When choosing an investment partner, selecting a securities account that is powerful and has low fees is like choosing a reliable home port for your investment fleet. In recent years, Futu Securities (Futu) and its flagship app “Futubull” have taken the market by storm, especially among young and tech-savvy investors, where it has become almost ubiquitous. But is it really as amazing as the rumors suggest? Is it the right fit for you? Instead of listening to one-sided opinions, let’s conduct a comprehensive, in-depth analysis together.
We will delve into the core issues that investors care about most: platform pros and cons, fund security, and fee structure, along with the latest account opening tutorial. This is not just a review, but an action guide to help you make an informed decision.
Key Takeaways at a Glance: Futu Securities (Futubull), with its top-tier user experience, highly competitive fee structure, and powerful community features, is undoubtedly one of the best online brokers on the market. It is particularly suitable for two types of investors:
When investing your hard-earned money into any platform, security is the absolute top priority. We can examine the security of Futu Securities from three aspects, and the conclusion is: it is a strictly regulated and trustworthy legitimate brokerage.
Futu Holdings Limited is a company listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market in the United States, with the stock code FUTU. As a public company, it must regularly disclose its financial condition and operational data to the public and is subject to the supervision of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This transparency itself is a strong guarantee, far superior to that of non-transparent private companies.
In Hong Kong, Futu Securities International (Hong Kong) Limited is a licensed corporation (Central Entity No.: AZT137) regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). It holds licenses for Type 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 9 regulated activities. This means its business, from securities trading to asset management, must strictly comply with the laws and regulations set by the SFC to ensure client interests are protected.
Segregated Custodial Accounts: Clients’ assets are completely segregated from Futu’s corporate assets and are held in independent custodial bank accounts. Even if Futu itself encounters financial problems, clients’ assets will not be affected.
Investor Compensation Fund (ICF): Eligible clients of Futu are protected by the Hong Kong Investor Compensation Fund (ICF). In the event of a licensed brokerage firm’s default, clients can claim compensation up to HK$500,000 for securities and futures respectively. This is the final safety net established by Hong Kong regulators to protect investors.
Understanding transaction costs is fundamental to making a profit. Futu’s fee structure is relatively transparent, mainly consisting of “commissions” and “platform fees.” Below is a summary of the fees for the most common Hong Kong and U.S. stocks (please note that fees are subject to change, and you should refer to Futu’s official website for the latest information).
| Market | Fee Item | Fee Standard (Standard Account as an example) |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong Stock Trading | Commission Platform Fee |
Commission-free plans are usually available Fixed: HK$15 per order |
| U.S. Stock Trading | Commission Platform Fee |
Commission-free plans are usually available Fixed: US$0.99 per order |
| Other Fees | In addition to transaction fees, be aware of other charges such as government stamp duty, transaction levies, currency exchange spreads, and potential bank handling fees for deposits and withdrawals. These are third-party fees charged by all brokers. | |
Expert Tip: Choosing the right “platform fee” plan on Futu is key. If you are a frequent, small-volume trader, a fixed-fee plan (e.g., HK$15 per order) may be more cost-effective. If your single transaction amount is very large, you need to carefully compare it with the tiered fee structure. For beginners starting with Hong Kong stock investing, this model is quite user-friendly.
Futu’s account opening process is a major selling point. You only need a smartphone, and by following these steps, you can easily get it done!
After completing the above steps, your Futu account will typically be approved and opened within 1-2 business days, and you can then begin your global investment journey!
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After a comprehensive review, we can confidently say that Futu Securities is not just a “pretty good” brokerage, but a fintech company that leads the industry in user experience, functional innovation, and trading costs. It has successfully made the complex process of investing simple, enjoyable, and social.
In summary, Futu Securities is particularly suitable for tech enthusiasts and active Hong Kong/U.S. stock investors who seek the ultimate trading experience and want to manage their global assets in one stop. For novice investors, its rich learning resources and active community also provide a very friendly environment for growth.
Of course, no platform is perfect. While enjoying its low commissions and powerful features, it’s also important to understand its platform fee model. If you are ready to start investing, Futu Securities is definitely a choice worth considering first. It is recommended to visit their official website immediately to check out the latest account opening promotions and take the first step in your global investment journey!
Very convenient. Futu supports a variety of mainstream deposit and withdrawal methods. For deposits, “eDDA Easy Deposit” is recommended. After linking your bank account, you can operate directly within the app, and funds arrive almost instantly. It also supports FPS, bank transfers, etc. Withdrawals to a linked bank account in the same name are also supported, with processing times typically within one business day, providing a smooth experience.
Besides basic trading functions, the following special features are worth exploring:
Futu’s account opening promotions are very frequent and attractive, but the specific details change over time. Common rewards include:
It is recommended to visit Futu Securities’ official website or download the Futubull app to check the latest welcome reward details to avoid missing the best time to open an account.
Grey Market trading refers to the over-the-counter trading that takes place on a broker’s internal platform the day before a new stock (IPO) is officially listed. Futu provides a very active and stable grey market trading system. It allows investors who have successfully subscribed to an IPO to lock in profits early and gives those who were unsuccessful a chance to buy in before the official listing. However, it should be noted that grey market prices are highly volatile and carry relatively high risks.
