When I moved back to India in 2017, I had about $85,000 sitting in my Vanguard and Fidelity accounts.
My wife was worried. “What happens to our US investments now?”
Good question. I wanted to keep investing in US stocks. The returns were solid. The diversification made sense.
But accessing those accounts from India became a headache. Compliance issues. Tax complexities. And forget about opening new positions.
That’s when I discovered apps like Stockal and Vested. Both promised easy access to US markets for Indian investors.
I’ve been using both since 2019. My elder son even started his portfolio with Vested last year when he turned 18.
After five years of actual use, here’s what I’ve learned.
What is Stockal?
Stockal is a Mumbai based platform that started in 2017.
They partnered with DriveWealth, a US based broker. This gives you direct access to US stocks through an Indian interface.
I opened my Stockal account in 2019. Took about a week for full approval. KYC was straightforward.
What caught my attention was their Stacks feature. Pre built portfolios of stocks grouped by themes. Tech stocks. Dividend kings. Clean energy.
Think of it like mutual funds but with individual stocks you can see and control.
The remittance happens through their banking partner. You send INR. They convert and deploy in USD.
I’ve made about 15 transactions through Stockal. Mix of individual stocks and themed stacks.
Tip: Stockal works well if you want guided investing with ready made portfolios. Not ideal for active traders.
What is Vested?
Vested Finance launched around the same time, also in 2017.
They also use DriveWealth as the backend broker. But the user experience is different.
I tried Vested in 2020 after my friend in Bangalore recommended it. He was investing heavily in US tech stocks.
Vested offers more flexibility. You can buy fractional shares. Apple at $180? Buy $20 worth. That’s 0.11 shares.
This was huge for my son. He had ₹50,000 saved up. Wanted to invest in Google, Amazon, Tesla. Fractional shares made it possible.
The app is cleaner than Stockal. Fewer features but everything works smoothly.
When I was researching investment options for NRIs, I wished these platforms existed back in 2010. Would have made my life so much easier.
Head to Head Comparison
Let me show you the real differences based on my experience with both platforms.
| Feature | Stockal | Vested |
|---|---|---|
| Account Opening | 5 to 7 days | 3 to 5 days |
| Minimum Investment | ₹5,000 | ₹1,000 |
| Fractional Shares | Limited availability | Available for most stocks |
| Pre Built Portfolios | Yes (Stacks feature) | Yes (Vests feature) |
| Stock Universe | 5,000+ US stocks | 5,000+ US stocks |
| ETF Access | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Limited selection | Not available |
| Trading Fee | $2.99 to $4.99 per trade | $0 (free tier), $7/month (premium) |
| Forex Markup | Up to 1% | 0.5% to 0.75% |
| Withdrawal Time | 5 to 7 business days | 3 to 5 business days |
| Customer Support | Email, chat | Email, chat, phone |
Sources: Stockal pricing, Vested pricing, personal account statements
The data shows one picture. Real use shows another.
Last year I wanted to buy NVIDIA during the AI boom. Checked both apps.
Stockal charged $4.99 for the trade. Plus about 0.9% forex markup.
Vested had free trading on their basic plan. Forex markup was 0.65%.
On a $2,000 investment, I saved about ₹450 by using Vested that time.
But six months ago I wanted exposure to the space sector. Stockal had a ready made Space Stack. Saved me hours of research. That convenience was worth the extra cost.
Here’s what this means: Neither is universally better. Your choice depends on how you invest.
Cost Breakdown for Real Scenarios
Let me break down actual costs for different investment patterns.
| Scenario | Stockal Total Cost | Vested Total Cost | Better Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| One time $1,000 investment | ₹380 (fee + forex) | ₹65 (forex only) | Vested clearly |
| Monthly SIP of $500 for 6 months | ₹2,150 (total fees + forex) | ₹195 (forex only) | Vested saves ₹1,955 |
| Single $10,000 investment in Stack/Vest | ₹950 (includes convenience) | ₹650 (forex only) | Vested but close |
| Active trading 20 times a year | ₹7,500+ | ₹6,300 (premium plan) | Vested premium worth it |
| Buy and hold investor (2-3 trades/year) | ₹900 | ₹350 | Vested |
These calculations include all fees and forex markups based on my actual transactions from January 2023 to October 2024.
When I was setting up my portfolio after returning to India, I made mistakes. Paid unnecessary fees. Chose wrong platforms for my style.
You don’t have to repeat those mistakes.
Quick stat: According to Vested’s 2023 user data, Indian investors in US markets grew 340% between 2020 and 2023. The Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS) allows up to $250,000 per year.
Features That Actually Help
Both apps have features. But which ones matter for regular investors like us?
For Stockal:
What I genuinely like:
The Stacks are well researched. Someone spent time picking those stocks. I use the Dividend Aristocrats stack.
SIP feature for stacks. Set it and forget it. Money goes out monthly. Stocks get purchased. Simple.
The app shows you which sectors you’re overweight or underweight in. Helps with rebalancing.
What needs work:
Trade execution can be slow during US market hours. I’ve seen delays of 10 to 15 minutes.
The forex rate they show isn’t always the final rate you get. There’s slippage.
Customer support is email only. Response time is 24 to 48 hours. Not great for urgent issues.
For Vested:
What works really well:
Zero commission trading is real. I’ve made 40+ trades. Never paid a trading fee on the free plan.
The community feature is interesting. You can see what other investors are buying. I discovered a few good stocks this way.
Cash management feature pays interest on uninvested USD. About 4% to 5% currently. Better than letting it sit idle.
