Global investors increasingly want exposure to U.S. equities without tying up large capital in single shares. Fractional shares—buying a portion of a stock or ETF—solve that by letting you invest a dollar amount instead of a whole share, bringing high-priced names within reach. If your goal is fractional U.S. stocks with the option to expand globally, Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and Webull are two of the most popular routes. The short answer: Webull is excellent for mobile-first, U.S.-focused fractional investing; IBKR is the stronger choice if you also need international markets, multi-currency support, and institutional-grade tools. Below, we compare both across access, features, pricing, and ease of use to help you decide.

Overview of Fractional Shares and Global Investing Access

Fractional shares are partial units of a single stock or ETF, allowing you to buy less than one share in dollar amounts that fit your budget. For global investors, the appeal is clear: fractional shares ease entry into U.S. markets, enable diversification with smaller sums, and support strategies like recurring buys and dollar-cost averaging.

Access matters as much as affordability. Cross-border investing introduces currency conversion, regulation, and payment rails that can complicate execution. Platforms that natively support multiple currencies, local funding options, and compliant onboarding for non-U.S. residents remove friction and make it practical to build U.S.-centric portfolios from abroad. As a fintech bridging traditional and digital markets, ToVest emphasizes global accessibility, regulatory compliance, and multi-currency flexibility—including stablecoins—to enhance fractional investing efficiency for sophisticated investors.

Interactive Brokers Platform Features and Benefits

Interactive Brokers is built for global investors who want robust market access and professional-grade execution. It supports multi-currency accounts and provides access to 150+ markets worldwide, a combination that makes fractional U.S. stock investing easier across borders, currencies, and venues, as summarized in the NextLevelGlobalAcademy overview (IBKR vs peers) NextLevelGlobalAcademy overview.

On the technology side, IBKR’s Trader Workstation (TWS) offers more than 100 order types, institutional-grade SmartRouting, and extensive algorithmic options suited to active traders and professionals, according to the Investopedia comparison Investopedia comparison. Its APIs support automation, backtesting, and systematic strategies.

IBKR’s international footprint is equally strong. The broker reports a large global client base—over 2 million customers across 200+ countries—which reinforces its suitability for users seeking U.S. exposure plus global diversification Investing.com IBKR review. Beyond equities, IBKR covers mutual funds, options, futures, bonds, forex, and a curated crypto lineup (11 coins via partners), and offers advanced features like portfolio margin for eligible accounts, all within a compliance-first framework StockBrokers.com comparison.

Webull Platform Features and Benefits

Webull is a mobile-first platform favored by retail traders for its clean UX, fast onboarding, and strong app experience on iOS and Android. It includes paper trading for practice, responsive charting, and up to 59 technical indicators—great for beginners and on-the-go users, as noted in the StockBrokers.com Webull review StockBrokers.com Webull review.

Crucially, Webull supports fractional shares of U.S. stocks and ETFs and lets users set recurring investments in small amounts (e.g., starting from $5) up to higher caps suitable for systematic buying StockBrokers.com Webull review. The trade-off is international breadth: while Webull excels in U.S.-listed securities and options, its access to non-U.S. markets and certain asset classes is limited relative to IBKR StockBrokers.com comparison.

Market Access and Instrument Availability Comparison

The right platform depends on what you plan to own beyond U.S. fractional stocks. Here’s how coverage compares at a glance:

• Coverage summary

• IBKR: 150+ global exchanges, multi-currency support, stocks/ETFs (fractional supported), options, futures, bonds, forex, mutual funds, and 11 cryptocurrencies NextLevelGlobalAcademy overview; StockBrokers.com comparison.

• Webull: Primarily U.S.-listed stocks/ETFs (fractionals supported), options, and 50 cryptocurrencies; no mutual funds and limited international access StockBrokers.com comparison.

Trading Tools, Platform Usability, and Technology

• Advanced workflow (IBKR)

• Trader Workstation with 100+ order types, SmartRouting, algos.

• APIs for automation and programmatic trading.

• Powerful but a steeper learning curve for new investors Investopedia comparison.

• Mobile-first workflow (Webull)

• Highly rated iOS/Android apps, quick onboarding, and paper trading.

• Intuitive charting with up to 59 technical indicators and streamlined order tickets.

• Recurring fractional buys make long-term accumulation straightforward StockBrokers.com Webull review.

