Here’s our curated list of the best brokers and trading platforms for September 2025. One is where I keep my long-term accounts (like Roth IRA, traditional IRA, and brokerage) for a passive “set-and-forget” system. The other I use for more active trading and money moves, like dabbling in individual stocks or ETFs. Fractional shares make it possible to buy blue chips and ETFs without spending hundreds of dollars for a single share, which is a great way to build consistency.

• You get the same 81 diversified ETF portfolios as in the robo-advisory service, but the big plus is you have access to a team of financial planners.
• Fidelity has four zero-fee index funds – a total market index fund, an in­ternational stock fund, a small-company stock fund and a large-company stock fund.
• At $3.99 per month, Webull Premium unlocks a 4.1% APY cash account as of September 15, 2025, a 3.5% IRA match, discounted futures commissions and more.
• So instead of shelling out more than $1,000 for a single share of Netflix (NFLX) stock, for instance, you can buy a $1 slice (roughly 0.001% of one share).
• We also asked about how many stock and bond market outlook reports were available to do-it-yourself brokerage customers, as well as any ongoing market commentary or analysis.

So you’re never paying more than $10, even if you’re trading 50 contracts. I don’t know about you, but I want to make sure that live data is available with these brokerages. The first thing that I would like to know is how much do I have to pay in commissions per month?

What Is the Difference Between Investing and Trading?

Interactive Brokers, founded in 1978, is the largest U.S. electronic trading platform, offering traders access to stocks, bonds, funds, options, cryptocurrencies, foreign exchange, and more. Stash Invest, or just Stash, has quickly risen the ranks as one of the best investing platforms for beginners and beyond. You can invest in fractional shares of funds and stocks with as little as $1. The company will also help you balance and provide portfolio recommendations tailored to your needs. You can buy and sell stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and other securities.Get access to investing tools, research, and experts to help you.It helps you reach bigger financial goals than letting your money sit in a bank.

Best financial planning tool – J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing (Chase Bank)

Public, along with other top apps, ensures investors get both accessibility and perks in one place. With so many platforms competing in 2025, we’ve broken down the top 7 best brokerage accounts that stand out for their value, usability, and performance. Some of the best discount brokers offer options trading functionality and many charge commissions for facilitating this type of trading activity. This can also include mutual funds, options, cryptocurrencies, and other financial assets or securities regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These brokerage firms no longer earn money on trading commissions, instead opting for other avenues of earning revenue, discussed more below.

How we chose the best online brokers and trading platforms

On the upper end of the spectrum is its high-end financial advisory services with Fidelity Wealth Management, which starts at $500,000 in eligible Fidelity accounts. Charles Schwab makes it easy to get started on your investing journey. There are no minimum deposit requirements, and you can access a wide range of products commission-free, such as stocks, ETFs and mutual funds.

How To Switch Online Brokers

Public Investing uses a commission-free pricing model, so most users won’t pay any fees when they trade. On the Public platform, you can follow other investors and chat about investment ideas. You can even join a group chat for live interaction with other investors. This means you won’t get completely commission-free trades as you do with IBKR Lite. Fidelity’s retirement services and features include several retirement calculators, tax strategies, annuities, and long-term growth opportunities catered to individuals’ preferences.

Additionally, you may encounter higher-than-average fees if you plan to invest in futures, futures options or over-the-counter equities. While we cover a range of products, our comparison may not include every product or provider in the market. Always confirm important product information with the relevant provider and read the relevant disclosure documents and terms and conditions before making a decision. Choose a broker or robo-advisor, and complete a brief application by providing personal information such as your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number. When investing with small sums, consistency is the key to building wealth. If you can regularly put a set amount of money into the market—even $10 a week—you will be surprised at how quickly it begins to grow.

The company was founded in 2017, so it has a short track record and offers some great things for investors. When you are ready to start investing your money, choosing the right brokerage account is the key to reaching your financial goals and building the right foundation. We scored firms based on their account types and asset options, including support for self-directed, managed and fractional-share portfolios.

Specifically, clients can create a portfolio of stocks and ETFs tailored to their exact specifications, down to the last dollar, thanks to their ability to trade fractional shares. Webull also provides you access to several powerful tools useful for in-depth trading analysis. These easily make the service one of the best stock research and analysis apps for conducting technical analysis. More importantly, though, Robinhood has evolved from a bare-bones app appealing to mostly beginner investors to a fuller-featured account suitable for a wider range of experience levels.

Best Brokerage Accounts for Online Stock Trading

Fidelity is a good one-stop shop to level up as your investment portfolio expands. Brokerage accounts are usually taxable at the federal or state level. Regardless of whether you withdraw assets from your account, you’ll likely have to pay income tax for that year. The same goes for capital gains, but you won’t pay tax on those gains until you sell.

• But don’t get too caught up in chasing minor fraction percent savings, especially if one broker has everything you need.
• I have personally used every single one of the brokerages on this list (and many others) and ranked them based on my experience.
• Similarly, Wells Fargo’s WellsTrade has Intuitive Investor, its all-digital advisory, but no full-service advice.
• Full-service brokers offer many services to clients, such as investment advice, research and management, retirement planning, tax planning, insurance assistance and more.
• Again, this is just my opinion, you on the other hand might find this platform blazing fast and think it’s the best trading platform there is.

Whether you value research, automation, social investing, or international access, there’s a brokerage account on this list that aligns with your goals. These best brokerage accounts provide the foundation for building wealth through stocks, ETFs, and beyond. As one of the most innovative best brokerage accounts, it offers portfolio customization and “set-it-and-forget-it” functionality for passive investors. If you’re an advanced trader, Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokerage accounts to consider.

Vanguard: Best Discount Broker for Vanguard ETF Trades

For example, a margin account through Vanguard requires a $2,000 minimum requirement. You can have multiple brokerage accounts, and different types of brokerage accounts serve different purposes. SIPC insurance does not best stock brokers protect investors from a poor-performing investment portfolio. If the assets in your account drop in price or value, there’s no insurance to cover that risk. Once you have set up an emergency fund and started funding a retirement account, then you might consider opening a brokerage account as a place to invest after-tax dollars.

Most brokers let you open an account for free, and many don’t require an initial deposit. If your broker offers fractional shares, you can start with just a few bucks. For active traders, the desktop platform delivers advanced charting and technical analysis tools that few competitors can match. Whether you’re a beginner opting for the Lite plan or a pro trader choosing the Pro plan, Interactive Brokers has a platform built to fit your needs. Beyond its $0 stock and ETF commissions, Interactive Brokers stands out for its low margin rates, which are among the most competitive we’ve reviewed. That makes it a strong choice for margin traders looking to keep borrowing costs down.

Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at All brokerage accounts, hands-on or hands-off, must be monitored and rebalanced regularly to meet your investment goals. The assets held in your brokerage account will fluctuate in response to the market, so you’ll need to monitor your account to ensure it’s on the right track. Everyone’s investment goals and preferences are unique, and not all brokerage accounts fit perfectly.