MONEY GUIDE

Best Broker for Long-Term ETF Investing (Non-US): Low FX Drag, Low Fees, High Reliability

Q: What matters most for long-term ETF investing as a non-US investor?

Eligibility and ETF access first, then FX workflow. If you can’t reliably open or keep the account or buy the ETFs you’re allowed to buy (UCITS vs US), no best broker ranking matters.

Q: Why is FX often more important than trading commissions?

Because long-term investors fund accounts repeatedly. If each deposit triggers a conversion with a wide spread, the leakage compounds over years and can exceed visible commissions.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake non-US investors make with long-term ETFs?

Optimizing for a tiny commission difference while ignoring FX spreads, eligibility constraints, and behavior. The biggest long-run edge is consistency with low friction.

Long-term ETF investing is not about “features.” It’s about using a broker you can keep for 10+ years, with clean eligibility for your country, cheap funding/FX, and access to the ETFs you’re allowed to buy (UCITS vs US tickers).

Educational content only. Not personalized investment advice.

Eligibility, product access, and fees vary by country and broker entity and can change over time. Always verify terms on the broker’s official site before funding.

Fast decision

Default long-term core: IBKR if you want multi-currency + broad access and don’t want to outgrow your broker.
EU simplicity: DEGIRO if your plan is straightforward and you mainly buy EUR UCITS.
App-first: Trading 212 if it’s available to you and you control FX/spread leakage.

Use the quick picks below if you want a default answer, then read the checklist so you don’t choose a broker you’ll abandon in 6 months.

Non-US default: IBKR → EU simple: DEGIRO (review) → EU app-first: Trading 212 (review) → Compare brokers →

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you open an account using our links. You do not pay extra.

Educational content only. Not personalized investment advice.

TL;DR

Best overall non-US “core broker”: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) — global availability, multi-currency workflow, and typically low FX friction.
Most people leak returns via FX (spreads + repeated conversions), not via ETF commissions. Fix FX first.
Europe reality check: many retail investors can’t buy US-domiciled ETFs. If you’re blocked, you can still invest via UCITS ETFs.
Behavior matters: the “best” broker is the one you can keep using consistently for years without friction.

REFERENCE

EU broker fees glossary (spreads, FX markup, custody, lending)

“Commission-free” is not free. Use this glossary to decode spreads, FX costs, platform fees, and lending policies.

Open the glossary → Why fees matter →

ETF CHECKLIST

How to choose a world ETF (MSCI World vs FTSE All-World)

One page that prevents 90% of beginner confusion: index choice, UCITS wrapper, costs that matter, and execution rules.

Open the checklist → Three-fund portfolio (UCITS) →

ETF CHECKLIST

How to choose an S&P 500 UCITS ETF (checklist)

Use this to pick the right UCITS fund + the right listing (exchange/currency) without overfocusing on TER. The real drag is usually spreads, liquidity, and tracking difference.

• Shortlist by issuer + ISIN (don’t compare “tickers” across exchanges blindly)
• Choose the most liquid listing (tighter spreads, better fills)
• Sanity-check tracking difference vs TER and avoid thin listings

Open the checklist → Spreads & limit orders → Tracking difference vs TER →

LONG-TERM FRAMEWORK

The 4 things that matter for long-term ETF investing

FX drag: how often you convert, spreads, and hidden conversion costs.
Total fees: commissions, custody, inactivity, and “platform” charges.
Execution: ability to use limit orders and avoid bad fills on illiquid ETFs.
Safety: account protection basics + custody/lending policy clarity.

The long-term framework (3 decisions that matter)

DECISION 1

Eligibility + ETF wrapper

Can you open/keep the account? Can you buy the ETF wrapper you want (US-domiciled vs UCITS)?

DECISION 2

Total cost (FX is usually #1)

FX spread + conversion fees + funding costs often dominate commissions over a decade.

DECISION 3

Stickiness

The broker must be boring to operate: reliable deposits, clean statements, minimal “behavior tax.”

If you want a full first-time workflow: How to Pick Your First US Broker (Checklist).

1) Eligibility + UCITS vs US ETFs (don’t build a plan you can’t execute)

Most “best broker” articles assume you can buy US tickers everywhere. That’s false for many non-US investors. Your broker choice must respect your access reality first.

If US ETFs are blocked: you still get the same exposures via UCITS equivalents. Read UCITS vs US ETFs.
If US ETFs are allowed: prioritize the broker with the best long-run FX + funding workflow.
Don’t overcomplicate: a few broad ETFs beat a “clever” portfolio you won’t maintain.

2) Optimize the costs that compound (FX + spreads + recurring friction)

Long-term returns are often lost in boring places: FX spreads, unnecessary conversions, inactivity/maintenance fees, and trading behavior triggered by “trader UX.”

Cost layer	What to watch	Long-term impact
ETF fund costs	TER + tracking quality	Small % leaks compound forever.
FX conversion	Spread + per-conversion fees	Often the biggest non-US drag.
Funding friction	Transfer fees + timing + failed deposits	Friction reduces consistency.
Trading costs	Commission minimums + spreads	Hurts small, frequent buys if mispriced.
“Behavior tax”	Overtrading temptation	Usually larger than all explicit fees.

