Since 2009, we’ve helped over 20 million visitors research, compare, and choose an online broker. Our writers have collectively placed thousands of trades over their careers. Stock markets are volatile and can fluctuate significantly in response to company, industry, political, regulatory, market, or economic developments. If you’re just starting out on your investment journey, you may be wondering where to buy stocks. We’ve picked the 10 best companies for you to consider, along with the criteria you should be looking at. Claire is a senior editor at Newsweek focused on credit cards, loans and banking.

A certain flavor called an index fund aims to mimic a market index, such as the S&P 500®. In other cases, a fund manager may decide what to invest in within a particular mutual fund or ETF. New Merrill Edge customers can earn a sign-up bonus of up to $600, depending on your account balance. The online broker offers commission-free trading, extensive third-party research and access to over 2,000 Bank of America locations. IBKR has clients in over 200 countries and territories who can trade stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, funds, and more on 150 global markets. It also has hundreds of order types, advanced charting tools, real-time news, and more.

Blain has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Fast Company, among others. Blain created the original scoring rubrics for StockBrokers.com and oversees all testing and rating methodologies. Fidelity earns its spot as the third-best brokerage account for 2025 and distinguishes itself as one of the most versatile online trading platforms I’ve tested. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) secures the number two spot for best stock broker for 2025 in what was an incredibly tight race. While IBKR is best known for catering to advanced traders and professionals, it also offers features that make it surprisingly accessible to a broader audience. Charles Schwab takes the crown as the #1 Overall Broker of 2025, and for good reason — it offers a tailored solution for every type of investor, no matter your experience level or investment goals.

How to buy your first investment

Known as a discount brokerage, it offers low fees for trading as well as options and fractional share trading. An online broker is a platform that lets you buy and sell investments like stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other investment options. You’ll get started by creating and funding your account and then choosing your investments. Many brokers provide advanced trading tools, including Interactive Brokers, Cobra Trading and TradeZero. These platforms cater to active traders with features like order routing and in-depth market data.

When you open a brokerage account, there are a few different types of accounts to choose from. Understanding how these accounts work and the pros and cons of each will help you determine the right best online stock brokers choice for your situation. Like Robinhood, Moomoo has well-designed mobile and web-based applications. But they’re also packed full of useful features for traders including charts, real-time news, and Level 2 data.

Blain Reinkensmeyer, co-founder of StockBrokers.com, has been investing and trading for over 25 years. After having placed over 2,000 trades in his late teens and early 20s, he became one of the first in digital media to review online brokerages. Today, Blain is widely respected as a leading expert on finance and investing, specifically the U.S. online brokerage industry.

Options Trading Strategies for Beginners

• Research several different companies and choose the one that aligns with your goals, preferences and level of experience.
• If you want to level up your investing skills, Robinhood also offers educational resources, including access to basic investment information and educational materials to enhance your financial knowledge.
• You can invest in over 5,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs and over 20 cryptocurrencies on Robinhood.
• The securities of smaller, less well known companies can be more volatile than those of larger companies.
• With seemingly endless brokerage options available, it’s important to choose an account which is right for your unique needs, experience level, and other factors you may not yet be aware of.

Public also provides users the option to voluntarily tip to support its mission of offering commission-free trades without accepting any payment for order flow (PFOF). Many investors choose to open accounts with different brokers to access unique tools, optimize fees, or separate investment strategies. This approach can offer enhanced portfolio management and diversification while also allowing you to take advantage of each broker’s specific strengths and features. While some stock brokers require a minimum deposit, others have no minimum at all, which is increasingly becoming more common. However, even with no set minimum, you’ll need enough funds to purchase at least a fractional share of the investment you’re interested in, ensuring you can start building your portfolio right away.

Which brokers have the best mobile trading stock market apps?

Public eliminates this conflict by routing all orders directly to exchanges and other execution venues, prioritizing transparency and alignment with its users. Blain Reinkensmeyer has 20 years of trading experience with over 2,500 trades placed during that time. He heads research for all U.S.-based brokerages on StockBrokers.com and is respected by executives as the leading expert covering the online broker industry. Blain’s insights have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Chicago Tribune, among other media outlets.

