How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Rankite is independent; if a vendor ever pays for a featured spot, that listing is clearly labeled Partner.
Key takeaways
- Fidelity and Charles Schwab suit investors who want deep research, retirement accounts and human support with no commissions on US stocks and ETFs.
- Robinhood, Webull and Public are the sharpest picks for active mobile traders, each with free real-time data, fractional shares and options trading.
- Betterment and SoFi work best for hands-off investors: automated portfolios at Betterment cost $5 a month or 0.25% a year, while SoFi bundles banking and investing in one app.
- Interactive Brokers is the choice for international access and serious traders, with 175+ global markets and commission-free US trades on its Lite plan.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Fidelity Investments | Long-term investors who want low costs plus strong research | Free ($0 commissions on US stocks and ETFs) | Yes (no account minimum, no account fees on core accounts) |
 Charles Schwab | Retirement savers who want a full-service broker at DIY prices | Free ($0 commissions on online US stock and ETF trades) | Yes (no minimum to open a brokerage account) |
 Robinhood | Mobile-first traders who want stocks, options and crypto in one app | Free ($0 commissions on stock and ETF trades) | Yes (no minimum, fractional shares from $1) |
 eToro | Beginners who want to copy experienced investors | Free ($0 commissions on US stocks; spreads and fees apply elsewhere) | Yes (virtual portfolio for risk-free practice) |
 Interactive Brokers | Active and international traders who need global market access | Free (IBKR Lite with $0 US commissions) | Yes (Lite plan with commission-free US stock and ETF trades) |
 M1 Finance | DIY investors who want automated portfolio management | Free (self-directed accounts, no commissions) | Yes (no commissions on self-directed brokerage accounts) |
 SoFi Invest | People who want investing alongside banking and loans | Free ($0 commissions on stock and ETF trades) | Yes (active investing from $5, automated from $50) |
 Public | Multi-asset investors who like AI-assisted research | Free ($0 commissions on stocks and ETFs) | Yes (free account with commission-free trading) |
 Webull | Active traders who want pro-level data for free | Free ($0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and options) | Yes (free real-time quotes and paper trading included) |
 Betterment | Hands-off investors who want a fully managed portfolio | $5/month, or 0.25% annually with qualifying balance or deposits | No (free account setup; management fee applies to invested balances) |
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
#1
Fidelity Investments
Best for: Long-term investors who want low costs plus strong research
Visit fidelity.com
Starting priceFree ($0 commissions on US stocks and ETFs)
Free planYes (no account minimum, no account fees on core accounts)
Fidelity is the default recommendation for a reason. It charges $0 commissions on US stock and ETF trades, $0 account fees, and lets you start with fractional shares from $1. The research library is among the deepest in retail brokerage, with screeners, analyst reports and planning tools that rival paid services.
Where it wins for most people is breadth. Retirement accounts, HSAs, 529 plans, cash management and mutual funds all sit under one login, and customer support is consistently well reviewed. The tradeoff is polish. The mobile app works well but feels more functional than delightful, and its crypto selection is narrow. If you want one brokerage to handle everything from your first IRA to retirement, Fidelity is hard to beat.
What we like- $0 commissions and no account fees
- Fractional shares from $1
- Excellent research tools and retirement planning
Watch out for- App design feels dated next to newer brokers
- Crypto offering is limited compared with crypto-first apps
#2
Charles Schwab
Best for: Retirement savers who want a full-service broker at DIY prices
Visit schwab.com
Starting priceFree ($0 commissions on online US stock and ETF trades)
Free planYes (no minimum to open a brokerage account)
Schwab pairs discount-broker pricing with old-school service. Online US stock and ETF trades are commission-free, and you get access to planning tools, retirement calculators and physical branches if you ever want to talk to a person. For 401(k) rollovers and IRA management, it remains one of the most capable free options.
