5 Best Trading Apps in Malaysia for 2025

In this guide, we rate, review, and recommend the 5 best online brokers in Malaysia to buy, sell and trade stocks for beginners.
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Updated on Nov 8, 2024
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Our rankings reveal that the best online broker in Malaysia is Plus500 .

That recommendation comes from our panel of trading experts, based on what we feel is most important: cost, security, and easy access to international markets.

We frequently test the best trading platforms & online brokers, and survey our Malaysian users to gather their thoughts and feedback on each of the top trading apps in Malaysia.

Armed with that information we created a final ranking to answer the question: what are the best online brokers in Malaysia for Malaysian users?

What is the best stock trading app in Malaysia?

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These are the brokers that we rank as the overall best online trading platforms in Malaysia. 

We found 13 online brokers for users based in

Plus500 review
4.5
Plus500
Min. Deposit $100
Fees From 2%
No. assets 2800+
Demo account Yes

Plus500 review

CFD service. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

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

IG review
4.4
IG Markets
Min. Deposit n/a
Fees Spread only
No. assets 17000+
Demo account Yes

IG review

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Eightcap review
4.5
Eightcap
Min. Deposit $100
Fees Up to $3.5 RT
No. assets 800+
Demo account Yes

Eightcap review

74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money

Top 5 online brokers in Malaysia, reviewed & compared

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We found 13 online brokers for users based in

1. 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 make a trade. Its technology driven platform gives access to futures contracts for some of the biggest indices.

Plus500 has something for all types of traders, no matter what level of experience. Its low margin requirements (starting at $100) and different contracts 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

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

Buy or sell stock CFDs with Plus500. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

2. IG Markets: Best for trusted and transparent trading

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4
Ratings

€-

Min. deposit

Spread only

Fees

17,000

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love IG because it’s one of the most established and reputable names in the online trading industry, known for its reliability, comprehensive market offerings, and strong regulatory compliance. IG offers CFD trading in stocks, forex, commodities, indices, ETFs and more, with plenty of useful plugins and integrations to improve the trading experience.

One of the key strengths of IG Markets is its seamless integration with MetaTrader 4 (MT4), a popular third-party trading platform favored by many traders for its advanced charting tools, automated trading capabilities, and custom indicators. This integration allows users to leverage MT4’s sophisticated features while benefiting from IG Markets’ competitive pricing, reliable execution, and extensive market access.

Beyond its product range and platform integrations, IG Markets stands out for its commitment to education and customer support. The company offers a wealth of educational resources, such as webinars, tutorials, and market analysis, which help traders of all levels improve their knowledge and skills.

The fees: For most assets, you don’t pay a trading fee but will be charged through the spread instead. That’s the difference between the buy and sell price of an asset. IG’s spreads are competitive but variable: you’ll pay a smaller spread on popular assets compared to less popular ones. Share trading works differently, and you’ll be charged a minimum fee on each trade of at least $15.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

3. Eightcap. Best online broker for choice of trading platform

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4.5
Ratings

€100

Min. deposit

Up to $3.5 RT

Fees

800

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love Eightcap because you have several trading platforms to choose from. You can choose between MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and TradingView. All of these platforms are favourites among retail traders. With the MetaTrade suite of platforms, you can access lots of technical indicators, custom tools, and expert advisors. 

TradingView with Eightcap allows you to trade directly from your charts while accessing the hundreds of tools and features available. Eightcap a selection of over 200 crypto CFDs so there’s an excellent range to choose from. You can trade the biggest coins like BTC/USD and many altcoins like DOGE/USD.  

The fees: Eightcap is a CFD broker and charges spread, commissions, or a combination of both. There are two account types available, RAW, and Standard. The RAW account has ultra-low spreads starting from 0.0 pips but charges $3.5 RT per lot. The standard account is commission-free for most assets and spreads start from 1 pip.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money

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

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4.5
Ratings

€100

Min. deposit

0% commission

Fees

50

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love eToro because it’s a 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 more than 5,500 stocks and ETFs includes big names like Apple and Tesla, as well as smaller companies with high growth potential. You can start trading with as little as $10 using fractional shares if you’re on a tight budget.

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. This is a great way 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 stocks, crypto, and options trading markets.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

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

5. AvaTrade. Best regulated broker for secure trading

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Avatrade_logo
4
Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

From 0.13%

Fees

500

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love AvaTrade because it is a reliable CFD broker, that gives users access to a wide range of markets. As a CFD broker, AvaTrade lets you speculate on the price movements of various crypto markets without owning the underlying assets. AvaTrade is a multi asset brokerage firm and includes CFDs on many of the biggest cryptos including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and more. 

