Best Stock Brokers

Public.com stands out as the premier platform for stock investing due to its competitive pricing, extensive range of tradable assets, advanced trading tools and comprehensive research resources, catering to both novice and experienced investors alike.

But if you're looking for something a bit different, then we're here to help: We've tested dozens of stock brokers over the years, and have put all of that expertise into creating what we feel is a definitive list of the best stock brokers in the US, taking the following into consideration:

• Streamlined transactions: User-friendly platforms simplify the trading process.
• Investment flexibility: Access to a wide range of assets caters to diverse investment goals.
• Enhanced decision-making: Powerful research tools to inform smarter investment choices.
• Tailored support: Features like margin accounts and investor guides cater to specific needs.
• Cost-effective trading: Competitive fees keep more money in your pocket.

Best Stock Brokers

• Best Overall Stock Broker: Public.com
• Best for Mobile Users: Plus500
• Best for Global Traders: Interactive Brokers
• Best for Intermediate Traders: Webull
• Best for Active Investors: Moomoo
• Best for Short Selling Over $25K: Cobra Trading
• Best for Beginners: Robinhood
• Best for AI Investing: Magnifi
• Best for Fund Investing: Charles Schwab
• Best for Copy Trading: eToro
• Best for Scalping: TradeZero

The top trading platforms offer analysis and charting tools, low commissions or fees, excellent customer support and ease of use. They're some of the best places to buy stocks or to perfect your trading technique. Read on for the best place to buy stocks in 2024. 

1. Best Overall Stock Broker: Public.com

• Fees: $0 commissions on stocks
• Account Minimum: $0
• Promotional Offer: Free stock offers

At Public, stock and ETF trades are commission-free, offering $0 commission trading on self-directed individual cash brokerage accounts that trade U.S. listed securities placed online. While trades are free of commissions, other fees may apply, such as regulatory fees, subscription fees, wire transfer fees and paper statement fees. Public also provides users the option to voluntarily tip to support its mission of offering commission-free trades without accepting any payment for order flow (PFOF).

Unlike most online brokers, Public does not participate in payment for order flow on equities trades. PFOF typically involves brokers routing trades to market makers for execution, potentially creating a conflict of interest between the broker and the investor. Public eliminates this conflict by routing all orders directly to exchanges and other execution venues, prioritizing transparency and alignment with its users.

For those looking to expand their portfolios, Public offers access to over 300 select over-the-counter (OTC) stocks, primarily focusing on large-cap international companies. Each stock page on Public includes additional research, data and company-specific analysis, empowering investors to make informed decisions. The platform’s suite of tools is designed to enhance your trading strategies, with features like customizable recurring investments, built-in price alerts and extended-hours trading to provide greater control over your investments.

Public also supports a variety of other investment options, including ETFs, options, bonds and cryptocurrencies, making it a versatile platform for a wide range of investment strategies.

2. Best for Mobile Users: Plus500

• Fees: $10 inactivity fee; other fees may apply
• Account Minimum: $100
• Promotional Offers: $150 bonus with $1,000 deposit

Plus500 is a global multi-asset fintech group that operates trading platforms globally, offering a range of trading products, including CFDs, Share dealing and Futures trading (US).

Highlights of the platform include:

• Quick onboarding
• Simplified mobile trading
• Easy-to-use platform
• CFDs for indices, ETFs, shares, forex, commodities, options and cryptocurrency
• Free deposits and withdrawals
• $100 minimum investment
• 0.7% currency conversion fee per transaction, when the currency in your account is different from those traded

However, Plus500 is not a platform for novices as it solely makes money from spreads and does not charge a commission. You may start trading Plus500 right away, leverage your experience, expand your portfolio, and start making money right away.

3. Best for Global Traders: Interactive Brokers

• Fees: $0.0005 to $0.0035 tiered per share; Free for U.S. clients choosing the IBKR Lite plan
• Account Minimum: $0
• Promotional Offer: Earn up to $1,000 or more with a signup offer

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a long-standing favorite of experienced traders. The comprehensive trading platform gives you access to a massive range of securities worldwide, including access to 150 global markets. It is renowned for its extensive market access and professional trading tools, making it ideal for active and global traders.

IBKR is known for low fees and no commissions on any U.S. stock purchase or sale with the IBKR Lite pricing plan. In fact, it has some of the lowest commissions in the industry. You can choose from stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and fund trading and get access to charting tools and top-level resources. 

Interactive Brokers also regularly offers impressive promotions to help you earn and invest more. Right now, you can earn up to $1,000 or more with a signup bonus and referrals. 