The honest catch is cash. Uninvested cash sits in a sweep account that pays less than many competitors, which adds up on larger balances. The site and app also pack in a lot, so first-time investors may feel a little lost at first. Still, for buy-and-hold investors who value support and stability, Schwab is a top pick.
What we like- $0 online commissions
- Strong retirement planning resources
- Widespread branch network for in-person help
Watch out for- Cash sweep yields tend to be low
- Platform can feel sprawling for pure beginners
#3
Robinhood
Best for: Mobile-first traders who want stocks, options and crypto in one app
Visit robinhood.com
Starting priceFree ($0 commissions on stock and ETF trades)
Free planYes (no minimum, fractional shares from $1)
Robinhood made investing feel easy, and it still owns that lane. You can trade stocks, ETFs, options, futures and crypto with $0 commissions, buy fractional shares from $1, and trade outside regular hours. The optional Gold subscription at $5 a month adds margin rates, higher interest on cash and deeper data.
The platform has matured well beyond its meme-stock era, but it remains a trading app first. Investors who want analyst research, mutual funds or in-depth planning tools will find Fidelity and Schwab better stocked. For people who trade often and live on their phones, few things match Robinhood for speed and simplicity.
What we like- Cleanest mobile trading experience in the category
- 24/5 market access
- Crypto, options and prediction markets included
Watch out for- Research and education are thinner than at Fidelity or Schwab
- Advanced charting lives in the Legend web platform
#4
eToro
Best for: Beginners who want to copy experienced investors
Visit etoro.com
Starting priceFree ($0 commissions on US stocks; spreads and fees apply elsewhere)
Free planYes (virtual portfolio for risk-free practice)
eToro built its name on social trading. Its CopyTrader feature lets you automatically mirror the portfolios of experienced investors, which is a genuine shortcut for beginners. US stocks trade with zero commission, the minimum deposit is $50, and a virtual portfolio lets you practice with fake money before risking a dollar.
The fees are where you need to pay attention. Crypto trades cost a flat 1%, and spreads on non-US assets can be wider than at specialist brokers. US options traders will also find the offering basic compared with dedicated platforms. Treat eToro as a learning and long-term investing tool, and it delivers.
What we like- CopyTrader lets you mirror real investors
- Zero commission on US stocks
- Free demo account with virtual money
Watch out for- Crypto trades carry a 1% fee
- Forex spreads are wide
- Not ideal for advanced US options strategies
Starting priceFree (IBKR Lite with $0 US commissions)
Free planYes (Lite plan with commission-free US stock and ETF trades)
Interactive Brokers is the professional's broker. Through one account you can reach 175+ markets across currencies and asset classes, with margin rates that undercut every major competitor. The Lite plan keeps US stock and ETF trades commission-free for casual use, while the Pro plan offers tiered pricing for heavy volume.
That power comes with complexity. The flagship Trader Workstation is intimidating for newcomers, and the fee schedules take real reading to understand. Support has a reputation for being functional rather than friendly. If you trade internationally, use margin, or want every advanced order type imaginable, nothing else matches IBKR.
What we like- Access to 175+ markets worldwide
- Lowest margin rates in the industry
- Powerful professional-grade platforms
Watch out for- Steep learning curve
- Pro plan pricing is complex
- Customer support can be slow
#6
M1 Finance
Best for: DIY investors who want automated portfolio management
Visit m1.com
Starting priceFree (self-directed accounts, no commissions)
Free planYes (no commissions on self-directed brokerage accounts)
M1 takes a different approach: you build a "pie" of stocks and ETFs with your target percentages, and the platform keeps it balanced automatically as you deposit. Every slice is fractional, so $100 can spread across your whole portfolio. There are no commissions on self-directed accounts.
The catch is that M1 is not a trading app. Orders execute in scheduled windows rather than in real time, so day traders should look elsewhere. The platform has also evolved into a broader finance brand with banking and card products, which is convenient but means the investing experience is one part of a bigger machine.
