Online Stock Brokers: Compare and Review

You've done the research, you know what companies you want to invest in, and you know what kind of investment strategy you're capable of. Now the question is: how to make it happen? Which stockbroker is right for you? Should you immediately sign up with the one with the lowest fee or is there something else you should consider? We'll help you compare and decide.

Compare Stock Trading

Robinhood

Stock Trading: $0
Options Trading: $0
Minimum Deposit: $0

Pros:

Commission-free trades
No minimum
Extended trading hours

Cons:

Limited research
No mutual funds & bonds

Our Review: (4.1) Robinhood lets you trade stocks commission-free and has no account minimums. Is it safe? Are there hidden fees? Read on for the pros and cons... Read full review

Ally Invest

Stock Trading: $0 per trade
Options Trading: $0 base + $0.50 per contract
Minimum Deposit: $0

Ally Invest offers some of the lowest fees among online brokerages. It has a wide product variety, a great trading platform, and great research tools. Before you go with Ally, though, find out how Ally Invest works to find out if it's the best discount broker for you... Read full review

eToro

Stock Trading: $0; 3,000+ stocks & ETFs
Options Trading: $0
Minimum Deposit: $100 ($200 to start copy trading)

Pros:

Copy actions of top traders
Virtual practice account

Cons:

Slow customer service response time

Our Review: (3.8) eToro is a stock and crypto exchange known for its CopyTrading feature. Find out if it's worth the fees and how it compares to other platforms... Read full review

TD Ameritrade

Stock Trading: $0 commission for online stock, ETF, and option trades
Options Trading: $0.65 per contract
Minimum Deposit: $0

Webull

Stock Trading: $0
Options Trading: $0
Minimum Deposit: $0

Pros:

No trade fees
Advanced research tools
Extended trading hours
Offers fractional shares

Cons:

Not beginner friendly

Our Review: (4.2) Webull offers $0 trades for stocks, ETFs, and options. But it's not perfect. Find out if Webull fits your investing needs... Read full review

M1 Finance

Stock Trading: $0
Options Trading: No
Minimum Deposit: $100 ($500 for IRAs, $5,000 for Trust Account)

Pros:

Choose your own investments
Can invest in individual stocks
Morning and afternoon trade windows

Cons:

No research
No human advisors
Platform fee

Our Review: (3.9) Is M1 Finance legitimate and safe? Find out the pros, cons, fees, and more. An essential read for beginners interested in M1 Finance... Read full review

Public.com

Stock Trading: $0
Options Trading: No
Minimum Deposit: $0

TradeStation

Stock Trading: $0 commission
Options Trading: $0 Commission + $0.60 per contract
Minimum Deposit: $0

Charles Schwab

Stock Trading: $0 commission on U.S. stocks and ETFs
Options Trading: $0 + $0.65 per contract
Minimum Deposit: $0

Pros:

Vast selection of commission-free ETFs and mutual funds
2 platforms (one for beginners and one for advanced traders)
24/7 customer service including online chat

Cons:

Commission costs on mutual funds outside of the commission-free funds
Robo-advisor option requires a minimum investment of $5,000

Our Review: (4.2) Charles Schwab is one of the oldest names in the world of investing. With low fees, no account minimums, and robust research tools, it's a good brokerage for all levels of investors... Read full review

E*TRADE

Stock Trading: $0 per trade
Options Trading:
- $0 per trade + $0.65 per contract
- $0 per trade + $0.50 per contract if you make 30+ trades a quarter
Minimum Deposit: $0 for self-directed brokerage accounts; Managed portfolios start at $500 minimum

Pros:

Expansive set of resources and tools
Easy to use website
Industry leader

Cons:

Trade fees

Our Review: (4.2) E*TRADE is a highly well-known name, but does that mean it is better than its competitors? Read our in-depth review and see how it compares... Read full review

Fidelity

Stock Trading: $0
Options Trading: $0.65 per contract
Minimum Deposit: $0

Pros:

$0 monthly service fee
No minimum balance
Free debit card

Cons:

Relatively low APY
Few physical branches

Our Review: (4.0) Fidelity boasts an all-around account with no fees and a decent APY. But there's even more to discover. Keep reading... Read full review

Merrill Edge

Stock Trading: $0 per trade
Options Trading: $0 + $0.65 per contract
Minimum Deposit: $0

Moomoo

Stock Trading: $0 commission on US stocks and ETFs
Options Trading: $0 for US Options;
$0.50 per contract for Index Options
Minimum Deposit: $0

Pros:

Commission-free trading
Free paper trading
Access to Hong Kong and Chinese investments

Cons:

May be overwhelming for beginners
No forex, bonds, mutual funds, or crypto

Our Review: (4.4) Moomoo can help you invest your money in U.S. and international markets. But will it suit the way you like to trade?... Read full review

