How much do stock trading fees differ across securities firms? The latest comparison and analysis for 2025

There is one thing that investors tend to overlook when focusing solely on profits in stock trading. That is the stock trading commission fees that are deducted every time you make a trade. Thinking it’s around 0.1% to 0.25% is a big mistake. As you trade more frequently and with larger amounts, the impact of these fees becomes much more significant than you might expect. In this article, we will examine how much the trading fees differ among major securities firms and how you can reduce them effectively.

Types and Structure of Stock Trading Fees

Stock trading fees may seem simple, but they are composed of multiple components. It is important to note that the fee structure differs completely between domestic and international stock trading.

Costs incurred when trading domestic stocks: Includes the entrusted trading commission paid to the securities firm, and related agency fees paid to the Korea Exchange and the Depository & Settlement Service. Generally, entrusted trading commissions range from 0.015% to 0.147% of the transaction amount. However, some securities firms charge a fixed fee(e.g., 1,500 to 2,000 KRW) for small transactions, which can significantly increase the cost for small, short-term trades.

Costs incurred when trading overseas stocks: Much more complex than domestic trading. In addition to the securities firm’s commission(0.25%), there are currency exchange fees, and for US stocks, fees paid to the US Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority(FINRA). Currency exchange fees vary by firm, and the actual exchange rates applied are often unfavorable, so it’s essential to check in advance.

Actual Comparison of Stock Trading Fees Among 5 Major Securities Firms

As of 2025, here is a summary of the main securities firms’ fees for online trading platforms. Even for the same item, fees vary depending on the transaction amount and platform, so it’s crucial to check according to your trading pattern.

Reasons for platform differences: Securities firms apply different fees depending on their trading platform. For example, Kiwoom Securities offers a very low fee of 0.015% on the HeroMoon4 platform, but fees may differ on other platforms. Therefore, it’s essential to first check the fee structure of the platform you use most frequently.

The trap of fixed fees: Fixed fees charged by Samsung Securities and Shinhan Investment can significantly reduce profitability for small trades. For example, if you trade 100 times a month at 2,000 KRW per transaction with Shinhan Investment, that’s 200,000 KRW per month(which totals 2.4 million KRW annually). If your monthly profit is only 5-10 million KRW, these fixed fees can cut your returns by more than half.

The Actual Impact of Trading Fees on Long-term Profits

Many investors underestimate the effect of fees, but due to compound effects, they can make a huge difference over the long run.

Concrete simulation: Starting with 1 million KRW, making 10 trades with a 10% profit each time:

• At 0.1% fee: final profit about 2.57 million KRW
• At 0.2% fee: final profit about 2.54 million KRW
• Difference: approximately 30,000 KRW

You might think this isn’t a big difference? But what if the number of trades and amounts increase?

Cumulative effect of fixed fees: Trading 20 times a month for a year:

• Samsung Securities(1,500 KRW fixed): annual total 3.6 million KRW
• Shinhan Investment(2,000 KRW fixed): annual total 4.8 million KRW

If your monthly trading profit is around 5-10 million KRW, these fixed fees alone can cut your returns by over half.

Strategies to Reduce Stock Trading Fees

Step 1: Understand your trading pattern Are you mainly doing small, frequent trades or large batch trades? How often do you trade? Finding a securities firm that matches your trading style is key to actual savings.

Step 2: Maximize new customer benefits All major securities firms offer fee waiver events for new or dormant customers:

• Mirae Asset Securities: 90 days free(domestic and US stocks simultaneously)
• Kiwoom, Korea Investment, Samsung: 3 months free
• Shinhan Investment: 1 year free(longest benefit)

Use this period actively. If possible, apply just before starting your trades to maximize the benefit.

Step 3: Optimize your trading method

• Prefer executing larger trades at once rather than splitting into small trades
• Choose securities firms with no fixed fees
• If trading frequently, look for annual fee discount plans

Step 4: Currency exchange strategy for overseas stocks Currency exchange at securities firms is often less favorable than market rates. If investing in US dollars:

• Exchange currency in advance when rates are low
• Check for preferential exchange rates offered by your securities firm
• Monitor exchange rate fluctuations regularly

Step 5: Choose securities firms based on your trading volume and amount

• Small, frequent trades: choose firms without fixed fees(e.g., Kiwoom)
• Large batch trades: choose firms with low commission rates(Mirae Asset 0.136%)
• International stocks: consider Shinhan Investment for the longest free trial period(1 year free)

Stock Trading Fees: An Unavoidable Variable Now

The ultimate profit from stock investing is not only determined by stock selection and timing. The stock trading fees accumulate over time and can significantly affect long-term returns due to compound effects. Especially for frequent short-term traders or those trading small amounts multiple times, it’s crucial to carefully review fee structures and choose the most advantageous securities firm and platform. Conduct thorough research before trading to minimize unnecessary fee losses and focus on maximizing actual profits.