How to Buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA) Stock for Beginners in 2025

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eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

With technology today, you can buy BABA stocks from the comfort of your home. Alibaba (BABA) stocks are available through many online brokers, and it usually takes just a few minutes to buy shares in BABA when following our step-by-step guide.

In order to make an investment in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd for the first time, you need to consider several important factors: is now the right time for me? how much should I invest? which trading platform is best for me? Furthermore, you’ll want the lowest fees, a user-friendly interface, and access to a wide range of other stocks.

That’s why we’ve compared the best places to buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stocks. Our broker comparison below helps you make an informed decision on the best way to invest in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

Let’s begin with where to get started, before moving onto setting up an account, and then placing your first Alibaba Group Holding Ltd trade.

Where to buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock?

Based on our research, the best stock trading app to buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock is eToro .

We’ve ranked the top five brokers where you can buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd shares according to how easy they are to use, how low their fees are, their safety and security rating, and average customer reviews.

4.6

eToro

Min. Deposit $100

Fees 1%

No. assets 3600+

Demo account Yes

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eToro review

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

4.5

Plus500

Min. Deposit $100

Fees From 2%

No. assets 2800+

Demo account Yes

Visit site

Plus500 review

This information is NOT relevant to EU residents who are to be serviced by EU subsidiaries of the Plus500 Group, such as Plus500CY Ltd, authorized by CySEC (Reg. 250/14). Different regulatory requirements apply in Europe, such as leverage limitations and bonus restrictions.

Buy Alibaba shares

Min. Deposit n/a

Fees –

No. assets n/a

Demo account –

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Read more about how we test, rank & review platforms.

How to buy stock in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd in 3 steps

Buying Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock is quick, all you need is an internet connection, a copy of your photo ID, and the amount you wish to invest. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1. Sign up to an online broker

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Our rankings suggest that eToro is the best stock trading platform for beginners.

When you sign up, you’re prompted to fill in your details to create an account, as you would with any online account creation process.

After that, you need to send a copy of your ID to verify the account before you can use it. This is because stock brokerages are required by law to comply with financial regulations, and these demand each customer confirm their identity before they can buy and sell shares on the stock market.

4.6

eToro

Min. Deposit $100

Fees 1%

No. assets 3600+

Demo account Yes

Visit site

eToro review

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

Step 2. Make a deposit

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You can’t invest in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock without any money in the account, so next you have to fund your trading account.

Head to the ‘bank’ or ‘account’ section of your dashboard and select the ‘deposit’ option. Transfer money to your new account via a debit or credit card, bank transfer, or an alternative payment method, like PayPal.

You can add as much as you like as long as you meet the minimum deposit threshold, which might be as low as $10, but is usually around $50-100 depending on your country of residence.

Top tip: consider how much you want to actually invest and over what period. You might need to deposit $200 or so in order to afford the shares, or $1,200 if you’re investing $100 per month for 12 months, for example. 

Step 3. Buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stocks

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With funds now in your account, it’s time to make your first investment, aka place your first trade.

Search for Alibaba Group Holding Ltd using the ticker symbol, BABA. Click the ‘trade’ button and enter the details of your investment, such as how many shares you want to buy or how much you want to spend.

Having entered the amount, you’ll see all the details of the trade to confirm its what you expected. Once ready, hit the ‘trade now’ button to invest in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, completing your purchase.

It’s as easy as that! You can buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd shares in just 10-15 minutes and now you’re a Alibaba Group Holding Ltd shareholder.

Top tip: remember though, the process is easy, but making money can be much harder. You still need to do lots of fundamental research, create a budget, and design a strategy that’s suitable for you. 

Compare the best platforms to buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock

1. eToro. Best for beginners, copy-trading & demo-account

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4.5

Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

0% commission

Fees

3,600

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love eToro because it’s a crypto trading platform built with beginners and casual traders in mind. The platform combines an interactive, social trading experience with an easy-to-use interface, making it ideal for novice traders.

The far-reaching catalog of 100 cryptocurrencies includes big names like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as smaller crypto tokens with high growth potential. Some supported tokens can be seamlessly transferred to the eToro Money crypto wallet for safekeeping.

One feature we particularly appreciate is the ability to interact with eToro’s 35 million users on any asset, market, or portfolio page. If you find traders whose strategies match your risk tolerance, you can copy their portfolios automatically using eToro’s flagship copy trading functionality. eToro crypto’s Smart Portfolios offer a great entry point into digital currencies, an opportunity to learn and potentially benefit from the expertise of more experienced traders.

If you don’t feel comfortable investing your cash straight away, you can use a free demo account, credited with $100,000 virtual dollars. This offers plenty of opportunities to try out a trading strategy that works for you across the 100 crypto tokens available.

