How to Choose a Taiwanese Securities Broker in 2026? Rankings, Fees, and Account Opening Made Easy

In recent years, more and more Taiwanese investors are investing in Taiwan stocks, US stocks, and Hong Kong stocks. However, retail investors cannot trade directly and must go through Taiwanese brokerage firms to buy and sell. This article provides a comprehensive review of Taiwan’s top ten brokerages, covering market position, commission discounts, and practical selection criteria to help you easily find the most suitable Taiwanese broker to open an account.

Overview of Taiwan’s Top Ten Brokerage Firms and Market Positions

According to the 2024 full-year trading volume statistics, Taiwan’s brokerage market shows clear tiered differentiation. The top-ranked brokerages handle over 60% of the market’s trading volume. These established firms mostly have over 20 years of operation and offer complete trading capabilities for Taiwan stocks, US stocks, and Hong Kong stocks.

Top Ten Taiwan Brokerages (2024 Market Share)

【Source: Taiwan Stock Exchange, Data period: Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2024】

It’s important to note that while Taiwanese brokerages make trading Taiwan stocks convenient, investing in overseas markets like US or Hong Kong stocks via these brokers often involves “OMNIBUS” accounts, which incur significantly higher fees compared to direct overseas brokerage transactions.

The 3 Key Factors When Choosing a Broker — A Must-Read for Beginners

Before opening an account with a Taiwanese brokerage, consider these three crucial dimensions:

1. How big is the difference in commission discounts?

The official commission rate in Taiwan is 0.1425% (applied to both buy and sell, with a minimum of NT$20 per transaction). However, actual discounts vary greatly. For example, on a NT$1 million trade, some brokers offer a 60% discount, others only 20%, saving thousands of NT dollars per trade.

Note: Transaction tax of 0.3% cannot be discounted (it’s government tax), but commission fees can be negotiated with the broker. The larger your trading volume and capital, the more bargaining power you have for discounts. Many new or small investors pay higher fees due to lack of negotiation skills.

2. Is the trading software user-friendly? Hidden costs matter

All Taiwanese brokers offer free apps, like Yuanta’s “Mr. Investment” or KGI’s “Mobile eStrategy.” But the speed of order execution, real-time quote accuracy, and the completeness of technical analysis tools directly impact your trading efficiency and experience.

Special reminder: Some small brokers cut fees aggressively to attract clients but may have unstable systems or slow order execution, especially during high volatility, increasing the risk of losses. So, don’t choose a broker based solely on low fees.

3. Margin trading conditions and costs

If you want to leverage to buy stocks (borrowing funds), the interest rate is usually around 6-7%. Larger brokers tend to offer more favorable rates. For short selling (borrowing stocks to sell and buy back lower), sufficient stock lending sources are needed.

Big brokers with many clients and ample capital typically provide more stock sources and lower interest rates. If you frequently use margin trading, choosing Yuanta, KGI, or Fubon can be more cost-effective.

Practical Breakdown of Commission Fees — Full Disclosure of Taiwan Broker Costs

Using TSMC (TSM) as an example: buying 5 lots (NT$2.15 million), then selling 5 lots (NT$2.25 million):

Transaction Cost Details

【Source: Mitrade, actual fees depend on each broker’s official rates】

This example shows that just buying and selling costs over NT$10,500. Even with a 60% discount, the fee is substantial. Every 1% difference in fees on a NT$1 million trade equals NT$10,000 saved. That’s why choosing the right broker matters.

Major Taiwanese Broker Commission Discount Comparison

【Note: Actual discounts depend on account opening negotiations; above figures are for reference only】

The table shows significant fee differences. Brokers like Fubon and Hua Nan offering around 20% discounts are much cheaper than those at 60%. But achieving these discounts often requires meeting certain trading volume thresholds. Small investors or beginners may pay standard rates if they can’t meet these criteria.

Alternative for Taiwanese Investors — Overseas Broker Comparison

The main limitation of Taiwanese brokers is high cost and inefficiency when investing in US or Hong Kong markets. Using OMNIBUS accounts incurs extra commissions and quote delays. Direct overseas broker accounts are often more cost-effective.

Comparison of 3 Popular Overseas Platforms

Mitrade is an ASIC-regulated CFD platform suitable for small-scale testing or leveraging gains. Supports TWD deposits/withdrawals, 24/7 Taiwanese support, and offers leverage up to 200x. You can open an account with just US$50 and practice risk-free with a demo account.

Interactive Brokers has been serving global investors since 1977, offering US, UK, German, Japanese, Korean stocks, bonds, funds, futures, and more. Costs are very low for large trades, but accounts with margin trading require at least US$2,000.

Firstrade is a US-based online broker with zero commissions on stocks, ETFs, and options, popular among Taiwanese dividend investors. Simple interface, quick onboarding, but withdrawal fees are US$25 per transaction—less suitable for frequent withdrawals.

Taiwan Broker vs Overseas Broker — How to Choose

When to choose a Taiwanese broker:

• Mainly investing in Taiwan stocks, want quick, easy account opening
• Prefer local customer support
• Already have a Taiwanese bank account for fund transfers
• Large trading volume with bargaining power for lower fees

When to choose an overseas broker:

• Focus on US or Hong Kong stocks
• Want zero or low commissions
• Comfortable with online or English support
• Small-scale investors (US$50–US$500)

How to Open an Overseas Broker Account — 3 Quick Steps

Step 1: Online registration

Using Mitrade as an example: fill in basic info (email, password, currency), instantly get a demo account. You can practice trading with virtual funds before depositing real money.

Step 2: KYC verification and deposit

Complete identity verification to activate a real account. Deposit via Skrill, Poli, credit card, or wire transfer. Mitrade’s minimum deposit is US$50.

Step 3: Search and trade

Log in, search for stocks or symbols (e.g., AAPL), select the asset, and start trading via mobile, web, or desktop.

Final Reminder: Choose the Right Taiwanese Broker

To buy stocks, bonds, options, or futures in Taiwan, you must open an account with a Taiwanese broker. This article has comprehensively listed the top ten brokers, their rankings, fees, and account opening steps.

Key factors in choosing a Taiwanese broker are: discounted commissions, user-friendly trading software, sufficient stock sources, and favorable margin interest rates. Each broker has pros and cons; there’s no absolute “best,” only what suits you best.

If you plan to invest long-term in Taiwan stocks, find a broker with the lowest fees and easiest software; for global exposure to US and Hong Kong markets, pairing with overseas brokers is more cost-effective. Wishing you success in finding your ideal Taiwanese broker and starting your investment journey!