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Start trading stocks with smart online broker picks for everyone
NerdWallet Inc. is not an investment advisor or broker and does not provide personal financial advisory services
Since most brokers offer fee-free trades and and low or no account minimums, read Our Take to find out why we like these brokers and discover which one has the features you want.
$0
per trade
$0
1 Free Stock
after linking your bank account (stock value range $5.00-$200)
Pros
- Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.
- Streamlined interface.
- Cryptocurrency trading.
- IRA with 1% match.
- High interest rate on uninvested cash.
Cons
- No mutual funds.
- Limited customer support.
Why We Like It
Robinhood provides free stock, options, ETF and cryptocurrency trades (but no bonds or mutual funds), and its account minimum is $0, too. Robinhood Gold offers a high interest rate on uninvested cash and low margin rates.
$0
per online equity trade
$0
None
no promotion available at this time
Pros
- Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.
- Four trading platforms with no minimums or fees.
- Above-average mobile app.
- Extensive research offerings.
- Large fund selection.
Cons
- Low interest rate on uninvested cash.
Why We Like It
Charles Schwab has earned its strong reputation: The broker offers high-quality customer service, four free trading platforms, a wide selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds and $0 commissions for stocks, ETFs and options.
$0.005
per share; as low as $0.0005 with volume discounts
$0
Exclusive!
U.S. residents who open a new IBKR Pro account will receive a 0.25% rate reduction on margin loans. Terms apply.
Pros
- Per-share pricing.
- Volume discounts.
- Large investment selection.
- Extensive tools for active traders.
- Powerful trading platform.
- NerdWallet users who sign up for IBKR Pro get a 0.25% discount on the first $100,000 of a margin loan.
Cons
- Complex pricing on some investments.
Why We Like It
IBKR Pro offers advanced traders a variety of features to up their investing game, including some of the lowest margin rates in the business, discounted contract fees on large-volume options trades, and a high cash interest rate for balances above $10,000. In exchange, users pay very low trade commissions.
$0
per trade
$0
Up to $1,000
in free stock for users who sign up via mobile app
Pros
- Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.
- Free financial counseling.
- IPO access.
Cons
- Low interest rate on uninvested cash.
Why We Like It
SoFi Active Investing's $0 trading commission, free access to financial advisors, fractional shares and $1 account minimum are attractive to new investors. More advanced investors will appreciate the company's wide mutual fund selection and IPO access.
$0
per trade
$0
Get up to 75 free fractional shares (valued up to $3,000)
when you open and fund an account with Webull.
Pros
- Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.
- Easy-to-use platform.
- Advanced tools.
- Access to cryptocurrency.
- High interest rate on uninvested cash.
- High order execution quality.
Cons
- No mutual funds.
- Thin educational support.
Why We Like It
Webull will appeal to the mobile-first generation of casual investors with its slick interface for desktop and mobile apps. The brokerage also delivers an impressive array of tools for active traders and a wide investment selection, including stocks (plus fractional shares), options, ETFs, crypto, commodities and futures. However, its relatively weak educational content may leave true beginners in the lurch, and it lacks access to bonds and mutual funds.
$0
per trade
$0
None
no promotion available at this time
Pros
- Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.
- Leader in low-cost mutual, index and exchange-traded funds.
- High interest rate on uninvested cash.
- High order execution quality.
Cons
- Basic trading platform only.
- Limited research and data.
- No fractional shares.
Why We Like It
Vanguard is the king of low-cost investing, making it ideal for buy-and-hold and retirement investors. It offers a top-notch selection of proprietary, low-cost mutual funds, including many ESG options. Despite its $0 trade commission, active traders will find the broker falls short due to the lack of a strong trading platform.Before you start investing, you’ll want to choose a broker that fits your budget, your level of investing knowledge, and has the investment options that are best for you.
Make sure you understand any costs associated with the account, including any fees charged.
Some brokers have a required minimum account balance. Make sure any minimum balance is within your budget.
Some online brokers have promotional offers when you open an account, including free shares or stocks.
You can set up an investment account in as little as 15 minutes, depending on what options you’re choosing.
Compare brokers to find one that offers the right account type and investment options for your situation.
Once you’ve added money to the account, you can find, select, and invest in stocks or funds.
Savings accounts are another smart way to grow your money
at Goldman Sachs Bank USA
at American Express National Bank
