menuclose
Back to Main Menu
StockBrokers.com is committed to the highest ethical standards and reviews services independently. Learn how we make money.
Home ‣ Guides ‣ 7 Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms in 2025

Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025

Jessica Inskip

Written by Jessica Inskip
Edited by Jeff Anberg
Reviewed by Blain Reinkensmeyer

October 22, 2025
close
Jessica Inskip Jessica Inskip

Jessica Inskip is Director of Investor Research at StockBrokers.com, bringing 15 years of experience in brokerage and trading strategy. Jessica focuses on investor education and brokerage industry research.

Choosing the right stock broker is as important as choosing the right investments. With commission-free trading now the industry standard, competition between brokerage firms is no longer about pricing — it’s about tools and features.

Whether you’re a beginner, an active trader looking for institutional-grade tools, or a long-term investor building a retirement portfolio, a great broker can make all the difference. I spent hundreds of hours testing online trading platforms and mobile apps, placing trades, exploring tools, and gathering thousands of data points; here are my picks for the best stock brokers of 2025.

Why you can trust StockBrokers.com

Since 2009, we've helped over 20 million visitors research, compare, and choose an online broker. Our writers have collectively placed thousands of trades over their careers. Here's how we test.

Best Brokerage Accounts of 2025

Here are the best online stock brokers for 2025, based on over 3,000 data points.

Charles Schwab
visit.jpg
5/5 Stars 5.0 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Best stock broker

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.65

With the addition of TD Ameritrade's thinkorswim platforms and the enhancement of several features, Schwab is now a vigorous competitor with thought-provoking research and commentary and a client experience to fit any preference. Read full review

Pros
  • TD Ameritrade’s excellent thinkorswim trading platforms now available
  • Trading-friendly app and browser enhancements
  • Exceptional high net worth services
Cons
  • No cryptocurrency trading
  • Mutual fund fees are complex
Interactive Brokers
5/5 Stars 5.0 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Best for advanced trading tools and access to global markets

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.65 info

Interactive Brokers is a go-to choice for professionals because of its institutional-grade desktop trading platform, high-quality trade executions and rock-bottom margin rates. Read full review

Pros
  • Astounding array of customizable tools
  • Allows trading in foreign markets
  • Convenient apps for individual investors
Cons
  • Restrictive trading permissions
  • Main platforms might feel cold
Fidelity
5/5 Stars 5.0 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Best for customer support and financial planning

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.65

Fidelity is a value-driven online broker offering $0 trades, industry-leading research, excellent trading tools and an easy-to-use mobile app. Read full review

Pros
  • Excellent research and mobile app
  • Top-notch education
  • Decades of reliable client service
Cons
  • No dedicated mobile app for active trading
E*TRADE
Advertisement
5/5 Stars 5.0 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Best web trading platform

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.65

E*TRADE is a top-performing broker whose highlights include $0 trades, two excellent mobile apps and the Power E*TRADE platform. Crypto, however, is not available. Read full review

Pros
  • Watch lists are the best in the business
  • Smooth mobile navigation
  • High-quality high-net-worth Morgan Stanley proprietary research
Cons
  • Cryptocurrencies not currently available
  • Margin rates are high compared to other brokers
Merrill Edge
4.5/5 Stars 4.5 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Best for online bank integration

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.65

Merrill Edge and its parent, Bank of America, make for a well-rounded offering, with $0 trades, robust research, reliable customer service; and its Stock Stories and Fund Stories are an industry standout. There are some gaps in investment offerings, including crypto and futures. Read full review

Pros
  • Portfolio Story, Dynamic Insights, and the Stock and Fund Stories are groundbreaking features
  • High-quality proprietary research
Cons
  • Some site elements slow to load
  • No crypto, futures, forex or penny stocks
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
4.5/5 Stars 4.5 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Top-notch research and fixed-income offerings

