Vested vs Interactive Brokers vs Paasa

Vested, Interactive Brokers, and Paasa serve very different investors. This blog breaks down their differences across features, compliance, and tax needs.

Prafull Kumar

Prafull Kumar


vested vs interactive brokers vs paasa

Vested, Interactive Brokers (IBKR), and Paasa all enable global investing, but the way they do it and who they’re built for, is fundamentally different.

  • Vested is built as a simple alternative investment tool for Indian retail investors to access U.S. equities. It’s ideal for those moving beyond domestic mutual funds into curated US portfolios, Indian bonds and solar projects.
  • Interactive Brokers (IBKR), on the other hand, is a global brokerage infrastructure. It offers unmatched market depth, low-cost execution, and access to 150+ markets but expects users to handle compliance, remittance, and reporting on their own.
  • Paasa sits in between. It is an ecosystem tailored to Indian HNIs and family offices: combining IBKR’s global access with FEMA, tax, and scale-specific support.

Table of Contents

  • Infrastructure Overview
  • Feature Comparison
  • FEMA Compliance
  • Tax Reporting
  • Technology Features
  • Investor Fit
  • Client Support

Infrastructure Overview

Attribute

Vested

IBKR

Paasa

Account Setup

₹250 (one-time)

Free

Free

Trading infrastructure

Powered by DriveWealth

Industry-leading proprietary platform

Powered by Interactive Brokers

Market Access

US only

Global - US, Europe, UK, China and more

Global - US, Europe, UK, China and more

Custody of assets under client's name

FEMA & LRS Support

Basic

Advance

Tax Reporting (India)

Basic

Advance

INR-based Returns & Analytics

Human Advisory

Onboarding Support

Remittance Integration

SIPC Insurance

Note: Vested is built for small-ticket investing, whereas IBKR is pure infrastructure, fast and global, but leaves LRS and tax work to the investor. Paasa combines IBKR’s depth with the India-facing structure needed at a larger scale.

Feature Comparison

Attribute

Vested

IBKR

Paasa

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

Note: UCITS portfolios are preferred by many Indian investors for US estate tax protection and global diversification. 

FEMA Compliance

Attribute

Vested

IBKR

Paasa

Digital remittance under LRS

Self-declaration templates for Indian banks

Remittance support at low rates

Limited visibility, fixed margin

Bank-rate negotiation per investor

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 and better suited for small-ticket flows. For HNIs or family offices wiring larger sums, Paasa provides the deeper documentation and structured setup these allocations typically require.

Tax Reporting

Attribute

Vested

IBKR

Paasa

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

Paasa

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)

Note: Vested is known for its ease of use, IBKR for its pro-level depth, while Paasa is valued for both its depth and its ability to accommodate custom feature requests often essential for large-ticket investors.

Investor Fit

Investor Type

Vested

IBKR

Paasa

First-time US investor

 

Easy Onboarding

 

Higher Friction

 

Easy Onboarding

SIP-style Retail Investor

 

No SIP options

Not optimal for tiny flows

 

Suited

HNIs

Limited Tax/Remit control

Good but requires Tax & LRS know-how

 

Built for scale and customization + India-facing layer

Family Offices

No reporting or structuring tools

Good but lacks technical customisation + India-facing layer

Concierge, entity-level control + India-facing layer

Institutional Investors

Not built for complex needs

Good but lacks technical customisation + India-facing layer

Concierge, entity-level control + India-facing layer

Client Support

Attribute

Vested

IBKR

Paasa

Onboarding Support

Self-serve & guided setup

Self-serve

Self-serve & guided setup

Dedicated relationship manager

Expert concierge (FEMA, Tax)

Custom Portfolio Structuring 

Customize features on request

Exit or Migration Support

Conclusion

These platforms are not competing for the same investor, they are built around different needs.

If your goal is to simply access U.S. stocks with ease, Vested offers a retail-friendly entry point.

If you're a pro trader who wants raw access and low execution costs across markets, IBKR delivers but without the India-facing layers you may need.

And if you're managing serious capital and want the control, compliance, and reporting built for Indian HNIs, family offices, and institutions, Paasa gives you the infrastructure stack to invest globally without the chaos.

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.