Best Brokerage Accounts

Commission-free trading is now standard. As of October 14, 2026, all eight brokers on this list charged $0 to trade US-listed stocks and ETFs online. That shifts the choice to the costs that still differ: options contract fees ($0 to $0.65), account minimums, extra fees on mutual funds, and whether the tools fit how you invest.

Pricing as of October 14, 2026. Every commission, options fee and minimum on this page was checked against the broker’s own pricing or fee page on October 14, 2026, and each broker-dealer was confirmed active on FINRA BrokerCheck the same day. Where a broker’s page did not state a figure, we say so instead of filling it in. Fees can change without notice. Brokerage accounts are not FDIC-insured, and investments can lose value. This page is general information, not investment advice. Some links on Money 8020 are affiliate or partner links; see our advertiser and affiliate disclosure.

Quick answer: which brokerage account is best?

• Best overall: Fidelity, $0 online stock, ETF and option commissions, $0.65 per contract, no minimum to open, $0 Fidelity funds.
• Best full-service alternative: Charles Schwab, $0 online trades, $0.65 per contract, no account or trade minimums.
• Best for global markets: Interactive Brokers IBKR Lite, $0 on US exchange-listed stocks and ETFs, no account minimums.
• Best for frequent options traders: E*TRADE, options $0.50 per contract with 30+ trades a quarter.
• Best for 24/5 trading: Robinhood, $0 on stocks, ETFs and their options, trading 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.
• Best for $0 options with no deposit minimum: Webull, $0 on US-listed stocks, ETFs and options, no deposit minimums.
• Best for SoFi members: SoFi Active Investing, $0 stocks and ETFs, fractional shares from $5.
• Best for options rebates: Public, $0 equity options plus $0.06 to $0.18 per-contract rebates if enrolled.

How we ranked these brokers

We ranked on five things, in this order:

1. Total cost for a long-term investor: stock and ETF commissions, fund fees, and options fees.
2. Account minimums and fractional shares, so small balances can start.
3. Breadth: funds, account types and markets offered.
4. Regulatory standing: an active broker-dealer registration on FINRA BrokerCheck and SIPC membership stated by the firm.
5. Fit: tools and support for the kind of investor each broker suits.

Rankings follow our composite score. Commission-free trading does not mean free: brokers also earn from cash sweeps, margin interest, payment for order flow and fund expense ratios.

Comparison table: brokerage accounts (October 14, 2026)

Sources: each broker’s own pricing or fee page, checked October 14, 2026; FINRA BrokerCheck, checked October 14, 2026. Regulatory and exchange fees (such as the SEC Section 31 fee on sales) can apply at every broker.

1. Fidelity: best overall brokerage

Fidelity’s commissions page lists $0 commissions on online US stock, ETF and option trades, a $0.65 per-contract options fee, and no minimum to open an account. Buying or selling Fidelity funds is $0. No-transaction-fee funds from other companies are $0 to buy but cost $49.95 if sold within 60 days, and transaction-fee funds cost $49.95 per purchase. Fidelity’s base margin rate was 10.825%, effective since September 18, 2026.

Fidelity fits long-term investors who want low costs and a deep fund lineup in one place. See the Fidelity review and Fidelity vs Charles Schwab.

2. Charles Schwab: best full-service alternative

Schwab’s pricing page lists $0 online stock and ETF commissions, $0.65 per options contract, and no account or trade minimums. Broker-assisted trades add a $25 service charge. Schwab states that brokerage products are offered by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Member SIPC.

Schwab fits investors who want a large full-service firm with banking under the same login. See the Charles Schwab review.

3. Interactive Brokers IBKR Lite: best for global markets

Interactive Brokers’ stock commissions page says IBKR Lite trades US exchange-listed stocks and ETFs commission-free, with no account minimums. OTC stocks, delisted products, warrants, overnight trades and recurring investments are charged Fixed pricing instead, and fractional trades cost the greater of 1% of trade value or $0.01. The same page publishes pricing for many non-US markets.

IBKR fits experienced investors who want international access and advanced tools. See the IBKR Lite review.

4. E*TRADE: best for frequent options traders

E*TRADE’s pricing page lists $0 commissions on online US-listed stock, ETF, mutual fund and options trades. The standard options fee is $0.65 per contract, or $0.50 for clients who make at least 30 stock, ETF and options trades a quarter. There is no minimum deposit and no monthly account fee. Brokerage is offered by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC.

E*TRADE fits options traders who will clear the 30-trade threshold. See the E*TRADE review.

5. Robinhood: best for 24/5 stock and ETF trading

Robinhood’s investing page and fee schedule list $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and their options, and stocks and ETFs can be traded 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. Optional Robinhood Gold costs $5 a month after a 30-day free trial and advertises 3.6% APY on eligible brokerage cash (variable).

Robinhood fits mobile-first investors who want a simple app. See the Robinhood review.

6. Webull: best for $0 options with no deposit minimum

Webull’s pricing page says it does not charge commissions on stocks, ETFs and options listed on US exchanges, with no deposit minimums. Certain index options cost $0.50 per contract and oversized option orders cost $0.10 per contract.

Webull fits active traders and options users. See the Webull review.

7. SoFi Active Investing: best for SoFi members

SoFi’s Active Investing page lists $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs and no account minimums, with fractional shares from $5 (restrictions apply). Brokerage products are offered through SoFi Securities LLC.

SoFi fits members who already bank or borrow with SoFi and want simple investing in the same app. See the SoFi Active Investing review.

8. Public: best for options rebates

Public’s fee schedule, last updated October 13, 2026, lists $0 commissions on US-listed stocks and ETFs in regular and extended hours and $0 on stock and ETF options. Index options cost $0.35 per contract, and enrolled options traders can earn $0.06 to $0.18 per contract in rebates. Public’s site also advertised a High-Yield Cash Account at 3.75% APY on October 14, 2026 (variable).

Public fits options traders and app-first investors. See the Public review.

What a brokerage account protects, and what it does not

Brokerage accounts are not bank deposits, so they are not FDIC-insured. If a SIPC-member broker fails, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation protects customer securities and cash up to $500,000, including a $250,000 limit for cash. SIPC does not cover losses from market declines. Before you open an account, look up the firm on FINRA BrokerCheck; every broker-dealer on this list showed as active on October 14, 2026.

If you would rather not pick investments yourself, compare our best robo-advisors and index funds vs robo-advisors. For cash waiting to be invested, see best money market funds.

Methodology and sources

• Broker pricing pages, loaded October 14, 2026: Fidelity commissions and margin rates; Schwab pricing; E*TRADE pricing and rates; Interactive Brokers stock commissions; Public fee schedule (updated October 13, 2026); Robinhood investing page and Robinhood Financial fee schedule; Webull pricing; SoFi Active Investing.
• Regulators: FINRA BrokerCheck firm records (checked October 14, 2026); SIPC, What SIPC Protects.
• Related Money 8020 pages for navigation only: best robo-advisors, best money market funds, Fidelity vs Charles Schwab, index funds vs robo-advisors. We do not cite our own pages as sources of facts.

Prefer hands-off investing instead? Compare Betterment vs Wealthfront or see best robo-advisors.

For how many families own stock and how much, see our investing statistics for 2026 from Federal Reserve data.