What we like- Pie-based investing automates rebalancing
- Fractional shares on every slice
- Borrow and banking features built in
Watch out for- No real-time trading or advanced order types
- Customer support is limited compared with larger brokers
#7
SoFi Invest
Best for: People who want investing alongside banking and loans
Visit sofi.com
Starting priceFree ($0 commissions on stock and ETF trades)
Free planYes (active investing from $5, automated from $50)
SoFi's pitch is the all-in-one financial app. Active investing carries $0 commissions with fractional shares from $5, and automated investing builds you a portfolio starting at $50. Because banking, lending and investing share one login, money moves between them instantly, and the 1% match on recurring invest deposits is a genuinely nice perk.
The investing product itself is solid but not deep. Research and screening tools lag behind Fidelity and Schwab, and fractional trading covers a curated list rather than everything. If you already bank with SoFi or want one app for your whole financial life, it is a strong value. Pure investors may outgrow it.
What we like- One app for banking, investing, loans and credit
- $0 commissions
- Automated investing option included
Watch out for- Research tools are basic
- Fractional shares limited to select stocks
- No individual bond trading
#8
Public
Best for: Multi-asset investors who like AI-assisted research
Visit public.com
Starting priceFree ($0 commissions on stocks and ETFs)
Free planYes (free account with commission-free trading)
Public has grown from a social investing app into a serious multi-asset brokerage. You can hold stocks, bonds, treasuries, crypto and options in one account, and its AI features, like earnings call summaries and market briefings, are genuinely useful research shortcuts. Options traders even earn rebates of $0.06 to $0.18 per contract.
The platform is younger than the incumbents, which matters for trust and track record. Some of the best perks, like boosted cash APY, sit behind the Public Reserve membership. For investors who want variety and modern tooling without commissions, Public is one of the more interesting choices on this list.
What we like- Stocks, bonds, crypto, options and treasuries in one place
- AI research summaries and earnings recaps
- Options trading rebates
Watch out for- Newer platform with less history
- Advanced features push toward paid membership tiers
#9
Webull
Best for: Active traders who want pro-level data for free
Visit webull.com
Starting priceFree ($0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and options)
Free planYes (free real-time quotes and paper trading included)
Webull gives away the data that other brokers charge for. Level 2 quotes, advanced charting with dozens of indicators, and extended-hours trading come standard with $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and options. Paper trading lets you test strategies with real-time quotes at no risk, and the desktop platform is a favorite among technical traders.
What it lacks is the full-service side. There are no mutual funds, and retirement planning is thin compared with Fidelity or Schwab. The interface is dense, which is great for experienced traders and rough for first-timers. If your priority is charting and execution quality at zero cost, Webull is excellent.
What we like- Free Level 2 quotes and advanced charting
- $0 commissions
- Extended trading hours and paper trading
Watch out for- No mutual funds
- Limited retirement planning tools
- Interface overwhelms beginners
Starting price$5/month, or 0.25% annually with qualifying balance or deposits
Free planNo (free account setup; management fee applies to invested balances)
Betterment pioneered the robo-advisor model and remains one of its best executions. Answer a few questions, and it builds and manages a diversified ETF portfolio for you, handling rebalancing, dividend reinvestment and tax-loss harvesting automatically. Pricing is $5 a month for smaller balances, switching to 0.25% annually once you pass $24,000 or set up $200 in monthly deposits.
That flat fee is the main drawback: on a $500 balance, $5 a month is steep in percentage terms. The platform also nudges you toward automation rather than stock picking, so hands-on investors will feel constrained. For anyone who wants investing handled quietly in the background, it is one of the most dependable options available.
