Vested and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) offer Indian investors two very different ways to access U.S. and global markets like the UK, Europe, and China.
Vested is designed as an alternative investment platform for Indian retail investors. It offers access to U.S. stocks and ETFs, and also branches into Indian bonds and solar portfolios. However, it does not provide exposure to other markets like the UK, Europe, or China, and is primarily built for small to medium size retail investors.
Interactive Brokers, on the other hand, is the infrastructure itself. Trusted by global institutions and funds, it offers access to 150+ markets including the US, UK, Europe, and Asia with direct custody, low costs at scale, and deep product coverage. But it expects you to manage remittance, compliance, and tax reporting on your own.
This comparison breaks down which type of investor each platform is suited for, and why.
Table of Contents
- Infrastructure Overview
- Feature Comparison
- FEMA Compliance
- Tax Reporting
- Technology Features
- Investor Fit
- Client Support
Infrastructure Overview
Attribute | Vested | IBKR |
Account Setup | ₹250 (one-time) | Free |
Trading infrastructure | Powered by DriveWealth | Industry-leading proprietary platform |
Market Access | US stocks & ETFs only | US, Europe, UK, China and more |
Custody of assets under client's name | ✅ | ✅ |
FEMA & LRS Support | Basic | ❌ |
Tax Reporting (India) | Basic | ❌ |
INR-based Returns & Analytics | ❌ | ❌ |
Human Advisory | ❌ | ❌ |
Onboarding Support | ✅ | ✅ |
Remittance Integration | ✅ | ❌ |
SIPC Insurance | ✅ | ✅ |
Note: Vested is built for ease of use and small to medium-sized investing, whereas IBKR is designed for scale, cross-border flexibility, and greater control.
Feature Comparison
Attribute | 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: For casual US investing, both platforms work well. But only IBKR offers access to other markets, advanced instruments, managed portfolios, and up to 3.83% risk-free interest on uninvested cash over $10,000.
FEMA Compliance
Attribute | Vested | IBKR | |
Digital remittance under LRS | Self-declaration templates for Indian banks | ✅ | ✅ |
Remittance support at low rates | ✅ | ❌ | |
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.
Note: Vested’s compliance support is generic, best suited for small-ticket flows. For HNIs or family offices wiring larger sums, it lacks the documentation depth structured setups often need.
With IBKR, you're on your own but in control. You negotiate FX, choose your bank or provider, and align transfers with your advisory or compliance team.
> Tax Reporting
Attribute | Vested | IBKR | |
Tax Analytics | Dividend Tax Tracking | ❌ | ❌ |
Capital Gains Tax Calculation (STCG/LTCG) | ❌ | ❌ | |
Accumulating ETFs | ❌ | ✅ | |
Tax Loss Harvesting | ✅ | ❌ | |
Year-End Tax Statement for Indian Investors | ✅ | ✅ | |
UCITS portfolios for tax savings | ❌ | ❌ | |
Technology Features
Attribute | 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 | ❌ | ❌ |
Note: Vested is known for ease of use, while IBKR is praised for depth but also criticized for complexity.
Investor Fit
Investor Type | Vested | IBKR |
First-time US investor | Easy, guided, low entry barrier | Easy, guided, low entry barrier |
SIP-style Retail Investor | Manual SIPs set up are possible; no automation. | Not optimal for tiny flows |
HNIs | Requires technical know-how | Powerful but requires technical know-how |
Family Offices & Institutional Investors | Not built for complex needs | Scalable with compliance coordination |
Client Support
Attribute | Vested | IBKR |
Onboarding Support | ✅ | ❌ |
Dedicated relationship manager | ✅ | ❌ |
Expert concierge (FEMA, Tax) | ❌ | ❌ |
Customize features on request | ❌ | ❌ |
Conclusion
While both Vested and IBKR enable access to US equities, they sit at very different ends of the investor spectrum.
Vested is designed for simplicity. It’s a strong fit for Indian retail investors starting their global journey, offering curated U.S. portfolios and Indian bond exposure. But it remains limited in product universe, scale, and market reach.
IBKR, by contrast, is a platform built for breadth and depth. It gives experienced investors access to 150+ global markets, institutional-grade tools, and flexibility at scale but expects users to self-manage remittance, tax, and compliance.
Choosing between the two depends on your ambition and comfort with complexity. If your investing journey is just beginning, Vested might be the right fit. If you're building a serious cross-border allocation strategy, IBKR opens more doors, provided you're ready to piece together the India-facing layer on your own.
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.
The team also has deep expertise in Interactive Brokers. If you're an IBKR user and need support navigating your account from India, feel free to reach out at support@paasa.com.
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.
