The phrase "commission-free trading" is now so universal that picking a stock broker based on commissions alone is like picking a car based on whether it has tires. Every reputable equities broker hit $0 base commissions years ago, which means the real differences hide in payment-for-order-flow execution quality, fractional share access, platform depth, fees on options and ETFs, margin rates, and whether the interface is built for a 17-year-old on TikTok or a 67-year-old running a 401(k). This directory walks through the 13 equity brokers actually worth opening an account at in 2026.
How brokers were selected: Each was evaluated on equity commissions, options pricing, fractional share availability, account minimums, platform quality (desktop, web, mobile), research and screening tools, margin rates, asset breadth, and SIPC/regulatory standing. Brokers with predatory fee structures or limited US availability were excluded. For broader market context, see our
day trading hub.
Editorial transparency: Broker links throughout this directory point to each broker's official homepage. Rankings and profiles are based on commissions, platform quality, regulation, and asset coverage — not commercial relationships. If any link becomes an affiliate referral in the future, this notice will be updated to reflect that.
Quick Comparison: Top 13 Stock Brokers
| Broker | Stock Commission | Options (Per Contract) | Fractional Shares | Min. Deposit |
|---|
| Interactive Brokers | $0 (Lite) / $0.0035 (Pro) | $0.15 – $0.65 | Yes ($1+) | $0 |
| Fidelity | $0 | $0.65 | Yes ($1+) | $0 |
| Charles Schwab | $0 | $0.65 | Yes ($5+ S&P 500) | $0 |
| tastytrade | $0 | $1.00 open / $0 close | No | $0 |
| E*TRADE | $0 | $0.65 ($0.50 high-vol) | Limited | $0 |
| Webull | $0 | $0 | Yes ($5+) | $0 |
| Robinhood | $0 | $0 | Yes ($1+) | $0 |
| moomoo | $0 | $0 | Yes | $0 |
| TradeStation | $0 | $0.60 | Limited | $0 |
| Firstrade | $0 | $0 | Yes | $0 |
| Merrill Edge | $0 | $0.65 | No | $0 |
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed | $0 | $0.65 | Yes | $0 |
| SoFi Invest | $0 | $0 | Yes ($5+) | $0 |
Commission data above reflects standard retail accounts. Options pricing usually carries an additional regulatory fee of about $0.02 per contract. Independent fee benchmarking from StockBrokers.com's 2026 broker comparison tracks updates monthly.
The 13 Best Stock Brokers, Ranked
| Stock Commission | $0 (IBKR Lite) or $0.0035/share (IBKR Pro) |
| Options Per Contract | $0.15 – $0.65 (volume tiered) |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | TWS, IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Client Portal, Mobile, API |
| Asset Selection | Global stocks across 150+ markets, options, futures, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, crypto |
Pros
- Access to global markets unmatched by competitors
- Industry-leading margin rates
- Best-in-class order routing and execution
- Fractional shares available on US and international stocks
Cons
- TWS interface intimidates beginners
- Per-share pricing on Pro adds up for small trades
- Customer service inconsistent
- Mobile app feels engineered, not designed
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $0.65 |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | Fidelity.com, Active Trader Pro, Mobile |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, options, fractional shares |
Pros
- Industry-best research and screening tools
- Strong fractional share program (Stocks by the Slice)
- No payment for order flow on equities
- Excellent retirement and long-term account integration
Cons
- Active Trader Pro feels visually dated
- No direct crypto trading
- Slower onboarding than fintech competitors
- Limited futures and forex options
Best for: Long-term investors and retirement-focused traders who want one broker for everything from IRAs to active trading.
Visit Fidelity →
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $0.65 |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | Schwab.com, thinkorswim Desktop/Web/Mobile, StreetSmart Edge |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, options, futures, fractional shares (S&P 500 only) |
Pros
- thinkorswim remains the gold standard platform
- Deep research and investor education
- Tier 1 regulation and capital stability
- Strong integration of TD Ameritrade legacy features
Cons
- Fractional shares limited to S&P 500 stocks
- Two platforms (Schwab + thinkorswim) creates friction
- thinkorswim has steep learning curve
- Lower interest on uninvested cash than competitors
Best for: Investors who want a one-stop shop with both passive investing tools and the thinkorswim platform for active trading.
