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Best Brokerage Accounts for 2026 — I Opened an Account With Every Broker on This List

Compare fees, features, app experience, investment options and account types across Finder's top-rated brokerage accounts for 2026.

Choosing the best brokerage account can feel overwhelming, especially when so many platforms offer $0 stock and ETF trading. The right broker for you depends on what you value most, whether that’s low fees, a great mobile app, strong research tools, retirement accounts or access to a wider range of investments.

Fidelity is our pick for the best brokerage account overall for 2026, thanks to its low costs, broad investment selection, research tools and planning features. But it’s not the best fit for everyone. Below, we compare 11 of the best brokerage accounts for beginners, active traders, long-term investors and more so you can find the right match for your goals.

Our top picks for brokerage accounts

Top pick for copy trading

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4c7aaf15-99b5-40b4-81d4-14f0bb2bd22c-
  • Copy top eToro investors automatically with CopyTrader
  • Trade stocks, options, ETFs and crypto in one app
  • Use a demo account to practice before investing
  • See how top investors build their portfolios
eToro securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (‘the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance. Finder is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the BD.

Top pick for banking + investing in one app

$150 $150 REWARD
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0588148b-2286-4b8f-9672-9c8cdafc0370-Plus, get up to $1,000 in stock
Plus, get up to $1,000 in stock
  • Trade stocks, options, ETFs and mutual funds
  • Access to a financial planner
  • All-in-one app for banking and investing
  • Automated investing available
The probability of a member receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Members must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. The probability percentage is subject to decrease. Members are only eligible for the Stock Award promotion upon opening their first brokerage account; subsequent cash brokerage accounts are ineligible for the promo, including for members with multiple accounts.

Terms and conditions apply*. For 401k rollovers, existing SoFi IRA members must complete 401k rollovers via this link See full terms and For SoFi members without a SoFi IRA, a SoFi IRA must first be opened, and 401k rollover must be completed utilizing Capitalize via this link. SoFi and Capitalize will charge no additional fees to process a 401(k) rollover to a SoFi IRA. SoFi is not liable for any costs incurred from the existing 401k provider for rollover. Please check with your 401k provider for any fees or costs associated with the rollover. For IRA contributions, only deposits made via ACH and cash transfer from SoFi Bank accounts are eligible for the match. Click here for the 1% Match terms and conditions.

Must be a SoFi Plus member at the time a recurring deposit is received into your SoFi Active or Automated investing account to qualify. Bonus calculated on net monthly recurring deposits made via ACH and paid out as Rewards Points. See Rewards Terms of Service. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time without notice. See terms and limitations. https://www.sofi.com/sofiplus/invest/#disclaimers

Get 12 free shares

$160 $160 REWARD
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d19c0be9-29b6-4644-a071-32c476ff5e24-Plus, 12 free shares and 1-month complimentary Webull premium
Plus, 12 free shares and 1-month complimentary Webull premium
  • Trade stocks, ETFs, options, futures and bonds all in one place
  • $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and equity options, with low contract fees
  • Deposit or transfer $100,000+ to earn a 4% Match Bonus. Plus: Get a $100 transfer fee reimbursement on your first brokerage transfer of $2,000 or more. T&C apply.

10 best online brokerage accounts of 2026

Discount BrokerFinder scoreReview
Fidelity Investments

eToro

Webull

SoFi Invest®

Public

Robinhood

Interactive Brokers

tastytrade

E*TRADE

Charles Schwab

Honorable mention: Moomoo

Why trust Finder?

  • 15+ online brokers reviewed and rated by our team of experts
  • Evaluated under our unbiased rating system covering eight categories
  • 20+ years of combined experience covering financial topics

We're big on editorial independence. That means our content, reviews and ratings are fair, accurate and trustworthy. We don't let advertisers or partners sway our opinions. Our financial experts put in the hard work, spending hours researching and analyzing hundreds of products based on data-driven methodologies to find the best accounts and providers for you. Explore our editorial guidelines to see how we work.

Fidelity Investments

9.2 Excellent

Read review

Fidelity's app is easy to navigate, but you can tell it's not a mobile-first broker — it feels like a traditional brokerage that built a mobile app, rather than the reverse. That said, it backs that up with some of the richest research resources and trading tools of any broker I've used, deep educational content and renowned 24/7 customer support.

Fidelity is also the only broker I've reviewed here that's stripped away nearly all account fees, and its planning and advisory services — along with its range of account types, including investing accounts for kids — are close to unmatched. Fidelity was the first major traditional broker to offer direct crypto trading, and it's still ahead of the pack: Charles Schwab hasn't rolled out crypto trading broadly yet, and Fidelity remains one of the only brokers I've reviewed that lets you trade crypto directly inside an IRA.

Best for: Multi-asset investing; low costs; research and planning tools.

