Does E*TRADE work internationally? Alternatives for 2026

Can you use E*TRADE outside the United States?

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley is built for US residents, and non-US residents generally can’t open a new self-directed brokerage account. Its account opening process is designed for US residents, and E*TRADE doesn’t advertise brokerage accounts for international investors.

There are two main exceptions:

• Employee stock plans: if you work outside the US for a company that uses Morgan Stanley at Work (formerly E*TRADE Corporate Services) for its equity compensation, you can have a Stock Plan Account to manage your company shares, even as a non-US resident. This account is limited to your stock plan shares.
• Existing clients who move abroad: if you opened your account while living in the US, you may be able to keep it after moving, but E*TRADE may restrict some features. Contact E*TRADE before you move to check what will apply to you.

If you don’t fall into one of these groups, you will need to use a broker that accepts clients from your country.

E*TRADE in Europe

E*TRADE had operations in Europe in the past, but it later withdrew from the region, and E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley doesn’t currently offer retail brokerage services to European residents.

Serving European retail clients would also mean complying with EU rules such as MiFID II and PRIIPs, which requires a Key Information Document (KID) for many products. Most US-listed ETFs don’t have one, so European retail investors can’t buy them at EU brokers anyway. In practice, European investors can use EU-regulated brokers and buy UCITS versions of popular US ETFs instead.

E*TRADE in Canada

E*TRADE operated in Canada until 2008, when Scotiabank bought E*TRADE Canada and rebranded it as Scotia iTRADE. Since then, E*TRADE hasn’t provided services in Canada.

E*TRADE in Australia

E*TRADE launched in Australia in 1998. In 2007, ANZ acquired E*TRADE Australia, and in 2016 it rebranded the service as ANZ Share Investing.

The story didn’t end there. CMC Markets had been running ANZ Share Investing’s platform since 2018, and in 2021 ANZ agreed to transfer its share investing clients to CMC Markets. The transition was completed on 15 March 2023, when all remaining ANZ Share Investing accounts moved to CMC Markets Invest and ANZ Share Investing closed. So, former E*TRADE Australia clients are now CMC Markets Invest clients.

Are there any plans for E*TRADE to expand to other regions?

We haven’t found any public plans for E*TRADE to offer retail brokerage accounts outside the US. Since Morgan Stanley’s acquisition, E*TRADE’s new products have focused on its US client base.

If you don’t live in the United States, there are plenty of alternatives that may suit you better.

E*TRADE alternatives for international investors

Is there an E*TRADE equivalent in your country? In most cases, yes. Here are some alternatives available to international investors:

How should you choose the right broker?

There are many factors to consider when choosing an online broker. Here are some of the most important:

• Fees: compare commissions, currency conversion fees and other charges, not just the headline “zero commission”.
• Minimum amount to invest: if you want to start small, look for low minimum deposits and fractional shares, as whole shares can be expensive.
• Products and markets: make sure the broker offers the products and exchanges you want to invest in.
• Regulation: choose a broker regulated in your region, so that investor compensation schemes may apply if the firm fails.

This article is for information only and doesn’t constitute financial advice. Define your goals and risk tolerance, and do your own research to choose the broker that suits you.

Bottom line

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley focuses on the US market, and non-US residents generally can’t open a new brokerage account, except for employee stock plan accounts. Its former businesses in Canada and Australia now belong to Scotiabank (Scotia iTRADE) and CMC Markets (CMC Markets Invest).

Fortunately, international investors have many alternatives, such as Interactive Brokers, eToro, XTB and DEGIRO. Compare them based on your needs and goals, and check our list of online brokers for more options in your country.