Here, I cover the Best Global Brokers for Trading US Stocks and Bitcoin. The Best Global US Stock and Bitcoin Brokers are international trading platforms that offer access to US equity markets and Bitcoin and cryptocurrency markets.
Fintech platforms give traders new options to diversify portfolios, manage trading and investing risks and do so across both traditional stocks and crypto. I outline some of the better known and respected brokers and what they offer traders.
Key Point & Best Global Brokers for US Stocks & Bitcoin Trading
| Broker | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Charles Schwab | Strong U.S. brokerage with zero-commission stocks, research tools, and long-term investing focus |
| Fidelity Investments | Highly trusted for retirement accounts, mutual funds, and low-cost investing |
| Saxo Bank | Premium global trading platform with access to multi-asset markets including forex and crypto |
| DEGIRO | Low-cost European broker known for cheap access to global stock exchanges |
| Swissquote | Regulated Swiss broker offering stocks, ETFs, forex, and crypto trading |
| CMC Markets | Advanced trading tools focused on CFDs and active trading strategies |
| eToro | Known for copy trading and beginner-friendly crypto + stock investing |
| Webull | Commission-free trading with strong mobile app and technical analysis tools |
| TradeStation | Advanced platform for active traders with powerful analytics and automation |
| VT Markets | Focused on forex and CFD trading with competitive spreads and leverage options |
1. Charles Schwab
Founded in 1971, Charles Schwab is one of the largest U.S. Brokerage firms, with services for stock, ETF, options, and retirement investing. Schwab has a reputation for fair, long-term investing, low-cost investing, and strong research.
As a part of the Best Global Brokers for US Stocks & Bitcoin Trading, Schwab has a focus on traditional securities rather than direct crypto trading, but provides crypto exposure through 3rd party product ETFs.
Schwab has a traditional commission model, therefore, has no profit-split model. Schwab is highly recommended for the conservative and institutional-grade investor.
Charles Schwab Features, Pros & Cons
Features
- Commission-free trading
- Research and advisory services
- Wealth and retirement planning
- Advanced trading
- Integrated banking and brokering
Pros
- Very trustworthy and easy to use
- Good support
- Lots of options
- Good for beginners and pros
- Great for long-term investing
Cons
- Limited crypto
- Beginners may find it hard to use
- Higher requirements for margin
- Less global investing
- Slow innovation for crypto
2. Fidelity Investments
Founded in 1946, Fidelity Investments is a top of the line global financial service provider with brokerage accounts, retirement plans, mutual funds, and U.S. stocks with zero-commission trading.
Fidelity is a part of the Best Global Brokers for US Stocks & Bitcoin Trading and has a great reputation for research and retirement planning and long-term investing. Fidelity provides very limited exposure to Bitcoin through custody and ETFs.
Fidelity has no split profit structure as they rely on traditional brokerage fees, fund expenses, and advisory services. Fidelity is very strong for long-term investing and retirement.
Fidelity Investments Features, Pros & Cons
Features
- Commission-free trading
- Retirement accounts
- Easy access to mutual funds and ETFs
- Advanced research tools
- Fractional shares
Pros
- Very trustworthy and easy to use
- Best for long-term investors
- Great retirement planners
- Very low cost
- Great research
Cons
- Limited crypto
- Poor for day-traders
- Very old-fashioned UI
- Slow to adopt new things
- Increased fund complexity
3. Saxo Bank
Founded in 1992 in Denmark, Saxo Bank is a multi-asset trading platform offering trading services for stocks, forex, bonds, ETFs, and crypto. Of the Best Global Brokers for US Stocks & Bitcoin Trading, Saxo is recognized for providing access to professional trading tools, advanced charting, and deep liquidity.
Because of this, Saxo Bank is the broker of choice for professional traders and high-net-worth individuals. Saxo Bank does not use a profit-sharing model because, unlike other brokers in the business, Saxo Bank only earns through spreads, commissions, and account fees.
Because of this, Saxo Bank remains a broker of choice for professionals, high-net-worth individuals, and institutional clients.
Saxo Bank Features, Pros & Cons
Features
- Global trading for all assets
- Stocks, trading tools, technology, and crypto
- Advanced trading tools
- Institutional liquidity
- Tiers for accounts
Pros
- Extremely useful for professional trading
- Great global trading
- Great tools for trading
- High security
- Great liquidity
Cons
- Large minimum deposit
- High cost for small trading
- Hard to use
- Lack of beginner trading tools
- Education resources are limited.
