Compare Online Brokers For Stock Trading
To buy stocks, you’ll first need a brokerage account, which you can set up in about 15 minutes. Then, once you’ve added money to the account, you can find, select and invest in individual companies. One of the easiest ways to buy stocks is through an online stockbroker. After opening and funding your account, you can buy stocks through the broker’s website in a matter of minutes. To make the search easier, we created this shortlist of picks from our partners.
To buy stocks, you’ll first need a brokerage account, which you can set up in about 15 minutes. Then, once you’ve added money to the account, you can find, select and invest in individual companies. One of the easiest ways to buy stocks is through an online stockbroker. After opening and funding your account, you can buy stocks through the broker’s website in a matter of minutes. To make the search easier, we created this shortlist of picks from our partners.
Compare Online Brokers For Stock Trading From Our Partners
| Broker | NerdWallet rating | Promotion | Fees | Account minimum | Promotion | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fidelity Learn more on Fidelity's website | Excellent for frequent traders & beginner investors | Get $100 when you open a new, eligible Fidelity account with $50 or more. Use code FIDELITY100. Limited time offer. Terms apply. | $0 per trade for online U.S. stocks and ETFs | $0 | Get $100 when you open a new, eligible Fidelity account with $50 or more. Use code FIDELITY100. Limited time offer. Terms apply. | Learn more on Fidelity's website | |
 Merrill Edge® Self-Directed Learn more on Merrill Edge's website | Excellent for casual traders | Up to $600 when you invest in a new Merrill Edge® Self-Directed account. | $0 per trade | $0 | Up to $600 when you invest in a new Merrill Edge® Self-Directed account. | Learn more on Merrill Edge's website | |
 J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Learn more on J.P. Morgan's website | Get up to $700 when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with qualifying new money | $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 | Learn more on J.P. Morgan's website | ||
 Interactive Brokers IBKR Pro Learn more on Interactive Brokers' website | Exclusive! US resident opens a new IBKR Pro individual or joint account receives 0.25% rate reduction on margin loans. Tiers apply. | $0.005 per share; as low as $0.0005 with volume discounts | $0 | Exclusive! US resident opens a new IBKR Pro individual or joint account receives 0.25% rate reduction on margin loans. Tiers apply. | Learn more on Interactive Brokers' website | ||
 Webull Learn more on Webull's website | Get up to 12 free fractional shares (valued up to $3,000) when you open and fund an account with Webull. | $0 per trade | $0 | Get up to 12 free fractional shares (valued up to $3,000) when you open and fund an account with Webull. | Learn more on Webull's website | ||
 Robinhood Learn more on Robinhood's website | 1 Free Stock after linking your bank account (stock value range $5.00-$200) | $0 per trade | $0 | 1 Free Stock after linking your bank account (stock value range $5.00-$200) | Learn more on Robinhood's website |
$0
per trade for online U.S. stocks and ETFs
$0
Get $100
when you open a new, eligible Fidelity account with $50 or more. Use code FIDELITY100. Limited time offer. Terms apply.
Pros
Commission-free stock, ETF and options trades.
Large selection of research providers.
Strong customer service.
Expense-ratio-free index funds.
Highly rated mobile app.
Cons
Relatively high broker-assisted trade fee.
Why We Like It
Fidelity offers $0 trading commissions, a selection of more than 3,300 no-transaction-fee mutual funds and top-notch research tools and trading platform. Its zero-fee index funds and strong customer service reputation are just icing on the cake.
$0
per trade
$0
Up to $600
when you invest in a new Merrill Edge® Self-Directed account.
Pros
Robust third-party research.
Integrated with Bank of America.
Cons
Advanced traders may find fewer securities on offer.
Why We Like It
Merrill Edge offers high-quality customer service, robust research and low fees. Customers of parent company Bank of America will love the seamless, thoughtful integration, with a single login to access both accounts.
$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
Pros
Easy-to-use platform.
$0 commissions.
App connects all Chase accounts.
No account minimum.
Cons
Limited tools and research.
Portfolio Builder tool requires $2,500 balance.
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
$0.005
per share; as low as $0.0005 with volume discounts
$0
Exclusive!
US resident opens a new IBKR Pro individual or joint account receives 0.25% rate reduction on margin loans. Tiers 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.
Website is difficult to navigate.
Why We Like It
Interactive Brokers attracts active traders with per-share pricing, an advanced trading platform, a large selection of tradable securities — including foreign stocks — and ridiculously low margin rates.
$0
per trade
$0
Get up to 12 free fractional shares (valued up to $3,000)
when you open and fund an account with Webull.
Pros
Low costs.
Easy-to-use platform.
Advanced tools.
Access to cryptocurrency.
Cash management.
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, but the brokerage also delivers an impressive array of tools for active traders. However, its relatively weak educational content may leave true beginners in the lurch, and it lacks access to a few common asset classes.
$0
per trade
$0
1 Free Stock
after linking your bank account (stock value range $5.00-$200)
Pros
No account minimum.
Streamlined interface.
Cryptocurrency trading.
Cons
No mutual funds or bonds.
Limited customer support.
Why We Like It
Robinhood provides free stock, options, ETF and cryptocurrency trades, and its account minimum is $0, too. Mutual funds and bonds aren't offered, and only taxable investment accounts are available. Still, if you're looking to limit costs or trade crypto, Robinhood is a solid choice.
You may also like these
People often identify opening a savings account as their next money move.
Marcus by Goldman Sachs Online Savings Account
APY
With $0 min. balance for APY
American Express® High Yield Savings Account
APY
With $1 min. balance for APY
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Compare Online Brokers For Stock Trading
- Fidelity: Excellent for frequent traders & beginner investors
- Merrill Edge® Self-Directed: Excellent for casual traders
- J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
- Interactive Brokers IBKR Pro
- Webull
- Robinhood
