Best Online Brokers and Trading Platforms for September 2023

We believe investing is by far the most important thing you can do to secure your financial future.

But to get the best investing results, you really need to make sure you’re using one of the best brokerage accounts on the market today.

Our list below is the result of hundreds of hours our experts spent reviewing and rating the best stock trading platforms. Nearly every one of the best online brokers we recommend on this page are used personally by our employees here at The Motley Fool. And unlike many other finance sites, we do NOT allow affiliate compensation to determine which products we list here.

Below, we’ll break down what you should know about online brokerages to pick the best trading platform for you.

Our Best Brokerage Accounts for Stock Trading:

If you're short on time, here's a quick list of 3 of our best trading platforms:

• Fidelity: Best broker overall. Fidelity offers $0 commissions, a wide range of investment options, investor research, and an easy-to-use mobile and desktop platform. It's a good option for beginners and advanced traders alike.
• SoFi Active Investing: Best broker for beginners. SoFi is our top pick for beginners because it has one of the best user experiences available, and it offers all-in-one investing, banking, and budgeting.
• Robinhood: Best broker for mobile experience. Robinhood is a top mobile-first brokerage for people who want to invest from anywhere and don’t need full-service offerings.

Our investing experts reviewed each of the best brokers on this list. Here's everything you need to know.

Fidelity

Why we picked it: Fidelity is at the top of the list for everything we look for in a broker -- $0 commissions, a wide range of investment options, investor research, and an easy-to-use mobile and desktop platform. It's our choice for best broker because truly, it's hard to beat.

Quick hits:

• Account minimum: $0
• Commissions: $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades
• Customer service: 24/7 phone and virtual assistant support, live chat from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. ET M-F and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ET Sat-Sun

What we think you need to know about Fidelity:

Fidelity has been around for decades and its reputation precedes it. Known for being the gold standard in the brokerage industry, Fidelity has millions of customers and a reliability that's undeniable.

It offers a wide selection of tradable assets: stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, and as of 2023, cryptocurrency. Fidelity meets the industry standard of $0 stock and ETF commissions, but really shines with over 3,000 no-transaction-fee mutual funds, which is only the standard for a handful of brokers on this list.

Fidelity also offers more independent research than pretty much any other discount broker. Plus, it has a good amount of educational resources and offers fractional share trading, making it a great choice for beginner investors.

Where investors often have to choose which features are important to them -- low costs, extensive research, good investment selections, beginner-friendly education -- Fidelity checks the boxes for almost all of the big requirements. It's a good choice for both beginner and seasoned investors, and really anyone in between.

What the platform looks like:

First-hand review from one of our employees, who uses Fidelity personally:

"I've been using Fidelity for over a decade, and my experience has been excellent. I've found it to be an easy-to-use platform, has great customer service, and the fees are low or nonexistent. An underrated feature is the ability to change your core cash position to high-yielding options including a money market fund or a treasury fund. The yields on these funds are very attractive and it means you can feel comfortable keeping cash here that you're waiting to invest -- these funds currently earn a rate similar or higher than many high-yield savings account options. Note, you need to change your core cash position to one of these funds -- it is not automatic. These funds are not FDIC insured but I think they're pretty darn safe -- but if you want extra peace of mind, park your cash instead in an FDIC-insured high-yield savings account."

-Brendan Byrnes, Managing Director of The Ascent, a Motley Fool service

SoFi Active Investing

Why we picked it: SoFi Active Investing is a good option for beginner stock and ETF investors who also want access to other financial products in one ecosystem.

Quick hits:

• Account minimum: $0
• Commissions: $0 commission for stocks, ETFs, and options
• Customer service: Phone support or live chat available from 5 a.m.-5 p.m. PT, M-F, closed on weekends.

What we think you need to know about SoFi Active Investing:

If you're a beginner investor who wants to invest in stocks or ETFs with $0 commissions, SoFi Active Investing is a good option. It's one of the only brokerages that lets you buy fractional shares of a stock, meaning you don't need a ton of money to start trading stocks.

It's a low-frills broker, meaning you don't have all the heavily customizable charts and third-party data that a broker like E*TRADE offers. It's designed for beginners, so if you're an experienced investor who wants to do heavy stock research, this is probably not the platform for you.