4. DEGIRO
DEGIRO is a Dutch broker that was established in 2008. It is considered a low-cost broker in Europe specifically because of low trading fees and an ability to access global stock exchanges.
In the Best Global Brokers for US Stocks & Bitcoin Trading, DEGIRO is a favored broker of retail investors that want affordable access to trading US equities and US-based ETFs. Compared to other brokers that focus on trading crypto, DEGIRO offers limited options for trading crypto.
DEGIRO does not have a profit-split model, but rather a commission and exchange fee model. Based on all these characteristics, DEGIRO is great for investors that want to trade a diverse portfolio of international stocks with limited costs.
DEGIRO Features, Pros & Cons
Features
- Global stock trading.
- US & EU exchange access.
- User-friendly platform.
- ETF investor.
- Trade research.
Pros
- Incredibly low fees.
- Simple account setup.
- Ideal for passive investors.
- Lots of stocks.
- Clear pricing.
Cons
- No advanced tools.
- Limited crypto.
- Weak charting.
- No social trading.
- Basic support.
5. Swissquote
Swissquote is a bank that provides trading services for equities, ETFs, forex, commodities, and crypto. It is one of the Best Global Brokers for US Stocks & Bitcoin Trading, and one of very few traditional banks, that provides crypto and equity trading along with direct Bitcoin trading.
Swissquote is known for excellent compliance with the regulations and security of their banking services. It uses an extensive model of fees rather than profit-split.
Ideal for investors who want a combination of crypto and traditional markets within a single regulated banking service.
Swissquote Features, Pros & Cons
Features
- Banking & brokerage
- Trade stocks, forex, & crypto
- Swiss regulation
- Multi-currency accounts
- Complex trading made easy
Pros
- High safety & regulations
- Trade crypto direct
- Trust banking
- Trade any market
- Stable trading platform
Cons
- Trade costs are high
- Complicated fees
- Trade costs high for low volume
- Slow sign up
- Premium costs are high
6. CMC Markets
Based in the UK, CMC Markets was established in 1989 and is a global CFD and spread-betting broker. CMC Markets is part of the Best Global Brokers for US Stocks & Bitcoin Trading, and as such, provides access to a range of instruments, including equities, forex, indices and commodities.
CMC Markets is generally favored by active traders owing to the features of their platforms and their technical analysis tools. Although CMC markets provides crypto CFDs, their users do not have direct ownership of the underlying assets.
There is no profit-sharing model, and revenues are generated from the spread and order flow. Furthermore, CMC Markets is suitable for short-term and leveraged trading.
CMC Markets Features, Pros & Cons
Features
- CFDs only
- Trade forex, crypto, and indices
- Detailed charts
- Professional trading made easy
- Risk control made easy
Pros
- Excellent features for trading
- Active trading made easy
- Excellent control for trading
- Excellent analysis
- Trade any market
Cons
- CFDs only (No real trading)
- High risk model
- Not for beginners
- Complex trading
- Limited trading for the future
7. eToro
Established in 2007 in Israel, eToro is a social trading platform that is beginner-oriented as a result of its copy trading feature. eToro is part of the Best Global Brokers for US Stocks & Bitcoin Trading as it allows its users to trade US stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies from the same platform.
eToro’s copy trading feature allows users to automatically replicate the trades of successful traders. eToro’s business model is underpinned by trading spreads and withdrawal fees, as it does not employ a profit-splitting model.
eToro is relatively popular among trading beginners as it has a user-friendly interface and focuses on community-based investing.
eToro Features, Pros & Cons
Features
- Social & copy trading
- Trade stocks & crypto
- User friendly exchange
- Fractional investing
- Community trading
Pros
- Best for beginners
- Copy the success of others
- Simple interface
- Access to crypto
- Entry cost is low
Cons
- High spreads
- Fewer tools
- Withdrawal fees
- Not for professional use
- Research tools are limited
8. Webull
Webull is a US based, commission-free trading platform for mobile investors. Trading on the platform is available for US stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies. Webull was founded in 2017.
As mentioned in the Best Global Brokers for US Stocks and Bitcoin Trading guide, Webull features extended trading hours and advanced charts. Due to this, Webull is favored by younger investors and retail traders.
Webull does not utilize a profit-split model. Webull’s revenue comes from margin interest, order flow, and premium features. Tech-oriented investors and active traders will benefit most from this platform.
