As an investor in India, you may be interested in investing in US stocks to diversify your portfolio and potentially earn higher returns. Yet, buying American equities from India can be a difficult and pricey process.
The Best Broker To Invest In US Stocks From India can be found here. These brokers provide a practical and affordable option for you to invest in US stocks from the comfort of your home.
In order for you to make informed investing decisions and take advantage of the opportunities provided by the US stock market, we’ve researched and created a list of the best brokers to invest in US equities from India.
Can Indians Invest In The U.S. Stock Market?
Yes, Indian investors are invited to invest in the US stock market. If they are interested in expanding beyond Indian stocks as well as financial instruments, beyond the Sensex or the Nifty 50, Indian investors can do so by making investments in the S&P 500, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, or other US-listed companies.
Investing in US stocks or ETFs by Indian investors is permitted under the RBI’s Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) by using purpose code S0001.
5 Best Broker To Invest In US Stocks From India
1). Vested
Vested is probably the best platform for Indians to begin investing in the US stock market. It was the first app that made it very easy for Indians to buy US stocks. Other fintech companies followed the game plan set by Vested. In 2018, Viram Shah started Vested.
It is available as both a web application and a smartphone application. The web app is slightly better than the smartphone app because you can view charts and compare two stocks in a much better, wider view.
Also, vested is significantly more transparent than its fintech competitors. Compared to both Grow and Indmoney, vested has support documents and explanations regarding several important as well as trivial questions you might have.
Features:
- Zero minimum balance
- No brokerage fees, zero commission investing
- live data feed
- curated portfolio based on investor risk profile
- The best portfolio dashboard, by far,
- quick account opening experience
- fractional purchase of US stocks
- Tax documents—something that other apps don’t offer at all.
Pros
- Zero-commission trades
- transparent commission structure
- unique features like thematic portfolios
Cons
- No access to cryptocurrency, bonds, derivatives, commodities, or IPOs
- No web or desktop platform is offered.
2). INDmoney
If you’re looking for the quickest way to start purchasing US stocks, INDmoney is an excellent choice.
Simply download the INDmoney app and open your US stock investment account in only 3 clicks. It happens instantly, and you are ready to deposit money instantly too.
INDmoney is actually an investment management and portfolio tracking app. It enables you to view all your investments, including stocks, mutual funds, real estate, PPF, and more, in a consolidated view.
Also, they provide an excellent US stock investment account. It was recently upgraded with a new interface that looks and feels great. You can browse top US stocks, top losers and gainers, filter companies based on their sectors, etc.
If you decide to opt for any of the membership plans offered by INDMoney, you also get an advisory regarding US stocks. Advice about which sector is good, financial information about a company, and tax advisory are some of the perks offered by INDmoney for its premium members.
Features:
- Zero account opening fees, zero fund transfer fees, zero balance, and the best exchange rates
- Automatically track your money.
- Zero Commission MF
- Health and Life Insurance
- Advanced reporting across your family’s whole portfolio
- Invest in IPOs in 3 clicks using UPI
- Plan your investment using IND calculators.
Pros
- one-stop shop for all of your financial stuff, including investments, bills, credit cards, and insurance plans.
- Hassle-free money transfer to a US stock account
- highly secure platforms
- higher FD interest rates
- Lowest withdrawal cost from a US stock account
- Commission-free US stock investment
- Zero balance in the bank account
- Get a mortgage or loan against property through the app.
Cons
- Average client support
- No in-house chat platform
- Unsatisfactory premium services
3). Groww
Groww is one of India’s fastest-growing investment platforms, with more than 90 lakh users. Groww started in 2016 as a direct mutual fund platform. Currently, the Groww app allows investors to trade and invest in mutual funds and stocks. The company is in various phases of testing for US stocks, fixed deposits, and digital gold that it soon aims to add to the Groww app.
Groww is a smartphone trading app that is available for free to all of its users. It is an intuitive trading app with a simple design and clear user interface that makes the trading experience swift, simple, and convenient.
The Groww app is safe and secure with a high level of encryption standard (128-bit SSL encryption), which keeps all the personal information and transactions safe within the app. Both Android and iOS smartphone users can download the app.
Features:
- secured and safe app.
- One-click order placement.
- Latest news and insights, blogs, resources, videos, and content related to financial markets
- detailed information on all listed Indian companies.
- Facility to chat with the customer service desk
- Real-time price updates
- Immediate paperless account opening
- simple, convenient, and clean user interface.