Once you’ve chosen one, follow its instructions to open the account type that matches your needs. Online brokerage firms take a self-directed approach—you’re responsible for setting up the account, choosing your investments and maintaining the account. Many online brokers do provide phone support, but some may only offer support through email or online chat. You’ll add money to your brokerage account the same way you’d add funds to a checking account.

How We Make Money

The benefit of online brokerage accounts is that it removes the middleman, giving you more control over your finances. Though there are similarities among all the online brokers outlined in this article, each one offers distinct features that benefit different types of investors. It’s important to consider all your options before settling on an online broker. Research several different companies and choose the one that aligns with your goals, preferences and level of experience. The amount of money you need to open a brokerage account can vary but many online brokers have eliminated minimum deposit requirements. This means you can potentially start investing with any amount, even $5.

Trading platforms tested

A brokerage account is an account provided by a brokerage firm that allows you to buy and sell stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds using an online trading platform. Think of it as your direct link to the markets, giving you access to a variety of investment products and the tools you need to build and manage your portfolio. Online brokers offer numerous benefits to investors, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced stockbroker. The best brokerage accounts have minimal fees, lots of investment options and access to advanced stock trading tools.

Once you settle on an online broker, check to see if there are any promotions you can take advantage of. Fractional shares are another feature to look for since they let you purchase stocks or ETFs by the dollar instead of basing them on a number of shares. Newsweek.com is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation through featured partners. Newsweek.com does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. If you’re new to trading, TradeStation also comes with educational materials and masterclasses in different types of trading and how to deploy various strategies. Interactive Brokers also regularly offers impressive promotions to help you earn and invest more.

Here are the best online stock brokers for 2025, based on over 3,000 data points. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. The less you pay in fees, the more money you have working for you in the market. Investments come with various fees, and trading commissions, expense ratios, and redemption fees can all eat into your returns.

Educational Resources

Both online and traditional brokers provide access to a variety of investment options, but they do it in different ways. With an online broker, you’ll sign up for an account and choose the investment options you want. You can pick from things like stocks, ETFs and options trades, and you’ll track and manage the portfolio yourself. Finding an online broker with excellent customer service is a must—the best brokerage accounts provide 24/7 phone support and online chat options. Accessible customer support ensures you’ll get your questions answered in a timely manner and can prevent a lot of frustration down the road. Charles Schwab charges a $0 commission for online stock and ETF trading.

This is a good choice for anyone who wants more detailed guidance and hands-on support, but you’ll only have access to your broker during normal business hours. However, individual brokerage accounts often come with tax consequences which you’ll also be solely responsible for. For example, most investment gains are taxable, and you’re responsible for reporting this income on your tax returns. The exact rate you pay will depend on your tax bracket, the type of investment and how long you’ve owned the account.

• Both can be good options, and understanding the key differences between the two can help you determine which you need.
• You don’t need to rule out new brokers, but you do want to understand their track record and overall financial stability.
• We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
• IBKR has clients in over 200 countries and territories who can trade stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, funds, and more on 150 global markets.
• Public also supports a variety of other investment options, including ETFs, options, bonds and cryptocurrencies, making it a versatile platform for a wide range of investment strategies.
• The platform also offers flexibility with stocks, ETFs, crypto and CFDs.

For mutual funds, you indicate the dollar amount you want to invest the next time they’re available to buy (they trade only once per day when the market is open). Some online brokers have been around for decades, while others are newer to the investment scene. You don’t need to rule out new brokers, but you do want to understand their track record and overall financial stability. For example, more established brokerage firms often have more cash on hand and will impose fewer trading restrictions. When it comes to online brokers, certain features can significantly improve your investing experience.

In addition to trading in U.S. markets, you can also invest in the Hong Kong and China-A-shares markets. Plus, Moomoo’s paper trading feature allows you to practice your strategies with virtual funds, right from the same place. Plus, its fractional share program allows you to start investing with as little as $1. Additionally, with its recent purchase of TD Ameritrade, Schwab added thinkorswim — a powerful trading platform that is especially useful for analyzing options trades — to its feature set. Also like Fidelity, Schwab has embraced the times and continued to improve its technology offerings and the user experience of its web and mobile platforms.