You can also access advanced trading tools such as sophisticated charting and algorithmic trading and comprehensive research resources. You can get in-depth market data and analysis tools. Interactive Brokers combines affordability, functionality and extensive resources, making it a top choice for global and active traders.

4. Best for Intermediate Traders: Webull

• Fees: $0; Sells only - $0.000008 * Total $ Trade Amount (Min $0.01)
• Account Minimum: $5
• Promotional Offer: Free stocks when you join depending on the deposit amount

Webull offers a user-centric platform with commission-free trading and a variety of tools to support active traders. It is perfect for intermediate and advanced traders with its intuitive mobile and desktop apps featuring advanced charting and technical analysis tools. The commission-free brokerage platform trades stocks, options, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. 

Webull offers commission-free trading for stocks, options, and ETFs, making it an excellent choice for cost-conscious investors who don't want to reduce their profit margins. It also offers paper trading so you can build your strategy before risking funds and fractional shares so you can hold a small portion in major, high-priced stocks. 

However, Webull is known for more than low costs. It's also known for advanced trading tools. Webull's offerings include technical indicators, charting tools and real-time market data. Its user-friendly interface is easy to navigate and get started. 

5. Best for Active Investors: Moomoo

• Fees: $0
• Account Minimum: $0
• Promotional Offer: Free stocks plus high APY on uninvested cash

Moomoo provides an intuitive platform with professional tools, making it suitable for traders of all levels. Moomoo is known for commission-free trading and the opportunity to access advanced order types.

Moomoo offers excellent educational resources for new traders. Users of all levels can access AI-powered research and level 2 market data. Moomoo offers a well-rounded package with features that go beyond basic stock trading, making it ideal for active investors.

Moomoo offers several bonuses to earn stocks or cash back. For example, the new user deposit bonus could give you seven fractional shares of the "magnificent seven" with a $100 deposit. For a $1,000 deposit, you can get an additional 10 free stocks. You can also get a 1.5% cashback on your initial transfer amount up to $300. You can also get up to 8.1% APY on uninvested cash.

6. Best for Short Selling Over $25k: Cobra Trading

• Fees: As low as $0.0015
• Account Minimum: $27,000
• Promotional Offer: Referral bonus of 33% equity commission discount 1 month free software

Cobra Trading is ideal for short selling with exceptional access to stock borrows and direct access routing. It has the highest account minimum of any brokerage on this list. That's because it caters to active traders with advanced tools and competitive commissions, ideal for those with larger portfolios. 

As Cobra Trading advertises on its homepage, it can help you strike first, like a cobra, on trades. Cobra Trading is known for sophisticated trading tools and exceptional support to competitive day traders.

Consider Cobra Trading if you want to capitalize on every opportunity, trading faster and more efficiently. Cobra has a proactive and responsive Support Team to help you implement aggressive strategies. Cobra Trading also offers the following:

• Commission-free trading
• Direct market access
• Advanced order routing
• Short locate expertise

7. Best for Beginners: Robinhood

• Fees: $0
• Account Minimum: $0
• Promotional Offer: Signup bonus and referral bonus options

Robinhood is a brokerage platform that offers commission-free trading for stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies, making it an excellent choice for cost-conscious investors. It is popular because it's designed to give the average investor professional-level tools. 

Robinhood is known for providing easy access to the markets for all investors. It allows traders to buy and sell stocks without commission charges. It features a quality mobile app that is simple, intuitive and easy to learn.

Robinhood offers fractional share trading, which allows investors to buy and sell partial shares of stocks.

If you want to level up your investing skills, Robinhood also offers educational resources, including access to basic investment information and educational materials to enhance your financial knowledge.

Robinhood remains a top choice for beginners due to its affordability and user-friendly platform. Commission-free trades and fractional shares allow new investors to invest on a budget, making it easy for them to navigate the world of investing.

8. Best for AI Investing: Magnifi

• Fees: $14 - $140 per month for the subscription. Free trial available.
• Account Minimum: $0
• Promotional Offer: None now; check with Magnifi for the latest offers

Magnifi is a marketplace that allows investors to use common brokerage tools and AI to make the best portfolio decisions. The platform offers over 15,000 possible investment options and is suitable for seasoned and novice traders.

Magnifi's AI-powered investing assistant provides personalized investment recommendations, portfolio analysis and educational guidance. It also offers a natural language search to help you find and research investments using simple terms and phrases.

Like most of its competitors, Magnifi offers commission-free trading, including free stock and ETF trades. You can also put cash into a high-yield savings account to earn interest on uninvested cash.