Annual fee $0 per year
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus N/A
eToro

8.2 Great

Read review

In my experience, eToro's app is easy to navigate but doesn't have the polish or visual flair of Robinhood's — the interface feels more basic than flashy. What stands out once you dig in, though, is the depth: TipRanks-powered analyst ratings, price targets, hedge fund activity and insider transactions give you real research firepower, and the charting tools hold up well against dedicated trading platforms.

eToro's CopyTrader feature is genuinely one of the more innovative ideas in the space, letting you mirror other users' trades directly. Add competitive interest on your options account cash balance and a community of over 35 million users trading ideas, and eToro earns its spot even with a plainer front door.

Best for: Commission-free trading; social trading and investing; mobile trading.

$200
Finder Reward
Get $200 from Finder Become a Finder member, open an eToro Account and deposit at least $300 into your account. Offer ends on September 30, 2016.
T&Cs and limits apply
Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus N/A
Webull

9.4 Excellent

Get 12 free shares by joining Webull. Select Go to site, then make a first deposit of $100 or more to get 10+2 free shares, each worth $3-$300, randomly drawn from the pool of NVDA, TSLA, SPCX and AAPL, minimum $36 in the pocket, plus 1-month complimentary Webull premium. T&Cs apply.
Read review

My first impression of Webull was that the interface can feel overwhelming — there's a lot packed into every screen. But spend some time in it and a different picture emerges: this feels like a genuine mobile-first, pro-grade trading platform, not a stripped-down app wearing a trader's costume.

Between advanced charting with drawing tools and a deep library of indicators, an AI-generated summary on your positions, prediction markets, paper trading, IRAs, bonds, IPO access and — for accredited investors — SPV access to private companies like Databricks and Stripe, I struggled to find something Webull couldn't do. You can also quickly size up a stock using analyst ratings, price targets, quant ratings and technical summary scores.

Trade futures alongside commission-free stocks, options and ETFs, and Webull doesn't charge per-contract fees on equity options. For an added monthly fee, Webull Premium includes extra perks like a 3.35% APY cash account, a 3.5% IRA match and discounted futures commissions.

Best for: Commission-free trading; mobile trading; research and analysis.

$160
Finder Reward
Get $160 from Finder Become a Finder member, open a new Webull Account and make a first deposit of $1000 or more to get $160 from Finder. Stack this offer with Webull's offer: Make a first deposit of $100 or more to get 10+2 free share, each worth $3 to $300, randomly drawn from the pool of NVDA, TSLA, SPCX and AAPL, plus 1-month of complimentary Webull Premium.

Separate T&Cs apply.
Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get 12 free shares by joining Webull
SoFi Active Invest

9 Excellent

Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open and fund a new account. Plus, get a 1% match on ACAT transfers through September 30, 2026. T&Cs apply.
Read review

SoFi's real strength is letting you run your entire financial life — banking, crypto, investing, loans — from one simple app. It leans heavily into being beginner-friendly, which makes it a genuinely great fit if you're intimidated by investing or just want a hands-off experience without wading into deep analysis. That said, it's grown up: you'll now find analyst ratings, bull/bear sentiment breakdowns and earnings data for research-minded users too.

SoFi is also one of the only brokers I've used that offers access to alternative asset interval funds and private markets, including funds like ARK Invest's. One standout: every SoFi member gets access to an included 30-minute meeting with a certified financial planner, and mine was easy to set up and genuinely useful for working through financial questions I hadn't gotten clarity on elsewhere.

Best for: No-fee commission trading; beginner investors; all-in-one financial services.

$150
Finder Reward
Get $150 from Finder Become a Finder member, open a new SoFi Active Invest Account and make a first deposit of $1,250 or more. Offer ends on October 31, 2026.

T&Cs and limits apply.
Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get up to $1,000 in stock
Public.com

9 Excellent

Earn a 1% match on IRA contributions and rollovers. T&Cs apply.
Read review

Public feels more sophisticated than most other brokers I've used, and it's consistently led the pack of mobile-first platforms on sheer portfolio breadth — stocks, ETFs, crypto, options, index options, Treasurys, bonds, a high-yield cash account, investment plans, and now direct indexing and generated assets. The app itself stays clean and easy to navigate despite all that range.

I held a portion of my emergency fund in Public's Treasury account for a while, and liquidating it when I needed the cash was a breeze. Public has also always prioritized transparency in a way that stands out — it doesn't accept payment for order flow on equities, so you're not left wondering whether your order execution is really working in your favor.

Best for: High yields; user experience; commission-free trading.

Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $0
Robinhood

9.4 Excellent

Read review

No other broker comes close, in my experience, to Robinhood's ease of use — from account setup to funding to actually placing your first trade. That intuitiveness has carried through into the advanced trading tools it's rolled out in recent years, too; this is far from the beginner-only app it started as.

