How to Buy FUTU Stock: Step-by-Step Guide to Choosing the Best Trading Platform and Easily Investing in U.S. Stock Leaders

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You want to purchase FUTU stock listed on Nasdaq. You must do this through a brokerage platform that supports U.S. stock trading. As a highly regarded fintech company, FUTU holds a significant position in the capital markets.

To track FUTU share price and invest, you need to choose among several mainstream platforms.

Mainstream U.S. Stock Trading Platform Options Include:

• Futu MooMoo
• Tiger Brokers
• Webull
• Interactive Brokers

This article will guide you to choose the most suitable platform based on your needs and master the complete purchase process.

Key Takeaways

• When choosing a trading platform, you need to consider fees, funding threshold, platform features, security guarantees, and Chinese customer support.
• Futu MooMoo, Tiger Brokers, Webull, and Interactive Brokers are the four main platforms for buying FUTU stock.
• Buying FUTU stock requires three steps: online account opening, depositing funds, and placing orders.
• During account opening, you need to prepare identity proof, address proof, and tax information, and fill out the W-8BEN form.
• You can choose market orders or limit orders to buy stocks, with limit orders more suitable for beginners to control costs.

How to Choose a FUTU Trading Platform

Choosing the right trading platform is the first step to successful investing. You need to evaluate from five key dimensions: fees, funds, features, security, and customer support to find the broker that best matches your personal needs.

Trading Commissions and Fees

Trading costs directly affect your investment returns. You need to focus not only on commissions but also on platform fees and other hidden costs.

Note: So-called “zero commission” does not mean “zero cost.” Transactions usually still require payment of regulatory fees, exchange fees, and other third-party fees.

For example, some platforms offer zero commission for specific markets, but when trading U.S. stocks, Tiger Brokers may charge about ＄1.99 for a 10-share trade. Interactive Brokers (IBKR), aimed at professional traders, can have commissions as low as $0.0005 per share but with a minimum order fee. You need to comprehensively evaluate total costs based on your trading frequency and scale.

Account Funding Threshold

Different brokers have different requirements for initial deposits. You need to confirm whether the platform’s minimum deposit is within your budget.

• Mainstream Platforms: Platforms like Futu and Tiger Brokers usually require about $1,282 or more for the first deposit.
• Zero Threshold Platforms: Some brokers like Webull’s Singapore entity have no minimum deposit requirement, allowing you to start investing with any amount.

When preparing funds, you can choose multiple ways to deposit into your brokerage account. For example, you can transfer via a licensed Hong Kong bank account or use third-party payment tools like Biyapay to handle funds before depositing into the brokerage account.

Platform Features and Experience

A good platform should make trading effortless. You need to choose appropriate tools based on your experience level.

• Beginner-Friendly: Webull and Futu MooMoo have clean and intuitive interfaces with smooth mobile experiences, very suitable for beginners and intermediate investors.
• Professional Powerhouse: Interactive Brokers provides institutional-grade trading tools with massive technical indicators and charting tools, making it the top choice for professional traders.

The chart below clearly shows Interactive Brokers’ significant advantage in functional depth compared to Webull.

License and Security

Fund security is the top priority in investing. You must choose a broker with legitimate licenses and regulated by authoritative institutions.

A reliable platform is usually supervised by financial regulatory bodies in multiple countries or regions, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). For example, Tiger Brokers is a member of FINRA and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), meaning your account receives corresponding investor protection.

Chinese Service Quality

For Chinese-speaking users, efficient native-language customer service is crucial. When you encounter deposit difficulties or trading issues, timely help can save you a lot of trouble.

According to user feedback, Futu MooMoo provides 7x24-hour Chinese customer service with very fast response. Tiger Brokers and Webull also provide Chinese support, but response speed may vary slightly. Choosing a platform with smooth communication can make your investment journey much smoother.

In-Depth Review of Mainstream FUTU Trading Platforms

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After understanding the basic criteria for choosing a platform, the next step is to examine the specific pros and cons of each platform in depth. To help you make a quick judgment, the table below summarizes the key information of the four mainstream platforms.

Next, we will analyze these platforms one by one to help you find the one that suits you best.

Futu MooMoo: Official Platform and Ecosystem Advantages

As the official trading platform under FUTU company, Futu MooMoo is undoubtedly the “home field” for trading FUTU stock. It not only provides a seamless trading experience but also builds a powerful investment ecosystem.

