibility: does the provider accept applications from your current country of residence, and does that answer change if you later move again.

The second is total cost, not just the advertised commission. The SEC warns that currency-conversion costs are a potential risk that can affect the economics of an international investment, and that U.S.-registered funds investing abroad may carry higher fees and expenses tied to trading in foreign markets.

The third factor is tax documentation support, since expats need forms that domestic investors never encounter. The fourth is asset variety: stocks and ETFs cover most needs, but bonds, funds, retirement accounts, and real estate shares serve different goals. A platform built for a mobile, time-zone-shifted investor also needs app access that works outside standard market hours and does not assume a single home currency.

Fees, Minimum Deposits, and Currency-Conversion Costs for Expat Investors

Fee comparisons for expats need to include more than a headline commission rate. The SEC points out that international investing may involve fees, commissions, and taxes that run higher than domestic investing, and that currency conversion is a separate cost layered on top of trading fees.

Minimum deposits vary widely across the platforms in this guide, from no minimum deposit at some brokers to per-share minimums measured in the low tens of dollars at others. Ongoing costs differ just as much: some platforms charge per-trade commissions, some charge a flat monthly subscription, and some charge a percentage-based fee above a transaction threshold. Reading the fee schedule in full, including inactivity charges and FX conversion fees, matters more for expats than for domestic investors, since cross-border fees compound with tax withholding and reporting costs that a domestic account never triggers.

Top Online Investing Platforms for Expats, Ranked

The list below covers the best online investing platforms for expats across asset classes, structured so you can compare what each one actually offers before narrowing down a shortlist.

1. Ark7

Ark7 is a real estate investment platform that lets investors buy shares in individual rental homes rather than buying a diversified fund or a single company’s stock. Shares start as low as $20, and the platform uses a hybrid of artificial intelligence and local real estate expertise to source, lease, and manage each property, so investors do not need to handle tenants, repairs, or leasing paperwork themselves. Ark7 currently operates in 10 markets and is expanding nationally.

What sets Ark7 apart

• Monthly passive income: distributions from rental income are paid directly to investors’ accounts each month, rather than relying solely on price appreciation for a return.
• No ongoing management fee: Ark7 charges 0% in ongoing assets-under-management fees, with a 3% one-time sourcing fee and an 8% to 15% property-management fee drawn from rental income rather than investor principal.
• A minimum holding period built for ownership, not trading: this matches how long-term rental property is typically held, and shares may be eligible for sale after the applicable minimum holding period, but no secondary market is assured and investors may need to hold shares indefinitely.
• IRA support with a capped fee: IRA accounts carry a $100 annual custodial fee per property, capped at $400 per year and waived once a balance exceeds $100,000.
• Real estate exposure without local management: a structure well suited to anyone who cannot be on the ground to manage a property directly.

Andrew C., Managing Partner at House of Chwalik and an experienced real estate investor, became part-owner of 4 properties in 4 states through Ark7, using it as a solution for long-distance real estate investment management, a problem that overlaps directly with what many expats face when they want U.S. property exposure from overseas.

Ideal for

• Expats who want U.S. real estate exposure while living abroad and cannot manage a property on site.
• Investors diversifying beyond stocks and ETFs into income-producing property.
• New investors who want monthly passive income without a large upfront capital commitment.

How to Buy Ark7 Rental Shares

Browse Properties to see current rental-home offerings and start with as little as $20 a share.

2. Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers is a global broker offering trading across stocks, ETFs, options, futures, currencies, bonds, mutual funds, and prediction markets through platforms including Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, Trader Workstation, and IBKR Mobile. It provides access to more than 170 markets and, according to one broker comparison, accepts clients from more than 220 countries with no minimum deposit.

Interactive Brokers offers eligible U.S. stocks and ETFs nearly 24 hours a day, five days a week, with a 10-minute break at 3:50 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The broker added Solana, XRP, and Cardano to its live cryptocurrency offering in April 2025.

