Which US Broker Should You Use? Honest Review 2026 | Interactive, Vested, Paasa, Tickertape and more

Summary

Key Points

• —The video compares five platforms: Vested, Tickertape, India INX GA, Pasa, and Interactive Brokers (IBKR), along with a mention of INDmoney. 2:46
• —Tax P&L reporting is a key differentiator, with platforms like Vested offering India-ready tax reports, while IBKR requires manual work or a good CA, and Pasa aims to simplify this. 2:46
• —It's crucial to understand the difference between the platform layer (user interface) and the custodian layer (where stocks are actually held), with custodians like DriveWealth, Alpaca, and ViewTrade IFSC being mentioned. 3:07
• —Platforms like Vested and INDmoney use custodians like DriveWealth and Alpaca, respectively, and may not offer UCITS ETFs, posing potential estate tax risks for larger holdings. 8:13
• —Forex conversion rates and bank charges differ, with some platforms having better rates and bank tie-ups (like Tickertape and Pasa) while others require manual negotiation (like IBKR). 9:18
• —Tickertape and India INX GA utilize ViewTrade IFSC, a GIFT City-registered entity, which offers a layer of Indian regulatory oversight and potentially mitigates US estate tax risks. 14:05
• —Interactive Brokers remains the author's personal preference due to its stability, low cost for large trades, and direct ownership, despite its complexities and lack of Indian customer support. 18:52
• —Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is presented as a direct, established, and cost-effective option for large transactions, offering direct ownership of shares and access to UCITS ETFs, but with a steeper learning curve and less user-friendly interface. 20:45
• —Pasa is a newer platform built on top of IBKR, offering a more user-friendly interface and addressing some of IBKR's drawbacks like bank tie-ups, while maintaining IBKR's core benefits. 28:36
• —Brokerage fees vary significantly, with IBKR being the cheapest for large transactions, Tickertape's Pro plan offering competitive rates for smaller investments, and Vested/INDmoney generally being on the higher end. 35:42