Robinhood has reshaped the brokerage landscape in more ways than one, between commission-free trading and a genuinely uncomplicated investing experience. But the thing that matters most is that it's actually enjoyable to use — which I think gets more people investing in the first place, since it skips the dull, dated setup that so many traditional brokers still lean on. I use it as my own primary broker, and it feels like what you'd expect if Apple decided to build a trading app.

Its commissions are low: none for stocks, ETFs, crypto and options; crypto spreads are among the lowest at around 0.40–0.85%; and upgrading to Gold for $5/month gets you discounted futures and index options commissions. Robinhood dropped Morningstar research from Gold as of August 2026 in favor of its own AI-powered Cortex assistant, though Gold still includes analyst ratings, Level 2 market data, a 3% IRA contribution match and 3.35% APY on uninvested cash. Full control of your crypto and managed portfolios with Robinhood Strategies are just some of the additional features you can expect.

Best for: Commission-free trading; user experience; cryptocurrency investing; IRA match.

Annual fee $0 per year
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus N/A
Interactive Brokers

9.4 Excellent

Read review

Interactive Brokers is perhaps the most exhaustive broker on this list when it comes to tradable assets — everything from stocks to prediction markets to genuinely global market access. But that breadth comes at a cost: the main IBKR app felt mechanical and easy to get overwhelmed in, especially compared to the more approachable GlobalTrader platform built for beginners.

Having multiple distinct trading platforms under one brand — IBKR, Trader Workstation, GlobalTrader, IMPACT — ends up feeling more complicated than it needs to be, since you have to figure out which one is actually meant for you. Security added its own friction, too: IBKR's IB Key two-factor system sometimes required generating a challenge/response from a separate signed-in session or device, which felt buggy for a feature meant to add convenience. When I needed help, getting a real person on chat support was a struggle.

Best for: Global market access; wide range of investment options; robust trading platforms.

Annual fee $0 per year
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus N/A
Tastytrade

8.6 Great

Read review

tastytrade feels like a derivatives trading platform first and foremost — because that's what it is — but that active-trading energy carries through to everything else you can trade there too, including stocks, ETFs, crypto and event contracts. The app itself is clean, easy to navigate and doesn't get in your way.

What really sets it apart, especially for options and futures traders, is its built-in connection to tastylive: live broadcasting with real-time trading tips, trade ideas and research baked right into the platform. Customer support has always been fast and responsive in my experience. tastytrade does offer IRAs, but between the platform's whole personality and its lack of a robo-advisor, it's not the first broker I'd reach for if long-term, hands-off investing is the goal.

Best for: Derivatives trading; active trading; educational content, live programming and webinars.

Annual fee $0 per year
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus N/A
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

8.6 Great

Read review

E*TRADE's app is easy to navigate, and a live Bloomberg TV feed keeps you plugged into market news in real time — a nice touch. That said, the app itself feels a bit basic, in line with other traditional broker apps, though it gives you what you need to trade and invest confidently between its research and trading tools. Active traders get a separate Power E*TRADE app built for more advanced use.

Historically, E*TRADE has felt like it's lagged behind other brokers in a few areas — it only recently added crypto trading and fractional shares, both features competitors had offered for years.

Best for: Active trading; robust trading platforms; research and analysis.

Annual fee $0 per year
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get up to $1,000
terms apply
Charles Schwab

9.4 Excellent

Read review

I've been with Schwab through three different brokers: I started as a Scottrade customer, moved to TD Ameritrade when it acquired Scottrade, and became a Schwab customer when Schwab acquired TD. Schwab is my secondary broker today. Its app feels basic, in line with other traditional brokers, but that's balanced out by some of the deepest research and trading tools in the industry, plus the renowned thinkorswim platform for advanced traders.

It's everything you'd expect from a full-service broker: extensive account types, automated investing, human advisor access and financial planning tools, alongside $0-commission Schwab mutual funds. Options traders will pay $0.65 per contract — standard for a traditional broker, but a real gap next to mobile-first brokers that charge nothing. Schwab still doesn't offer crypto trading directly, though it's reportedly rolling that out soon, and its robo-advisor comes with no advisory fee.

Best for: Active trading; multi-asset investing; research and planning tools; automated investing

Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get a $101 bonus

Ready to open Finder's top-rated brokerage account?

Fidelity combines low costs, broad investment selection and industry-leading planning tools.

Honorable mentions

While the top ten brokerage accounts highlighted in our list offer exceptional features and benefits, several other brokers worth considering narrowly missed making the cut. These “honorable mentions” still provide strong platforms, competitive fees and unique offerings that may suit your specific investing needs.

