Interactive Brokers has a clear lead and is recommended for international trading. For U.S.-market-focused global investors, Charles Schwab International is also recommended.
Best multi-licensed online broker for global investors
My top pick is Interactive Brokers (IBKR) for most investors who want international market access, competitive trading costs, and regulation across multiple major financial jurisdictions.
The key distinction is that a broker having many licences doesn't automatically make your account safer. What matters is which legal entity holds your account, which regulator oversees it, and what investor-protection scheme applies to you.
Interactive Brokers stands out for its combination of global market access, broad investment selection, and regulatory coverage. Its entities are regulated by authorities including the US SEC and CFTC, the UK's FCA, Canada's CIRO, Australia's ASIC, and Hong Kong's SFC.
These are overall assessments, not guarantees of the lowest fees or strongest legal protection for every client.
What to verify before opening an account
For a genuinely multi-regulated broker, I would check five things:
Your contracting entity: the exact company named in your client agreement.
Regulatory registration: verify its authorisation directly with the relevant regulator.
Investor protection: confirm the applicable compensation scheme, its limits and exclusions. Deposit guarantees at a bank are not the same as securities-investor protection.
Asset segregation and custody: understand how your cash and securities are held.
International eligibility: check whether you can legally open the account from your country of residence and access the exchanges you need.
For example, IBKR's own disclosures distinguish between its US, UK, Irish, Australian, Hong Kong and Singapore entities and their respective protections.
One question that could change my recommendation
Where are you a tax resident? This matters because broker availability, account protections, tax reporting and eligible legal entities vary by country.
1. Country of tax residence
United States
United Kingdom
European Union
Switzerland
Singapore or Hong Kong
Other country
2. Main purpose
Long-term investing in stocks and ETFs
Active trading, options or futures
Global wealth management and multiple currencies
3. Most important criterion
Strong regulation and investor protection
Lowest fees
Maximum country and exchange coverage
Banking stability and asset custody
[Find my best-fit broker]
With those details, I can narrow this down to the best broker for your circumstances rather than simply the one with the most regulatory licences.
Multi-Regulatory Licenses: Operating globally means adhering to top-tier jurisdictions. IBKR entities are regulated by major watchdogs worldwide, including the SEC/FINRA (US), FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CIRO (Canada), Central Bank of Ireland , and the MAS (Singapore).
Pricing & FX: Offers exceptionally low, transparent commission structures and near wholesale interbank currency conversion rates (ideal for multi-currency holding and cross-border trading).[](https://www.stockbrokers.com/guides/best-international-brokers)
Saxo Bank: Best for high-net-worth global investors who want a premium, sleek multi-asset platform (stocks, bonds, ETFs, forex, futures, and options) backed by European banking regulation (supervised by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority). It offers incredible depth and robust research, though its fee tiers favor larger account sizes.
IG Group: A massive London Stock Exchange-listed provider holding top-tier licenses across the UK (FCA), Australia (ASIC), Singapore (MAS), and South Africa (FSCA). Best known for comprehensive global CFDs/forex and derivative market access with a long-standing operating history.
Charles Schwab International: Excellent for global expats or international residents who specifically want robust access to U.S. markets backed by a premier U.S. institutional name, though its international market breadth outside of major global exchanges is narrower than IBKR's.
To help narrow down the ideal platform for you, let me know:
What asset classes do you plan to trade primarily (e.g., local/international stocks, ETFs, options, forex)?
If you're looking for an online brokerage that accepts international clients and operates under multiple financial regulatory licenses, I'd prioritize established, multi-jurisdiction brokers with strong client-asset protections, transparent fees, and clear rules for non-residents.
One important distinction: a broker may hold several licenses worldwide, but the specific legal entity that opens your account determines which regulator oversees you and what protections you receive. A long list of licenses alone doesn't guarantee your account is protected by all of them.
Here are the main brokers I'd investigate first, depending on whether you want to invest in stocks and ETFs, trade forex and CFDs, or access several global markets.
Recommended international brokers
1. Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
(Best overall for global investing)
IBKR is my first choice for investors seeking broad international market access. It offers access to more than 175 markets across 40 countries, supports multiple currencies, and has regulated entities in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, Hong Kong, and other jurisdictions.
Best for: Stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, and multi-currency portfolios.
