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8 Best Brokers for Trading Fractional Shares

Fractional share investing allows you to purchase small slices of a stock, rather than a full share. These brokers let investors buy fractional shares with no commission.

Updated: Sep 15, 2025
Arielle O'Shea
Written by 
Arielle O'SheaArielle O'Shea
Head of Content, Investing & Taxes
Chris Davis
Reviewed by 
Chris DavisChris Davis
Managing Editor
+ 1 more
Pamela de la Fuente
Edited by 
Pamela de la FuentePamela de la Fuente
Managing Editor
Fact Checked
Arielle O'Shea
Written by 
Arielle O'SheaArielle O'Shea
Head of Content, Investing & Taxes
+ 2 more
Chris Davis
Reviewed by 
Chris DavisChris Davis
Managing Editor
Pamela de la Fuente
Edited by 
Pamela de la FuentePamela de la Fuente
Managing Editor
Fact Checked

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.


The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.

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Our deep, independent analysis of brokers sorts through key account details to find and evaluate the information investors want when choosing a brokerage firm. To see our full methodology and learn more about our process, read our criteria for evaluating brokers.

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More than 50 years of combined experience writing about finance and investing.

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Brokers that offer fractional shares allow you to purchase a small slice of a stock rather than a full share. That means you could invest $10 into a stock that's currently trading for $100 a share. Then, you would own a small piece of a share, rather than the full thing.

All of the brokers below allow you to invest in fractional shares with no trade commission, which means your entire investment goes into the stock you choose.

Best Brokers for Trading Fractional Shares

BrokerNerdWallet rating FeesAccount minimumPromotionLearn more
Robinhood

Robinhood

Learn moreon partner's site
on Robinhood's website
4.5/5
$0
on trades of stocks, ETFs and their options. Other fees may apply.
$0
1 Free Stock
after linking your bank account (stock value range $5.00-$200)
Learn moreon partner's site
on Robinhood's website
Interactive Brokers IBKR Lite

Interactive Brokers IBKR Lite

Learn moreon partner's site
on Interactive Brokers' website
5.0/5
$0
per trade
$0
None
no promotion available at this time
Learn moreon partner's site
on Interactive Brokers' website
Fidelity

Fidelity

Learn moreon partner's site
on Fidelity's website
5.0/5
$0
per trade for online U.S. stocks and ETFs
$0
None
no promotion available at this time
Learn moreon partner's site
on Fidelity's website
Public

Public

Learn moreon partner's site
on Public's website
4.6/5
$0
$0
Earn a 1% uncapped match
when you transfer your investment portfolio to Public.
Learn moreon partner's site
on Public's website
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

4.5/5
$0
per trade
$0
Get up to $700
when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with qualifying new money.
View more
    • Robinhood
      Learn moreon partner's site
      on Robinhood's website
      NerdWallet rating
      4.5/5
      Learn moreon partner's site
      on Robinhood's website

      Fees

      $0

      on trades of stocks, ETFs and their options. Other fees may apply.

      Account minimum

      $0

      Promotion

      1 Free Stock

      after linking your bank account (stock value range $5.00-$200)

      Our Take
      Pros
      • Trades of stocks, ETFs and their options are commission free. Other fees may apply.

      • Streamlined interface.

      • Cryptocurrency trading.

      • IRA with 1% match (3% for Gold members).

      • High interest rate on uninvested cash.

      Cons
      • No mutual funds.

      • Little third-party research.

      Why We Like It

      At Robinhood, trades of stocks, ETFs and their options are commission free, as are cryptocurrency trades. (Other fees may apply, including on index options.) Robinhood Gold offers a high interest rate on uninvested cash and low margin rates. The company does not offer mutual funds or individual bonds.

    • Interactive Brokers IBKR Lite
      Learn moreon partner's site
      on Interactive Brokers' website
      NerdWallet rating
      5.0/5
      Learn moreon partner's site
      on Interactive Brokers' website

      Fees

      $0

      per trade

      Account minimum

      $0

      Promotion

      None

      no promotion available at this time

      Our Take
      Pros
      • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

      • Large investment selection.

      • Strong research and tools.

      • Huge selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds.

      • High order execution quality.

      Cons
      • High minimum to earn interest on uninvested cash.

      • Website can be difficult to navigate for beginner investors.

      Why We Like It

      Don't let the name fool you: IBKR Lite offers commission-free stock trading (including international trade capabilities), more than 19,000 mutual funds, and a well-featured platform.

    • Fidelity
      Learn moreon partner's site
      on Fidelity's website
      NerdWallet rating
      5.0/5
      Learn moreon partner's site
      on Fidelity's website

      Fees

      $0

      per trade for online U.S. stocks and ETFs

      Account minimum

      $0

      Promotion

      None

      no promotion available at this time

      Our Take
      Pros
      • Commission-free stock, options and ETF online US trades.

      • Large selection of research providers.

      • Strong customer service.

      • Expense-ratio-free index funds.

      • Highly rated mobile app.

      • High interest rate on uninvested cash.