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.65

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing makes it easy for Chase Bank customers to invest and allows access to J.P. Morgan research. On the downside, the broker features are sparse compared to industry leaders. Read full review

Pros
  • Among our best brokers for banking services
  • Multi-account benefits
  • Mobile app provides clean access to investing, education and market news
Cons
  • Platforms are very basic
  • Educational content is hard to browse
Firstrade
4/5 Stars 4.0 Overall
Summary Review Pros/Cons

Zero commissions on options, penny stocks, and mutual funds

Minimum Deposit$0.00
Stock Trades$0.00
Options (Per Contract)$0.00

With steady innovation and a growing feature set, Firstrade is quickly climbing the ranks to earn its place among the best online brokers. Firstrade’s $0 contract fee, no exercise/assignment fees, and top-tier options trade ticket make it one of the most cost-effective and well-designed platforms for options trading. Read full review

Pros
  • Excellent for Chinese-speaking investors
  • Has bolstered its options education and trading capabilities
  • Easy-to-use mobile app
Cons
  • Trading platform and tools trail industry leaders
  • Investor education is thin
Sponsored

compare_arrows Compare trading platforms head-to-head

Use the broker comparison tool to compare over 150 different account features and fees.

Compare brokers now

Winners Summary

Best stock broker - Charles Schwab

Company Minimum Deposit Stock Trades Options (Per Contract)
Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
$0.00 $0.00 $0.65

Charles Schwab takes the crown as the #1 Overall Broker of 2025, and for good reason — it offers a tailored solution for every type of investor, no matter your experience level or investment goals. From beginner investors to active traders, Schwab doesn’t just provide a high-level answer; it delivers a solution designed specifically for your needs.

Charles Schwab stands out in the following areas:

A perfect match in TD Ameritrade: Any gaps in its offering were seamlessly filled with the acquisition of TD Ameritrade, resulting in an online trading platform that scores top marks in almost every category we evaluate. For beginners, Schwab’s Investor Starter Kit and Investing 101 programs bridge education and application, making it easy to learn while building a portfolio. For goal-oriented investors, Schwab offers robust tools to set, track, and maintain financial goals, all supported by practical, contextually placed research and education that help guide decision-making.

Portfolio building: What truly sets Schwab apart is its ability to grow with you. If you start as a passive investor, Schwab has everything you need to succeed. But as you evolve in your investing journey, Schwab keeps pace. Active traders gain access to the thinkorswim suite, one of the most advanced trading platforms on the market, offering desktop and mobile tools for technical analysis, position pairing, and multi-leg options strategies. Schwab integrates useful features like in-depth analyst reports, valuation metrics, and fixed-income research with “how to use this” sections that ensure even complex data is actionable.

Advanced tools and insights: Whether you’re scalping gamma, trading iron condors, or diving deep into fundamental analysis, Schwab can handle it. It’s rare to find a stock broker that not only meets investors where they are but stays with them as they grow. Schwab is that broker, offering unmatched tools, education, and support for every stage of your investing journey.

Visit my comprehensive Charles Schwab review to learn more about the thinkorswim platform and find out more about its offerings.

Schwab Mobile's market research home page. Desktop chart of U.S. unemployment rates alongside a live news feed and streaming headlines Schwab’s web-based stock screener stands out with advanced filtering tools The introduction to the Leading Economics Indicators course.

Best for advanced tools and global markets - Interactive Brokers

Company Minimum Deposit Stock Trades Options (Per Contract)
Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
$0.00 $0.00 $0.65 info

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) secures the number two spot for best stock broker for 2025 in what was an incredibly tight race. While IBKR is best known for catering to advanced traders and professionals, it also offers features that make it surprisingly accessible to a broader audience.

Interactive Brokers stands out in the following areas:

Platforms & tools: Whether you’re managing a multi-million-dollar portfolio or just starting your investing journey, IBKR has a platform tailored to your needs. Tools like the multisort screener allow you to filter and rank investments with intuitive data visualizations, making complex decisions easier for new investors to understand. Add in its comprehensive goal-planning tools, offering asset allocation guidance, expense tracking, and cash flow projections, and IBKR proves it excels at both institutional-grade trading and long-term financial planning.

