How to choose a brokerage in Taiwan? Complete analysis of the top 10 securities firms' commission fees and trading costs before 2025

Choosing a securities broker is an important decision for investors, directly affecting investment costs and trading experience. The Taiwanese market has many participants, but trading stocks, bonds, or futures options must go through a securities company to enter the market. This article will analyze the competitive landscape of major Taiwanese brokers, their fee structures, and how to select the most suitable trading platform based on your needs.

Core Considerations When Choosing a Securities Broker

Before selecting from many brokers, investors need to focus on several decisive indicators:

Commission and Discount Structures

Commission fees are a significant part of trading costs. The official rate for Taiwan stock trading is 0.1425%, applicable to both buy and sell transactions, with a minimum of NT$20 per trade. Although there is a unified official rate, in practice, competition among brokers is fierce, and online order costs often come with discounts ranging from 60% to 20%. Note that the transaction tax of 0.3% (collected upon selling) cannot be discounted and is a fixed cost. Some brokers offer more favorable plans for large-volume traders, so trading volume directly influences discounts.

Ease of Use and Features of Trading Software

All brokers provide free trading tools, but app functionalities vary greatly. Investors need more than just order placement; they require real-time quotes, technical analysis tools, account management, and other comprehensive features. It’s best to try out platforms firsthand before choosing, to find the one that operates most smoothly for you.

Availability of Securities and Margin Conditions

Larger brokers usually have more ample securities sources, which is crucial for investors who need to borrow securities for short selling or margin trading. The margin ratio for Taiwan stocks is 60% for listed stocks and 50% for OTC stocks, with margin interest rates around 6% to 7%. Larger brokers typically offer more favorable margin interest rates. If you frequently use leverage, the scale advantage becomes very important.

Market Share Rankings of Taiwan’s Top 10 Securities Brokers in 2025

Based on total trading volume in 2024, the following are the rankings of major local brokers in Taiwan:

A special note: when domestic brokers conduct overseas investments via omnibus accounts, their commission fees are usually higher. This is a major disadvantage of using local Taiwanese brokers for overseas trading.

Practical Examples of Broker Fees and Trading Costs

To give investors a more intuitive understanding of actual costs, here is a calculation for buying and selling TSMC(TSM.US):

Trade Scenario Setup

Cost Summary: Total commission fees are NT$3,762, transaction tax NT$6,750, totaling NT$10,512 in trading costs.

This example demonstrates the real cost structure investors face under a 60% discount. Different brokers’ discounts will directly impact the final costs.

Comparison Table of Electronic Order Discount Plans for Various Brokers

Negotiability of Discounts: The above discounts are not fixed. Investors with high trading volume and large capital can negotiate better terms with brokers. Many small brokers offer extremely low commissions to gain market share but may sacrifice system stability, order speed, and service quality.

Overseas Investment: Domestic Omnibus vs Overseas Brokers

For Taiwanese investors interested in US stocks, Hong Kong stocks, and other foreign markets, there are two main options:

Domestic Broker Omnibus Model

Using local Taiwanese brokers to delegate overseas trading offers familiarity and capital security but comes with higher fees and potential delays due to agency mode.

Direct Use of Overseas Brokers

Many professional online brokers worldwide offer more favorable rates and richer products. Here are three popular platforms in Taiwan:

Mitrade: A Choice for Small Capital and Leverage Traders

Mitrade specializes in global CFD(trading, regulated by ASIC in Australia. The platform supports US stocks, Hong Kong stocks, indices, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, with leverage adjustable from 1x to 200x, supporting both long and short positions.

Core Advantages:

• Very low deposit requirement: only US$50 to start trading
• Localized services: support for TWD deposits/withdrawals, 24-hour Taiwanese customer service
• Cost structure optimization: zero commission, free demo accounts, monthly free withdrawals
• Comprehensive risk management tools: set stop-loss, take-profit, and other protections

Best suited for: Investors with idle small funds, traders seeking leverage to amplify gains, day traders, or hedgers.

) InteractiveBrokers: A Platform for Large Capital Investors

Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers is a well-known international broker supporting account opening worldwide. The platform covers major markets including US, UK, Germany, Japan, Korea, and offers bonds, funds, ETFs, futures, forex, and more.

Core Advantages:

• No minimum deposit: open an account with zero initial funds
• Optimized commission structure: US$0.005 per share, suitable for large-volume trading
• Rich product line: one-stop solution for global asset allocation
• Support for Chinese-language customer service

Best suited for: Investors with ample funds seeking the lowest trading costs and diversified financial products for asset allocation.

Important Reminder: If using margin accounts###margin trading(, the account must maintain over US$2,000.

) Firstrade: A Friendly Platform for Beginners

Firstrade is a US-based online broker regulated by FINRA and SIPC. It mainly offers US stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, and is known for zero commissions, especially popular among Taiwanese ETF investors.

Core Advantages:

• Zero commission trading: stocks, ETFs, options
• User-friendly interface suitable for beginners
• Complete trading protections: compensation for unauthorized trades

Best suited for: Long-term US stock and ETF investors, small investors who want to buy US assets regularly at low cost.

Cost Note: Single withdrawal fee is US$25; reducing frequent withdrawals can lower costs.

Overview of Three Major Overseas Brokers

Guide to Opening and Trading Overseas Accounts

Step 1: Account Setup

Using Mitrade as an example, the online registration process is simple and quick. Enter email, set password, choose currency, and complete basic registration. You will immediately receive a demo account for practice, allowing you to familiarize yourself with the platform in a risk-free environment.

Step 2: Fund Deposit

After completing KYC verification, real trading can begin. Deposit methods are diverse, supporting Skrill, Poli, credit cards$25 Visa/Mastercard(, or wire transfer. Choose the most convenient method. For Mitrade, only US$50 is needed to start trading.

Step 3: Search and Trade

Log into the trading page, use the search bar at the top left to enter stock name or code, quickly locate the desired asset, and then execute buy or sell orders.

Overall Recommendations and Conclusion

Taiwanese investors must go through a licensed securities broker to trade stocks, bonds, or derivatives. When choosing a domestic broker, focus on comparing broker commissions and discounts, ease of use of trading software, securities supply, and margin interest rates.

Domestic brokers have advantages such as strict local regulation, full capital security, and relatively low Taiwan stock trading fees. However, if planning to invest in overseas markets, directly using international brokers is often more cost-effective.

Final Advice: Make decisions based on your trading habits, capital scale, and market preferences—frequent Taiwan stock traders should consider large local brokers’ fee discounts; small investors with diversified assets may opt for Mitrade’s low threshold and leverage; high-capital global allocators are suited for Interactive Brokers’ professional services; long-term US stock ETF investors can choose Firstrade’s zero-commission plan. Wishing all investors to find the most suitable trading platform and achieve their investment goals.