Investing in the stock market has never been easier, thanks to the many trading apps available today. However, with so many options, choosing the best trading app in Malaysia can be difficult.
We have tested and reviewed many trading apps, so in this article we list the best stock trading apps for Malaysian investors, compare their costs and features, and explain which ones are licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and which operate from abroad.
Best stock trading apps in Malaysia
Interactive Brokers | Best overall
Online broker founded in the US in 1978, with a sophisticated trading platform and access to 160 markets. Its IBKR GlobalTrader app is ideal for beginners.
Saxo | Best trading app for advanced traders
Danish bank offering stocks, ETFs, bonds, derivatives and other products on many international exchanges through its SaxoInvestor and SaxoTrader platforms.
XTB | Best for forex and CFDs
Broker headquartered in Poland and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. In Malaysia, it offers CFDs on stocks, forex and other markets through its xStation app.
Pepperstone | Best for CFD trading platforms
Australian broker founded in 2010, offering CFDs on forex, indices, shares and commodities on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView.
Best stock trading apps in Malaysia compared
| Broker | Fees on stocks | Real stocks | Minimum deposit | Trading apps |
| Interactive Brokers | $0.005 per US share (min. $1) on the Fixed plan. Other markets vary | ✔ | $0 | IBKR GlobalTrader, IBKR Mobile, IBKR Desktop, Trader Workstation |
| Saxo | 0.03% to 0.08% of the trade value for US stocks (min. $1) | ✔ | Varies by country | SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader |
| XTB | $0 commission on stock CFDs (costs included in the spread) | ✘ (CFDs only) | $0 | xStation |
| Pepperstone | Commission on share CFDs, from $0.02 per US share | ✘ (CFDs only) | $0 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView |
Sources: broker websites, September 2026. Other fees, such as currency conversion and exchange fees, may apply.
#1 Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers has proven to be one of the most reliable brokers in the market. Founded in 1978 and listed on the NASDAQ, it has come through many financial crises and is regulated by top-tier authorities in the markets where it has entities. It is not licensed by the SC, so Malaysian clients are served by one of its foreign entities.
It gives you access to 160 markets, a very wide range of products and low costs. The broker offers several apps, and you should choose the one that fits your knowledge and experience. IBKR GlobalTrader is a user-friendly app for beginners, with fractional shares and a simpler interface, while still giving you access to IBKR’s markets.
If you want to use all of the broker’s tools, IBKR Mobile is a complete and sophisticated app where you can do much more than buy and sell stocks. For desktop, IBKR offers Trader Workstation (TWS), its flagship platform, and IBKR Desktop, a newer platform with a simpler interface.
IBKR doesn’t accept deposits in ringgit, so you fund your account in another currency, such as USD, by bank wire. Its currency conversion fees are very low, which helps when you invest in foreign markets.
Overall, we believe Interactive Brokers offers the best stock trading apps for Malaysian investors, whatever your needs.
To learn more, read our Interactive Brokers review.
#2 Saxo
62% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Saxo is a Danish bank founded in 1992 and part of the J. Safra Sarasin Group, with an A- credit rating from S&P. It accepts clients from Malaysia and is a reliable option for advanced traders and beginners, with strong safety, fair prices and useful tools.
Saxo offers two platforms. SaxoInvestor is a simple investing platform with the essential tools, suitable for beginners and long-term investors. SaxoTrader is an advanced trading platform with the full product range, detailed charts and tools to analyse and track your performance.
Your account tier depends on your funding and trading activity. US stocks and ETFs cost 0.08% of the trade value on the Classic tier, 0.05% on Platinum and 0.03% on VIP, with a minimum of $1 per trade. The minimum initial funding depends on your country of residence, so check it when you sign up.
With good educational resources, competitive prices and an impressive range of assets, Saxo deserves a place on our list of the best stock trading apps in Malaysia. Like the other international brokers on this list, it is not licensed by the SC.
#3 XTB
69-80% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
XTB is a broker founded in 2002 in Poland and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Malaysian residents open their accounts with XTB International Limited, a Belize-based company authorised by the Financial Services Commission of Belize. The XTB group also holds licences from top-tier regulators such as the UK’s FCA, but those protections don’t apply to clients of the Belize entity.
Its award-winning xStation platform, available on mobile and desktop, lets you trade a wide range of instruments and gives you technical analysis tools and educational resources. However, in Malaysia you can only trade CFDs on stocks, not real stocks. That means you get indirect exposure through a derivative, which is complex and risky, and most retail investors lose money trading CFDs.