Advanced tools and insights: Advanced traders can harness powerful analytics like Sharpe ratio, beta, and correlation metrics, while socially conscious investors can customize portfolios to align with their values. Beginners, meanwhile, benefit from IBKR’s retirement planner and free account consolidation tools, which provide a centralized view of all financial assets.

Educational resources: Although the platform’s learning curve may feel steep, its CFA-accredited courses and other educational resources ensure that investors at any level can grow into its capabilities. IBKR’s ability to serve the most sophisticated traders while offering beginner-friendly tools and global market access makes it a standout choice for any investor, proving that you don’t need a massive portfolio to take advantage of one of the industry’s most robust brokerage platforms.

Visit my full review of Interactive Brokers to learn more about its entire offering.

IBKR mobile platform toolbox IBKR Desktop's MultiSort screener showing a list of securities prioritizing a high dividend yield over lower volatility Trader Workstation's watchlist. Traders insight landing page (found under education) A screenshot of comments on a typical educational course.

Best for customer support and financial planning - Fidelity

Company Minimum Deposit Stock Trades Options (Per Contract)
Fidelity logoFidelity
$0.00 $0.00 $0.65

Fidelity earns its spot as the third-best brokerage account for 2025 and distinguishes itself as one of the most versatile online trading platforms I’ve tested.

Fidelity stands out in the following areas:

Research: Its research tools are exceptional — Fidelity’s economic calendar is my go-to for tracking key market events, offering context that explains the "why" behind market movements. The thematic stock screener, highlighting trends like AI or biotech, is another favorite, making it easy to uncover tailored investment opportunities.

Platforms & tools: Fidelity’s widgetized dashboard adapts seamlessly to different investor needs, simplifying navigation for beginners while offering extensive customization for advanced users. As an options trader, I found the OptionsPlay integration invaluable, presenting strategies in an intuitive format, offering income-focused ideas, and flagging potential risks like exercises or earnings announcements.

Tax and retirement planning: While Fidelity excels in retirement planning, its offerings go far beyond that. With tax-advantaged business plans, specialty accounts for charitable giving, and custodial accounts for minors, Fidelity provides solutions for nearly every financial goal. The fixed-income dashboard is another standout, delivering detailed insights like cash flow views and tax-exempt comparisons for bond investors. Fidelity’s portfolio management tools, including external account linking and contextual education, make managing investments straightforward and efficient.

Customer support: Their customer support is equally impressive, with specialized teams for beginners, active traders, and options investors, ensuring expert assistance at every level. Fidelity ranked #1 in our exhaustive customer service testing for 2025.

Whether you’re planning for retirement, exploring global markets, or refining advanced strategies, Fidelity’s innovative tools and reliable platform make it a superb choice. Check out my full review of Fidelity to get all my thoughts about this broker and explore more of its offerings.

Learning center with social media like series Trading dashboard with positions displayed, SPY detailed quote and options statistics displayed Economic calendar Fidelity learning center with all topics selected, followed by investing and trading

How to get started in stock trading

Understand how stocks and orders work

Buying a stock means owning a slice of a company. ETFs bundle many stocks into one trade, which can reduce the risk of simply choosing the wrong single company in an otherwise successful industry, theme, or strategy. Before placing your first order, it’s important to understand price discovery, market hours, and how settlement works.

U.S. stock trades settle on T+1 (the day after the trade date), which determines how quickly proceeds and buying power update. Knowing how orders work is just as important. Market orders prioritize speed, while limit orders focus on price. Stop orders can help define exits, and time-in-force instructions control how long an order remains active. Treat these tools as essentials since using them properly helps avoid common mistakes like chasing price or overtrading illiquid stocks.