Visit Charles Schwab →
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $1.00 to open, $0 to close (capped at $10 per leg) |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | tastytrade Desktop, Web, Mobile |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, options, futures, crypto |
Pros
- Options pricing capped per leg — major savings on multi-leg strategies
- Purpose-built options trading interface
- Strong educational content for options
- Probability-driven analytics built into chains
Cons
- No fractional shares
- Limited fundamental research vs full-service brokers
- Mutual fund selection narrow
- Mobile experience less polished than competitors
Best for: Options-focused traders running spreads, iron condors, and other multi-leg strategies.
Visit tastytrade →
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $0.65 ($0.50 for 30+ trades/quarter) |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | Power E*TRADE Desktop, Web, Mobile |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, futures, bonds |
Pros
- Power E*TRADE is genuinely useful for active trading
- Backed by Morgan Stanley
- Strong research and screening
- Volume-based options discount for active traders
Cons
- Limited fractional share support
- Two-platform structure can be confusing
- Margin rates uncompetitive for high balances
- Mobile app slower than fintech competitors
Best for: Active options traders and intermediate-level investors who value research alongside execution.
Visit E*TRADE →
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $0 (regulatory fees only) |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | Webull Desktop, Web, Mobile |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, options, futures, fractional shares, crypto (via partner) |
Pros
- Truly zero-commission options trading
- Free Level 2 quotes on equities
- Desktop platform competitive with paid offerings
- Strong charting for a commission-free broker
Cons
- Research and fundamentals lighter than legacy brokers
- Customer service quality inconsistent
- Limited mutual fund and bond selection
- Routing not as transparent as some competitors
Best for: Cost-conscious active traders who want a modern platform with strong charting tools and zero options fees.
Visit Webull →
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $0 (regulatory fees only) |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | Robinhood Web, Mobile, Robinhood Legend (Desktop) |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, options, fractional shares, crypto, futures |
Pros
- Best-in-class mobile UX for casual investors
- Legend desktop platform now competitive with peers
- 24/5 trading hours on select equities
- Robinhood Gold offers competitive margin rates
Cons
- Reputation history with regulators and outages
- Research and screening tools still thin
- No mutual funds or bonds
- Gold subscription required for premium features
Best for: Mobile-first retail investors who prioritize simplicity and don't need deep research.
Visit Robinhood →
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $0 (regulatory fees only) |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | moomoo Desktop, Web, Mobile |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, options, fractional shares |
Pros
- Most advanced free charting tools available
- Free Level 2 NASDAQ TotalView data
- Strong international stock access (Hong Kong)
- Active social/community features
Cons
- Younger US presence than competitors
- Customer support availability limited
- No mutual funds or bonds
- Some features locked behind activity thresholds
Best for: Active traders who want institutional-grade charting and data without paying for it.
Visit moomoo →
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $0.60 |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | TradeStation 10 Desktop, Web, Mobile |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, options, futures, crypto |
Pros
- EasyLanguage backtesting unmatched
- Strong multi-asset integration
- Strategy automation built in
- Good for systematic equity strategies
Cons
- Platform fees apply if trade minimums not met
- Interface dated in places
- Limited fractional share access
- Less suited to casual investors
Best for: Systematic equity traders who want to design, test, and run automated strategies.
Visit TradeStation →
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $0 |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | Firstrade Web, Mobile |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds, fractional shares |
Pros
- Free options trades including multi-leg
- Strong support for Chinese-speaking investors
- Wide mutual fund selection without transaction fees
- Clean, simple interface
Cons
- No proprietary desktop platform
- Research tools thin compared to larger peers
- Customer service limited hours
- Smaller brand awareness in US
Best for: Budget-focused options traders and mutual fund investors who want zero per-contract fees.