The real advantage of SoFi Active Investing is the ability to keep all your finances in one place. Once you open a SoFi Active Investing account, you're a Sofi member, so you'll have access to all your different financial accounts in the same ecosystem. You may even qualify for discounts on other products. For example, if you end up taking out a personal loan, you can get a discounted interest rate because of your relationship with the company.

On the downside, SoFi Active Investing does not offer mutual funds or stock option trading. If you want to invest in mutual funds, or pretty much anything other than stocks or ETFs, you'll have to do it elsewhere.

What the platform looks like:

First-hand review from one of our employees, who uses SoFi Active Investing personally:

"My experience with SoFi Active Investing isn't extensive, but it's been positive so far. I primarily use this account for hobby investing, and I'd recommend it for folks who want to experiment with retail trading. Their experience and reputation isn't strong enough for me to put my retirement funds there. One tip I have is to look for a welcome bonus, as you can usually get a free share of stock or two."

-Brittney Myers, Writer here at The Ascent, a Motley Fool service

Robinhood

Why we picked it: Robinhood is a good option for investors who don't want all the bells and whistles of a full-featured broker but still want access to affordable and diverse investment options on the go.

Quick hits:

• Account minimum: $0
• Commissions: $0 commission for stocks, ETFs, and options
• Customer service: 24/7 support by phone or live chat.

What we think you need to know about Robinhood:

Robinhood was designed to be a mobile-first, no-frills investing platform. With $0 commissions and a whole suite of fractional share options, it's an excellent choice for folks looking for low-cost trading.

In fact, while most of the brokers that have dropped their standard stock trading commission have also dropped the base commission on options trades, a lot of them still charge a small per-contract commission. Robinhood allows traders to buy and sell as many options contracts as they want with no commissions at all, making it a great option for people wanting to trade options.

On the downside, Robinhood doesn't support mutual fund and fixed-income investing, which most other brokers on the list offer.

What the platform looks like:

First-hand review from one of our employees, who uses Robinhood personally:

"I've been using Robinhood since they launched. At the time, they were one of the only platforms to offer zero-fee trades. Their platform was developed to be mobile-first, so the app is clean and easy to use. They also recently launched an IRA product, which is built in to the existing app. The account was easy to open, and since I was already familiar with the platform, it's intuitive to fund the IRA and buy stocks."

-Louis Feldsott, Data Analyst here at The Motley Fool

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

Why we picked it: With the standard $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs and no transaction fees for mutual funds, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is a good option for mutual fund investors and existing Chase customers.

Quick Hits:

• Account minimum: $0
• Commissions: $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades
• Customer service: Phone support available from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. ET Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ET on Saturdays.

What we think you need to know about J.P. Morgan:

Like SoFi, Ally, and Merrill Edge, J.P. Morgan offers convenience to investors who want all their financial accounts in one place. The J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing platform integrates into all Chase accounts, so existing Chase customers are able to sign up for an investment account right from the app.

As is the industry standard, J.P. Morgan offers $0 commissions for stock and ETF trades. But what really sets J.P. Morgan apart is its no-transaction-fee mutual fund offerings. It's one of the only brokers that offers $0 commissions on all mutual funds, not just a subset of no-transaction-fee funds.

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing does not offer cryptocurrency, futures, or forex trading, so if those are on your list, you'll want to look at other options. It also only offers fractional investing on reinvested dividends, so for beginner investors without a lot of capital to get started, that could be something to consider.

What the platform looks like:

Interactive Brokers

Why we picked it: Interactive Brokers was designed for active traders and more advanced traders. While it could be intimidating to beginners, the range of tradable securities and its advanced trading platform make it one of the most comprehensive platforms on the market.

Quick Hits:

• Account minimum: $0
• Commissions: As low as $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades
• Customer service: 24-hour phone and live chat support on business days. Live chat is also available from 1 p.m.-7 p.m. ET on Sundays.

What we think you need to know about Interactive Brokers:

With Interactive Brokers, investors can trade stocks, ETFs, options, futures, forex, cryptocurrencies, and mutual funds in over 150 markets. That's the widest range of tradable securities on this list by far, and the most comprehensive access to global markets among our best brokers.

Interactive Brokers boasts $0 commissions on stock and ETF trades, as is the industry standard, but where it really shines are substantially lower margin rates than most of the competitors we've reviewed. This makes it an excellent choice for margin traders.

The desktop platform offers advanced charting and technical analysis tools, which could be intimidating for beginner investors or investors who trade infrequently, but for those who actively trade, this platform is hard to beat.