If you want the “why” with numbers: Study: fees compound · Study: cash drag · Best broker for cheapest FX (Europe → USD)

BEST OVERALL (NON-US CORE)

Interactive Brokers (IBKR)

For long-term ETF investing from outside the US, IBKR is usually the most robust default: broad country support, multi-currency handling, and a “core broker” feel you’re unlikely to outgrow.

Global availability: one of the most common workable answers for non-US investors.
Multi-currency workflow: reduces repeated conversion pain.
Depth when you need it: you can stay simple, but the platform scales.
Long-run practicality: better fit for a 10+ year plan than “new shiny app” brokers.

Open with IBKR → Read IBKR review → Check IBKR pricing →

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you open an account using our links. You do not pay extra.

When another broker can make sense

The “best” broker changes when eligibility and workflow change. These alternatives can fit if they’re available in your country and match your behavior.

EU SIMPLICITY

DEGIRO

Can fit if you want a simpler EU broker experience and your ETF plan is straightforward. Watch the fee details and the FX workflow if you invest in USD assets.

Read DEGIRO review → Basic vs Custody →

EU APP-FIRST

Trading 212

Can fit if you want an app-first workflow and a simpler investing experience. Reality check: “commission-free” still has spreads and FX costs—understand the leakage.

Read Trading 212 review → Fees explained →

If you want strict head-to-head decision pages: DEGIRO vs Trading 212 · DEGIRO vs IBKR · Trading 212 vs IBKR

Checklist: pick a broker you can keep for a decade

Eligibility: you can open and keep the account with your residency (no “maybe”).
ETF access: you can buy what you’re allowed to buy (UCITS vs US ETFs).
FX workflow: conversion costs are low and predictable (and you can avoid repeated small conversions).
Funding reliability: deposits work consistently (SEPA/wire), with minimal fees and low failure risk.
Long-run admin: statements/tax docs are clear enough that you will actually use them.
Role discipline: the platform doesn’t drag you into overtrading.

Implementation guides: How to open a broker account · DCA vs lump sum · Rebalancing without stress

Want the “why” behind staying invested and ignoring noise? Use the studies, then pick the broker that makes boring investing easy.

Why invest? (study) → Fees compound (study) → Compare brokers →

CALCULATOR

FX drag calculator

Turn FX spread/markup into a long-run cost. Useful for non-US investors buying USD assets on a schedule.

Tools

Open calculator → Read the study →

Best when: you convert currency often, your broker hides FX markup, or you invest monthly.

CLUSTER

Related guides (next steps)

Interactive Brokers review Brokers

A long-run “scales forever” broker: multi-currency, broad markets, strong FX workflow.

Fidelity review Brokers

Strong US platform. Best fit depends on residency, product access, and paperwork.

Charles Schwab review Brokers

Another US heavyweight. Great for some non-US investors, but eligibility varies.

Cheapest FX workflow (Europe) Brokers

FX drag is long-run cost. Reduce repeated conversion leakage and hidden markups.

Fees really matter Learn

Long-term returns die from small recurring costs: TER, spread, FX, and friction.

UCITS vs US ETFs Learn

What you can buy depends on residency and PRIIPs. Avoid building a broken plan.

FAQ: best broker for long-term ETF investing (non-US)

What matters most for long-term ETF investing as a non-US investor? +

Eligibility + ETF access first, then FX workflow. If you can’t reliably open/keep the account or buy the ETFs you’re allowed to buy (UCITS vs US), no “best broker” ranking matters.

Why is FX often more important than trading commissions? +

Because long-term investors typically fund accounts repeatedly. If each deposit triggers a conversion with a wide spread, the leakage compounds over years and can exceed visible commissions.

If I’m in Europe and can’t buy US ETFs, am I stuck? +

No. You can usually buy UCITS ETFs that track the same indexes. Your focus becomes: broker access + FX costs + liquidity/spreads on the UCITS listings.

Is IBKR always the best choice? +

Not always. It’s a strong default for many non-US investors because it tends to reduce FX and access friction, but if you strongly prefer simplicity and your country has a good local broker with acceptable FX/fees, that can be a better behavioral fit.

Should I invest monthly or convert currency quarterly to reduce FX drag? +

Monthly investing is the default because income is monthly. If FX spreads are expensive, batching conversions (less often, larger amounts) can reduce leakage—just avoid sitting in cash for too long.

What’s the biggest mistake non-US investors make with long-term ETFs? +

Optimizing for the wrong thing (a tiny commission difference) while ignoring FX spreads, eligibility constraints, and behavior. The biggest long-run edge is consistency with low friction.

Bottom line For non-US long-term ETF investing, IBKR is the default “core broker” because it reduces FX + eligibility pain over time.

Open with IBKR → Read IBKR review → Cheapest FX guide →

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you open an account using our links. You do not pay extra.

Educational content only. Not personalized investment advice.

Want better ETF research without switching brokers? Use TradingView for watchlists, chart context, and alerts — execute at your broker.

Try TradingView Pro →

Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you subscribe using our link. You never pay extra.

Educational content only. Not personalized investment advice.

Investments can lose value and past performance does not guarantee future results. You are responsible for your own decisions and for confirming tax and legal rules in your country. Always review each broker’s current terms, fees, and eligibility on their official website before opening or funding an account.