Open the right brokerage account

Start with a standard taxable brokerage if your goal is flexibility. If you are saving for retirement, consider an IRA or Roth IRA to benefit from tax advantages. With most standard brokerage accounts, you can choose to trade in a cash account or apply for margin.

Cash accounts keep things straightforward and avoid interest costs, but you need to be mindful of good faith and free-riding violations tied to unsettled funds. Margin accounts increase buying power but bring added risks, interest charges, and the possibility of a margin call. Active traders with less than $25,000 must also consider the pattern day trader rule, which can limit trading activity. I only enable margin if there is a clear need and a written plan for risk. Confirm SIPC coverage and review the broker’s fee schedule, platform access, and research. Your account type and broker choice should align with your strategy and time horizon.

Fund your account and start small

Transfer only what fits your plan and emergency fund. Fractional shares make it possible to buy blue chips and ETFs without spending hundreds of dollars for a single share, which is a great way to build consistency. I like starting with a broad market ETF to anchor a portfolio, then adding single stocks slowly. Dollar-cost averaging helps tame volatility and reduces the pressure to time entries. Reinvest dividends if your goal is growth, and keep position sizes small at first. The goal is to learn execution and routine while keeping risk contained.

Use the trading platform

Set up watchlists organized by theme or strategy and take time to learn the order ticket, including advanced fields like bracket orders if your broker offers them. Use screeners to filter by fundamentals or technicals, and keep charts clean and consistent. A few indicators are often enough if you understand what they measure. News feeds and earnings calendars provide context before you trade, not after. If your broker offers paper trading, practice entries and exits there first. I always validate a new process in simulation before committing real capital.

Build a routine and a strategy

Building a routine and refining your strategy are just as important as placing the trade itself. Read platform tutorials and stock trading books, attend webinars, and study real examples. Define your risk per trade and total portfolio risk, and write down your reasons to buy and what would make you sell. A trading journal helps enforce this discipline. Review results weekly and track mistakes, not just wins. Taxes matter too - holding for more than a year can qualify gains for long-term rates in a taxable account. Stay disciplined around catalysts like earnings, and avoid trading out of boredom. A simple plan you can follow is always better than a complex plan you can’t.

FAQs

What is a brokerage account?

A brokerage account is an account provided by a brokerage firm that allows you to buy and sell stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds using an online trading platform. Think of it as your direct link to the markets, giving you access to a variety of investment products and the tools you need to build and manage your portfolio. Depending on what the stock broker offers, you might also be able to explore more advanced trading options, including complex derivatives such as options and futures, or use helpful features like in-depth research and portfolio analysis to guide your decisions.

There are different flavors of brokerage accounts tailored to your investing style. With a cash account, you pay for each investment in full at the time of purchase, keeping things simple and limiting your risk, but it’s important to be mindful of settlement dates to avoid any penalties for premature trading. On the other hand, a margin account lets you borrow funds to potentially boost your buying power, which can amplify gains but also comes with its own drawbacks. You’ll need to pay interest on the borrowed amount, and if your investments decline in value, you could face a margin call requiring you to deposit more funds or liquidate positions, increasing the risk and complexity of your investment strategy.

How much money do I need to open a brokerage account?

The amount of money needed to open a brokerage account varies by firm. While some stock brokers require a minimum deposit, others have no minimum at all, which is increasingly becoming more common. However, even with no set minimum, you'll need enough funds to purchase at least a fractional share of the investment you're interested in, ensuring you can start building your portfolio right away.

Even as little as $5 is enough to start investing with at a broker like Charles Schwab, which offers Stock Slices — fractional shares of S&P 500 companies. For other ideas on where to invest your initial capital, read more about how to invest $100, $1,000, $10,000 or more.

Can I have multiple brokerage accounts?

Yes, you can have multiple brokerage accounts. Many investors choose to open accounts with different brokers to access unique tools, optimize fees, or separate investment strategies. This approach can offer enhanced portfolio management and diversification while also allowing you to take advantage of each broker's specific strengths and features.

