Trading US stocks, decided by the data
Broker evidence, stock screens and step-by-step guides for buying and trading US-listed shares — from anywhere in the world. Every broker fact on this site links to the broker's own published page. Where a number is not published, we say so rather than estimating it.
The short version. If you want to own US shares, use a stockbroker: Interactive Brokers if you are outside the US, Fidelity or Schwab if you are inside it. If you want leveraged exposure to a US share price without ownership, that is a CFD (contract for difference — a derivative that tracks the price without giving you the share itself). The two are different products with different tax, dividend and risk treatment, and confusing them is a common and costly mistake for new US-stock traders.
- Own the share: Interactive Brokers (outside the US) · Fidelity or Schwab (US residents)
- Trade the price, no ownership: Pepperstone or Capital.com (CFD, leveraged)
- Not a US person? File a W-8BEN to set your dividend-withholding treaty rate
- Fractional shares lower the entry cost, but check the currency-conversion fee first
Live price and market-brief surfaces are wired but the daily data pipeline has not run yet, so no prices are shown. Nothing on this page is estimated in the meantime.
Choose a broker by what you are trying to do
Stock screens
Every screen below is generated from our US universe of 163 exchange-listed companies, with the constituent list, the sector spread and the specific risk of the group stated on the page.
By sector
Trading US stocks from your country
Account eligibility, dividend withholding and the W-8BEN treaty rate all change with your residence.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best broker for trading US stocks?
It depends on whether you want to own the share or trade the price. To own US shares from outside the United States, Interactive Brokers has the widest country coverage. To trade US share prices with leverage, Pepperstone and Capital.com are regulated CFD routes — but with a CFD you never own the share. US residents are best served by Fidelity, Schwab or Robinhood.
Can I trade US stocks from outside the United States?
Yes. Most US-domiciled brokerages do not accept non-resident applications, so the practical routes are international brokers such as Interactive Brokers, Saxo and eToro, or share CFDs through a regulated provider. You will need to file a W-8BEN to claim your country's treaty rate on US dividend withholding.
How much money do I need to start trading US stocks?
With fractional shares you can start with a single dollar amount rather than the price of one share. The practical floor is set by cost, not by rules: below roughly $100, currency conversion and any flat fee will dominate your return.
Are penny stocks worth trading?
US regulators define a penny stock as one trading below $5 and treat it as a distinct risk category. Spreads are wide, disclosure is thinner, dilution is constant and these tickers are the primary target of pump-and-dump schemes. Treat any position here as money you can afford to lose entirely.
Do I pay US tax on US stocks as a foreign investor?
US dividends paid to non-residents are subject to withholding at 30%, reduced to 10–20% by treaty for many countries when you file a W-8BEN. Capital gains are generally not taxed by the US for non-resident individuals, but they are usually taxable at home. This is general information, not tax advice.
Official sources
- IRS — Form W-8BEN instructions
- SEC Investor.gov — penny stock risk guidance
- Wikipedia — how a CFD works
Reviewed August 2026 · 296 data-backed pages across brokers, screens, tickers and countries.