NinjaTrader

Stock Trading: No
Minimum Deposit: $0

Pros:

Low trading fees
No minimum deposit
Available training opportunities

Cons:

Limited available market
Lifetime plan required for lowest trading fees

Our Review: (4.5) NinjaTrader stands out as a robust trading platform for futures and forex. But is it right for you? Read on to find out... Read full review

OANDA

Stock Trading: No
Options Trading: No
Minimum Deposit: $0

Pros:

$0 minimum
Exceptional customer service
User-friendly platform

Cons:

Only 1:50 leverage
Slow withdrawal processing
Incomprehensive educational videos

Our Review: (4.3) OANDA is one of the leading forex and CFD trading providers. But what does it offer? Read on to discover how OANDA elevates your trading journey... Read full review

Stash

Stock Trading: $0
Options Trading: No
Minimum Deposit: $1

Pros:

Guidance for beginners
Automatically save and invest through round-ups and recurring transfers

Cons:

Fees are high for small balances
High ETF expense ratio
Limited research

Our Review: (3.8) Can Stash help make you money? Find out if the investing app is legit and how it compares to apps like Acorns and Robinhood... Read full review

Tradovate

Stock Trading: No
Minimum Deposit: $0

Vanguard

Stock Trading: $0
Options Trading: $0 + $1-per-contract fee. Discounts available if you have more than $1 million assets invested in Vanguard ETFs and mutual funds
Minimum Deposit: $0

Bitstamp

Stock Trading: No
Options Trading: No

Coinbase

Stock Trading: No
Options Trading: No
Minimum Deposit: $2

Interactive Brokers

Stock Trading: IBKR Lite: $0 per share (min $0 per order) IBKR Pro - Fixed: $0.0005 per share (min $1.00 per order, max 1.0% of trade value). IBKR Pro - Tiered: Starts at $0.0035 per share for less than 300,000 shares (min $0.35 per order, max 1% of trade value)
Options Trading: $0.15-$0.65 per contract ($1 minimum per order)
Minimum Deposit: $0

Pros:

Large number of investments, including options, futures, and forex
Customize trading platform
Tools and opportunities for research

Cons:

Platform can be too much for a beginner to understand
Complicated pricing structure

Our Review: (4.3) Interactive Brokers offers a robust trading platform that experienced traders favor due to its competitive fee structure and extensive range of trading options... Read full review

Paybis

Stock Trading: No
Options Trading: No

Pros:

Simple Interface
Quick Credit and Debit Purchase ability
Quality Customer Support

Cons:

Relatively high fees
No extra features

Our Review: (4.5) Paybis is a cryptocurrency exchange offering the ability to instantly buy Bitcoin with a credit or debit card. But is it worth the price?... Read full review

ZacksTrade

Stock Trading: Greater than $1 per share: $0.01 per share, $1 minimum; Less than $1 per share: 1% of Trade Value, $1 minimum
Options Trading: $1 for First Contract + $0.75 per additional
Minimum Deposit: $2,500

Acorns

Stock Trading: Part of service fee. No add-on trading fees.
Options Trading: No
Minimum Deposit: $0

Pros:

No minimum to open account
Invest with spare change
Cash-back program

Cons:

Fees are high for small balances
No tax benefits
Limited investment options

Our Review: (4.1) Acorns automatically invests your spare change. But can it help make you money? Find out if this app is safe and legit... Read full review

Fierce

Forex.com

Stock Trading: Yes
Minimum Deposit: $100

Pros:

Wide range of offerings
No withdrawal fee
Rebates for active traders

Cons:

Inactivity fees
No fundamental data
Slow email response

Our Review: (3.9) FOREX.com is one of the leading forex brokers in the US. But is it the right broker for you? Read on to find out... Read full review

Plynk

tastytrade

Options Trading: $1 per contract ($10 max per leg)
Minimum Deposit: $0

Articles on Stock Trading

Free Stocks

Discover 15+ platforms offering free stocks and bonuses - a fortune isn't essential.

Ways to Invest $1000

$1,000 can become a lot more with investing. Here are 10+ smarter ways to spend that extra grand than on a shopping splurge.

Online Stock Brokers: Compare and Review

Compare Stock Trading

Robinhood

Ally Invest

eToro

TD Ameritrade

Webull

M1 Finance

Public.com

TradeStation

Charles Schwab

E*TRADE

Fidelity

Merrill Edge

Moomoo

NinjaTrader

OANDA

Stash

Tradovate

Vanguard

Bitstamp

Coinbase

Interactive Brokers

Paybis

ZacksTrade

Acorns

Fierce

Forex.com

Plynk

tastytrade

Articles on Stock Trading

Free Stocks

Ways to Invest $1000

You might also be interested in

Gold IRA Pros and Cons