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11 best brokerage accounts of 2024

Finder's regular analysis identifies the best-in-class brokerage accounts for trading and investing.

Opening a brokerage account is one of the first steps to investing in the stock market and building a personal investment portfolio, but no two brokers are the same — and there are plenty of them out there.

We analyze brokers on the regular to find the best brokerage accounts for traders and investors. Below is a curated list of the best online brokerage accounts of 2024 and where they shine brightest, according to Finder’s analysis.

Our top picks for brokerage accounts

Best for options trading

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  • Trade options, futures, options on futures, stocks, ETFs
  • $0 commission to close options
  • Get $100-$5,000 when you open an account with $5,000 to $1,000,000+

Best for mobile experience

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  • Earn up to 3% in matching funds on Robinhood IRA contributions
  • Earn up to 5.25% interest on uninvested cash
  • Get a free stock when you successfully sign up and link your bank account

Promoted for Beginners

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  • Trade fractional shares of stocks, ETFs and Bitcoin
  • Invest with as little as $1
  • Free to open, no minimum balance required and no commission fees

11 best online brokerage accounts of 2024

Best overall

Fidelity Investments

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

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Fidelity's a full-service broker that's kept up with the times. It offers not only an extensive lineup of investment options and the top-tier research tools and trading platforms that you'd expect to find with a leading broker but also the modern features that have made investing so much more accessible in recent years — things like fractional shares, $0 trading commissions and some of the lowest back-end account fees in the industry. Meanwhile, Fidelity offers industry-leading planning and advice resources, including both human and robo-advisor portfolio management services.

Fidelity caters to investors of all backgrounds, with over 42 million individual investors and over $11 trillion in assets under management. Fidelity is a powerhouse in the brokerage space, and its focus on providing a well-rounded trading and investing experience makes it the best overall brokerage account according to Finder's analysis.

Other winning categories: Best for low costs

Best for beginners

SoFi Invest®

4.7
★★★★★

Finder score

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In addition to trading stocks, options, ETFs and crypto on a beginner-friendly interface, SoFi® members get access to a free robo-advisor, no-cost financial advice and a range of other financial services that let you invest, bank and borrow from a single, integrated platform.

SoFi Invest® offers one of the simplest trading experiences among the brokers we review, providing uncomplicated market access with a no-cost robo-advisor available if you want to automate your investing. It's also one of the only brokers in the industry that offers unlimited, complimentary access to certified financial planners, a service that can cost you several hundred dollars a session elsewhere. SoFi members can consult a CFP professional ahead of any of life's important financial decisions, and we think this is a standout feature worth recognizing.

Other winning categories: Best all-in-one financial app

Best for alternative investments

Public.com

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

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Public offers something most brokers we review have yet to include in their lineup of investments: alternative assets. While crypto's a common offering nowadays and a few brokers let you invest in precious metals, Public's growing list of alternatives makes it a no-brainer for investors who want to diversify their portfolio beyond traditional investments, and do it from a single platform. In addition to stocks, ETFs and US Treasuries, Public lets you invest in crypto, NFTs, fine art, music royalties and collectibles — things like rare comics, game-worn Air Jordans and one of the earliest copies of Super Mario Bros. for Nintendo NES.

Those looking to trade stocks, Treasuries, ETFs, crypto and alternative assets from a single platform will find Public's trading app to be both simple and intuitive. Public prioritizes accessibility, making it easy to get up and running, research assets and invest.

Best for mobile trading

Interactive Brokers

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

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In addition to receiving high marks from both Apple and Android users, Interactive Brokers' (IBKR) main mobile trading platform, IBKR Mobile, offers the powerful trading tools that many brokers reserve for their web and desktop trading platforms. These include advanced, interactive charts with over 90 indicators, analyst ratings and price targets, earnings estimates, company financials and more. In other words, there's little you can't do with IBKR Mobile. What's more, Interactive Brokers offers the more beginner-friendly IBKR GlobalTrader and IMPACT mobile trading platforms for those looking for a more simplified investing experience.

IBKR Mobile is the most feature-rich mobile platform according to Finder's analysis, while IBKR GlobalTrader is a solid option for beginners. Tack on its wide range of investment options, low trading costs and access to global markets and you can see why IBKR is not only the best broker for mobile trading but also one of the best brokerage accounts on the market.

Other winning categories: Best brokerage account for day trading, Best for international trading

Best for crypto trading

Robinhood

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

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With commission-free trades — no commission on crypto trades — fractional share trading, instant deposits and a user-friendly platform, Robinhood has lots to offer investors looking to build a portfolio of cryptocurrencies alongside their equity holdings.

Buy and sell more than two dozen cryptocurrencies for as little as $1 and access up to $1,000 instantly to trade. Unlike most other brokers that offer digital assets, you also have complete control of the crypto in your account. Transfer crypto into and out of your Robinhood Crypto account with ease. And what better complement to nonstop crypto trading than 24/7 customer support?

Best for options trading

Tastytrade

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

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Designed primarily for derivatives trading, tastytrade boasts an impressive collection of trading products and some of the best pricing on options and futures contracts in the industry. Stocks and ETFs are commission-free, options have no closing commissions and its trading platforms are powerful, with advanced trading, research and analysis tools, including profit and loss visualizations and a quick roll feature to roll your option position into the future.