Core Advantages: Futu MooMoo integrates top-tier trading features, an active investor community, and powerful research tools, providing you with a one-stop investment solution.

• Leading Trading Features You can experience its pioneering 5x24-hour U.S. stock trading service on Futu MooMoo. This feature greatly enhances trading flexibility, allowing you to place orders anytime outside regular trading hours based on market dynamics. This means when major news is released after hours, you don’t have to wait until the next day to react immediately.
• Significant Cost Advantages Futu offers specific users a lifetime commission-free HK stock trading promotion. You need to note that “commission-free” refers to waiving trading commissions but not including platform usage fees, trading levies, and other third-party fees. Additionally, the platform’s U.S. fractional share trading is also commission-free, allowing you to diversify investments at lower costs.
• Powerful Platform Ecosystem Futu’s success is inseparable from its unique platform ecosystem. Tencent’s strategic investment provides it with strong technology and resource backing. More importantly, its built-in MooMoo Community is a very active investor exchange platform. Here, you can:
  • Learn and grow together with millions of investors worldwide.
  • Access investment insights shared by professionals that were previously often only circulated within large financial institutions.
  • Directly provide feedback to the platform and participate in product improvements.
• Limitations Despite powerful features, Futu MooMoo currently does not support trading of alternative assets like cryptocurrency and bonds. If your portfolio needs to cover these areas, you may need to consider other platforms as supplements.

Tiger Brokers: Friendly U.S./HK IPO Subscription Tools

Tiger Brokers has built strong brand recognition in U.S. and HK IPO (initial public offering) areas, known by many investors as an “IPO subscription weapon.” If you have a strong interest in participating in new share subscriptions, Tiger Brokers will be your powerful assistant.

Tiger Brokers, as a member of IPO underwriting or selling groups, can often secure more share allocations for you. It has successfully brought IPO subscription opportunities previously limited to institutions and high-net-worth individuals to retail investors.

IPO-Specific Analysis Tools: Tiger Brokers provides a series of exclusive tools to assist your IPO decisions, such as the IPO Simulator, industry margin comparison, and sponsor performance analysis, helping you more scientifically evaluate new share investment potential.

The platform supports zero-fee U.S. IPO subscriptions and offers up to 20x margin leverage for HK IPOs, allowing you to participate in subscriptions with less capital and amplify potential returns. The entire subscription process can be completed seamlessly within the Tiger” App, very convenient.

Webull: Zero-Commission U.S. Stock Trading Choice

For investors highly sensitive to trading costs, Webull’s zero-commission policy is extremely attractive. It has quickly become popular among young investors with its clean interface and extremely low trading costs.

Choosing Webull means you pay no commissions when trading U.S. stocks, ETFs, and options. This can significantly reduce your trading friction costs, especially suitable for frequent traders or those with smaller capital.

Note: Zero commission does not mean zero cost. Like all brokers, you still need to pay small regulatory fees charged by institutions like SEC and FINRA.

In addition to cost advantages, Webull’s product line is quite rich. It not only supports stock and ** fractional share** trading but also allows investment in futures and cryptocurrency, providing you with more diversified asset allocation options.

Interactive Brokers (IBKR): Global Market for Professional Traders

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the top choice for global professional traders and institutional investors. If you have rich trading experience and need the top-tier tools and broadest market access, IBKR is your only choice.

Its flagship platform Trader Workstation (TWS) provides over 100 order types and complex algorithmic trading tools, designed to meet any sophisticated trading strategy needs.

• Advanced Order Type Examples:
  • Iceberg Order: Allows you to submit large orders but only display a small portion in the market to avoid impacting market prices.
  • Bracket Order: Automatically sets a take-profit and stop-loss order for the main order, helping you lock in profits and control risk.
  • Adaptive Algo Order: Aims to achieve a better average execution price through intelligent routing and timing.

Additionally, IBKR also supports fractional share trading, allowing you to build a portfolio by specific amounts (e.g., $500) rather than share count. Its powerful features and global market coverage make it the ultimate toolbox for serious investors.

Three Steps to Complete FUTU Stock Purchase

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You have chosen the platform that best suits you. Now, you are only three simple steps away from truly holding FUTU stock. This process can be completed entirely online and is very efficient. Below, we will guide you step by step through the entire process from account opening to placing orders.

Account Opening Documents and Online Application

First, you need to prepare some personal documents to complete the online account opening application. This step is to verify your identity and ensure transaction compliance and security. The entire application process usually takes only 10-15 minutes.