Key Features

• Multiple trading platforms, including TWS, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, and IBKR APIs
• Access to stocks, ETFs, options, futures, currencies, bonds, mutual funds, and prediction markets
• IBKR Lite and IBKR Pro (Fixed and Tiered) pricing structures
• Cryptocurrency trading including Solana, XRP, and Cardano
• Nearly round-the-clock trading window for eligible U.S. stocks and ETFs

Pricing

IBKR Lite charges $0.00 for US-listed stocks and ETFs for US residents; IBKR Pro Fixed charges $0.005 per share (minimum); IBKR Pro Tiered charges $0.0005 to $0.0035 per share, per Interactive Brokers’ pricing page.

3. Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab provides brokerage, banking, and financial advisory services through its operating subsidiaries, offering self-directed investing, trading through thinkorswim, and full-service wealth management. Schwab notes on its own site that not all products and services are available in all countries and may be subject to country-specific restrictions, and that foreign stock transactions placed directly on local exchanges are not available for online trades.

Key Features

• $0 online commission on listed stocks and ETFs
• $0 online base commission plus $0.65 per contract for options
• thinkorswim available as a desktop, web, and mobile trading platform
• Schwab by Phone and TeleBroker service channels
• Online futures trading at $2.25 per contract

Pricing

$0 online commissions apply to stocks and ETFs; other commissions and transaction fees vary by product and trading channel, per Schwab’s pricing page.

4. CMC Markets

CMC Markets is a provider of retail and institutional trading technology, enabling clients to trade CFDs, financial spread bets in the UK and Ireland, and stockbroking services across forex, indices, commodities, shares, treasuries, and cryptocurrencies on over 12,000 instruments. Clients trade through the CMC web platform, CMC mobile app, Next Generation, MetaTrader 4 and 5, or TradingView.

Key Features

• Trading across forex, indices, commodities, shares, treasuries, and cryptocurrencies
• Over 12,000 tradable instruments
• Access via CMC web, CMC mobile, MetaTrader 4/5, and TradingView
• Standard and ALPHA stockbroking pricing tiers

Pricing

Standard tier: first buy order under $1,000 is $0; other buy and sell orders are $11.00 or 0.10%. ALPHA tier: first buy order under $1,000 is $0; other buy and sell orders are $9.90 or 0.075%. A $15 AUD monthly inactivity charge applies to dormant accounts, per CMC Markets’ pricing page.

5. XTB

XTB’s Investment Plans are a passive investing solution for building portfolios tailored to financial goals, covering over 2,200 ETFs and individual stocks through the XTB mobile platform and web app. XTB’s 2026 liquidity offerings include 24/7 trading on tokenised Big Tech equity CFDs and a tokenised Gold CFD based on PAX Gold, alongside lower gold spreads and improved FX swap conditions.

Key Features

• Investment Plans covering 2,200+ ETFs and individual stocks
• Auto Invest automated recurring payments
• Ready-made, globally diversified risk-based allocation plans and sector plans
• 2026 tokenised Big Tech equity CFD and tokenised Gold CFD trading

Pricing

Investment Plans are free of charge and commission-free up to €100,000 in monthly turnover; transactions above that limit are charged 0.2% (minimum €10); investing in foreign ETFs carries a 0.5% currency-conversion cost, per XTB’s Investment Plans page.

6. Robinhood

Robinhood is a trading app covering stocks, options, and crypto, along with Robinhood Strategies, an expert-managed portfolio service. Trading is available through the Robinhood app and Robinhood Legend.

Key Features

• Stock, options, and crypto trading with $0 commission trades
• Robinhood Strategies expert-managed portfolio service
• Crypto trading availability, including BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, DOGE, and SHIB
• Gold subscription tier with added account features

Pricing

$0 commission trades; Gold subscription costs $5 per month, with zero management fees on amounts over $100,000 for Gold members, per Robinhood’s site.

7. HSBC Expat

HSBC Expat’s International Investment Centre is a global investments service tied to an HSBC Expat bank account, letting clients buy, sell, and research investments. Clients choose how much to invest and track performance through the HSBC Expat Mobile Banking app or online banking, drawing funds from a current or savings account in the HSBC Expat ecosystem.

Key Features

• Access to hundreds of mutual funds from HSBC and other providers
• Buying and selling investments through the mobile banking app or online banking
• Research tools covering fund pricing and past performance
• Requires an HSBC Expat current or savings account in the relevant currency

Pricing

There is no charge to use the International Investment Centre itself, though fund providers apply an annual management charge of around 1% of the investment value. Regular investing requires a minimum of roughly 100 GBP, USD, or EUR per month, or an equivalent lump sum, per HSBC Expat’s site.