Highlights

No. of tradable assets	3600+
Min. Deposit	$100
ID verification required	Yes
Free demo account	Yes
Supported assets	Stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Index CFDs, Commodity CFDs, NFTs, Crypto
Mobile trading app	Yes
Web trading platform	Yes
Regulatory bodies	ASIC, FCA, CySEC, FinCEN

Fees & Costs

Trading fees	Yes, on certain assets
Inactivity fees	Yes
Rollover/overnight fees	Yes, on CFDs
Withdrawal fees	Yes
Spreads	Yes, on certain assets
Conversion fees	Yes, for non-USD currencies

Pros & Cons

Great for beginners, simple to set up and get started Competitive, industry-leading commissions Popular ‘Copy Portfolios’ function lets you follow top traders Excellent customer service, with live chat support provided

Comparatively high fees for withdrawals and account inactivity Does not integrate with the MetaTrader platform High spreads on some assets

Read review Visit eToro

Cryptocurrency is offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance. Invezz.com is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the MSB.

2. Plus500. Best for international trading*

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4.5

Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

From 0.8%

Fees

2,800

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love Plus500 because it is one of the industry’s most transparent and reliable brokers. Its fees are clear and you’ll know exactly what you will be paying before you trade. Its technology driven platform gives access to futures for the two biggest cryptos, Bitcoin and Ethereum. 

Plus500 has something for all types of crypto trader, no matter what level of experience. Its low margin requirements of $20 for Ether and $100 for Bitcoin make it a top choice for day traders. At the same time, its trading academy is packed with educational content, perfect for beginners just starting. 

For accurate instrument availability, visit plus500.com.

The fees: Plus500 charges a commission of $0.49 per Micro contract and $0.89 per Standard contract (per side). There is an Auto-Liquidation fee of $10 per contract. Other exchange fees may be applicable and can be found on the CME group website. 

*Based on a comparison of 60+ leading brokers and trading platforms.

Highlights

No. of tradable assets	2800+
Min. Deposit	$100
ID verification required	Yes
Free demo account	Yes
Supported assets	Stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Index CFDs, Commodity CFDs
Mobile trading app	Yes
Web trading platform	Yes
Regulatory bodies	FSA, ASIC, FMA, FCA, CySEC

Fees & Costs

Trading fees	No
Inactivity fees	Yes
Rollover/overnight fees	Yes
Withdrawal fees	No
Spreads	Yes
Conversion fees	Yes

Pros & Cons

Free demo account for every user Secure broker, licensed by top-tier regulators Wide variety of CFDs to trade Several good risk management tools

No support on trading information and education Website isn’t brilliantly designed to help users find answers to their questions No MetaTrader trading platform compatibility

Read review Visit Plus500

This information is NOT relevant to EU residents who are to be serviced by EU subsidiaries of the Plus500 Group, such as Plus500CY Ltd, authorized by CySEC (Reg. 250/14). Different regulatory requirements apply in Europe, such as leverage limitations and bonus restrictions.

3. Public. Best for AI analysis

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4

Ratings

$20

Min. deposit

Spreads

Fees

9,000

No. assets

No

Demo account

Overview

We love Public because it makes use of cutting-edge AI technology to enhance your trading and investing experience. Public’s AI-powered feature, Public Alpha offers personalized insights and recommendations through its natural language interface in real time. 

Public’s AI technology helps you make more informed decisions by analyzing massive amounts of data and providing actionable insights. These AI-driven insights are easily accessible and give users access to the latest advancements in crypto analysis and trading. 

Not only do can you use AI to help your crypto investments, Public is one of the lowest cost brokerage firms out there. You can invest in a selection of cryptocurrencies without breaking the bank or having to invest large sums. Public charges 1.25% of your order amount, which is considerably cheaper when compared to similar platforms. 

The fees: There are no fees for investing in stocks during regular trading hours in the US – 9.30am-4pm EST. There is a $2.99 fee for trades outside of regular hours. Alternative investments, including cryptocurrency, are charged a 1.25% fee per transaction.

Highlights

No. of tradable assets	9,000 +
Min. Deposit	$20
ID verification required	Yes
Free demo account	No
Supported assets	Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, , ,
Mobile trading app	Yes
Web trading platform	Yes
Regulatory bodies	SEC, FINRA, SIPC

Fees & Costs

Trading fees	Yes
Inactivity fees	Yes
Rollover/overnight fees	No
Withdrawal fees	No
Spreads	Yes
Conversion fees	Yes

Pros & Cons

Commission free stock and ETF investing Share and compare your portfolio on a social trading platform Trade crypto, fractional shares, and alternative investments

You can’t trade on margin or use leverage No forex, options, funds, metals, or bonds

Read review Visit

Cryptocurrency execution and custody services are provided by Apex Crypto LLC (NMLS ID 1828849) through a software licensing agreement between Apex Crypto LLC and Public Crypto LLC. Crypto trading on Public platforms is served by Public Crypto LLC and offered through APEX Crypto. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved before trading.

