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Tiger Brokers Hong Kong Review: Fees, Features & Honest Verdict

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Contents

TL;DR

Tiger Brokers is a NASDAQ-listed brokerage (UP Fintech, TIGR) with SFC regulation in Hong Kong. Its February 2026 fee update cut HK stock commissions to 0.029% (plus HK$15 platform fee per order), making it more competitive than moomoo (0.03%) on pure commission while remaining behind Longbridge's zero-commission model. US stock trading remains free. IPO and grey market (ζš—η›˜) support is included. The main trade-offs: the per-order platform fee makes small trades relatively expensive, the app is less polished than moomoo, and there's no interest on idle cash. For investors who want a mid-range platform combining HK IPO access with US stock trading and a credible NASDAQ-listed parent, Tiger is a reasonable choice.


Tiger Brokers Hong Kong Review: Fees, Features & Honest Verdict

Tiger Brokers has been competing for Hong Kong investor accounts since 2019, and a February 2026 fee restructuring has changed its positioning relative to peers. The new 0.029% commission rate undercuts moomoo's 0.03% on paper β€” though both charge the same HK$15 platform fee per order, which limits how much the commission difference matters on smaller trades.

This review covers the updated fee structure, what Tiger does well, where it falls short, and who should (and shouldn't) use it as a primary brokerage in Hong Kong.


How We Evaluated Tiger Brokers HK

We assessed Tiger Brokers across:

  • Commission structure and total cost β€” including the 2026-02-01 fee update and per-order platform fees
  • HK IPO and grey market access β€” IPO subscription process and ζš—η›˜ timing
  • US stocks and international access β€” which markets, what the true costs are
  • Platform and app quality β€” mobile UX compared to moomoo and Longbridge
  • Account safety and regulation β€” SFC licensing and investor protection
  • Genuine downsides β€” the things the marketing materials skip

2026 Fee Structure

Tiger Brokers updated its HK stock fee schedule effective 2026-02-01:

Fee Tiger Brokers HK moomoo HK Longbridge HK IBKR HK
HK stock commission 0.029% (min HK$3) 0.03% (min HK$3) $0 0.08% (min HK$18)
HK stock platform fee HK$15/order HK$15/order HK$15/order None
US stock commission $0 $0 $0 $0.005/share (min $1)
US options Limited Not available Not available $0.65/contract
Monthly minimum fee None None None $10/month*
FX conversion spread ~0.2–0.5% ~0.2–0.5% ~0.3–0.5% ~0.002%

*IBKR activity fee waived if commissions β‰₯$10/month or account equity β‰₯$100,000.

What the fee update actually means: For a HK$100,000 trade, Tiger charges roughly HK$29 commission plus HK$15 platform fee = HK$44 total. moomoo charges HK$30 + HK$15 = HK$45. The difference is minor. Longbridge at HK$15 total remains meaningfully cheaper on HK stocks. The update matters more on larger trades β€” a HK$500,000 trade sees Tiger at HK$160 vs moomoo at HK$165, a real but small saving.

For US stocks, all three fintech brokers (Tiger, moomoo, Longbridge) charge $0, so the distinction disappears.


HK Stocks and IPO Access

This is Tiger's clearest strength for Hong Kong investors. The platform supports:

  • HK stock trading β€” Main Board and GEM listings on HKEX
  • IPO subscription (η”³θ³Ό) β€” full CCASS-integrated IPO application workflow
  • Grey market (ζš—η›€) trading β€” available from the day before official listing
  • A-shares via Stock Connect β€” Shenzhen and Shanghai-listed stocks
  • HK ETFs β€” including 2800 (Tracker Fund), 3067 (CSOP Hang Seng TECH), 3032

The IPO workflow in Tiger Trade is straightforward: find the IPO listing, enter the number of lots you want to subscribe, confirm the margin or cash requirement, and Tiger handles the CCASS submission. Allotment notifications come in-app. Grey market quotes appear from around 5pm on the business day before the listing date.

For investors whose strategy centres on HK IPO subscription and early grey market trading, Tiger has a proven track record. It has been offering this service in Hong Kong since 2019 and processes large IPO volumes.


US Stocks and International Markets

Tiger Brokers provides access to:

  • US stocks and ETFs β€” NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX with $0 commission
  • Singapore stocks β€” SGX listings (useful for investors with cross-border interests)
  • A-shares β€” Shanghai and Shenzhen via Stock Connect

One account covers HK and US markets simultaneously, which removes the need for a separate US brokerage. The $0 US commission is a meaningful advantage for frequent US stock traders. The FX conversion cost (moving HKD to USD) sits at around 0.2–0.5%, which is in line with peers but much higher than IBKR's ~0.002%.

For investors who need multi-currency portfolio management or access to derivatives (options, futures) beyond the US equity market, IBKR's broader market access makes more sense. Tiger's international reach is real but narrower.


Platform: Tiger Trade App

Tiger's mobile app (Tiger Trade) sits between moomoo's feature-heavy interface and Longbridge's simpler design. It includes:

  • Real-time HK and US quotes
  • In-app IPO subscription and grey market access
  • Watchlists, portfolio tracker, and order management
  • Basic technical charts (candlestick, moving averages, volume)
  • News and earnings calendar

A 2025 App Store rating for Tiger Trade in HK averaged around 4.2/5, compared to moomoo's 4.4/5. The gap is real: moomoo's research tools, community feed, and paper trading mode add depth that Tiger hasn't matched. Tiger Trade is competent β€” it does the job β€” but it doesn't add the community and educational layer that has made moomoo popular with newer investors.