8. AvaTrade

AvaTrade offers futures, options, and CFD trading across markets including forex, crypto, stocks, indices, ETFs, bonds, and commodities, accessible through WebTrader, the AvaTrade app, AvaOptions, and MetaTrader 4 and 5.

Key Features

• Futures, options, and CFD trading across multiple markets
• WebTrader, mobile app, AvaOptions, and MetaTrader 4/5 platforms
• Copy trading through AvaSocial and DupliTrade
• Paper trading and trading-signal tools

Pricing

AvaTrade’s published materials do not list detailed account pricing tiers. The company discloses on its site that CFDs are complex, leveraged instruments and that 65% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with the provider.

9. TradingView

TradingView is a charting, market-data, and screening platform rather than a broker itself, connecting to selected third-party brokers for actual trade execution. It offers Supercharts, screeners, and a social network across web, desktop, and mobile apps.

Key Features

• Supercharts with 400+ pre-built indicators and community-built tools
• Stock, ETF, DEX, and crypto screeners
• Economic and earnings calendars
• Trade routing through selected connected brokers rather than native execution

Pricing

Basic plan is free; Essential costs $12.95 per month billed annually; Plus costs $29.95 per month billed annually; Premium costs $59.95 per month billed annually; Ultimate costs $199.95 per month billed annually; enterprise plans use a custom quote, per TradingView’s pricing page.

How Does Platform Availability Change by Country of Residence?

Platform availability for expats depends on citizenship and current country of residence together, since brokers approve accounts by legal entity and jurisdiction rather than by nationality alone. According to one broker guide, the online broker needs to accept applications from your country of residence before you can move forward with opening an account, regardless of which passport you hold.

Industry commentary suggests that Charles Schwab International and Interactive Brokers are common starting points for eligible expats, but acceptance still depends on the applicant’s residence country and the specific account type requested. Separately, one guide for international investors notes that Interactive Brokers is commonly recommended for expats, while Charles Schwab International focuses specifically on serving U.S. citizens living abroad. Published rankings differ for similar reasons: DayTrading.com names CMC Markets its top pick for expats overall, while Kiplinger recognizes Interactive Brokers for its trading hours and global reach, reflecting different evaluation criteria rather than one universal answer. Always confirm live eligibility on the provider’s own country list before applying, since these lists change.

What Tax Forms Do Expat Investors Need to File?

Expats typically need to track FBAR and Form 8938 thresholds for foreign financial accounts, while the specific tax rules that apply depend on U.S. residency status. The IRS states that U.S. tax residents are generally taxed like U.S. citizens on worldwide income, while nonresidents are generally taxed only on U.S.-source income and income connected with a U.S. trade or business.

A U.S. person may need to report foreign brokerage accounts on Form 8938 once applicable thresholds are exceeded, and foreign stock or securities held outside a financial account can also require Form 8938 reporting. Separately, a U.S. person may need to file an FBAR once foreign financial accounts exceed $10,000 in aggregate value at any point in the calendar year, since foreign institutions are not always subject to the same reporting requirements as domestic ones. Keeping a running log of account values across every platform used while living abroad makes both filings far easier at tax time.

Account-Opening Requirements, KYC, and Funding for Non-Resident Investors

Opening an account as an expat generally starts with a residency check rather than a document checklist. Most providers confirm whether their platform accepts applications from the applicant’s current country of residence before moving to identity verification, funding instructions, or currency setup. Requirements and verification steps vary by platform, so the safest approach is to check each provider’s current country-eligibility page directly rather than relying on older reviews, since onboarding policies change.

Funding methods also vary. Some platforms expect a linked bank account in a specific currency, as with HSBC Expat’s requirement for an HSBC Expat current or savings account in the currency of the funds being invested. Others accept standard international wire transfers or card funding. Confirming funding options before applying avoids delays once an account has already been approved.