It's worth noting that Interactive Brokers has both IBKR Pro and IBKR Lite offerings, depending on how much research and advanced features are important to you. The fee structure for both are more complicated than most brokers on this list, so be sure to look into which tier makes the most sense for you and what fees correspond to that tier before making a decision.

What the platform looks like:

First-hand review from one of our employees, who uses Interactive Brokers personally:

"I've used Interactive Brokers for 5 years, as my advisor uses it to manage my SMA (Separately Managed Account - the advisor manages the trades in this account on my behalf), and overall I think it has improved a lot in that time. I still find their two-factor authentication the most clunky of all the brokerages I use, but I think their PortfolioAnalyst feature is very good and is not something you can get elsewhere. Overall, I think it has excellent advanced features, but seems to be lacking easy access to the basics of checking on your individual positions. I'd recommend it more to advanced brokerage users."

-Tim White, Tech Leader here at The Ascent, a Motley Fool service

E*TRADE

Why we picked it: E*TRADE is a full-featured broker that's a one-stop shop for investors wanting a diverse selection of investment options. It's a great option for investors who want flashy, in-depth charts on an intuitive desktop platform.

Quick Hits:

• Account minimum: $0
• Commissions: $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades
• Customer service: 24/7 customer support by phone.

What we think you need to know about E*TRADE:

E*TRADE is known for its intuitive platform and huge array of investment options, including $0 online stock, mutual fund, and ETF commissions.

And if you're an investor who loves data, you'll love the analysis you can do on the platform. We're talking customizable charts with up to 16 columns, 65 different metrics to choose from, and the ability to sort and prioritize metrics that are most important to you. That's pretty impressive if you're an active trader who likes to really do your research.

On the downside, E*TRADE's customer service is less noteworthy than some of the other full-featured brokers like Fidelity and Schwab. Plus, while you can invest in fractional shares for the top 100 ETFs, you can't invest in fractional shares for stocks, which is often a draw for beginner investors.

Also note that E*TRADE doesn't offer trading on international exchanges, so if that's part of your investing strategy, you will want to consider a different option.

What the platform looks like:

First-hand review from one of our employees, who uses E*TRADE personally:

"E*TRADE is a powerful platform that's easy to use, especially for someone new to investing like myself. I've run into errors when connecting my external accounts with other brokers, but E*TRADE made it simple to open and fund a new account. The homepage gives me a comprehensive overview of my accounts while providing a real-time look at the market (although the index looks to be only slightly behind)."

-Kathryn Mallari, SEO Content Strategist here at The Ascent, a Motley Fool service

Merrill Edge? Self-Directed

Why we picked it: Merrill Edge? Self-Directed has low fees, strong research offerings, and 24/7 customer support. It's a solid option for all investors, but especially attractive for Bank of America customers.

Quick Hits:

• Account minimum: $0
• Commissions: $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades
• Customer service: 24/7 phone support available, as well as live chat.

What we think you need to know about Merrill Edge? Self-Directed:

Merrill Edge has all the things we look for in a brokerage -- $0 stock and ETF commission fees, diverse account types, and a wide range of investment vehicles, including stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, CDs, and bonds. It's a solid choice for ETF and stock investors who value research and customer service.

But the real advantage of Merrill Edge comes if you're a Bank of America customer. Merrill Edge is owned by Bank of America, which means investing in Merrill Edge gives you access to the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program and the many national branches of Bank of America for in-person customer support.

Any customer with at least $20,000 in their BoA accounts and Merrill Investment accounts combined is eligible for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program, where you can get rate and fee discounts for most of the bank's products (plus bonus credit card rewards!). Preferred Rewards has three tiers, and bigger balances mean better perks.

If you're a Bank of America customer, you could earn more interest and save money on other financial products with a Merrill Edge account.

What the platform looks like:

First-hand review from one of our employees, who uses Merrill Edge? Self-Directed personally:

"It's been more than seven years that I've been on the Merrill Edge platform. I chose it because Merrill was early to the game in terms of $0-commission equity investing (for Bank of America customers). I stay with it because the platform has offered everything I need for long-term investing, without extra noise or distractions. I also like how easily it integrates with my other Bank of America banking products."

-Matt Koppenheffer, General Manager here at The Ascent, a Motley Fool Service

Webull

Why we picked it: Webull is a great option for active traders who want to trade stocks and options on the go.

