Review
Updated
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
If you're ready to get started with buying stocks, mutual funds, or other investments, you'll first need a brokerage account. Below, you'll find links to all of our brokerage account reviews. Our experts have reviewed a wide range of stock brokers, trading platforms, and investing apps to help you find the best option for your needs.
Brokerage and trading platform reviews
- Acorns Review
- Ally Invest Review
- Ally Invest Managed Portfolios Review
- Axos Self-Directed Trading Review
- Betterment Review
- Cash App Investing Review
- Charles Schwab Brokerage Review
- Delphia Review
- E*TRADE Review
- E*TRADE Core Portfolios Review
- Ellevest Review
- Fidelity Review
- Fidelity Go Review
- Firstrade Review
- FOREX.com Review
- Interactive Brokers Brokerage Review
- J.P. Morgan Investing Review
- M1 Finance Review
- Marcus Invest Review
- Merrill Edge Review
- Moomoo Review
- Personal Capital Review
- Public App Review
- Robinhood Review
- Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Review
- SoFi Active Investing Review
- SoFi Automated Investing Review
- Stash Review
- Stockpile Review
- Tastyworks Review
- TD Ameritrade Review
- TD Ameritrade Essential Portfolios Review
- TradeStation Review
- Tradier Brokerage Review
- Vanguard Review
- Vanguard Digital Advisor Review
- Wealthfront Review
- Webull Review
- Zacks Trade Review
Brokerage versus reviews
- Ally Invest vs. Robinhood
- Cash App vs. Robinhood
- Charles Schwab vs. Merrill Edge
- Charles Schwab vs. Robinhood
- E*TRADE vs. Fidelity
- E*TRADE vs. TD Ameritrade
- Fidelity vs. Robinhood
- Firstrade vs. Robinhood
- FOREX.com vs. Robinhood
- J.P. Morgan Investing vs. Robinhood
- M1 Finance vs. Robinhood
- Merrill Edge vs. Fidelity
- Merrill Edge vs. Robinhood
- Merrill Edge vs. TD Ameritrade
- Public vs. Robinhood
- Robinhood vs. Acorns
- Robinhood vs. E*TRADE
- Robinhood vs. Interactive Brokers
- SoFi Invest vs. Robinhood
- SoFi vs. Webull
- Stash vs. Robinhood
- Stockpile vs. Robinhood
- Tastyworks vs. Robinhood
- TD Ameritrade vs. Charles Schwab
- TD Ameritrade vs. Fidelity
- TD Ameritrade vs. Robinhood
- TD Ameritrade vs. Webull
- TradeStation vs. Robinhood
- Vanguard vs. Ally Invest
- Vanguard vs. Charles Schwab
- Vanguard vs. Fidelity
- Vanguard vs. Merrill Edge
- Vanguard vs. Robinhood
- Wealthfront vs. Robinhood
- Webull vs. E*TRADE
- Webull vs. Robinhood
Best of brokerage lists
Related content
- Beginners Guide to Brokerages
- How to Open a Brokerage Account
- How to Choose an Online Brokerage
- How a Brokerage Account Works
- How to Invest Money
- What to Invest In
- How to Invest in Stocks
Methodology
The Ascent strives to provide useful and up-to-date brokerage reviews. Our financial experts rate products based on the following features: fees, ease of use, and quality of the trading platform and research offerings.
To learn more about how we go about reviewing brokers, read our public ratings methodology.
Top Brokers of 2023
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorFees:
$0 for stocks, ETFs, and options
Account Minimum:
$0
Highlights:
With no fees, access to trade fractional shares and cryptocurrency, Robinhood is a no frills but efficient brokerage account.
Open Account for Robinhood
On Robinhood's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
![]()
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorFees:
$0 for stocks, $0 for options contracts
Account Minimum:
$0
Highlights:
SoFi has built a robust and valuable ecosystem to help manage your money in one place.
Open Account for SoFi Active Investing
On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Best
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= Excellent
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= Good
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= Fair
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= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorFees:
$0 per trade
Account Minimum:
$0
Highlights:
To go with no minimum balance and industry-standard commission free trades, offering no mutual fund commissions makes this a smart choice for some investors.
Open Account for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website.
Our Brokerages Experts
Cole Tretheway is a full-time personal finance writer whose articles have been featured on The Ascent and The Motley Fool. He has a degree in English with a Certificate in Professional and Technical Communication from California Polytechnic University, SLO.
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
Ally is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Charles Schwab is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Cole Tretheway has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Axos Financial and Target. The Motley Fool recommends Charles Schwab and Interactive Brokers Group and recommends the following options: short September 2023 $47.50 puts on Charles Schwab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Robinhood disclosure
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.?
Securities are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cryptocurrency services are offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected. For more information see the Robinhood Crypto Risk Disclosure.
Trades of stocks, ETFs and options are commission-free at Robinhood Financial LLC.? Other fees may apply. Please see Robinhood Financial’s Fee Schedule to learn more.
Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Robinhood and are not transferable.? Not all securities available through Robinhood are eligible for fractional share orders. For a complete explanation of conditions, restrictions and limitations associated with fractional shares, see the Fractional Shares section of our Customer Agreement.?
Robinhood Gold is an account offering premium services available for a $5 monthly fee. Not all investors will be eligible to trade on Margin. Margin investing involves the risk of greater investment losses. Additional interest charges may apply depending on the amount of margin used. Bigger Instant Deposits are only available if your Instant Deposits status is in good standing.