Step-by-step: from sign-up to placing a fractional order

• IBKR

• Apply with global KYC and select a multi-currency account. 2) Fund via supported methods in your base currency. 3) In TWS or Client Portal, choose an eligible U.S. stock/ETF. 4) Place a fractional order by entering a dollar amount; review routing and preview commission/taxes. 5) Monitor execution with detailed fills and analytics.

• Webull

• Open an account in the app with streamlined KYC. 2) Fund via ACH or supported methods. 3) Search a U.S. stock/ETF with fractional support. 4) Select “buy in dollars,” optionally set a recurring schedule. 5) Track orders and performance in the mobile dashboard.

Pricing, Fees, and Account Minimums

Both brokers offer $0 commissions on U.S. stocks and ETFs at standard retail tiers. IBKR’s Pro tier also offers per-share pricing (e.g., $0.005 per share, $1.00 minimum), which can be advantageous for high-volume or routing-sensitive traders Investopedia comparison.

• Interactive Brokers

• Commissions: $0 (Lite) for U.S. stocks/ETFs; IBKR Pro per-share tiers available.

• Margin: Among the lowest in the industry, especially at higher balances Investopedia comparison.

• Funding/withdrawals: Multiple global methods; standard bank fees may apply.

• Account minimums: No minimum for most retail accounts.

• Webull

• Commissions: $0 for U.S. stocks/ETFs and options (contract fees may apply).

• Margin: Competitive but generally higher than IBKR at larger balances Investopedia comparison.

• Funding/withdrawals: App-first experience; fast ACH for U.S. users.

• Account minimums: No minimums for cash accounts; streamlined onboarding Unbiased Webull review.

Cash Management, Interest, and Banking Features

Cash management includes how a brokerage holds your uninvested cash, what interest it pays, and how you move funds in and out.

• Interactive Brokers: Pays interest on eligible uninvested cash above a threshold (commonly $10,000), with rates linked to benchmarks; it does not bundle FDIC-insured checking/savings accounts NerdWallet IBKR review.

• Webull: Often advertises competitive cash yields for promotional periods and has run IRA match promotions; it also does not offer FDIC-insured bank accounts as part of the brokerage Unbiased Webull review.

Pros and Cons of Interactive Brokers and Webull

• Interactive Brokers (IBKR)

• Pros: Vast global market access; multi-currency accounts; advanced tools and SmartRouting; low costs for high-volume trading; broad product coverage including mutual funds and 11 crypto coins StockBrokers.com comparison.

• Cons: Steeper learning curve; cash interest thresholds; interface complexity for beginners Investing.com IBKR review.

• Webull

• Pros: Excellent mobile UX; paper trading; recurring fractional buys from small amounts; no account minimums; wide crypto list (about 50 coins) StockBrokers.com Webull review.

• Cons: Limited international equity access; no mutual funds; research depth is basic compared to pro platforms StockBrokers.com comparison.

Which Platform Is Best for Global Investors in Fractional US Stocks?

If you want easy, mobile-first access to fractional U.S. stocks and ETFs, Webull is a strong fit. If you need global diversification, multi-currency funding, and professional tools alongside U.S. fractional investing, Interactive Brokers is the better choice. Independent comparisons consistently frame IBKR as the choice for multi-market access and advanced execution, while Webull excels in user-friendly U.S. trading with robust mobile features BrokerChooser comparison.

Bottom line: For most global investors focused on fractional U.S. stocks with room to expand internationally, IBKR’s breadth and infrastructure are hard to beat. For crypto-centric users who value a wider coin roster and a streamlined app, Webull may be preferable. As the market converges with digital assets, solutions like ToVest aim to further reduce cross-border friction by enabling compliant, tokenized access to U.S. equities and multi-currency workflows, including stablecoins ToVest about.

Frequently asked questions

What are fractional shares and why are they important for global investors?

Fractional shares let you buy part of a stock or ETF by dollar amount, making high-priced U.S. equities accessible and enabling diversified portfolios with smaller capital.

How can investors buy fractional shares on brokerage platforms?

Choose a broker that supports fractional trading and place an order by dollar amount (or fraction) on eligible U.S. stocks/ETFs.

What factors should investors consider when choosing a platform for fractional US stocks?

Prioritize global access, platform usability, product range, fees, cash features, and account minimums.

Do fractional shares offer dividends and voting rights?

Dividends are typically paid proportionally, but voting rights on fractional positions vary by broker and may be limited.

How do fees and account minimums impact fractional share investing?

Lower fees and no minimums reduce friction, allowing efficient U.S. market access even with small recurring investments.