When people think about trading, they probably think about going to a stock exchange and bargain with a broker in person. But in this day and age, you have the chance to enjoy the perks of online trading. The following article will help you in learning what to look for in a good online trading platform.
The world of online trading can be intimidating. There are numerous online trading platforms, each with their own set of apps. From iOS app to the new Windows desktop app, it can be tough to keep track of everything. Sometimes new platform can appear with advanced features. This article provides an overview of the best online trading platforms on each device type.
Are you ready to begin investing but aren’t sure where to start?
We’ll help you get going with our list of best online stock brokers for beginners. We know everyone’s financial circumstances and goals are different, so we’ve chosen a variety of brokers to help you find one that meets your needs.
We’ve also included a guide to explain what to look for in an online stock broker, plus a few terms you’ll want to be familiar with as you start investing.
Choosing the right online broker is one of the most challenging decisions you’ll make as an investor. With a long and growing list of available options, it can be daunting to find the broker that meets all your needs. Forbes Advisor spent six months testing 21 of the leading online brokers to identify the best of the best.
In our testing, we compared and contrasted more than 100 different features and variables for each online broker—from commissions and costs to customer service and investment offerings—to determine which trading platforms were the best for different types of users. We dug deep to assess the broad selection of tools and trading features offered by each platform, details that have become even more important for choosing an online broker now that the race to zero stock commissions is all but over.
The Ascent’s best online stock brokers for beginners
Show The List [+]Ratings MethodologyRobinhoodOPEN ACCOUNT
Our Rating:
BOTTOM LINE
A simple-to-use investing experience and commission-free trading are essentials for beginner investors, and Robinhood delivers on all these fronts, and more.Read Full Review
FEES:
$0 for stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies
ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0
SPECIAL OFFER
Get a free stock with a new accountOpen Account
On Robinhood’s Secure WebsiteAlly InvestOPEN ACCOUNT
Our Rating:
BOTTOM LINE
Ally Invest impresses with $0 commissions and $0 account minimums. It’s a great choice for those looking for one of the best trading platforms from which to make cheap trades.Read Full Review
FEES:
$0 stock and ETF trades
ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0
SPECIAL OFFER — $3,000 bonus: $2mm+ deposit/transfer — $2,000 bonus: $1mm-$1.99m deposit/transfer — $1,200 bonus: $500k-$999.9k deposit/transfer — $600 bonus: $250k-$499.9k deposit/transfer — $300 bonus: $100k-$249.9k deposit/transfer — $250 bonus: $25k-$99.9k deposit/transfer — $100 bonus: $10k-$24.9k deposit/transfer
Up to $3,000 bonus cashOpen Account
On Ally Invest’s Secure WebsiteSoFi Active InvestingOPEN ACCOUNT
Our Rating:
BOTTOM LINE
A clear standout with a modern experience. Beginners and long-term investors may find the most value, particularly those interested in stocks, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, and buying fractional shares.Read Full Review
FEES:
$0 for stocks, 1.25% for cryptocurrencies
ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
On SoFi Active Investing’s Secure WebsiteTD Ameritrade
Our Rating:
BOTTOM LINE
TD Ameritrade stands out as one of our top all-around brokerages with outstanding tools and products, in-depth and comprehensive research, and no account minimums.
FEES:
$0 stock trades
ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
Our Rating:
BOTTOM LINE
E*TRADE manages to cater to active traders with one of the best stock trading platforms, while also appealing to long-term investors with thousands of mutual funds and ETFs that can be traded for free.
FEES:
$0 stock trades
ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
Our Rating:
BOTTOM LINE
Merrill Edge sports $0 stock and ETF trades, strong research offerings, and fantastic customer support. It’s a solid option for all investors, and particularly attractive for Bank of America customers.
FEES:
$0 stock and ETF trades
ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
Our Rating:
BOTTOM LINE
Fidelity combines $0 commissions, top-notch research, and an excellent mobile app, all in a simple stock trading platform for beginners. With $0 account minimums and zero-expense-ratio index and mutual funds, this is one of the most affordable brokers.
FEES:
$0 stock trades
ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
Our Rating:
BOTTOM LINE
Charles Schwab has aggressively slashed fees on its mutual funds and ETFs, eliminated common account fees, and lowered its base commissions to $0 per trade, making it one of the least-expensive brokers.
FEES:
$0 stock and ETF trades
ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0Read ReviewCash App Investing
Our Rating:
BOTTOM LINE
A great fit for stock-only investors seeking a no-frills, easy to use platform. Cash App is also one of the few platforms that offers the ability to buy fractional shares.
FEES:
$0 for stocks, fees vary for cryptocurrencies
ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
What is a stock broker?
A stock broker is a trading platform (or person) that facilitates the buying and selling of marketable securities like stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Through a stock broker, you can open a brokerage account, a specialized financial account designed to hold investments and cash.
The term is often used interchangeably with “brokerage,” which is technically the name for a business that employs brokers or acts as a broker to facilitate trading.
When you want to buy stock in a company, you can’t simply call up the company and buy shares, and you can’t just walk into your local bank and invest. You need a specialized brokerage account, and that’s where stock brokers come in
Comclusions
Many beginner traders often ask me what the best online trading platform is. In this guide, I’ll walk you through step by step how to pick a great beginner broker for online trading.