What we like- True set-and-forget automated investing
- Tax-loss harvesting included
- Fiduciary standard with no conflicts of interest
Watch out for- Monthly fee hits small balances hard
- Self-directed option is basic
- Premium advice tier costs 0.65%
We pulled the candidate list from the brokerages that dominate independent rankings on G2, Capterra and major finance publications, then checked each vendor's own site for current pricing and plan details. Every tool here is live, regulated in the US, and open to new individual accounts in 2026. We weighted commission costs, account minimums, available asset classes, research depth and support quality, and we favored platforms with transparent published fee schedules over those that hide costs behind sales calls. We did not test accounts hands-on, and fees change, so confirm the current schedule before funding an account.
Picking the right brokerage for the way you invest
Match the platform to your style
Buy-and-hold investors should prioritize low ongoing costs, retirement account options and research. Fidelity and Schwab lead here. Active traders should look at execution quality, data tools and margin rates, which points to Webull, Interactive Brokers or Robinhood. If you never want to think about it, Betterment or SoFi's automated investing handle everything for you.
Mind the fees that are not commissions
Zero-commission trading is now standard, so the real cost differences hide elsewhere: margin interest, options contract fees, crypto spreads, cash sweep yields and advisory fees. Read the fee schedule, not just the homepage. A platform with free trades but a 1% crypto fee or weak cash yields can cost more than it first appears.
Check account types before you commit
Not every platform offers every account. If you need an HSA, a solo 401(k) or a custodial account, confirm availability first. Also check transfer policies: most brokers cover or waive ACATS transfer fees, but some charge for outbound transfers, and Betterment charges $75 per investing account transferred out.
The fine print that actually matters
Most brokers earn money beyond commissions, through payment for order flow, interest on cash balances or spreads. That is legal and standard, but it is worth knowing. Execution quality reports are published quarterly, and differences between top brokers are small. Bigger factors in your results are your asset allocation, your savings rate and the fees you pay year after year. Pick the platform you will actually use, fund it regularly, and keep costs low.
Frequently asked questions
Is investing software really free?
Most brokerages on this list charge $0 commissions on US stock and ETF trades and have no account fees. They make money through margin interest, payment for order flow, premium subscriptions and advisory fees. The exception is managed services: Betterment charges $5 a month or 0.25% annually, and optional upgrades like Robinhood Gold cost extra.
Which investing app is best for beginners?
Fidelity, Schwab and SoFi are the friendliest starting points, with strong education and no commissions. eToro's virtual portfolio lets you practice risk-free, and Betterment removes decisions entirely with automated portfolios. Avoid platforms built for active traders, like Interactive Brokers, until you know what you are doing.
Can I buy fractional shares on these platforms?
Yes on most of them. Fidelity, Robinhood, Public, M1 and Webull all support fractional shares, usually from $1. SoFi offers fractional trading on a curated list of stocks from $5. Schwab offers fractional shares through its stock slices program.
Do these platforms offer retirement accounts?
Most do. Fidelity, Schwab, Robinhood, SoFi, Webull, Public and Betterment all offer traditional and Roth IRAs. Fidelity and Schwab add HSAs, 529 plans and solo 401(k)s. M1 and eToro have narrower retirement lineups, so check before opening an account.
How do I move my investments from one broker to another?
Use an ACATS transfer, which most brokers handle in 3 to 7 business days. Many receiving brokers reimburse transfer-out fees charged by your old broker. Do not sell everything and rebuy unless you understand the tax consequences; in-kind transfers keep your positions intact.
Are these investing platforms safe?
The brokerages listed are registered with the SEC and members of FINRA and SIPC, which protects securities up to $500,000 per customer if the firm fails. Crypto held on these platforms is generally not SIPC-insured. No platform protects you from market losses, so only invest money you can afford to leave alone for years.
Sources we checked (11)
- https://www.fidelity.com
- https://www.schwab.com
- https://robinhood.com
- https://etoro.com
- https://www.interactivebrokers.com
- https://m1.com
- https://www.sofi.com/invest/
- https://public.com
- https://webull.com
- https://betterment.com
- https://www.betterment.com/pricing
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.