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Best brokerage accounts for index funds [2024]

Our picks of the best brokerage accounts for straightforward, low-cost index investing.

Investing in index funds is a smart way to build wealth through diversification and low costs.

We’ve compiled a list of the best brokerage accounts for index investing, highlighting their features, fees and the unique benefits they offer to help you make an informed decision and maximize your investment potential.

Choosing the right brokerage account can significantly enhance your investment experience and returns.

So here are our picks for the best brokerage accounts for index funds.

Our top picks for brokerage accounts

Alternative pick for crypto trading

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  • $0 commission trading
  • Instant withdrawals with a 1.75% fee
  • Supports 250+ cryptocurrencies
  • High-yield account earns up to 4.65% APY
Terms apply. Cryptoassets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk. Available in the US, CA, UK and AU

Disclaimer: This page is not financial advice or an endorsement of digital assets, providers or services. Digital assets are volatile and risky, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Potential regulations or policies can affect their availability and services provided. Talk with a financial professional before making a decision. Finder or the author may own cryptocurrency discussed on this page.

Top pick for advanced traders

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  • Trade options, futures, options on futures, stocks, ETFs
  • $0 commission to close options
  • Pro-grade platform and risk analysis tools

Top pick for best mobile experience

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  • Trade $0 commission stocks, ETFs, and options with as little as $1
  • After-hours trading available
  • Earn 4.5% interest on uninvested cash with Gold
  • 24/7 customer support

Best brokerage accounts for index funds

The following are our top picks of the best brokerage accounts for index funds, each highlighted for certain unique strengths.

While we’ve categorized each broker based on a specific standout feature, many excel in multiple areas. For example, while Charles Schwab is noted as one of the best for teens, it also serves as an excellent option for beginners due to its user-friendly platform and comprehensive educational resources.

Best for beginners

Best app for analysis tools

Best for teens

Best for proprietary index funds

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.

Best for beginners

Robinhood

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet a free stock

Public.com

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Get up to $10,000 and transfer fees covered when you move your portfolio to Public
Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet up to $10,000 and transfer fees covered

M1 Finance

4.1
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$100
Signup bonusN/A
M1 Finance, LLC does not charge commission, trading, or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. You may still be charged other fees such as M1’s platform fee, regulatory fees, account closure fees, or ADR fees. For a complete list of fees M1 may charge visit M1 Fee Schedule.
M1 is not a bank. M1 Spend is a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of M1 Holdings Inc.. M1 High –Yield Savings Accounts are furnished by B2 Bank, NA, Member FDIC.
Obtaining stated APY (annual percentage yield) with the M1 High-Yield Savings Account does not require a minimum account balance. Stated APY is accrued on account balance. APY is solely determined by M1 Spend LLC and its partner banks, and will include account fees that will reduce earnings. Rates are subject to change without notice. M1 High-Yield Savings Account is a separate offering from, and not linked to, the M1 High-Yield Cash Account offered by M1 Finance, LLC. M1 is not a bank.

SoFi Invest®

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet up to $1,000 in stock
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

Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser.

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

Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.028%

Terms and conditions apply. Roll over a minimum of $20K to receive the 1% match offer. Matches on contributions are made up to the annual limits.

For full promotion terms please visit: https://www.sofi.com/acatoffer. SoFi does not accept cryptocurrencies and has limitations on some mutual funds and OTC stocks. Brokerage and Active Investing Products offered by SoFi Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Robo Advisor:
Automated investing is offered through SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser.
0.25% fee is based on your account value. The wrap program fee may cost more or less than purchasing brokerage, custodial, and recordkeeping services separately.

Cash App

3.9
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusN/A

Best app for trading tools

eToro

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

Copy crypto picks from top traders
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Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusFINDER EXCLUSIVE: Get a guaranteed $15 bonus and $10 in free crypto

Moomoo

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Get 8.1% APY for 3 months on idle cash and up to 15 free stocks with qualified deposits. T&Cs apply.
Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet up to 15 free stocks

Webull

4.7
★★★★★

Finder score

Earn up to 40 fractional shares and an extra 2% APY for 30 days when you open an account and make an initial deposit of the qualified amount. T&C apply.
Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusEarn up to 40 fractional shares and an extra 2% APY for 30 days

Best for teens

Interactive Brokers

4.7
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusN/A

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet up to $1,000
terms apply

Best for proprietary index funds

Charles Schwab

4.5
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet a $101 bonus

Fidelity Investments

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusN/A

Vanguard Brokerage

4.1
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$50,000
Signup bonusN/A

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 account for index funds

Finder’s investments experts reviewed 18 brokers to identify the best brokerage accounts for investing in index funds.

Our analysis is based on 147 key metrics collected directly from brokers, evaluating each platform across eight categories, including investment options, trading costs, account types and more.

Since most brokers offer access to index funds, we highlight the unique characteristics that make these brokers stand out for index fund investing.

We regularly update our best picks as products evolve, ensuring our recommendations reflect the most competitive options available in the market.

How do I open a brokerage account?

Complete the account opening process online in minutes with most investing platforms available today.

Choose an investing platform 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.

What to look for when choosing the best brokerage account

Finder’s picks for the best brokerage accounts 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 of trading and investing. 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 offer mutual funds, bonds, futures, forex, crypto and more. If you’re looking for the best broker for S&P 500 investing and other index funds, all brokers on our list offer access to these options.
  • Account types. What other account types, in addition to a brokerage account, does the broker offer? If you’re interested in saving for retirement, compare brokers offering 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 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 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.

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
Investor of any experience level Diversify with low-cost index funds Best brokerage accounts for index funds 2024

Frequently asked questions

What type of account do you need to invest in index funds?

Invest in index funds through various account types, including taxable brokerage accounts, IRAs and workplace retirement plans such as 401(k)s. The specific index funds available for trading depend on each broker’s offerings.

What are the downsides of investing in index funds?

Investing in index funds has some downsides, including limited flexibility, as they passively track a market index and cannot capitalize on market opportunities. They also offer no protection against market downturns since they reflect the overall market performance. Additionally, index funds may include underperforming stocks.

Holly Jennings's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
Matt Miczulski's headshot
Written by

Editor, Investments

Matt Miczulski is an investments editor 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 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 208 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Trading and investing
  • Broker and trading platform reviews
  • Money management

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