What are the fees for investing in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock?

It depends on the stock broker. Some platforms charge a flat fee per trade, others charge a commission as a percentage of the total trade value each time you buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stocks. These can range anywhere from $0.10 per trade, right up to 3% of the total amount you’re investing.

Consider that there may be other costs to trading too. Other fees can include deposit and withdrawal fees, or inactivity fees if you don’t use your account for three months or more. 

These are the trading platforms that charge the lowest fees for buying stocks in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

Are there other ways to invest in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd?

Yes, you can invest in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock in a few different ways. One option is to buy stock in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd directly through an investment platform as laid out above, while another popular choice is to invest in a fund. 

A fund buys stocks in lots of companies on your behalf, to create a diversified portfolio of different assets. Diversified portfolios are typically considered safer than investing in a single stock, because their values fluctuate at different times and their peaks and troughs can balance out.

Many of the best index funds contain Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, while another option is to invest in an ETF. ETFs are similar to funds, except rather than someone choosing what to invest in, it buys stocks automatically according to a set of guiding principles. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is a popular choice in many of the top performing ETFs.

A third option is to use a social copy trading platform, like eToro . Find a trader who you like and copy their Alibaba Group Holding Ltd trades directly to your own account. 

This can be a good investment strategy for beginners and a way to learn how to buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd shares from someone with more experience.

How to sell Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock

When you decide the time is right to sell and lock in some profit (or cut your losses), the process is pretty much the same as having purchased the stock. The steps are as follows:

1. Log into your broker account and navigate to your portfolio. 
2. From there, find your Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock and you’ll see a ‘sell’ option next to it. 
3. Click that to set the details of the trade. You don’t have to sell all your stocks at once, you could choose to sell half for example. 
4. Once you’ve decided accordingly, click the ‘sell’ or ‘close’ button to sell back to cash.

Should I buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock now?

It’s your investing goals and style that define whether now is a good time to buy. The current Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock price plays into it but ultimately it depends on your investment horizons.

• If you’re a short term trader: the goal is to make money by buying and selling stocks regularly to secure a profit or avoid a loss. That can mean trading hourly, daily, or weekly but the focus is always on the near future. Traders learn how to buy stocks in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd based on short term technical analysis and don’t hold shares for a long time, so any time can be a good time to buy Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
• If you’re a long term investor: you’re more interested in long term price appreciation than whether a stock is up or down on any given day. The important thing is finding a stock with a strong foundation where you think the share price will be up over a period of months or years. If you think Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s fundamentals are solid then the best time to invest in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock is after a dip or a pullback in price.

Most new traders sit somewhere between these two positions. Many investors don’t want to actively trade Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock all hours of the day, but nor do they want to wait years for a return either.

Top tip: investing small amounts regularly (known as Dollar-Cost-Averaging (DCA)) over a long period of time is proven to be the most successful investing strategy for normal people without trading skills.

Either way, following Alibaba Group Holding Ltd price news and analysis will help you decide when to dip your toe into the market.

Fundamental analysis of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd shares

How has Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s share price performed in recent years?

Overall, BABA is +0.88% over the last week. The BABA share price is +41.69% in 2025 so far.

Is Alibaba a good investment for me? 

The right answer is different for each person, so here is some information to help you decide whether to buy stocks in Alibaba.

• Alibaba has a 48% share of the Chinese eCommerce market. The Chinese eCommerce market is huge and has sales of approximately $1.4 trillion annually. Alibaba’s share of this market is nearly half, which is considerably higher than JD.com (16%) in second place. 
• Its revenue is growing at a slower rate than in previous years. Alibaba makes billions in revenue annually and in 2022, made $134 billion. Although, while it is generating large amounts of money, growth is slowing and in 2021, revenue grew by 10%, the lowest rate since it became a public company in 2014. 
• Alibaba’s business is diverse. While most people may know Alibaba as an eCommerce business, the company is a lot more diverse. It operates cloud computing, retail, and logistics businesses, among others. It also owns 13 major companies including Ali Express. 
• The Chinese government and Alibaba have a strained relationship. The biggest factor to consider before investing is the Chinese government’s attitudes towards Alibaba and the technology industry in particular. It’s a government that can be unpredictable and it’s vital to be aware of current policies that you can consider before investing. 
• BABA’s stock price has fallen significantly in the past few years. Alibaba’s share price has been in free fall since hitting its all-time high in 2020. Since then, BABA stock is down 70% and, in 2020, started trading below its IPO price. Low prices could be seen as a ‘discount’ and provide a good entry, especially if you’re bullish on the stock. 

It’s always a good idea to think about any potential risks there might be as well. Use this summary of Alibaba’s pros and cons before you make a final decision on whether to buy Alibaba stock.

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