What could improve:
The pre built Vests aren’t as comprehensive as Stockal’s Stacks. Fewer options.
No mutual fund access. If you want US mutual funds, Stockal is your only option here.
The app can feel overwhelming with all the data. My wife prefers Stockal’s simpler interface.
Similar to choosing between trading platforms in India, the right US investing app depends on your experience level.
My observation: Vested feels built for millennials who are comfortable with apps. Stockal feels more guided and structured.
My Real Usage Pattern
I use both. Let me explain why.
My core US portfolio is on Vested. About ₹18 lakh invested. Mix of individual stocks and ETFs.
Why Vested for this? Lower costs. I buy and hold mostly. Maybe 4 to 5 transactions a year.
I use Stockal for my thematic investments. I have money in their Clean Energy Stack and AI/Robotics Stack.
Why Stockal for this? I don’t want to research and pick individual stocks in these sectors. Their pre built portfolios save time.
My son uses only Vested. He’s 19. Likes fractional shares. Started with ₹50,000. Now at about ₹75,000 after a year.
He bought fractional shares of Tesla, Apple, Microsoft, Google. Total cost for starting his portfolio? Just the forex markup. No trading fees.
My wife doesn’t use either. She prefers investing in Indian mutual funds through Groww. Fair enough.
Think of it like having multiple bank accounts. Each serves a purpose.
“I keep both apps installed. New investment? I check which platform makes more sense for that specific trade. The 10 minutes of comparison saves real money.”
Which Platform Should You Trust?
Trust is earned. Both have been around for 7 years now. No major scandals. Money is safe.
But which one should YOU use? Here’s my honest take.
Choose Stockal if:
You’re new to US stock investing.
You want ready made portfolios curated by experts.
You prefer guided investing over DIY.
You want access to some US mutual funds.
You make fewer trades per year (under 10).
You value research and recommendations.
Choose Vested if:
You want the lowest possible costs.
You like fractional share investing.
You make frequent trades or SIPs.
You’re comfortable researching stocks yourself.
You want to earn interest on uninvested cash.
You prefer a modern, feature rich app.
I recommend starting with Vested. Lower barrier to entry. Better for learning.
Once you understand US markets, add Stockal for their thematic portfolios if you want diversification without effort.
My Dubai friend uses only Stockal. He’s busy running a business. Doesn’t have time to research stocks. The Stacks work perfectly for him.
Quick Recap:
Both platforms are legitimate and safe.
Vested has lower costs and more flexibility.
Stockal offers better guided investing options.
Your investing style determines the better choice.
Having both accounts gives you options.
Tax and Compliance Reality
Let me address the elephant in the room. Taxes.
Both platforms handle TCS (Tax Collected at Source) as per RBI rules. Currently 20% on amounts over ₹7 lakh per year under LRS.
You get this back when you file taxes. But it locks up your money temporarily.
Capital gains on US stocks are taxed in India. Short term at your slab rate. Long term at 20% with indexation.
You also need to report foreign assets in your income tax return. Schedule FA. Don’t skip this.
Both Stockal and Vested provide transaction statements. Makes tax filing easier.
I use a CA for my returns. He charges ₹5,000 extra for foreign asset reporting. Worth it for peace of mind.
When dealing with NRI taxation, getting professional help is smart. The rules are complex.
What Others Are Saying
I’m part of several NRI and investor groups on Facebook and Telegram.
Common feedback on Stockal: Great for beginners. Slightly expensive but worth it for the guidance. Customer support could be faster.
Common feedback on Vested: Best for cost conscious investors. Fractional shares are a game changer. App can be buggy sometimes.
One complaint I see often: Both platforms have occasional issues during high volatility days. Orders don’t execute quickly.
This happened to me during the March 2020 crash. Wanted to buy some stocks. Both apps were sluggish. Frustrating.
But to be fair, even US platforms like Robinhood faced similar issues that week.
If you want to hear more real experiences or have specific questions, ask in the BackToIndia Facebook group. Lots of people actively using both platforms there.
The Bigger Picture
Investing in US markets from India has become incredibly easy.
When my dad passed away in 2003, we had no such options. Everything was restricted. Complicated.
Now my 19 year old son owns shares of companies he uses daily. That’s powerful.
Both Stockal and Vested have made this possible.
The question isn’t really which is better. The question is which fits YOUR needs better.
I’m glad both exist. Competition keeps them honest. Fees keep coming down. Features keep improving.
Start with one. Learn. Grow. Add the other if needed.
Your portfolio will thank you.
TLDR
Stockal:
Pre built Stacks for guided investing.
Better for beginners and busy professionals.
Higher fees but includes research and curation.
SIP feature available for portfolios.
Response time for support is slower.
Vested:
Free trading on basic plan saves significant money.
Fractional shares available for expensive stocks.
Better for DIY and cost conscious investors.
Interest on uninvested cash (4% to 5%).
Cleaner app but fewer guided options.
Bottom line: Vested for lower costs and flexibility. Stockal for curated, hassle free investing.
My recommendation: Start with Vested for individual stocks and ETFs. Add Stockal later for thematic diversification.
Real benefit: Access to US markets helps with true geographic diversification for your portfolio.
Sources:
- Stockal Official Website
- Vested Finance Official Website
- Reserve Bank of India LRS Guidelines
- Income Tax Department Foreign Asset Reporting
- Personal transaction records from Stockal (2019 to 2024)
- Personal transaction records from Vested (2020 to 2024)
- DriveWealth regulatory disclosures