With no commission on stock CFDs, no minimum deposit and a free demo account, XTB is a good option for traders who want to focus on forex and CFDs, which puts it in third place on our list. To learn more, read our XTB review.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
#4 Pepperstone
72-95% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Pepperstone is an Australian broker founded in 2010. The group is regulated by top-tier authorities such as ASIC and the FCA, but Malaysian clients are served by Pepperstone Markets Limited, which is licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas. Like the other international brokers on this list, it is not licensed by the SC.
Pepperstone lets you trade on popular platforms such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView, as well as its own app, and it offers a demo account to practise. Its competitive pricing and choice of platforms make it one of the best trading apps for CFD traders in Malaysia.
It is important to highlight that Pepperstone is a CFD broker. CFDs must be traded with great care because leverage can magnify your losses.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
SC-licensed trading apps in Malaysia
The international brokers above give you access to many markets, but none of them is licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia. If you prefer a broker licensed in Malaysia, or you want to trade Bursa Malaysia stocks, several local apps also give you access to US stocks:
- Moomoo Malaysia: licensed by the SC and a Bursa Malaysia participant, with access to Bursa Malaysia, US and other Asian markets in one app.
- Rakuten Trade: a long-established local broker focused on Bursa Malaysia that also offers US stocks, which you can trade in ringgit or US dollars.
- Webull Malaysia: the local entity of Webull, offering US and Hong Kong stocks.
Local apps usually make it easier to deposit in ringgit, while international brokers offer more markets and products. Whichever you choose, check the broker’s licence on the SC website before you deposit.
Is it safe to use international trading apps from Malaysia?
Malaysian residents can open accounts with international brokers, but these brokers are not licensed by the SC. In practice, this means you are protected by the rules of the country where the broker’s entity is regulated, not by Malaysian investor protection schemes, and disputes are handled abroad.
To stay safe, keep these points in mind:
- Check the entity: find out which company in the broker’s group will hold your account and which regulator supervises it. The entity for Malaysian clients is often different from the broker’s European or Australian entity.
- Check the SC Investor Alert List: the SC publishes an Investor Alert List of unauthorised websites, companies and clone firms that misuse the names of legitimate brokers. Always download apps from the official app stores and the broker’s official website.
- Understand what you are buying: real stocks give you ownership of a share of the company, while CFDs are leveraged derivatives.
- Fill in the W-8BEN form: if you invest in US stocks, you need to submit this form to your broker. Dividends from US stocks paid to Malaysian residents are subject to 30% US withholding tax.
Methodology
We built this list to help Malaysian investors choose a stock trading app, with options for different investor profiles. We considered the following criteria:
- Prices: price shouldn’t be the only factor, but it matters. You don’t want to pay more for the same quality of service.
- Educational resources: good educational content is a great advantage, especially for beginners.
- Range of products and markets: does the app offer real stocks and ETFs or only CFDs? Does it offer crypto?
- Customer service: problems happen, so it is important to choose an app with responsive support.
- The trading app itself: we looked at the functionality, usability and specific features of each platform.
- Security: all brokers on the list belong to groups regulated by top-tier authorities, and we explain which entity serves Malaysian clients.
Bottom line
To summarise, here is our list of the best stock trading apps in Malaysia:
| #1 Interactive Brokers | Best overall |
| #2 Saxo | Best for advanced traders |
| #3 XTB | Best for forex and CFDs |
| #4 Pepperstone | Best for CFD trading platforms |
If you want real stocks and access to many markets, Interactive Brokers and Saxo are the strongest options. If you mainly want to trade forex and CFDs, XTB and Pepperstone offer good platforms, but remember that CFDs are high-risk products. If you prefer a broker licensed in Malaysia, look at SC-licensed apps such as Moomoo Malaysia or Rakuten Trade.
Investing always involves risk. Keep learning, do your own research, know your investment profile and invest wisely.
FAQs
What is the difference between a stock and a stock CFD?
A stock gives you ownership of part of a company, while a CFD doesn’t. A stock CFD is a derivative contract in which you and the broker exchange the difference in the stock’s price between the moment you open the position and the moment you close it. CFDs are leveraged, so you only put up a fraction of the position’s value, and both gains and losses are magnified. This makes them risky and not suitable for most beginners.
Are international brokers licensed in Malaysia?
Interactive Brokers, Saxo, XTB and Pepperstone are not licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia. Malaysian clients are served by their foreign entities, so the protections of those countries apply. Apps such as Moomoo Malaysia and Rakuten Trade are licensed locally.
What is the best forex broker in Malaysia?
If you want to trade forex, read our guide to the best forex apps in Malaysia.
Is Robinhood available in Malaysia?
No, the US trading app Robinhood is not available in Malaysia.