Safety, Regulation, and Investor Protection for Expat Accounts

Safety for expat investors is partly about the platform’s regulatory status and partly about understanding the extra risks that come with investing across borders. The SEC’s investor education materials flag several of these directly: international investing can involve unexpected withholding taxes on dividends, and currency-conversion costs are a real risk to the economics of an investment rather than a minor detail.

Each platform in this guide discloses its own regulatory status, fee structure, and account protections on its own site, and those details are worth reading in full before funding an account, since protections differ by entity, country, and product type. Treat a provider’s own disclosures, not secondhand reviews, as the final word on what protections actually apply to your account.

How to Choose an Online Investing Platform as an Expat

Choosing among the best online investing platforms for expats comes down to a short list of checks, done in order, before funding anything.

• Confirm eligibility first. Check the provider’s current country list for your exact country of residence, not just your citizenship.
• Add up the real cost. Factor in commissions, currency-conversion fees, inactivity charges, and any custody or subscription fees together, not just the headline rate.
• Check tax documentation support. Confirm the platform can handle the tax forms your situation requires, whether that is FBAR and Form 8938 tracking or non-U.S. tax documentation.
• Match the asset mix to your goals. Stocks and ETFs cover growth and income broadly, but a platform offering fractional real estate shares, like Ark7, adds a different kind of U.S.-based income stream for expats who want property exposure without on-the-ground management.
• Plan for the next move. Since eligibility is tied to current residence, revisit your platform choice whenever you relocate again.

Create Your Free Account with Ark7 to start building passive, monthly real estate income from anywhere you happen to be living.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can expats open an online brokerage account?

Yes, many expats can open brokerage accounts, but acceptance depends on the specific country of residence and the broker’s own eligibility list, not on citizenship alone. Charles Schwab International and Interactive Brokers are common starting points for eligible expats, though both still require confirming eligibility by country before applying.

What fees should expats watch out for beyond trading commissions?

Expats should factor in currency-conversion costs, inactivity charges, foreign dividend withholding taxes, and any custody or subscription fees in addition to headline commission rates. The SEC notes that international investing can involve unexpected withholding taxes on dividends and higher transaction costs than purely domestic investing, so reading the full fee schedule matters more for expats than for domestic investors.

Can non-U.S. residents invest in U.S. stocks?

Yes, foreigners can invest in U.S. stocks and many do, typically through brokers that accept international clients and provide the required U.S. tax documentation for nonresident investors.

Does Charles Schwab International accept non-U.S. residents?

Schwab notes on its own site that not all products and services are available in all countries and may be subject to country-specific restrictions, so eligibility depends on the applicant’s residence. Acceptance varies by residence country and account type, so confirming eligibility directly with each provider before applying is essential.

What documents do non-residents typically need to open an investing account?

Requirements vary by platform, but most brokers first confirm that they accept applications from your country of residence, then move to standard identity verification before releasing funding instructions. Checking the provider’s current onboarding page is more reliable than relying on older guides, since documentation requirements can change.

Do expats pay tax on U.S. stocks and ETFs?

Tax treatment depends on residency status. The SEC notes that cross-border investing can involve unexpected withholding taxes on dividends, and the IRS publishes detailed guidance on how residency status affects worldwide versus U.S.-source income reporting.

Can non-residents buy fractional shares?

Fractional-share access depends on the platform. Some brokers, including Interactive Brokers, offer fractional shares of stocks and ETFs as a standard feature. Real estate platforms take a different approach entirely: Ark7 lets investors buy fractional shares in individual rental homes starting at $20 per share, which is a different asset class from fractional stock ownership.

What happens to a brokerage account after moving to a new country?

Since broker eligibility is tied to country of residence, the online broker needs to accept applications from your new country for your account to remain in good standing after a move. It is worth re-checking the provider’s current country list any time you relocate, since some accounts face restrictions or closure if the new residence falls outside the broker’s approved list.

What is the best platform for expats who want passive income from U.S. real estate?

Ark7 is designed for this use case, letting investors buy fractional shares in individual U.S. rental homes starting at $20 per share, with monthly rental income distributions paid directly to the account and a 0% ongoing assets-under-management fee; property-management fees are drawn from rental income rather than investor principal. Because properties are professionally managed, investors do not need to be on the ground to handle tenants or repairs.

Real estate investing involves risk, including potential loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice.