Stock Broker
Platforms for buying and selling stock investments.
Rankings
1. Interactive Brokers
Global, low-cost trading across 160+ markets and currencies
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a global online broker known for its pro-grade trading engine and expansive market access. IBKR Lite offers commission-free online trading for U.S. stocks and ETFs, while IBKR Pro provides tiered or fixed pricing for other markets and products, including options, futures, bonds, and mutual funds. The platform suite is vast: Trader Workstation (TWS), Client Portal, and a mobile app deliver advanced charting, multi-asset order types, and robust risk controls. IBKR shines for international and frequent traders thanks to deep global market access, fractional shares in some regions, and multi-currency capabilities, making it a strong fit for cross-border portfolios and institutions. Its pricing transparency—zero commissions on US stocks for Lite, with explicit fees in other markets—helps traders model total costs accurately. The trade-off is complexity: onboarding and platform navigation can overwhelm beginners, and some markets carry minimums or fees that vary by country. Overall, IBKR is differentiated by scale, global reach, and API/tooling that appeals to active, tech-savvy investors and institutions.
Rated 4.6
2. Charles Schwab
Zero-commission online trades with broad services
Charles Schwab is a leading US brokerage with a long history and broad range of services. It offers $0 online commissions on listed stocks and ETFs, plus $0 online base commissions for options with an incremental $0.65 per contract. Schwab provides extensive research, education, and tools, plus a large branch network and mutual fund marketplace. Its platform, Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade, combines powerful trading tools with user-friendly design, making it suitable for beginners and active traders alike. The firm also integrates banking services and an expansive fund lineup, including thousands of no-transaction-fee funds. In 2025, Schwab repeatedly earned top honors in independent broker awards for overall experience, platforms, and education. On the downside, broker-assisted trades and some non-core products can carry fees, and OTC trades have alternate pricing. Overall, Schwab differentiates itself with ease of use, reliability, and deep customer support across channels.
Rated 4.6
3. Fidelity Investments
Zero-commission online trading with deep research
Fidelity Investments is a historic US brokerage with substantial research, education, and broad investment choices. It offers $0 commissions on online U.S. stock and ETF trades, plus $0.65 per contract for online options. Fidelity also provides a broad research360 suite, independent reports from multiple providers, and robust trading tools across mobile and desktop. The company emphasizes long-standing client trust, security, and a large ecosystem of funds, bonds, and mutual funds, including zero-expense-ratio index funds. Global availability is strong, though most of Fidelity’s notable advantages are US-centric. The 2025 awards and press materials highlight Fidelity’s continued leadership in low costs and user-friendly experiences. Potential drawbacks include occasional fees on non-US assets and a steeper learning curve for advanced tools. Overall, Fidelity differentiates itself with strong research, broad asset coverage, and industry recognition.
Rated 4.6
4. Merrill Edge
Bank of America-backed self-directed investing with $0 stock trades
Merrill Edge Self-Directed is Bank of America’s online brokerage, offering a simple entry point for U.S. retail investors who want zero commissions on online stock and ETF trades. The platform combines Merrill Edge’s research and insights with Bank of America’s broader banking ecosystem, appealing to mass-affluent users who value easy access to cash management and rewards alongside investing. Options trades are free online, but carry a $0.65 per-contract fee; broker-assisted trades can charge up to $29.95 or 5% of principal. The service has grown to support millions of clients, and is supported by Merrill’s research franchise. While the cost base is highly competitive, the platform can be less feature-rich than pure-play brokers for advanced traders, and the best value often comes from heavy Bank of America ecosystem usage. Merrill Edge remains a solid all-around option for everyday investors seeking simplicity and compatibility with banking needs.
Rated 4.2
5. Moomoo
Global stock broker with zero-commission U.S. trading
Moomoo is a globally accessible trading app from Futu that targets active retail investors with a rich set of tools and data. It offers commission-free online trading for U.S. stocks, ADRs, ETFs, and options for U.S. residents, and provides fractional shares and extensive real-time analytics, news, and social features. Since 2018, Moomoo has expanded to Singapore, Australia, Japan, Canada, Malaysia, and beyond, building a global footprint and a large user base (tens of millions by 2025). The platform emphasizes pro-level tools, robust education, and a community-driven experience, which differentiates it from traditional incumbents. However, non-US markets can incur additional platform fees and foreign exchange costs; regulatory and exchange fees may apply. The business has grown rapidly and remains popular among more adventurous, tech-savvy investors who want a global, tool-rich trading environment.
Rated 4.0
6. eToro
Global social trading platform with stocks and crypto
eToro is a global social trading platform that blends copy trading, social discovery, and stock/ETF trading with crypto and other assets. The platform supports many countries and languages, with a Tel Aviv–headquartered core and offices worldwide. In 2025, eToro completed a US IPO process, expanding its international reach. Stocks and ETFs are offered with a per-trade or per-position fee structure (smaller in some regions, higher in others), while crypto trading has its own 1% fee in many markets. The company emphasizes social features, copy trading, and broad asset access across regions, making it appealing to new and intermediate investors who want interactive ideas and community validation. Potential downsides include fees on certain asset types, regulatory constraints in the US, and varying charges across jurisdictions.
Rated 4.0
7. IG
Global broker with zero-commission share dealing in key markets
IG is a global trading group offering zero-commission share dealing in many markets, with broad access to stocks and ETFs and extensive tools. IG supports DMA via L2 Dealer and a variety of platforms, including ProRealTime charting and API-like options for advanced traders. The company emphasizes low trading costs (commission-free on many shares) and a wide instrument universe across multiple regions, appealing to competitive traders who want global reach. For UK residents, IG advertises zero commissions on shares and ETFs, but currency conversions and other fees can apply (0.7% FX, custody fees if trading is infrequent). IG’s strengths include a long-standing reputation, strong global coverage, and advanced trading features; however, the platform can be complex for beginners, and some markets impose platform or custody charges.
Rated 4.3
8. Saxo Bank
Global multi-asset broker with tiered pricing and deep research
Saxo Bank is a Denmark-born, global multi-asset broker offering stocks, ETFs, CFDs, futures, and bonds through its own platforms. It emphasizes a tiered pricing model that rewards higher-volume traders with lower percentages per trade and minimum charges. The platform offers broad market access, extensive research resources, and tools suitable for sophisticated traders across Europe, Asia, North America, and beyond. In 2025, Saxo’s pricing has continued to evolve toward volume-based discounts and reduced platform fees, with a focus on transparent costs and strong client support. Potential downsides include higher complexity and steeper onboarding compared with mass-market brokers, plus some regions may face minimums or fees. Saxo distinguishes itself with strong global reach, robust trading tools, and deep asset-class coverage.
Rated 4.1
9. XTB
Global broker with 0% commission up to monthly thresholds on real shares
XTB is a Poland-founded, globally available broker known for low-cost real shares and ETFs. It offers 0% commission up to €100,000 invested per calendar month on real shares/ETFs, with 0.2% commission on the remainder and a €10 minimum per trade. The platform also charges a small FX fee (about 0.5%) for currency conversions. XTB serves clients across Europe, Asia, Africa, and beyond, with a focus on multiple currencies and user-friendly trading tools. The company emphasizes low costs, strong education resources, and a robust lineup of financial instruments, including CFDs and futures in some markets. The main caveats are that the zero-commission benefit applies up to a monthly threshold and that the platform can be less intuitive for absolute beginners. Overall, XTB offers appealing value for active European traders seeking broad access with transparent pricing.
Rated 4.1
10. Webull
Commission-free US stock trading with advanced tools
Webull is a US-based online brokerage that targets active retail traders with a feature-rich mobile/desktop experience. It offers commission-free trading on U.S. stocks, ETFs, and stock options (with pass-through regulatory fees). Webull also provides extended-hours trading, margin services, and a broad suite of charting and data tools. The platform expanded to multiple countries and markets through partnerships and regulatory moves, and became a publicly listed company in 2024/2025 through a SPAC merger. Crypto access and non-US markets add variability in pricing and availability. Webull is well-regarded for its strong mobile experience and pro-style tools, but it remains primarily US-centric and can present regulatory and access limitations for non-US users.
Rated 4.1