      Cons
      • Relatively high broker-assisted trade fee.

      Why We Like It

      Fidelity is one of the largest and most well-established brokerages, and it shows. Fidelity charges no trading commissions, offers an extensive set of no-fee, no-minimum index funds. It also stands out for its top-notch research tools, a renowned trading platform and very strong customer service.

    • Public
      Learn moreon partner's site
      on Public's website
      NerdWallet rating
      4.6/5
      Learn moreon partner's site
      on Public's website

      Fees

      $0

      Account minimum

      $0

      Promotion

      Earn a 1% uncapped match

      when you transfer your investment portfolio to Public.

      Our Take
      Pros
      • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

      • Rebates for trading options.

      • Easy-to-use signup and trading interface.

      • High interest rate on uninvested cash.

      Cons
      • No mutual funds.

      • Lack of tools (e.g. customizable investment screeners).

      Why We Like It

      Public provides free stock and ETF trades, pays you to trade options, and gives traders access to crypto and bonds, as well as a high-yield cash account. The platform will appeal to traders looking for a low-cost options broker and access to many types of assets.

    • NerdWallet rating
      4.5/5

      Fees

      $0

      per trade

      Account minimum

      $0

      Promotion

      Get up to $700

      when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with qualifying new money.

      Our Take
      Pros
      • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

      • Easy-to-use platform.

      • App connects all Chase accounts.

      • In-person customer support at Chase branches.

      Cons
      • Low interest rate on uninvested cash

      Why We Like It

      J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is a clear-cut investment platform that is great for beginners looking to learn how to buy and sell investments. More advanced investors, however, may find it lacking in terms of available assets, tools and research. INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE

    • NerdWallet rating
      4.5/5

      Fees

      $0

      per trade

      Account minimum

      $0

      Promotion

      Up to $250

      in Transfer Fee Rebates

      Our Take
      Pros
      • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

      • $0 contract fee on options trades.

      • All mutual funds are commission-free.

      • Chinese language options.

      Cons
      • No forex, futures or crypto trading.

      • Low interest rate on uninvested cash.

      Why We Like It

      In addition to free stock and options trading, Firstrade charges no commission for mutual funds, a deal no other broker matches. Options traders will appreciate that the broker charges no contract fee, also a rarity among brokers.

    • NerdWallet rating
      4.5/5

      Fees

      $0

      Account minimum

      $0

      Promotion

      None

      no promotion available at this time

      Our Take
      Pros
      • Powerful trading platform.

      • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

      • Low options contract fees.

      • Strong mobile trading app.

      Cons
      • Limited external research providers.

      • Low interest rate on uninvested cash.

      • Advanced platform not suitable for beginners.

      Why We Like It

      Tastytrade is a unique broker that offers a highly advanced trading experience. Investors will like the broad investment selection and advanced trading features, but beginners should be aware that this is not the platform for them.

Want to compare more options? Here are our other top picks:

Fractional shares of ETFs

The above brokers offer fractional shares of individual stocks. But if you're looking for fractional shares of exchange-traded funds, you might also consider two more options.

Vanguard

Vanguard offers fractional share purchases of Vanguard ETFs only, which is why it didn't make our list. However, Vanguard's ETFs are popular choices among investors, and if you want to purchase fractional shares of them, the broker is worth a look.

Stash

Stash offers fractional shares of individual stocks and ETFs. However, the company charges a monthly subscription fee, which is why it didn't make our list above. But the subscription has other benefits, including a banking account and a Stock-Back® Card that pays out stocks as rewards when you shop. It may be worth a look for investors seeking fractional share access alongside those other features.

Last updated on September 15, 2025

Methodology

NerdWallet’s comprehensive review process evaluates and ranks the largest U.S. brokerage firms by assets under management, along with emerging industry players. Our aim is to provide an independent assessment of providers to help arm you with information to make sound, informed judgements on which ones will best meet your needs. We adhere to strict guidelines for editorial integrity.

We collect data directly from providers through detailed questionnaires, and conduct first-hand testing and observation through provider demonstrations. The questionnaire answers, combined with demonstrations, interviews of personnel at the providers and our specialists’ hands-on research, fuel our proprietary assessment process that scores each provider’s performance across more than 20 factors. The final output produces star ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars).

For more details about the categories considered when rating brokers and our process, read our full methodology.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Brokers for Trading Fractional Shares

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Vanguard offer fractional shares?

    Vanguard offers fractional shares of ETFs, but not stocks. This can still be helpful if you want to purchase a pricey ETF, but if you're looking to trade fractional shares of stocks, you likely want to look elsewhere.

  • Does Charles Schwab offer fractional shares?

    Yes, Charles Schwab offers fractional shares through Schwab Stock Slices. Investors can purchase stocks in the S&P 500 for as little as $5 each, including up to 30 fractional shares of these stocks in one transaction. That more limited selection disqualified Charles Schwab from our list here, but if you're interested in trading fractional shares of only S&P 500 companies, Schwab may be worth considering.