AvaTrade is also highly regarded for its strong regulatory framework and commitment to security. AvaTrade is regulated in multiple jurisdictions, including Europe, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and the British Virgin Islands, which means it must adhere to stringent regulatory standards across the world. 

AvaTrade isn’t just well regulated, it also employs advanced security measures to protect client funds and personal information, including segregated accounts and robust encryption technology. 

The fees: There is no commission on any trading. AvaTrade makes money from the Bid/Ask spread instead. Crypto spreads start from 0.13%. Positions left overnight are charged a swap fee that varies depending on size. An inactivity fee of £/€/$50 per month is applicable if you don’t log in to your account for three consecutive months.

Highlights

Fees & Costs

Pros & Cons

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Which trading app in Malaysia has the best user reviews?

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As part of our research process we gathered up reviews and feedback from Malaysian users to help us finalise the rankings.

Below is a summary of the feedback and ratings for each platform.

Review source Plus500 rating IG Markets rating Eightcap rating
Trustpilot 4 4.0 4.3
Google Play Store 4.3 4.3 4.1
App Store 4.1 4.6 3.8
View more > Plus500 > IG Markets > Eightcap >

Are stock brokers in Malaysia regulated?

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Yes, online brokers have to be regulated in order to offer share dealing services.

Ideally, you want to find a broker that offers top-tier regulatory protection either through your local regulator, or through another internationally recognised institution. 

The best brokers in Malaysia are regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), which provides a license for these firms to operate and governs their actions in order to protect investors.

Use the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) database to check if your favourite online broker is regulated to operate in Malaysia (each company has a registration number, and you can search this to find out if it’s got a license).

On top of that, many online brokers in Malaysia are based elsewhere but regulated to operate internationally through institutions such as CySEC (the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission). 

Here are the best online brokers in Malaysia and where they’re regulated across the world.

Region Plus500 regulators IG Markets regulators Eightcap regulators
Africa FSA FSCA
Asia MAS
Australasia ASIC, FMA FMA, ASIC ASIC
Europe FCA, CySEC FCA, BaFin, FINMA FCA, CySEC
International DFSA, BMA
North America CFTC, NFA
South America
View more > Plus500 > IG Markets > Eightcap >

How much does it cost to use an online trading platform in Malaysia?

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It is normally free to sign up to a stock trading platform in Malaysia.

The main cost comes in the form of trading fees, which depend on the platform and on what you want to trade. Some of the best stock trading apps in Malaysia offer completely free trading, while others charge a flat fee or commission per trade.

On average, this usually adds up to about 1-2% of your total trade value.

Here’s a comparison of the trading fees across our highest rated Malaysian brokers.

Asset Plus500 fees IG Markets fees Eightcap fees
Crypto From 2% Spread only Up to $3.5 RT
Commodities From 0.04% Spread only Up to $3.5 RT
From 0.8%
Index prices From 0.7% Spread only Up to $3.5 RT
Stocks From 0.08% From 0.5% Up to $3.5 RT
View more > Plus500 > IG Markets > Eightcap >

Another way an online broker in Malaysia might charge you is via the spread.

The spread is the difference between the buy and sell price of an asset, and effectively serves as a commission the broker is charging you on top of the market price.

The smaller the spread, the better value you’re getting from your broker.

Here’s a comparison of the spreads across the top Malaysian trading platforms.

Product Plus500 spreads IG Markets spreads Eightcap spreads
Stock CFDs 0.10% 0.10% From 1.2 pts
ETF CFDs 0.10% 0.10%
Forex CFDs 0.8 pips 0.6 pips From 0.0pips
Crypto CFDs 2% Variable From 0.5%
Index CFDs 0.20% 0.10% From 1.2 USD
Commodity CFDs 0.50% 0.3 pts From 0.12 USD
View all tradable assets > Plus500 > IG Markets > Eightcap >

On top of the trading fees and spreads, there may be other charges for using your online broker account.

These can include inactivity fees, where you’re charged if you don’t use your account for a period of time (usually 3-6 months), as well as overnight fees, which only apply if the broker is also a CFD platform, or even an account maintenance fee.

Here’s a look at the types of fees different brokers in Malaysia charge, to give you a complete picture of the cost of trading with the top brokers in Malaysia.

Fee Plus500 fees IG Markets fees Eightcap fees
Trading fees No Yes Yes
Inactivity fees Yes Yes No
Rollover/overnight fees Yes Yes Yes, on certain assets
Withdrawal fees No No Yes, for certain payment methods
Spreads Yes Yes Yes
Conversion fees Yes Yes Yes, currency dependent
View more > Plus500 > IG Markets > Eightcap >

How much money do I need to start trading?

