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How to buy stocks online

Our step-by-step guide on how to buy stocks online with the best stock trading apps on the market.

Step 1: Choose an online stock trading platform

With so many options in the market right now, we’ve narrowed it down to our top selection and laid out the most important features for you to compare.

Our top picks for where to buy stocks online

Top pick for the biggest stock bonus

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 June 10, 2026.
T&Cs and limits apply.
0588148b-2286-4b8f-9672-9c8cdafc0370-Get up to $1,000 in stock
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
Probability of member receiving $1,000 is 0.026%. If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Probability percentage is subject to decrease.

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

Top pick for integrated stock & crypto investing

c2128f6d-01ab-4a9f-90ee-a553f1fae920-Up to 2% bonus
Up to 2% bonus
  • Trade US stocks and ETFs with $0 commissions
  • Invest alongside crypto in one unified Kraken account
  • Fractional shares available for flexible portfolio building
  • Access advanced trading tools and real-time analytics with Kraken Pro
Up to 2% bonus on stock transfers until January 31, 2026. See full terms and conditions here.

Best for crypto and copy trading

Finder Reward

Get $150 from Finder
Become a Finder member, open an eToro Account and deposit at least $300 into your account. Offer ends on June 22, 2026.
T&Cs and limits apply.
4c7aaf15-99b5-40b4-81d4-14f0bb2bd22c-$10 bonus
$10 bonus
  • 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.

Compare more stock trading apps

8 of 8 results
Finder Score Stock trade fee Minimum deposit Signup bonus
Finder score
$0
$0
N/A
Important information
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.
$150$150 REWARD
Finder score
$0
$0
Get up to $1,000 in stock
Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open and fund a new account. T&Cs apply.
Important information
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees. Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA (www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org). There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see https://www.sofi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information SoFi Plus members can schedule an unlimited number of appointments with a financial planner during periods in which the SoFi Plus member meets the eligibility criteria set forth in section 10(a) of the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions. SoFi members who are not members of SoFi Plus can schedule one (1) appointment with a financial planner. The ability to schedule appointments is subject to financial planner availability. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this benefit at any time with or without notice. Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth's advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth's current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov. Probability of member receiving $1,000 is 0.026%. If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Probability percentage is subject to decrease. 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
$150$150 REWARD
Finder score
$0.01
$250
Robinhood logo
Finder score
Finder score
$0
$0
Get a free stock
Get a free stock when you successfully sign up and link your bank account. T&Cs apply.
Public logo
Finder score
Finder score
$0
$0
Earn a 1% match
Earn a 1% match when you transfer your portfolio to Public. T&Cs apply.
Important information
*Yield as of 04/09/2025. Learn more.
JPMorgan logo
Finder score
Finder score
$0
$0
Get up to $1,000
Get a cash bonus up to $1,000 when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account. T&Cs apply.
Important information
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
Wealthfront logo
Finder score
Finder score
$0
$500
Get $50
Get a $50 bonus when you sign up and fund a taxable automated investing account with at least $500. T&Cs apply.
Webull logo
Finder score
Finder score
$0
$0
Get up to 4% match bonus
Deposit or transfer $100,000+ to earn a 4% Match Bonus, or $2,000+ to earn a 3% Match Bonus. Plus: Get a $100 transfer fee reimbursement on your first brokerage transfer of $2,000 or more. T&Cs apply.
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Showing 8 of 8 results

What is the Finder Score?

The Finder Score crunches 147 key metrics we collected directly from 18+ 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.

Read the full Finder Score breakdown

How do I choose the right stock trading app for me?

  • Compare features. Think about your level of trading experience and what kind of features are important to you, along with the platform’s ease-of-use.
  • Compare fees. While most brokers don’t charge a stock trading fee, some charge extra for specialized investment products. High-value trades are often charged as a percentage of the total trade value, rather than a fixed fee.
  • Tradable securities. Most brokers offer at least stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Big brokers like Interactive Brokers have the largest lineup of investment options, while newcomer brokers like SoFi® and eToro offer a more simple lineup of stocks and ETFs.
  • Research tools. Online brokers usually offer market news, updates and other research tools that will let you investigate the trading history of individual stocks.
  • Customer support. How fast can you get a hold of customer support if you’re having an issue with your investment? The quality of customer support and the ease at which you can contact them is no less important than fees or research tools.

Step 2: Sign up for an account

Brokers, banks and other financial services companies follow a regulatory process known as Know Your Client (KYC), which is a process to verify the identity and other credentials of customers. When you’re applying for a brokerage account, you’re taking part in the KYC process.
Opening an account with an online trading platform is painless and usually takes just a few minutes. While the exact format will vary from broker to broker it must adhere to KYC standards: provide personal information to verify your identity and answer a handful of questions about your investing experience and goals.
Personal information you can expect to provide include:

  • Your name, address and contact details
  • Your date of birth
  • Your Social Security number
  • Proof of ID
  • Employment information

Most brokers use an automatic KYC process, which means your application will often be approved instantly or within a few minutes. Occasionally, a broker may need some time to verify your information. If they can’t, they may ask you to submit proof of ID to verify you are who you say you are.

Step 3: Set up a funding method to pay for the transaction

While you can open an account with most brokers without a minimum deposit, you can’t trade until you have sufficient funds in your account to cover the cost of the transaction.
One of the easiest ways to do this is to link your bank account and transfer funds electronically via the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network. ACH transfers take between one to three business days to complete, but some brokers offer a feature called instant deposits, which allow you to trade before the funds have settled.
Other funding methods include wire transfer, check deposit and account transfers from other brokerage accounts. Credit cards are typically not permitted as a brokerage account funding method.

Step 4: Choose the stocks you want to buy

A good place to start is with an industry that interests you and then explore the different companies in that space. Identify key players and young companies with potential for growth but also figure out which companies are falling, or have fallen, out of favor. If you want to follow a Warren Buffett saying, “never invest in a business you cannot understand.”
Tools like stock screeners can help you narrow down stocks by sector, industry, price range and more. Search for companies by name or ticker symbol, and if you’re on the fence about a purchase, add the stock to your watchlist to keep an eye on its performance. Analyst research reports can give you valuable insight into companies and guidance as to whether a particular company is a good investment.

Step 5: Place your order

With a stock in mind and funding in place, it’s almost time to invest. But before you buy any shares, you should know how much money you want to invest in any particular stock.
Consider your budget, investment goals and your overall portfolio allocation. With the advent of fractional shares, you no longer need the entire share price to invest. Fractional share trading lets you invest specific dollar amounts in a stock instead of having to buy whole shares. Though not every broker offers this feature.

Kliment Dukovski's headshot
Writer

Kliment Dukovski was a personal finance writer at Finder, specializing in investments and cryptocurrency. He's written more than 700 articles to help readers compare the best trading platforms, understand complex investment terms and find the best credit cards for their needs. His expert commentary has been featured in such digital publications as Fox Business, MSN Money and MediaFeed. He’s also well-versed in money transfers, home loans and more — breaking down these topics into simple concepts anyone can understand. In another life, Kliment ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies. See full bio

Kliment's expertise
Kliment has written 38 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Investing
  • Day trading
  • Stock market technical analysis
  • Personal and business credit cards

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