Quick Hits:

• Account minimum: $0
• Commissions: $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades
• Customer service: 24/7 support available by phone.

What we think you need to know about Webull:

Webull is a good option for people who prioritize mobile experience. Similarly to Robinhood, Webull is a mobile-first brokerage with less focus on educational resources and more focus on providing an affordable, easy-to-use trading experience.

Like most brokers, Webull has $0 commission stock and ETF trades. But unlike most other brokers, there are no per-contract fees for options trading, making it a good option for options traders.

It's worth noting that Webull has only been around since 2017, so you miss some of the reliability and brand equity that comes with big brokers like Fidelity or Charles Schwab. It also does not trade in mutual funds or over-the-counter (OTC) stocks.

What the platform looks like:

First-hand review from one of our employees, who uses Webull personally:

"I've had my Webull trading account for three years and primarily did my trading using my mobile device. I love that the app allows you to check your individual account's risk level based on your investments. Trading isn't too complicated on it, but beyond the risk assessment component, it was pretty similar to other platforms I've used. It could be worthwhile for people seeking to buy OTC and fractional shares."

-Sharice Wells, Editor here at The Motley Fool

Charles Schwab

Why we picked it: Charles Schwab can go toe to toe with any broker on this list and often come out on top. It's a standout full-featured broker with a reliable reputation, $0 commissions, and international offerings. If you're a fund investor, this is one of the best on the market.

Quick Hits:

• Account minimum: $0
• Commissions: $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades
• Customer service: Available 24/7 by phone. Live chat is available, or help is also available at Schwab's branches.

What we think you need to know about Charles Schwab:

We think Charles Schwab is a solid pick for seasoned investors and beginners alike. It has a reliable brand, a wide array of investment options, and is one of the most affordable brokers on the market.

While similar to the big names on this list like Fidelity and Vanguard, what really sets Schwab apart is its fund offerings. Schwab offers one of the largest marketplaces for low-cost ETF and index investing, including its own line of branded ETFs that rival the lowest cost options we've come across.

Schwab also rivals brokers like SoFi and Merrill by offering other financial products all within one ecosystem, such as the Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking account, CDs, and credit cards.

It's important to note that Schwab does not offer cryptocurrency trading, so if you're interested in venturing into the world of crypto, you won't be able to do that through Schwab.

What the platform looks like:

First-hand review from one of our employees, who uses Charles Schwab personally:

"I opened my Charles Schwab account as a brand-new investor who knew almost nothing about investing, and I've learned a lot through their educational resources. While the website isn't the most modern, it's easy to use. I've spent a good amount of time using their customer service support as well as a Schwab Financial Consultant and both have been tremendously helpful. I like both the active trading experience but have also enjoyed using their robo-investing option, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios."

-Brooklyn Welch, SEO Content Strategist here at The Ascent, a Motley Fool service

Vanguard

Why we picked it: Vanguard is a good option for long-term investing at a low cost. Especially for investors interested in mutual funds, Vanguard offers thousands of no-transaction fee fund options.

Quick Hits:

• Account minimum: $0
• Commissions: $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades
• Customer service: Phone support available from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday.

What we think you need to know about Vanguard:

Vanguard has been around for a long time, and therefore has a reliable reputation in the market. It's a retirement-focused broker that's highly regarded among investors with a long-term investment philosophy.

In fact, the whole platform is optimized for buy-and-hold investors. The design is focused primarily on performance over the long term and the balance of your holdings. Unlike many other brokerages on this list, Vanguard doesn't offer real-time streaming news or advanced charting tools, as buy-and-hold investors may not benefit from those like active traders would. Active traders may find this limiting, but for investors who align with Vanguard's strategy, it's a simple and easy-to-use platform.

While Vanguard meets the standard $0 commission stock and ETF trading, where it really shines is in its mutual fund offerings. Its own suite of Vanguard mutual funds offer some of the lowest expense ratios on the market, as well as thousands of no-transaction-fee funds from other firms.

If you're a buy-and-hold investor who wants low costs over the long term, this may be the right platform for you.