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Typically, the minimum deposit for each Malaysian broker is the equivalent of $10.

If this is all you can manage: great, and you can get started with that.

But you probably want to start with a larger amount of money, or a plan to add more over time, otherwise it’s going to be difficult to grow your wealth in any significant way.

You don’t need a lot to start, but you do need to invest a reasonable amount of money to generate substantial returns.

A great way to do this is to invest a fixed amount at regular intervals, a concept known as Dollar-Cost Averaging.

This means that you can start with a small investment and the amount you invest can be adjusted depending on your circumstances.

You should also consider the minimum trade size on each platform. This governs the smallest investment you can make, so if you plan to invest small amounts then it is a crucial number to think about.

Compare the minimum and maximum trade sizes for each top broker in Malaysia right here.

Product Plus500 minimum trade IG Markets minimum trade Eightcap minimum trade
Stock CFDs $10 From £1 1 share
ETF CFDs $10 From £1
Forex CFDs 0.01 lots From £1 0.01 lots
Crypto CFDs $0.10 From £1 Variable
Index CFDs $10 From £1 1 share
Commodity CFDs $10 From £1 0.01 lots
View more > Plus500 > IG Markets > Eightcap >

More about stock trading platforms in Malaysia

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What products can I trade?

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For most people, the key question is whether you can trade stocks from other countries, as well as Malaysia. The answer is yes, with some caveats.

Most of the brokers we recommend are global platforms, that offer stocks from around the world (particularly the US market, which is by far the most popular and – in our experience – what you’re likely to be interested in!).

However, there can be limitations. For example, you might have to make deposits in US Dollars in order to trade those stocks or to use the platform, and that’s not always an option.

Your broker might offer currency conversion services, but they can be expensive.

In general though, you certainly can trade global stocks through a Malaysian stock broker. And you often aren’t limited to stocks, there are other options as well – including things like ETFs, which are super simple to buy.

Stocks

  • Malaysian stocks. One investment option is to simply buy and sell stocks that are listed in Malaysia. Investing in the Malaysian market is normally the most straightforward option for Malaysian residents, as you can buy shares in any company that’s listed on a Malaysian stock exchange.
  • US stocks. Some of the best known companies in the world are listed in the United States. The best online broker in Malaysia will also let you invest in stocks that are listed on the NYSE or the NASDAQ exchange in the US, but it depends on the legal restrictions in Malaysia.
  • International stocks. You may also be able to buy shares in companies that are based in the rest of the world. The best international brokers in Malaysia offer global stocks, but it may be a limited selection. If you want to buy equities from outside Malaysia or the US, be sure to check those stocks are available through your online broker before you sign up.

ETFs

ETFs (exchange traded funds) are investment funds that pool money together from lots of different investors and use it to track a particular index, like the S&P 500.

This kind of investing has exploded over the last decade. The largest ETF in the world, which invests in the S&P 500 – the famous US index that contains companies like Apple, Tesla, and Alphabet – holds more than half a billion dollars worth of investor money on its own.

If you’ve ever used a round-up investment app like Acorns or Moneybox, they are almost certainly investing in ETFs on your behalf. Many pension schemes use them now as well. This is for two main reasons: they’re simple to use, and they’re cheap.

Even if you can’t invest in every stock from every country, you can usually find an alternative in an ETF that tracks the performance of Malaysia’s top stock exchanges and indexes. 

Mutual funds

Mutual funds are professionally managed investments. You buy shares in the fund through an investment platform and the manager decides what to invest it in.

Typically, a fund manager chooses a mixture of global stocks, local Malaysian stocks, and ETFs that track global indices from across the world.

Mutual funds and ETFs are similar, but the former are managed by a professional who tries to beat the market, while the latter buy and sell stocks automatically based on a set of fixed criteria.

Typically a mutual fund charges higher management fees every year because of the extra work involved. The best stock broker in Malaysia should allow you to invest in stocks from Malaysia, as well as ETFs and mutual funds.

Futures and options

Futures and options contracts involve making an agreement to purchase a stock in the future at an agreed price. They’re favoured by stock traders and can be used as a way of speculating on how you think a company’s price might change in the future.

Other assets

Most trading platforms in Malaysia offer a variety of assets alongside stocks, funds, and ETFs. With the best Malaysian brokers you can create a diversified portfolio made up of leading global stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and dabble with trading currency pairs and commodities as well.

Compare the assets available with each of the top Malaysian brokers below.