You need to prepare documents usually including:

• Identity Proof: Such as your passport or national ID card (NRIC).
• Address Proof: Recent utility bills or bank statements to confirm your residential address.
• Tax Information: You need to fill out the W-8BEN form online. This is a standard form used to declare your non-U.S. resident status, which can help you enjoy possible tax benefits.

Tip: The W-8BEN form is a document that all non-U.S. investors must submit when trading U.S. stocks. It proves you do not need to pay capital gains tax to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

After submitting the application, the broker will review your documents. Different platforms have different approval speeds, but they are usually very fast.

Once your account is approved, you will receive an email or app notification, meaning you can proceed to the next step.

Brokerage Account Funding Methods

After account approval, you need to deposit funds to start trading. Choosing an efficient, low-cost funding method is crucial.

The most traditional way is through a bank wire transfer. You can use a licensed Hong Kong bank account to transfer according to the recipient information provided by the broker. Wire transfer is fast but relatively expensive, usually between $15 and $50.

Another option is international ACH transfer, which usually costs less than $5 but takes longer to process, about 2-4 business days.

Convenient Payment New Choice: In addition to traditional bank channels, you can also consider using third-party payment tools like Biyapay. Such platforms can help you handle funds and then conveniently deposit into the brokerage account, sometimes offering more flexible exchange rates and lower handling fees.

To help you choose, the table below compares two mainstream bank transfer methods:

No matter which method you choose, you must ensure funds are transferred from an account in your own name to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.

Query FUTU Share Price and Place Order to Trade

After funds arrive, the exciting moment has come. Now you can officially buy FUTU stock.

1. Search for the Stock: Open your trading app and enter the stock code FUTU in the top search box. After clicking search, you can see real-time FUTU share price charts, related news, and financial data.
2. Choose Order Type: After clicking “Trade” or “Buy,” you need to choose an order method. For beginners, the two most common are:
   • Market Order: Executes immediately at the current best market price. Advantage is fast execution with guaranteed fill; disadvantage is uncertain execution price, which may be higher or lower than the FUTU share price at the time of order placement.
   • Limit Order: Set a maximum buy price you are willing to accept. The order only executes when the FUTU share price reaches or falls below your set price. Advantage is controllable cost; disadvantage is if the share price stays above your set price, the order may not execute.

Beginner Advice: If this is your first trade, it is recommended to use a limit order. You can reference the current FUTU share price and set a slightly lower price to avoid buying at a high point and better control your position cost.

3. Enter Quantity and Confirm: Enter the number of shares you wish to buy (or amount if the platform supports fractional shares). Carefully check order information, including stock code, price, and quantity. After confirming no errors, submit the order.

After the order executes, congratulations! You have successfully purchased FUTU stock and officially become one of the shareholders of Futu Holdings Limited. You can check your investment performance anytime in the holdings list.

You have now mastered the core three steps to buying FUTU stock: choosing a platform, account opening and funding, and placing orders. Remember, the key to choosing a platform is finding the one that suits you best, not pursuing the absolute “best.”

• Pursuing ultimate experience and powerful features: Futu MooMoo is your top choice.
• Highly sensitive to trading costs: Webull’s zero-commission policy is extremely attractive.
• Need global markets and professional tools: Experienced you should choose Interactive Brokers.

We hope this guide helps you turn knowledge into action, start tracking FUTU share price today, and take your first step in investing.

FAQ

Do I need to pay tax on FUTU stock gains?

As a non-U.S. resident, you usually do not need to pay capital gains tax (price difference gains) on stocks to the U.S. You only need to fill out the W-8BEN form during account opening to declare your status. However, note that dividend income is usually subject to a 30% withholding tax.

Is my money safe on these brokerage platforms?

Yes, your money is safe. Brokers like Futu, Tiger, and IBKR regulated in the U.S. are members of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).

SIPC provides up to $500,000 protection for each client’s securities and cash, with a cash protection limit of $250,000.

What are regular U.S. stock trading hours?

Regular U.S. stock market trading hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 to 16:00 Eastern Time. Some platforms like Futu MooMoo offer pre-market, after-hours, and even 24-hour trading sessions, allowing you to trade outside regular hours.

Can I start investing in FUTU with very little money?

Of course. Many platforms support fractional share trading. This means you can buy by amount, such as only $50 worth of FUTU stock, rather than a whole share. This greatly lowers the investment threshold.