E*TRADE is an online broker from the United States created in the 80s. The company is known for being one of the pioneers in the online trading market for retail investors. In 2020, it was acquired by Morgan Stanley in the biggest takeover of a U.S. bank since the 2008 crisis.
If you live outside of the United States and want to use E*TRADE, this article will introduce a few of the countries where the service is available and provide alternatives for international investors who cannot use the platform or who prefer to use other service providers.
What countries is E*TRADE available in?
We can say that E*TRADE is available almost worldwide, but its main focus is on the United States market. The online broker is primarily open to US residents. Investors from other countries can still access their services upon request, but their access is restricted.
If you live outside the United States and want to open an account, you must submit a paper version of the application form and send a copy of your passport via fax or regular mail. Opening an investment account from outside the United States may be burdensome to the investor, considering the costs and time that need to be spent.
E*TRADE in the European Union
E*TRADE was established within the European Union in 2013, where they provided services through their subsidiary E*TRADE Securities Ltd. After the financial crisis, due to reduced trading activity from European investors and concerns about the euro zone’s sovereign debt crisis, the company decided to end its operations in the continent.
Despite the lack of establishment on the Continent, it is still possible to open an account in most countries (France, Germany, and Portugal). The institution’s website does not explicitly mention this possibility. But upon request, they provide the information that there are very few locations where the use of the service is entirely restricted.
E*TRADE in Canada
E*TRADE operated in Canada until 2008 when Scotiabank (formerly Bank of Nova Scotia) acquired E*TRADE Canada and rebranded the subsidiary as Scotia itrade. Since then, E*TRADE no longer provides services in Canada.
E*TRADE in Australia
The company was established in Australia in 1998. In 2007, E*TRADE Australia was acquired by ANZ. Its online trading platform was fully available there until 2016, when AZN decided to rebrand the service to ANZ Share Investing. According to one of the Directors of the company, customers still have access to the same trading tools, investment options, and services, but under a different name.
Are there any plans for E*TRADE to expand again to other regions?
As we can see in these two investors’ presentations released after Morgan Stanley’s acquisition, there seems to be no expansion plan into other markets. The company used to operate in many different regions of the world. Still, after the 2008 financial crisis, the company ran into financial trouble and decided to focus on the United States market.
If you are not from the United States, plenty of other options can be more suitable for you, and we can help you choose the right one.
E*TRADE alternatives for international investors
Now, the question is, “Will I find an E*TRADE equivalent in my country?”. The short answer is yes! Below, you’ll find a breakdown of E*TRADE alternatives available internationally.
eToro
The world’s leading social trading platform with +30M users. It offers commission-free ETF trading (other fees apply). eToro review available here.
Disclaimer: eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Interactive Brokers
Founded in 1978, IBKR is one of the world’s most trustworthy brokers. It offers an enormous range of financial products (stocks, ETFs, Options, Cryptos,…), and low currency conversion fees (FX fees). Check our Interactive Brokers review.
💡 Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks, Options and ETFs, ideal for novice investors.
XTB
It offers commission-free stock and ETF trading (in some European countries) and low spreads on hundreds of markets through CFDs on Stocks, Forex, Indices, Commodities, and Cryptocurrencies. Awarded multiples time as the best Forex and CFD broker. XTB review is available here.
Disclaimer: 76-83% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
DEGIRO
A low-cost European broker that offers a wide range of products (external fees apply). DEGIRO review available here.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.
How should you choose the right broker?
There are many factors you can consider when choosing your online broker, and we can list a few to help you make the decision:
- Low commissions and fees: some investors look for platforms with little to no fees for investing.
- The minimum amount for investing: if you want to invest a low amount of money, you should consider using services with low thresholds for investments. Similarly, you should also consider investing in platforms that allow you to buy fractional shares, as buying whole shares can become expensive, depending on the company.
- Products and markets offered by the broker: there are different financial products for different investors. Naturally, it is vital to consider using the broker that offers the products you want to invest in. Similarly, if you are looking for an investment in a specific market or geographic region, it is crucial to assess the coverage of the brokers.
- Regulation: certain brokers are regulated in a way that makes your investments protected by Investor Protection Schemes. This means that if the investment firm goes out of business, you may be compensated for the investment.
There are still other aspects that you could consider, and it would be impossible to list all of them. Note that this article does not constitute financial advice and was written for informational purposes only. You need to define your risk appetite, your investment goals and perform your own research to assess which online broker will be the best one for you, according to your preferences.
Bottom line
Although E*TRADE can be used outside of the United States, it is not their target market, and opening an account can be costly and time-consuming. But there is no reason to worry, there are many other options that can be used, and you should pick the best one for you according to your needs and goals. If you want to know more options than those provided in this article, you can check our list of online brokers to look for other options available in your country.
We hope that you found this article helpful and were able to reach a decision.
FAQs
How good is E*TRADE as a brokerage?
E*TRADE is a solid online broker that does not charge commissions on most of its financial instruments. They offer a wide range of products and have top-tier customer service. However, if you live outside of the United States, opening an account with them may become an issue.
Does E*TRADE work in Canada? Can Canadians use the E*TRADE broker app? 🇨🇦
Since 2008, E*TRADE does not work in Canada anymore, and Canadian citizens cannot open an account and use the app as they used to. If you are Canadian and wish to use the service, you can try to access the service by sending via fax or regular mail a paper version of the application form, and your inquiry will be analysed upon request. But this process can be somewhat burdensome and time-consuming.
Does E*TRADE work in Europe and the UK? 🇪🇺🇬🇧
E*TRADE no longer works in the UK. Its use in the rest of Europe is possible, but it is burdensome and time-consuming, as we have detailed in the article.
Is the E*TRADE broker app available in Australia? 🇦🇺
No, the E*TRADE broker app is no longer available in Australia. However, the company still operates in the country under the name of ANZ, offering a range of services, which includes a similar online broker platform.
What about other countries? Is E*TRADE available in Mexico, Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines?
Unfortunately, E*TRADE is no longer available in countries such as Mexico, Japan, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Selected clients can still open an account by contacting customer support; however, E*TRADE has discontinued their retail brokerage service for non-US investors.