Advantages: Broad market access, competitive trading costs, and a strong regulatory footprint.
Watch out for: Its platform can be complex for beginners, and your available account features depend on residence.
Official website:
2. IG Group
Best for active traders and multi-region operations
IG operates through entities regulated in jurisdictions including the UK, Australia, Switzerland, Singapore, South Africa, and Japan. Its offerings and protections differ by country and product.
Best for: Forex, indices, and active trading; some entities also offer share investing.
Advantages: Established international presence and multiple regulated operating entities.
Watch out for: CFD and leveraged trading can be high risk. Non-UK and non-European accounts may not receive equivalent compensation protections.
Official website:
3. Saxo Bank
Best for sophisticated multi-asset investors
Saxo is a Danish bank and investment platform offering stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, forex, and other instruments. It has a banking license and a presence across several regulated markets.
Best for: Investors wanting a polished platform and a broad range of asset classes.
Advantages: Bank-based structure, extensive instruments, and global market access.
Watch out for: Eligibility is country-specific. Saxo states that it cannot generally accept US persons, and its serviced-country list is restricted.
Official website:
4. Pepperstone
Best for forex and CFD trading
Pepperstone is worth comparing if your primary goal is active trading rather than long-term portfolio investing. It operates through multiple regulated entities, including in Australia and the UK.
Best for: Forex, indices, commodities, and CFD strategies.
Advantages: Popular third-party trading platforms and a multi-jurisdiction regulatory structure.
Watch out for: The exact entity matters, and CFDs are not the same as owning the underlying shares. Check which entity accepts residents of your country.
Official website:
Quick comparison
Broker
Primary strength
Multiple regulated jurisdictions
Most suitable for
Interactive Brokers
Global exchange access
Yes
Long-term investors and active traders
IG Group
Trading products and regional presence
Yes
Active and derivatives traders
These are a shortlist, not a guarantee that every broker will onboard you. Check the relevant regulator's register and the exact contracting entity before depositing money.
How I'd narrow the choice
Before choosing, I'd check three things:
Country eligibility: Does the broker accept residents of your country, not merely citizens of that country?
Regulatory protection: Which entity will hold your account, and which investor compensation scheme, if any, applies?
Asset ownership: Are you buying actual shares and ETFs, or trading CFDs that track their prices?
For example, IBKR publishes an official list of eligible countries, while IG explains how client protections vary by contracting entity.
One question so I can recommend the best fit: What country do you currently reside in, and what do you primarily want to trade?
1. Country of residence
[Input placeholder: Enter your country] (Current value unavailable.)
When looking for an online brokerage that accepts a global client base and holds multiple high-tier regulatory licenses , a few industry leaders stand out. These firms operate through localized corporate entities to comply with different jurisdictions while maintaining massive global scale and strong balance sheets.
Recommended multi-regulated brokerages that routinely cater to international clients include:
Interactive Brokers (IBKR): Widely considered the gold standard for global and cross-border investing. It provides access to products in over 150 markets worldwide.
Saxo Bank: A specialist in multi-asset trading and investment, well-known for robust platforms and deep global market access, heavily focused on international and European/Asian clientele.
Saxo Bank
Multi-asset investing
Yes
Experienced investors
Pepperstone
Forex and CFDs
Yes
Short-term traders
Regulatory Licenses: Regulated by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), and MAS (Singapore).
IG Group: A massive, publicly traded global provider that accepts international clients across a wide span of countries (though specific product availability like CFDs vs. share dealing depends on your residency).
Regulatory Licenses: Regulated by top authorities including the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), BaFin (Germany), and MAS (Singapore).
CMC Markets: Another long-standing, publicly traded UK firm with a strong infrastructure tailored to international and expatriate investors.
Regulatory Licenses: Authorized and regulated by the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), and MAS (Singapore).
Note on Regulation: Multi-regulated brokers usually assign your account to a specific regional subsidiary based on where you live (e.g., an EU resident goes under a Cyprus/CySEC or German entity, while an international resident outside major zones might be onboarded via a Bahamas or Seychelles branch). Always verify which specific entity holds your funds and what investor compensation scheme applies to it [1.1..1].
To help narrow down the best fit, could you share:
Your country of residence
What you plan to trade (e.g., US stocks, international equities, options, or Forex/CFDs)
I can give you a more tailored recommendation based on those details.