For chart-intensive technical analysis, both Tiger and moomoo users typically pair the platform with TradingView, which provides richer charting tools across HK and US markets.


TV
TradingView
Charting for Tiger Brokers Users

Tiger Trade's built-in charts are functional for basic analysis. TradingView's free tier provides full candlestick charts, 100+ indicators, multi-market watchlists, and real-time HK and US data β€” pairing well with Tiger's execution platform for technical traders.

Try Free Charts β†’

Account Safety and Regulation

SFC regulation: Tiger Brokers (HK) Limited is licensed by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (CE number: AAX920) for dealing in securities (Type 1) and futures contracts (Type 2). Client assets are held in segregated accounts at CCASS, separate from Tiger's corporate funds.

Investor Compensation Fund: Like all SFC-licensed brokers, Tiger clients are covered by Hong Kong's Investor Compensation Fund β€” up to HK$500,000 per investor against default on HK-executed trades.

NASDAQ-listed parent: UP Fintech Holding Limited (NASDAQ: TIGR) is Tiger's parent company. As a publicly traded firm on a major US exchange, UP Fintech is subject to SEC disclosure requirements, audited quarterly financials, and analyst scrutiny. This provides a level of financial transparency that private brokers cannot match. As of late 2025, UP Fintech reported approximately 970,000 funded accounts globally.


Downsides Worth Knowing

Per-Order Platform Fee Hurts Small Trades

The HK$15 platform fee applies to every HK stock order, regardless of size. On a HK$10,000 trade, that's 0.15% before the commission β€” making the effective total cost around 0.44% (0.029% commission + 0.15% platform fee ratio). For frequent small-lot traders, this fee structure is expensive. Longbridge also charges HK$15 but with zero commission, making it cheaper for most sizes.

No Interest on Idle Cash

Tiger does not pay interest on uninvested HKD or USD balances. IBKR currently pays ~4.5% on USD balances over $10,000. For investors holding significant cash positions, this gap is meaningful β€” $100,000 idle in Tiger earns nothing versus roughly $4,500/year at IBKR.

App Depth Below moomoo

Tiger Trade lacks the research depth, in-app community features, and paper trading environment that moomoo has built. For investors who value learning tools alongside their brokerage, moomoo's platform offers more.

Commission Still Higher Than Longbridge

Even after the 2026 fee update, Tiger's 0.029% commission plus HK$15 platform fee results in a higher total cost per trade than Longbridge's zero-commission model on HK stocks. Investors whose primary activity is HK equity trading will find Longbridge cheaper.


Who Should Use Tiger Brokers HK

Good fit:

  • Investors who want combined HK IPO + US stock access in one account
  • IPO subscribers who also trade US stocks regularly
  • Investors who want a NASDAQ-listed, regulated mid-range platform
  • Traders comfortable with a mobile-first, functional app experience
  • A-share investors accessing Shanghai/Shenzhen via Stock Connect

Less suitable:

  • Investors focused primarily on HK stock trading at the lowest cost (Longbridge is cheaper)
  • Passive investors holding large cash positions who want interest income (IBKR is better)
  • Investors who want a deep research and community platform (moomoo has more)
  • Active traders who need options, futures, or forex beyond US equity options

For pure HK IPO access with low fees, moomoo and Tiger are comparable. moomoo has stronger research tools; Tiger's 2026 commission update now slightly undercuts moomoo on percentage terms while matching on platform fee.


FAQ

Is Tiger Brokers regulated in Hong Kong?

Yes. Tiger Brokers (HK) Limited holds SFC licences for dealing in securities (Type 1) and futures (Type 2). CE number: AAX920. Client assets are held in segregated CCASS accounts, and the SFC Investor Compensation Fund covers up to HK$500,000 per investor against default on HK trades.

What changed with Tiger Brokers' fees in February 2026?

Effective 2026-02-01, Tiger reduced its HK stock commission from 0.06% to 0.029% (minimum HK$3). The HK$15 per-order platform fee remains unchanged. US stock trading continues at $0 commission. This update makes Tiger more competitive with moomoo (0.03%), though Longbridge's zero-commission model still results in lower total costs on most HK stock trades.

Does Tiger Brokers support HK IPO applications?

Yes. Tiger supports full HK IPO subscription via the CCASS process through the Tiger Trade app, including grey market (ζš—η›€) trading from the day before the official listing date. This is one of Tiger's primary differentiators from IBKR, which does not offer HK IPO access.

What is the minimum deposit to open a Tiger Brokers HK account?

Tiger does not publish a fixed minimum deposit requirement for account opening. The welcome promotions (such as deposit bonuses for depositing HK$10,000 or more) effectively set a practical threshold for qualifying for new-user offers, but accounts can be opened with smaller amounts.

Can I trade US options through Tiger Brokers HK?

Tiger offers limited US options trading, primarily for investors who qualify for the relevant SFC licensing tier. The options offering is more restricted than IBKR's full derivatives access. Investors with serious options trading needs β€” multiple legs, Greeks analysis, complex strategies β€” will find IBKR a better platform.

How does Tiger Brokers compare to moomoo for HK investors?

After Tiger's 2026 fee update, the commission difference is marginal (Tiger 0.029% vs moomoo 0.03%). Both charge HK$15 per order in platform fees. moomoo has stronger in-app research tools, a more active community feature, and a slightly higher App Store rating. Tiger's advantage is its NASDAQ-listed parent (UP Fintech) and a slightly lower commission rate on larger trades. For most investors, platform preference will matter more than the fee difference.