- in-app help and support section for quick problem-solving.
Pros
- Zero account opening fees
- Online IPO applications
- option to invest online in digital gold.
- Zero Demat AMC Fees
- Instant paperless account opening
- Trading in SME shares is available.
- simple pricing model: flat Rs 20 per trade brokerage.
Cons
- No call-and-trade services
- No branch support
- No margin trading facility
- SME IPOs are not available.
- No margin against shares
- Don’t provide NRI Trading.
- Do not offer recommendations, research reports, or stock tips.
- Advanced order types such as GTT, BO, CO, and AMO aren’t available.
4). Winvesta
Winvesta is a robo-advisor platform that provides investment management services to both individuals and businesses. It uses advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence to examine financial markets and make investment recommendations to its users.
Winvesta provides a variety of investment options, such as stocks, bonds, and ETFs, and enables individuals to set their own investment goals and risk tolerance. The platform is designed to be simple to use and accessible to people of all investment experience levels.
Winvesta claims to provide a convenient and cost-effective way for consumers to manage and invest their money, with minimal fees and no minimum investment requirement.
The platform offers regular updates and reports to assist users in tracking their portfolio performance and making informed investment decisions. Winvesta offers educational resources as well as customer support to assist users in understanding the investment process and maximising their investments.
Winvesta is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority of the UK (FCA). Through a smartphone app, it allows small-scale investors to purchase shares of S&P 500 firms.
Features:
- Get Payments Internationally
- Local Transfers for Your Clients
- fair range of financial products
Pros
- Access to US equity markets
- seamless mobile trading app that makes investing simpler
Cons
- Only specific stocks receive analyst investment updates.
- No access to IPOs, futures, indexes, cryptocurrencies, or derivatives
5). Stockal
Stocks are the best option for those looking to make direct investments in US stock markets or through ETFs. Currently, it only allows investments in US stocks. Other markets are in the pipeline, including Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries in the Middle East.
Through Stockal, you can invest in more than 1,000 companies listed on US stock exchanges like NASDAQ and NYSE. Stockal acts as a three-in-one account, i.e., trading, depository, and bank account.
Features:
- a broad range of financial instruments
- Tools and Research
- customer support
Pros
- transparent commission structure
- unique features such as cash management and thematic portfolios
Cons
- No access to cryptocurrency, bonds, derivatives, commodities, or IPOs
- Some features are still under development.
- Brokerage commissions are typically more expensive than the industry standard.
- limited resources in terms of analyst updates and market flow information
Pros of Investing in US Stocks:
- Investing in the US Stock Market Gives You Access to the World’s Largest US-Based Global Companies
- Investing in the US stock market gives you the option to purchase a small fraction of US stock.
- Investing in the US stock market enables you to receive high rewards.
- Investing in the US stock market enables you to benefit more from the US dollar’s appreciation.
- The best option for portfolio diversification is investing in the US stock market.
Cons of Investing in US Stocks:
- Situations in the US may affect your investment.
- Changes in US Regulations Can Affect Your Investment Suddenly
- Currency exchange rates can sometimes be unfavourable.
- Trading in the US in large volumes does not eliminate liquidity risk.
- In the US, interest rates are increasing.
Different Charges Involved While Investing In US Stocks
It is essential to be aware of all the possible charges incurred when investing in US stocks from India. The following are some charges you might incur:
- Tax collected at source: For transactions over Rs. 7,00,000, a 5% TCS or source-based tax is levied. The tax applies to any amount over the $7 lakh limit and excludes the $7 lakh.
- Capital gains and dividend tax: Dividend tax for Indian investors is 25% in the US. There is no tax on the capital gains resulting from your investments, but you are required to pay a capital gains tax in India.
- Bank charges: these include transfer and transaction fees as well as foreign exchange conversion fees. Also, there may be initial fees for your trading account.
- Brokerage fee: It is a charge charged when you purchase and sell shares via brokerage firms. This varies from firm to firm.
- Foreign exchange rates can affect not only your gains but also the price of stocks and the total number of units allotted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several options available for Indian investors looking to invest in U.S. stocks. Some of the best brokers to consider include Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab, and TD Ameritrade.
These brokers offer access to a wide range of U.S. stocks, competitive fees, and robust trading platforms. However, it is important to research and compare different options to find the best fit for your investment needs and preferences.
Additionally, it’s always a good idea to consult with a financial advisor and review the regulations and taxes before making any investment decision.
