Best Online Stock Brokers
| Stock Broker | Best For |
|---|---|
| Very low fees, 24/7 customer service, & integration with a high-yield savings account | |
| Technology-focused traders who demand sophisticated platforms | |
| Investors looking to use options as part of their strategies | |
| Investors seeking a lower priced version of Interactive Brokers |
What’s The Best Stock Broker?
We spent 200+ hours testing individual stock brokers in 2019, because not all stock brokers are made equal. Overall, we enjoyed Ally Invest the most. Heres two reasons why:
- Low fees, look for per-trade fees of less than $5
- 24/7 customer service, don’t underestimate the power of knowledgable professionals when you need help with your account or a particular investment
- Free trading platforms with free market data and educational guides
First, Ally offers some of the lowest pricing per stock out of every major stock broker that offers 24/7 customer service. This cannot be overlooked. At $3.95 to $4.95 per trade, you’ll save money and still get full access to investment products and trading strategies.
Second, Ally’s online banking is fantastic, and their APY on products like savings and checking accounts is over 1.85%. If you have extra cash in your brokerage account, it’s seamless to transfer it over to an Ally savings account an earn a risk-free return on nearly 2%. No other online stock broker offers trades as low as $3.95 and interest products that pay more than 150 basis points.
Ally Invest Review
When you open an account with Ally, you’ll get some of the lowest trading commissions in the industry, dedicated 24/7 customer service, enhanced desktop and mobile trading platforms for stock, options, ETFs, and mutual funds, as well as tons of free research and technical analysis tools.
Simply put, overpriced trades and non-existent customer service are a thing of the past; Ally is redefining what it means to be an online discount stock broker. Keep reading…
- $4.95 per stock trade
- $9.95 per mutual fund
- 500 commission-free ETFs
- No inactivity or maintenance fees
TradeStation Review
Founded in 1982, TradeStation is one of the longest operating online discount brokerages in the world.
TradeStation offers clients access to a broad range of domestic and international stocks, futures, bonds, options, and forex. Active traders will love TradeStation’s desktop and mobile trading platforms, which are highly customizable. Keep reading…
- $5.00 per stock trade
- $14.95 per mutual fund
- No inactivity or maintenance fees
- Ability to trade internationally
Tastyworks Review
Tastyworks is one of the newest online discount brokerages to offer unique features for active traders focused primarily on options and futures. Although you’ll need to deposit $2,500 to maintain a margin account, $0 commissions to close stock, options, and options on futures is a very enticing offer.
Tastywork’s trading technology is also excellent for those looking for downloadable, professional style trading software. Keep reading…
- $5.00 flat per stock trade
- $0 commission to close
- Downloadable trading platform
- No inactivity or maintenance fees
Zacks Trade Review
Zacks Trade is Interactive Brokers with out all of Interactive Brokers’ flaws.
Zacks uses the same technology and order execution software as Interactive Brokers, but Zacks Trade’s commission structure is more flexible for small stock and options orders, the account minimum is only $2,500, (compared to IB’s $10,000 requirement) and there are never any inactivity or maintenance fees with Zacks Trade. Keep reading…
- $0.01 per share pricing
- $3 minimum per trade
- Free broker-assisted trades
- No inactivity or maintenance fees
What is Options Bro?
OptionsBro.com is an online financial information site dedicated to providing simple tutorials, reviews, and comparisons on all things finance.
Collectively, we’ve spent thousands of hours examining the most popular financial products and tools. Bottom line, we simplify and explain the myriad of consumer financial options available today, so you can make decisions with ease.
Updated: Jan 30, 2021