INDmoney, Vested, and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) each solve for a different layer of global investing for today’s Indian investors.
But not everyone needs the same kind of platform.
- INDmoney is best thought of as a personal finance super-app. It helps you track Indian mutual funds, fixed deposits, insurance, and also lets you invest in U.S. stocks. But global investing is just one tab among many.
- Vested is built as an alternative investment platform. It offers U.S. stocks and ETFs but also includes Indian bonds and solar infra portfolios to help you build a multi-asset portfolio beyond Indian FDs and mutual funds. However, it does not support other global markets beyond the U.S.
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the underlying global brokerage infrastructure trusted by institutions worldwide. It supports 150+ markets including the US, UK, Europe, and Asia, but expects you to handle compliance, remittance, and reporting on your own.
Table of Contents
- Infrastructure Overview
- Feature Comparison
- FEMA Compliance
- Tax Reporting
- Technology Features
- Investor Fit
- Client Support
Infrastructure Overview
Attribute | INDmoney | Vested | IBKR |
Account Setup | Free | ₹250 (one-time) | Free |
Trading infrastructure | Powered by DriveWealth & Alpaca | Powered by DriveWealth | Industry-leading proprietary platform |
Market Access | US only | US only | Global - US, Europe, UK, China and more |
Custody of assets under client's name | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
FEMA & LRS Support | Basic | Basic | ❌ |
Tax Reporting (India) | Basic | Basic | ❌ |
INR-based Returns & Analytics | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Human Advisory | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Onboarding Support | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
Remittance Integration | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
SIPC Insurance | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Feature Comparison
Attribute | INDmoney | Vested | IBKR | |
Direct trading | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
Real-time execution | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
Product Universe | US Stocks & ETFs | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Other markets (China, UK, Europe, etc) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | |
Managed Portfolios | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | |
UCITS portfolios | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | |
AIFs | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | |
Fractional Shares | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
Auto-rebalanced UCITS portfolios | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | |
Interest on uninvested cash | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | |
| Withdraw money to US bank account | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | |
Note: UCITS portfolios are preferred by many Indian investors for US estate tax protection and global diversification.
FEMA Compliance
Attribute | INDmoney | Vested | IBKR | |
Digital remittance under LRS | Self-declaration templates for Indian banks | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Remittance support at low rates | Limited visibility, fixed margin | Limited visibility, fixed margin | ❌ | |
Bank formalities & Holding Declaration | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | |
Tracking and Confirmation | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | |
Compliance queries | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | |
Note: FEMA compliance is critical when sending money abroad under LRS. Many Indian investors unknowingly use incorrect purpose codes during remittance which can lead to reporting issues, delays, or tax scrutiny later.
Tax Reporting
Attribute | INDmoney | Vested | IBKR | |
Tax Analytics | Dividend Tax Tracking | Partial | ❌ | ❌ |
Capital Gains Tax Calculation (STCG/LTCG) | Partial | ❌ | ❌ | |
Accumulating ETFs | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | |
Tax Loss Harvesting | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | |
Year-End Tax Statement for Indian Investors | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
UCITS portfolios for tax savings | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | |
Technology Features
Attribute | INDmoney | Vested | IBKR |
Mobile App & Web View | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Market and Limit | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Stop loss | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Trailing stop loss | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Withdraw funds to any bank account | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Mutual funds tracking | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
XIRR calculation for position | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
Benchmarking & Backtesting | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
INR gain/loss computation (blended FX) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Web dashboard for reporting | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Trader Workstation (TWS) for advanced traders | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Custom features (family offices, institutional needs) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Investor Fit
Investor Type | INDmoney | Vested | IBKR |
First-time US investor | ✅
Easy Onboarding | ✅
Easy Onboarding | ❌
Higher Friction |
SIP-style Retail Investor | ✅
Suited | ❌
No SIP options | ❌ Not optimal for tiny flows |
HNIs | Limited Tax/Remit control | Requires technical know-how | Good but requires Tax & LRS know-how
|
Family Offices | No reporting or structuring tools | No reporting or structuring tools | Good but lacks technical customisation + India-facing layer |
Institutional Investors | Not built for complex needs | Not built for complex needs | Good but lacks technical customisation + India-facing layer |
Client Support
Attribute | INDmoney | Vested | IBKR |
Onboarding Support | Self-serve | Self-serve & Guided | Self-serve |
Dedicated relationship manager | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
Expert concierge (FEMA, Tax) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Custom Portfolio Structuring | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Customize features on request | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Exit or Migration Support | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Conclusion
Global investing isn’t one-size-fits-all and the right platform depends on your scale, intent, and how much control you want across remittance, tax, and asset access.
INDmoney is a great starting point if you’re investing small amounts into U.S. ETFs and want the simplicity of an app that also tracks your Indian portfolio.
Vested helps you take the next step by offering a broader asset mix and curated portfolios, but still within the U.S. market.
IBKR unlocks the full stack: access to 150+ markets, low-cost execution, and global products. But it assumes you're ready to handle the India-facing side from FEMA to tax reporting independently or with external help.
Choosing the right platform is less about features and more about alignment, between your capital, your context, and your long-term approach to global investing.
About Paasa
Paasa is a global investing platform built specifically for Indian HNIs, family offices, and institutional investors, helping them invest across the US, UK, Europe, and China with tools that simplify LRS, remittance, tax reporting, and cross-border complexity.
Disclaimer
This content is for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as financial, legal, or professional advice from Paasa. While we strive for accuracy, the information may change over time. Paasa makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees, whether express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. The comparison is based on publicly available data and is intended to assist users in making informed decisions. It is not a substitute for professional advice or consultation with financial experts. Please review the terms of use and product availability for your region, or visit the service provider's website for the latest pricing and service information.