Meanwhile, tastytrade offers a comprehensive learning center with video and live demos to help you level up your trading.

Best for social investing

eToro

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

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eToro's accessible trading platform doesn't skimp on features. TipRanks-powered analyst ratings and price targets, hedge fund activity, insider transactions and advanced charts, all on an easy-to-use interface. Stocks and ETFs trade commission-free and options are free of both commissions and contract fees — something we don't see often.

But its eToro's unique blend of cutting-edge technology and social networking that helped it popularize social investing and foster a dynamic community of traders and investors. Specifically, CopyTrader. CopyTrader lets you leverage the expertise of other eToro users by automatically replicating their crypto trades in your portfolio, and get paid when others copy you. While CopyTrader is currently only available for crypto, it's a defining feature of the platform and one that helps it stand out as the best broker for social investing.

Best for fund investing

JPMorgan Self-Directed Investing

3.9
★★★★★

Finder score

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One of the most trusted names in finance, an account with J.P. Morgan gives you access to a range of traditional investment options, including stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds and fixed income, with zero commissions on stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options trades. It provides access to an extensive selection of mutual funds from top fund families, robust research tools and educational resources and a straightforward user interface that makes research and trading a breeze.

Combine all that with access to a robo-advisor and seamless integration with J.P. Morgan's broader financial services ecosystem and you've got a standout broker for fund investors.

Best for micro-investing

Acorns

3.9
★★★★★

Finder score

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Automated portfolio management with a level of customization unlike many other robo-advisors, Acorns has redefined how people save and invest their spare change. With its innovative 'round-up' feature, Acorns automatically invests spare change from your everyday purchases, effortlessly growing your portfolio. Its user-friendly app simplifies investing for beginners, while also offering a degree of freedom to investors who want to retain control over their portfolio. And Acorns' flat-fee subscription structure means the cost for portfolio management never changes, with minimal back-end fees and no account minimums.

Whether you're new to investing or simply want to automate portfolio management, Acorns is the go-to platform for turning small change into substantial savings.

Best for managed brokerage accounts

Betterment

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

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Betterment introduced the world to robo-advisors when it first launched onto the scene in 2010 with its automated portfolios of stocks and bonds, and it's been at the top of the robo-advisory service pack ever since. Today, Betterment's refined automated investing platform includes numerous curated portfolio options, a high-yield cash account and access to a human advisor, which has helped it rack up over 800,000 customers and more than $40 billion in assets under management.

Best for custodial brokerage accounts

E-Trade

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review

Minors and parents with children needn't look further than E-Trade to get started investing. Pioneer of online trading, E-Trade offers one of the most diverse lineups of account types among brokers we review, and it includes custodial brokerage accounts, custodial IRAs and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.

Investments options include $0 commission stock, ETF, mutual fund and options trades, with no account minimums. Tack on its robo-advisor, Core Portfolios, for a straightforward, automated portfolio option.

Methodology: How we choose the best brokerage accounts

Finder’s investments experts review 18 brokers available on the market to narrow down the best brokerage accounts for trading and investing.

We analyze each platform based on 147 key metrics we collect directly from brokers and assess 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 score and rank each provider depending on how it performs in each category.

See how we weigh the overall rating

Investment optionsTrading platformsTrading costsAccount feesAccount typesCustomer supportMobile app reviewsFeatures
20%12%14%9%5%7%8%25%

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.

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 adviser 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.

A photo of Bob Haegele

What Bob thinks about 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, Personal finance writer and expert

Compare and find the broker that's right for you

Match your experience level with your trading and investing goals to find the right broker for you.
If you're a And want to Consider this
Beginner investor Do most or all of your trading on your mobile device Best stock trading apps
Beginner investor Trade and invest with as few fees as possible Best discount stock brokers
Beginner investor Outsource portfolio management automatically and at a low cost Best robo-advisors
Beginner investor Gain exposure to multiple assets like stocks, bonds or gold through a single fund Best ETF brokers
Experienced investor Get an overall idea of providers on the market and what they're best for Best brokerage accounts
Experienced investor Invest internationally in stocks, ETFs and other assets Best international stock brokers
Retirement saver of any experience level Save for retirement with upfront tax benefits Best (traditional) IRA
Retirement saver of any experience level Save for retirement and enjoy tax-free withdrawals Best Roth IRA

Frequently asked questions about the best brokerage accounts

What is the best brokerage account?

The best overall stock broker is Fidelity Investments, according to Finder’s analysis, for it offers the best combination of low costs, features, platform functionality and investments options. But, ultimately, you need to decide which broker is best for you.

Which brokerage account offers fractional shares?

Many brokerage accounts allow you to buy a portion of a share, known as fractional share investing. Happily, it’s now a common feature on many of the best brokerage accounts. All the online trading platforms featured above support fractional share trading in some way, but be aware that some terms and conditions may apply. For example, ETRADE doesn’t support fractional share purchases but does allow you to reinvest dividends in fractional shares.

How much does it cost to open a brokerage account?

Most platforms don’t charge fees to open an account. But you’ll need to fund your account before you can begin trading, while brokerage and account admin fees may also apply.

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