Visit Firstrade →
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $0.65 |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | Merrill Edge Web, MarketPro, Mobile |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds |
Pros
- Deep integration with Bank of America accounts
- Preferred Rewards tier benefits (margin, cash bonuses)
- Strong research from BofA Securities
- Tier 1 regulation and balance sheet
Cons
- No fractional shares
- Platforms feel built for casual investors
- Limited futures and forex offerings
- Charting underwhelming for active traders
Best for: Bank of America customers who want investing integrated with checking and rewards programs.
Visit Merrill Edge →
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $0.65 |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | Chase.com, Chase Mobile |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds, fractional shares |
Pros
- Seamless integration with Chase banking
- Fractional share investing available
- Strong J.P. Morgan research access
- Easy onboarding for existing Chase customers
Cons
- No dedicated trading platform — just app/web
- Limited tools for active or technical traders
- No futures or forex
- Charting basic at best
Best for: Chase banking customers who want a simple investing account inside the same app.
Visit J.P. Morgan →
| Stock Commission | $0 |
| Options Per Contract | $0 |
| Account Minimum | $0 |
| Platforms | SoFi Web, Mobile |
| Asset Selection | US stocks, ETFs, options, fractional shares, IPO access |
Pros
- IPO participation usually reserved for institutional clients
- Zero options commissions
- Strong integration with SoFi banking and loans
- Beginner-friendly UX
Cons
- No mutual funds, bonds, or futures
- Limited research tools
- Charting basic
- Less suited to active traders
Best for: New investors who want IPO access and an integrated banking-plus-investing app.
Visit SoFi Invest →
How to Pick the Right Stock Broker
The way to choose comes down to what you actually do with your money. If you're a buy-and-hold investor who occasionally rebalances, Fidelity and Schwab dominate because of research quality, fractional shares, and retirement integration. If you trade options seriously, tastytrade, Webull, and Firstrade strip out the per-contract math that erodes spread strategies. Active equity traders gravitate to moomoo and Webull for charting depth, or Interactive Brokers for execution quality and global market access. For a refresher on order types and platform features that actually matter, our education category has the rundown.
Beginners and casual investors are well served by Robinhood, SoFi Invest, or J.P. Morgan Self-Directed — the interfaces are designed for people who don't want to learn what a Level 2 order book is. The real mistake people make is choosing a broker based on the same checklist everyone else uses, then discovering six months later that they can't trade fractional shares on the stocks they want, or that their broker doesn't offer the asset class they're moving into next. Start with what you'll do in 12 months, not what you're doing today. For broader market preparation, see our pre-market briefing hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which stock broker is best for beginners?
Fidelity offers the best combination of research, fractional shares, retirement integration, and educational resources for beginners. Robinhood and SoFi Invest are simpler if you want a streamlined mobile-first experience, but they offer less depth as you learn more.
Are all stock trades really free now?
Base commissions for US stocks and ETFs are $0 at every broker in this directory. Brokers still charge for options contracts (except Webull, Robinhood, moomoo, Firstrade, and SoFi), broker-assisted trades, wire transfers, account transfers, and certain mutual fund transactions. Many also receive payment for order flow, which is an indirect cost.
What is the minimum to open a stock brokerage account?
Every major US stock broker has eliminated account minimums. You can open an account at any broker in this directory with $0. Practical funding depends on what you want to trade — fractional shares let you start with as little as $1 at brokers like Fidelity, Schwab (S&P 500 only), Interactive Brokers, and Robinhood.
What is payment for order flow and does it cost me money?
Payment for order flow (PFOF) is compensation brokers receive for routing orders to market makers. It funds zero-commission trading but can result in marginally worse execution prices. Brokers like Fidelity and Interactive Brokers Pro avoid PFOF entirely. The actual cost is small for most retail traders but can add up at high volume.
Are stock brokers safe? What happens if one fails?
All brokers in this directory are SIPC members. SIPC protects up to $500,000 per account (with a $250,000 cash limit) if the broker fails. Many brokers carry additional excess SIPC coverage through private insurers. SIPC does not protect against market losses — only broker insolvency.
Can I have accounts at multiple stock brokers?
Yes. Many active traders use multiple brokers to access different platforms or features. For example, holding long-term positions at Fidelity while running options at tastytrade. There is no penalty for multiple accounts, and SIPC coverage applies to each broker separately.