What the platform looks like:

First-hand review from one of our employees, who uses Vanguard personally:

"The thing I like the most about Vanguard is their willingness to provide help and guidance. I'm not an expert when it comes to brokerages and investment accounts, and I know a lot of people are just like me. It's easy to get a knowledgeable person on the phone at Vanguard, and they walk me through every question I have. They score highly in my book for their ability to help novice investors like me who want to learn more. Also, I'm very sensitive to fees and pay zero whenever possible. Vanguard has given me all the fee-free options I've needed."

-Kimberly Rotter, Writer here at The Ascent, a Motley Fool service

What is an online stock broker?

An online stock broker is a financial firm whose customers can buy and sell stocks in a brokerage account through an online trading platform. You can think of an online stock broker as a conduit to the stock exchanges. In exchange for a commission on every trade, these brokers send your orders on to stock exchanges and market makers, which actually do the heavy lifting of matching your buy order with someone who wants to sell, or vice versa.

But you can't just buy a stock through your bank account or call the company and buy shares -- you need to find one of the best stock brokers.

Fortunately for everyday investors, the brokerage industry has changed dramatically over the past couple of decades. To buy a stock, you used to have to call an individual known as a stock broker, who placed the order on your behalf. This process was complex -- and expensive.

You and I can't knock on the doors to the stock exchanges and make a trade without a broker. In truth, the stock exchanges as we think of them from their depictions in movies and on TV don't really exist today. Most trading actually takes place between computers in dimly lit server rooms in New Jersey, a few miles from New York City's financial district.

Full-service vs. discount brokers

Just as the process for processing stock trades has changed, the terms we use for the people and businesses who facilitate trades have changed, too. Today, instead of using the term "stock broker" as an all-encompassing term for any person or brokerage firm that deals in stocks, we generally divide companies into two categories: "discount brokers" and "full-service brokers," labels that better describe what they actually do.

Discount brokers

Online stock brokers are discount brokers. They aren't in the business of giving you advice or phoning you up with stock picks. Instead, discount brokers focus on the very basic service of helping you buy or sell a stock (or other type of investment) from the convenience of your own home. Because discount brokers forgo many of the frills, they can charge rock-bottom prices for their services. Virtually all online stock brokers charge $0 to place a stock trade -- a bargain, especially considering what traditional brokers charge, and also charge low fees for other products and services. In addition, discount brokers tend to have lower minimum investment requirements (or no minimums at all), making them accessible to everyone.

Full-service brokers

Brokerage firms we label "full-service brokers" are more closely related to the stock brokers of days gone by. Full-service brokers often employ human brokers who can help you make a trade, find mutual funds to invest in, or make a retirement plan. That said, full-service brokers are costly, since people are inevitably more expensive than computers. A popular full-service broker charges a minimum of $75 to place a stock trade, and that can jump to as high as $500 or more to buy a large amount of stock. Buying a mutual fund through a full-service broker can potentially set you back thousands of dollars, since they often charge fees equal to a portion of the amount you invest. Full-service brokers are more likely to have higher account minimums; some advisors only work with clients who have $1 million in assets or more.

Realistically, the lines between the two types of brokers are starting to blur. Discount brokers now have wealth-management services that offer the help of a human advisor at a full-service price. Some full-service brokers also offer a basic level of service at discounted prices. For example, Merrill Edge? Self-Directed is the discount brokerage arm of the full-service brokerage Merrill Lynch.

Are online brokerages safe?

Online brokerages are safe, and that's especially true when it comes to all of the brokers discussed on this page. All are members of the SIPC, which stands for Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and this means that the cash and securities in your account are protected up to $500,000 in the event that the brokerage firm fails. Essentially, SIPC protection is to brokerage accounts what FDIC insurance is to bank accounts, but with one big difference.

The SIPC does not protect against losses that result from declines in the market value of securities. It protects as much as $250,000 in cash in your account, and while it doesn't cover things like unauthorized trading activity, most reputable brokers have fraud protection guarantees that cover you in the event your account is hacked, as long as you notify them in a timely manner.

