Important update: TD Ameritrade no longer exists as an independent broker. It was acquired by Charles Schwab in 2020, and following a multi-year integration, the last TD Ameritrade accounts moved to Schwab in May 2024. The thinkorswim platform has been retained and integrated into Schwab’s offering.
This means the question “Is TD Ameritrade available in Switzerland?” is now a question about Charles Schwab. Swiss residents may be able to open a Schwab One International account, but it comes with strict eligibility checks and a high minimum deposit. Most Swiss-based retail investors looking for similar features (low-cost US stocks and ETFs, options, futures and advanced trading platforms) will find it easier to use one of the alternative brokers below.
In this article, we will walk through the current status of TD Ameritrade / Charles Schwab for Swiss residents and review the best alternatives available in 2026 for investing in US and global markets from Switzerland.
Is TD Ameritrade available in Switzerland?
Unfortunately, TD Ameritrade is not available in Switzerland, nor anywhere else, because the brand no longer exists. TD Ameritrade was acquired by Charles Schwab in 2020, and the last accounts moved to Schwab in May 2024.
You may still be able to use Charles Schwab from Switzerland through its Schwab One International account, but there are strict eligibility requirements to open an account from outside the US, including a relatively high minimum deposit. For most Swiss-based retail investors, it will be easier and more cost-effective to consider one of the alternatives listed below.
Alternatives to TD Ameritrade in Switzerland
The following options are leading online brokers which operate in Switzerland, are regulated by top-tier authorities, and offer similar features to those provided by TD Ameritrade in the US, be it low-cost trading, a wide range of available assets, or an advanced trading platform for more active traders, such as thinkorswim.
55% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Investing involves risk of loss.
TD Ameritrade alternatives in Switzerland
eToro at a glance
55% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Founded in 2007, eToro is an international online broker with over 40 million registered users who can invest in thousands of assets, including stocks, ETFs and CFDs on stocks, commodities, forex and indices. ETFs have zero commission, while stocks pay $1 or $2 per trade when you open and close a position, depending on your country of residence and the exchange.
eToro’s investment platform, accessible through both web and mobile platforms, is a social trading hub. Here, investors can engage in discussions about investments, speculations, and market news with fellow investors. eToro also allows users to replicate trading strategies (CopyTrader™) and invest in ready-made investment portfolios (Smart Portfolios) based on thematic investment strategies.
The demo account is particularly useful for a beginner ($100,000 of virtual money). It gives you hands-on experience with the real platform, without risking real money. On the downside, a $5 fee applies to withdrawals from a USD account, and currency conversion fees apply when you deposit in Swiss francs.
eToro is fully regulated and supervised by top-tier regulators, including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in Australia. Its European subsidiary, eToro (Europe) Ltd, is authorised and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
If you are interested, please read our review of eToro.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 55% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
IB at a glance
Founded in 1978 and publicly listed in NASDAQ (ticker: IBKR), Interactive Brokers is a global online broker which surpassed major financial crises, showing resilience and a rigorous risk management process.
Interactive Brokers offers an advanced investment platform that includes a wide range of products (stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs, futures, bonds, and currencies) from around 175 markets in 40 countries and territories, solid trade execution (IB SmartRouting), and a set of technical and fundamental tools to help you in your investment decisions.
For US stocks, IBKR Pro charges $0.005 per share with a $1 minimum under fixed pricing, or from $0.0035 per share with a $0.35 minimum under tiered pricing. Swiss shares on SIX cost 0.05% of the order value (CHF 5 minimum) under fixed pricing, and European ETFs on Euronext or German exchanges cost 0.05% (€3 minimum) fixed, or from €1.25 per order under tiered pricing.
Beginners and intermediate investors have educational tools to explore, but the learning curve will be steep. That’s why we mainly recommend it to more advanced traders. Besides, the customer service gives crystal clear answers to your doubts, so there is no need to go back and forth.
On the downside, Interactive Brokers’ fee structure is quite complex, the registration process is lengthy but fully online, and the broker doesn’t offer commission-free trading. However, when considering FX fees, narrower spreads, and the stock loan program, Interactive Brokers’ clients still get significant savings compared to most brokers.
Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks, Options and ETFs, ideal for beginner investors. Some of the features of IBKR GlobalTrader include automatic currency conversions, fractional shares, demo account, and more.
Want to know more about Interactive Brokers? Check our Interactive Brokers Review.
DEGIRO at a glance
Investing involves risk of loss.
Founded in 2013, DEGIRO is a low-cost brokerage firm that has become very popular due to its low fees. With over 3 million investors, the innovative platform has become widely known for its “do-it-yourself” philosophy in that you have everything at your disposal to start investing on your own. It offers a wide range of financial assets to trade, including stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures contracts, warrants, investment funds, and some leveraged products (not quite the same as CFDs, more info here).
For Swiss residents, DEGIRO charges €1 commission plus a €1 handling fee for US stocks, and CHF 5 plus a CHF 1 handling fee for shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange. ETFs in its Core Selection have no commission, so you only pay the €1 handling fee, while other ETFs cost €2 plus €1. Automatic currency conversion costs 0.25%.
The web trading platform is basic, but it is efficient and straightforward to use. In a matter of minutes, you get used to it. The same applies to its mobile app. On the downside, there is little fundamental research, and a connectivity fee of up to €2.50 a year applies for each exchange you use outside SIX.
Regarding security, DEGIRO is the Dutch branch of flatexDEGIRO Bank AG (a German-regulated bank). It is subject to oversight by the DNB and the AFM (Dutch Authority for the Financial Market). However, in the unlikely event that the segregated assets cannot be returned to clients, DEGIRO falls under the German Investor Compensation Scheme, which compensates any losses from non-returned assets up to 90% (with a maximum of €20,000), so do bear this in mind if you are planning to invest much larger volumes. Furthermore, any money deposited on a DEGIRO Cash Account with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG will be guaranteed up to an amount of €100,000 under the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
Still have doubts? Go through our DEGIRO review.
Taxes and costs for Swiss investors
When choosing a broker, keep two Swiss-specific points in mind:
- Swiss stamp duty: Swiss banks and brokers charge the federal securities transfer tax on trades (0.075% on Swiss securities and 0.15% on foreign ones). Foreign brokers such as those above generally don’t collect it, which can make them cheaper for active investors.
- US withholding tax: with a W-8BEN form, US dividends are taxed at 15% under the US and Switzerland tax treaty. You can then claim this tax back against your Swiss taxes with the DA-1 form in your tax return.
You must also declare your foreign broker accounts and their value in your Swiss tax return. Tax rules depend on your canton and circumstances, so check with your cantonal tax office or a tax adviser.
Bottom line: which broker should you go for?
There’s no such thing as “the best online broker”. Different providers offer different features which will fit your profile, preferences, and objectives differently.
For instance, do you want an easy-to-use platform for long-term buy-and-hold or a more complex platform for trading or options? Do you value research or is an execution-only broker sufficient? Which products and markets are you looking to trade?
Even though many traders are now looking at commission-free trading as the main factor for their choice, one must be aware that it generally comes at a cost. Where is the broker routing its orders? It might be compromising the quality of trade execution.
The best online broker in your specific case will depend on your profile, preference, and objectives. Compare the brokers above and decide for yourself.
Remember that this article should not be construed as investment advice but should be considered information only. Investors should do their own research and due diligence regarding the services and opportunities best suited for their risk, returns, and impact strategy.