Webull Features, Pros & Cons
Features
- No trading fees
- Excellent mobile app
- Trade stocks, options, and crypto
- Good for doing technical analysis
- Trade anytime
Pros
- Ideal for those who prefer to do a lot of trading
- Best app for charts
- No fees for trading
- Good trade speed
- Great for beginners
Cons
- Can’t do much fundamental analysis
- Poor education
- No trading of mutual funds
- Limited trading of foreign stocks
- Trade support can be hit or miss
9. TradeStation
TradeStation is another US brokerage that caters to advanced traders and was established in 1982. TradeStation is heavily focused on algorithmic and automated trading.
TradeStation makes up part of the Best Global Brokers for US Stocks and Bitcoin trading due to the access it provides to the trading of stocks, options, ETFs, futures, and crypto. Since TradeStation is designed for automation, it is highly favored by professional and trading practioners that rely on automated strategies.
There is no profit-split structure, and TradeStation earns revenue via margin interest, commissions, and subscription fees. TradeStation is most effective for highly advanced traders needing highly customizable automated strategies.
TradeStation Features, Pros & Cons
Features
- Trade with your own algorithms
- Trade stocks, futures, and crypto
- Excellent analysis tools
- Trade your own algorithms
- Professional interface
Pros
- Best for pros
- Great for automated trading
- Excellent speed for trading
- Superior charts
- Build your own trading strategy
Cons
- Very complex
- High learning curve
- Tools have subscription fees
- Lack of simplicity
- Not designed for casual use
10. VT Markets
The broker VT Markets was established in 2015 and trades Forex and CFDs. VT Markets is another broker in the Best Global Brokers for US Stocks and Bitcoin Trading who deals primarily in leveraged CFDs.
VT Markets is highly focused on the trading of Forex and short term strategies. There is no profit-split model, and VT Markets earns revenue via a combination of commissions and the spread.
I can also rank these brokers from strongest crypto to weakest, rank from lowest to highest fees, and rank which brokers are best for beginners vs. which are best for professionals.
VT Markets Features, Pros & Cons
Features
- Trade forex and CFDs
- High leverage trading
- Crypto CFDs
- Use MT4 or MT5
- Tight spreads
Pros
- Great for forex
- Low spread
- Fast trade execution
- High leverage
- Can trade from anywhere
Cons
- High risk
- Can’t trade stocks
- Limited long term trading
- Not for beginners
- No uniform regulations for all regions
Conclusion
In summary, the Best Global Brokers for US Stocks & Bitcoin Trading offers plenty of options and enables flexibility for both novice and professional investors alike.
More traditional brokerages, such as Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investments, provide long-term investment strategies along with retirement accounts and trusted investment research, making them more appealing to conservative investors.
eToro and Webull use a much different focus by promoting mobile accessibility and ease-of-use trading platforms and, as a result, cater to younger investors and those with an active trading style.
Saxo Bank, CMC Markets, and TradeStation are brokers that cater to professional and institutional level traders.
DEGIRO, Swissquote, and VT Markets provide more affordable options to access global trading with forex and crypto markets. Your trading goals and personal risk appetite will greatly determine which broker you choose, as well as how you want to diversify your portfolio.
FAQ
What are the best global brokers for US stocks and Bitcoin trading?
The best global brokers include platforms like Charles Schwab, Fidelity Investments, Saxo Bank, eToro, and Webull. These brokers offer access to US equities, ETFs, and varying levels of cryptocurrency exposure, depending on regulation and region. Each platform is designed for different user types, from beginners to advanced traders.
Do these brokers charge high fees?
Fee structures vary widely. DEGIRO and Webull are known for low or zero-commission trading, while premium brokers like Saxo Bank may charge higher fees for advanced tools and global access. CFD brokers like CMC Markets and VT Markets earn through spreads rather than direct commissions.
What is the main difference between stock brokers and crypto exchanges?
Stock brokers focus on equities, ETFs, and regulated financial assets, while crypto exchanges focus primarily on digital currencies. However, modern platforms like eToro and Swissquote combine both, allowing users to trade US stocks and Bitcoin in one account.
Which broker is best for beginners?
For beginners, platforms like eToro and Webull are ideal due to their simple interface, copy trading features, and commission-free stock trading. They also offer educational tools and mobile-friendly experiences, making it easier for new investors to start trading US stocks and Bitcoin-related assets without complex setups.