Moomoo

9 Excellent

Up to $1,000 in Nvidia stock plus 8.1% APY on uninvested cash for 2 months, then it reverts to 3.35% APY. T&Cs apply.
Read review

Moomoo is easily one of the most powerful mobile-first trading platforms I've used — it packs in professional-grade tools typically reserved for legacy brokers, like real-time Level 2 market data, short sale analysis and detailed capital-flow tracking to help time your trades. Its margin rates are also some of the lowest I've come across. Moomoo recently added crypto and event contracts on top of its existing stocks, ETFs and options, which rounds it out further.

One real annoyance, though: the in-app pop-ups and promos get intrusive. I understand why they're there, but Moomoo could take a page from Robinhood and surface that kind of thing in a feed instead of interrupting the experience. Moomoo also still lacks IRAs and a robo-advisor, so it's not built for retirement-focused or hands-off investors.

Best for: Active trading; commission-free trading; research and analysis; high interest on uninvested cash.

Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get up to $1,000 in Nvidia stock plus 8.1% APY on uninvested cash

Paid non-client promotion. Finder does not invest money with providers on this page. If a brand is a referral partner, we're paid when you click or tap through to, open an account with or provide your contact information to the provider. Partnerships are not a recommendation for you to invest with any one company. Learn more about how we make money.

Finder is not an advisor or brokerage service. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation to invest with any one company, trade specific stocks or fund specific investments. All editorial opinions are our own.

Methodology: How we choose the best brokerage accounts

Finder’s investments experts reviewed 19 brokers available on the market to narrow down the best brokerage accounts for trading and investing.

We analyzed each platform based on 147 key metrics we collected directly from brokers and assessed each provider’s performance based on eight different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then scored and ranked each provider to determine the best brokerage accounts.

We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive available.

How we weigh the overall rating

CategoryWeighting
Investment options20%
Trading platforms and technology15%
Trading costs15%
Account fees10%
Account types and minimums10%
Customer support10%
Mobile app5%
Features and amenities15%

How do I open a brokerage account?

Choose a broker or robo-advisor, and complete a brief application by providing personal information such as your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number.

Completed applications are typically approved instantly, though the broker may take a couple of days to verify your information. Then, connect a bank account to fund your account.

Get paid to open a new brokerage account

Finder Rewards offers exclusive bonuses on select brokers, including some of the platforms reviewed above.

What to look for when choosing the best brokerage account

Finder’s picks for the best brokerage accounts are meant to provide a starting point for finding the right broker for your investing style and goals.

Consider the following factors when comparing your options:

  • Fees. From trading fees to miscellaneous fees, it’s important to understand the cost to trade and invest. Consider which investment products you plan to trade and the fees that apply, but also be mindful of any back-end fees, such as inactivity or transfer fees, that can also eat into your profit.
  • Tradable assets. Not every broker offers the same investment options. Stocks, options and ETFs are standard, but some brokers will offer mutual funds, bonds, futures, forex, crypto and more.
  • Account types. What other account types, in addition to a brokerage account, does the broker offer? If you’re interested in saving for retirement, then compare brokers that offer IRAs. Consider your other investment needs and how important it is to maintain all your accounts under one roof.
  • Research and data tools. In-house research and tools simplify investing, as you don’t have to venture elsewhere to make an informed decision about an investment. If you’re a passive index investor, extensive research and analysis tools may not matter all that much. Active stock pickers may feel otherwise.
  • Mobile app reviews. Mobile trading is more popular than ever, allowing you to trade and invest from anywhere. Check out what current or previous customers say about the platform’s functionality.
  • Signup bonus. While it may not make sense to choose a broker solely based on whether or not it offers a signup bonus, a new customer incentive such as a free stock may be enough to help you choose one over another if all else is equal.

What's the most important feature to you in a brokerage account?

Compare brokerage account bonus offers

BrokerBonus offerMore info
SoFiUp to $1,000 of stock. Terms and conditions apply.Learn more
Tastytrade$250 per referralLearn more
Interactive Brokers$200 per referralLearn more
Moomoo3.35% APY Cash Sweep Base Rate and one-time 4.75% APY Booster Rate CouponLearn more
Bob Haegele's headshot
Expert insight: Navigating brokerage fees

"Online brokers have gone a long way in reducing fees, such as expense ratios for exchange-traded funds. However, there can still be significant fees, especially if you are trading actively. Even the best brokers can have high fees when making certain trades, such as when making stock/bond trades over the phone or when making rep-assisted trades. Be sure to pay attention to these fees when choosing a broker."

Bob Haegele's headshot
Personal finance writer and expert

Frequently asked questions

Holly Jennings's headshot
Bob Haegele's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings and reviewed by Bob Haegele, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.
Matt Miczulski's headshot
Written by

Investments editor and market analyst

Matt Miczulski is an investments editor and market analyst at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions. Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on Yahoo Finance, CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University. See full bio

Matt's expertise
Matt has written 291 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Trading and investing
  • Broker and trading platform reviews
  • Money management

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