What to consider when choosing an online broker

Like most financial products, there is no broker that is a perfect fit for all investors. But here are some of the things to keep in mind when you're deciding which is best for you:

• Commissions and fees: Basic, online stock and ETF trades should be free. Period. Investors now pay $0 commissions at most online stock brokers, and some even offer options trading for free, which can be particularly valuable for active traders. Most online brokerages charge commissions for mutual fund trades and other services you might need, so it's still important to compare fee structures.
• Mutual funds: While most online brokers charge a commission for mutual fund trading, it's also important to know that most have a list of hundreds or even thousands of funds that trade with no commissions at all.
• ETF investing: The best ETF stock brokers will not only have $0 online commissions for ETF investing, but they also tend to offer access to a wide array of branded, low-cost ETFs. These branded ETFs are managed by the stock broker's analyst teams themselves and they often include rock-bottom expense ratios.
• Options investing: A well-rounded stock brokerage account will not only offer access to investing in stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, but also options. Some options trading platforms include $0 commissions for online options trades and high-quality trading software across online, desktop, and mobile devices, although many still charge a per-contract fee for options trading.
• Account minimums: Many of the top online stock brokers don't have account minimums, but a few do. If you're a beginner investor, it's important to verify that you can meet any minimum investment requirements before you select a broker.
• Trading platform: Some stock brokerage accounts have full-featured and complex online stock trading platforms and software available to frequent traders, as well as managed portfolio services from robo-advisors. Other stock brokers take a more simplistic, user-friendly approach. And many have top-notch investing apps that could come in handy if you want to buy and sell stocks from anywhere in the world.
• Research and screeners: One key reason to have an online brokerage account is that you can access a second opinion when you need it. Many of the best brokers offer a full suite of third-party research as well as stock and fund screeners so you can find, for example, the annual fees for investing in a fund, or get help sorting through your choices via parameters like price-to-earnings ratio.

LEARN MORE: How to Choose the Right Brokerage For You

How to pick the best stock broker

Furthermore, the best online brokerage account for you depends on your needs. Here are a few things you might want to consider:

• If you plan to simply buy and hold stocks, you probably don't need a full-featured trading platform.
• If you primarily plan to buy mutual funds, you should look for the best mutual fund broker, since these brokerage accounts offer low to $0 commissions to buy and sell mutual funds.
• If you are a brand-new investor and only want to invest a few hundred dollars at first, you'll probably want to look for a broker with no minimum investment requirement.

If you plan on trading bonds or stock options, or plan on making trades over the phone as opposed to online, be sure to look at what each of the top brokers charge for these activities. Comparing the best investment brokers on our list can help you determine which platform has the features you're looking for.

How to open a brokerage account

In most cases, the process of opening a brokerage account is rather quick and straightforward. But here are the general steps:

1. Determine what type of brokerage account you need (individual, IRA, etc.)
2. Compare different brokers to find the best fit for you.
3. Decide which brokerage firm is best for you.
4. Fill out the new account application, and be ready to provide identifying information such as your Social Security number.
5. Add funds to the account. Most brokers offer several ways to do this.
6. Start investing!

Fees for the best brokerage accounts

With so much competition among the best stock broker companies, consumers benefit in one of the most important areas for successful long-term investing: commissions and fees. It's table stakes nowadays for brokerage accounts to offer commission-free online trading for stocks and ETFs. It's becoming even more common for $0 commissions for mutual funds, cryptocurrencies, and fixed-income investments.

Here's a rundown of common fees for our picks of the best brokerage accounts.

The lowest commission stock broker will depend on the type of trading you do in your brokerage account. Interactive Brokers combines robust trading software with low commissions and competitive margin rates. Robinhood, SoFi Active Investing, and Webull are the lowest commission brokerage accounts across stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies -- they don't charge commissions.

What is the best stock broker mobile app?

Since so many people use their mobile devices for financial activities these days, it's worth noting that most of our favorite online brokers are also the ones with the best free trading apps. Some are mobile-focused, like Robinhood, while others simply use mobile apps to offer their customers an additional way to trade stocks.

Unfortunately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer for which brokerage firm has the best mobile app. Some people prefer a user-friendly app that makes it easy to buy and sell stocks, while others prefer a mobile app packed with features for active traders and serious investors. But if you anticipate doing a fair amount of trading through your mobile device, looking at each broker's mobile app should be a large part of your evaluation process.

LEARN MORE: Best investment apps

What are the top brokerage firms?

Many of the top brokerage firms are well represented on our list of brokerage accounts to consider. Below we've included a rundown of the top five brokerage firms based on assets under management as of August 2023.

1. Vanguard: $8.2 trillion
2. Charles Schwab: $8.02 trillion
3. Fidelity: $4.5 trillion
4. J.P. Morgan: $3.9 trillion
5. Bank of America/Merrill Lynch: $3.6 trillion

MORE RESEARCH: The largest stock brokerage firms