Magnifi offers a unique approach with an AI assistant that personalizes investment advice and simplifies research. This commission-free platform with high-yield savings allows you to maximize your returns. For added convenience, you can connect existing investment accounts for a holistic view of your portfolio.

9. Best for Fund Investing: Charles Schwab

• Fees: $0
• Account Minimum: $0
• Promotional Offer: Possible free stock offer on qualifying accounts

Charles Schwab offers a compelling combination of affordability, user-friendliness and powerful features, making it a strong contender for a top online broker for a wide range of investors. It's also one of the largest brokerages in the U.S., trusted by millions of investors. 

Charles Schwab charges a $0 commission for online stock and ETF trading. He offers a broad array of asset types including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, options, futures, IRAs, custodial accounts and trusts. The diverse investment options give you access to a variety of asset classes.

Schwab also allows you to buy fractional shares. For example, you could buy into S&P 500 stocks with as little as $5.

Finally, real-time market data is essential for the best online trading brokers. You can access real-time quotes, market indexes, breaking news and in-depth charts to act quickly on market-moving information.

Finally, you can choose to use Schwab Assistant to place trades, get quotes, set alerts and receive clarifications on investment questions, helping automate your investment strategy. 

10. Best for Copy Trading: eToro

• Fees: $0
• Account Minimum: $10
• Promotional Offer: Up to $250

eToro is renowned for its crypto offerings but also supports stock, ETF and forex trading. It allows investors to engage with real, experienced investors and leverage social trading features.

eToro stands out for its crypto offerings. The online brokerage offers the trade of 30+ cryptocurrencies and more traditional investments like stocks and ETFs but with a limited selection. 

eToro's active community makes it a good option for people who want to learn from experienced crypto traders or copy the trades of popular investors. You can also invest in prebuilt portfolios curated by eToro's investment team or other successful investors.

EToro offers some of the most extensive cryptocurrency trading and resources for a standard online brokerage. It also allows you to transfer cryptocurrency holdings off the platform.

eToro offers an engaging communal experience, along with access to comprehensive educational resources to build trading skills. It empowers investors to copy the trades of successful investors through social features. The platform also offers flexibility with stocks, ETFs, crypto and CFDs. While popular for crypto, eToro offers multiple asset classes, including stocks, ETFs, options, cryptocurrencies and CFDs (subject to regulation).

11. Best for Scalping: TradeZero

• Fees: $0 free limit orders; $0.005 per share on paid orders
• Account Minimum: $250
• Promotional Offer: Up to $100 signup bonus

TradeZero provides direct market access at low cost, making it ideal for active traders and those interested in short selling. TradeZero is known for some of the lowest commissions in the industry.

It offers advanced order types on a wide range of order types and strategic trade execution. You can access active trade platforms with advanced charting, technical analysis tools and level 2 market data. 

You also can choose to short-sell stocks without additional interest fees on borrowings. However, the availability of this feature is subject to change.

TradeZero offers ultralow commissions and advanced trading tools, making it ideal for active traders. Its powerful platform and potentially free stock borrowing help you execute complex strategies. TradeZero also offers advanced trading tools and 24/7 live customer support to seal its position as one of the top online stock brokers.

How Do the Best Stock Brokers Compare?

Here's how the top online stock brokers compare:

What to Look for in a Stock Broker

Other factors you may want to consider when choosing the best stock broker include fees and commissions, account minimums and promotional offers. 

Available Investment Products

Available investment products are key to choosing the best online stock broker. Depending on your investment strategy, that may include low-cost mutual funds or index funds, futures, options or shorts. Check asset classes, markets and other investment opportunities. 

Research and Analysis Tools

Research and analysis tools are essential when choosing the right stock broker. These tools can provide valuable market insights and be crucial to your investment strategy. 

Trading Platform Quality and Features

Look at both the quality of the platform and ease of use. Consider whether there is a desktop version and how well the app works. Most brokerages offer a free trial or free paper trading so you can compare brokerages firsthand. 

Customer Service and Support

The importance of customer service and support is essential when you need it. For that, you can check customer reviews and ratings on sites like the Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot. 

Educational Resources

Educational resources can help you develop new trading strategies and connect with a similar investor community. Look for educational resources for your skill level, plus advanced videos, tutorials or community chats for further learning opportunities. 

How We Test Stock Brokers

The Benzinga team trusts the stock brokers on this list. We compare commissions and fees, platform qualifications, assets and total offerings, analytical tools, resources and customized service. 

Frequently Asked Questions