Product Plus500 assets IG Markets assets Eightcap assets
Stock CFDs 1,800+ 17,000 + 590
ETF CFDs 100+
Forex CFDs 50+ 99 56
Crypto CFDs 40+ 10 122
Index CFDs 20+ 80 + 16 (17 on TradingView)
Commodity CFDs 20+ 16
View more > Plus500 > IG Markets > Eightcap >

Note that all listed instruments on Plus500 are available to trade as CFDs.

You should keep in mind, however, that to invest in other financial products from Malaysia, you may be better off using a different type of trading platform.

For example, for trading currency pairs you want one of the best forex brokers in Malaysia, for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the best crypto exchanges in Malaysia. The best cfd brokers in Malaysia offer a range of financial assets, including many of the options above.

How to buy stocks in Malaysia

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Every stock trading app in Malaysia is designed to help you invest with the minimum of fuss. 

Follow this six step guide to learn how to buy shares online in Malaysia for the first time.

1. Find a Malaysian trading app

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Compare the best online stock brokers in Malaysia and choose your favourite from the list at the top of this page.

2. Create an account

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Once you’ve chosen the best broker Malaysia, set up an account by supplying your email address and password. Fill in personal details like your name and address.

3. Verify the broker account

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Before you use an online trading platform in Malaysia you need to verify your identity.

Upload a copy of your driving licence or passport to do this. The verification process can take up to 24 hours, but is often much quicker than that.

4. Deposit money into your trading account

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You can make your initial deposit via a card payment, bank transfer, or an alternative payment method.

Many of the best online brokers in Malaysia accept PayPal and similar e-wallets, but you should check this ahead of time.

5. Search for a stock and place your trade

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Find the stocks you want to trade using their ticker symbol. Enter the details of your trade, and hit ‘buy’ to execute it.

6. Monitor your investment

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Check up on your investment regularly. Use the latest news and stock market research to help you decide when to sell your shares, and lock in a profit or loss.

How we chose the best online trading platform in Malaysia

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Our reviewing panel is made up of industry experts, including our Director Michael Charalambous, Editor of News, Harsh Vardhan, Editor of Education, James Knight, and long-time trader and Platform Reviewer, Prash Raval. The panel also includes an independent fact checker, Richard Stutely.

We work with many financial experts across the world, and we tap into their expertise to give us an insight into the particular trading environment of each country, and what’s important to users in Malaysia compared to everywhere else.

All that breaks down into a list of criteria that we use to form a final ranking.

Here are the key factors that played into our final ranking of the best stock brokers in Malaysia.

  • Fees. We prioritised Malaysian brokers that offer commission-free trading, charge low trading fees, don’t charge deposit or withdrawal fees, and don’t charge any hidden fees.
  • Device availability. An online trading platform that is available across all devices as a mobile app deserves a boost. In a mobile world, you need the best stock trading app in Malaysia to work across mobile, tablet, and desktop. 
  • Platform security. All services we recommend are regulated by respected financial institutions and provide investor protection in the event that anything goes wrong.
  • Free demo accounts. All the best stockbrokers in Malaysia should offer the chance to test their service before you pay for it. We gave the brokers with the best demo accounts a boost in our rankings.
  • Access to global markets. International stock brokers in Malaysia that allow you to invest in global markets, particularly popular ones like the United States, scored well in our reviews.
  • Trading and analysis tools. An online stock broker that offers analysis tools makes it easier to do all your research and trading in one place. Any online broker that offered this convenience scored well.
  • Third-party integrations. You might want to use a piece of downloadable, third-party software like MetaTrader 4, MT5, or cTrader to place your trades. The best trading software in Malaysia should integrate with these services and those that did so received a higher ranking. 
  • Customer reviews. Finally, we looked into customer reviews, to make sure that we only recommend the best investment platforms in Malaysia where the majority of Malaysian customers had a positive experience.

Find out more about how we rate, rank, and review platforms.

FAQs

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01

What’s the best broker for beginners in Malaysia?

02

What’s the best investment platform in Malaysia?

03

What’s the cheapest online broker Malaysia with the lowest fees?

04

Which trading app is best in Malaysia?

05

Which investment platform in Malaysia has the best demo account?

06

What’s the safest broker in Malaysia?

07

Is it legal to trade stocks in Malaysia?


Sources & references

James Knight

James Knight

Editor of Education

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James is the Editor of Education for Invezz, where he covers topics from across the financial world, from the stock market, to cryptocurrency, to macroeconomic markets. His main focus is on improving financial literacy among casual investors. He has been with Invezz since the start of 2021 and has been...