What are some tips for choosing a stock broker?

When choosing a stock broker, it's important to consider your unique trading style and long-term investment goals. Here are some key factors to help you narrow down your options:

  • Great for Mobile Trading: If you prefer trading on the go, look for brokers with top-rated mobile apps. Check out our mobile trading guide.
  • Best for IRAs: For retirement planning, choose brokers offering robust IRA options and expert retirement planning tools. See our IRA guide.
  • Options Trading: If options are your focus, look for brokers offering advanced options trading tools, risk management features, and clear pricing structures. Head on over to our guide to the best options trading platforms.
  • Futures Trading: For those interested in futures, select a broker with specialized platforms and competitive margins that cater to fast-paced markets. Visit our guide to the best brokers for futures trading.
  • Low Fees & Minimum Deposits: Compare commission structures and account minimums to ensure you're getting a cost-effective solution that fits your budget. Check out our guide to the best free stock trading accounts.
  • Powerful Research & Tools: Opt for brokers that provide comprehensive market research, analysis tools, and educational resources to support your trading decisions. Visit our guide to the best brokers for research or our guide to the best brokers for education.
  • User-Friendly Platform & Support: A well-designed, intuitive trading platform paired with reliable customer support can make all the difference in your investing experience. To that end, head on over to our guide to the best brokers for user experience.

What stock broker offers the best trading platform?

Charles Schwab offers the best online trading platform for most people due to its strong overall rankings across key categories, particularly in its ease of use and mobile trading apps. That said, there will often be specific concerns for you as a trader or investor that'll make a different broker an even better fit. The brokerage account testing team at StockBrokers.com maintained live accounts at 16 brokers in 2025 and used them to evaluate each broker’s tools, ease of use, data, design, and content. Here are the five top-scoring brokerage firms and the accolades won in the StockBrokers.com Annual Awards for 2025:

  • Charles Schwab — 5/5 Stars: Our pick for #1 Overall Broker, including Best for Research, Platform & Tools, Mobile Trading Apps, Education, and Ease of Use. We also found it to be Best for Beginners, Passive Investors, and Casual Investors. Schwab also won industry awards for #1 Investor App, #1 Desktop Trading Platform, #1 Client Dashboard, #1 Stock Trading Platform, #1 Bond Trading Platform, and #1 Overall Client Experience.
  • Interactive Brokers — 5/5 Stars: Best Range of Investments and Best for Active Traders. It also won industry awards for #1 International Trading, #1 Ethical Investing, #1 Professional Trading, #1 Margin Trading, and #1 Trader App.
  • Fidelity — 5/5 Stars: Best for Customer Service, Retirement Accounts, and High Net Worth Investors.
  • E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley — 5/5 Stars: Industry award for #1 Web Trading Platform.
  • Merrill Edge — 4.5/5 Stars: Best Bank Brokerage and industry awards for #1 New Tool, and #1 Bond Research

Our testing

Why you should trust us

Jessica Inskip is Director of Investor Research at StockBrokers.com, bringing 15 years of experience in brokerage and trading strategy. A former FINRA-licensed rep, she held Series 7, 63, 66, and 4 licenses. Jessica focuses on investor education and brokerage industry research, appears regularly on CNBC, Bloomberg, The Schwab Network, Fox Business, and Yahoo! Finance, and hosts the Market MakeHer podcast.

Blain Reinkensmeyer, co-founder of StockBrokers.com, has been investing and trading for over 25 years. After having placed over 2,000 trades in his late teens and early 20s, he became one of the first in digital media to review online brokerages. Today, Blain is widely respected as a leading expert on finance and investing, specifically the U.S. online brokerage industry. Blain has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Fast Company, among others. Blain created the original scoring rubrics for StockBrokers.com and oversees all testing and rating methodologies.

How we tested

  • We used our own brokerage accounts for testing.
  • We collected thousands of data points across the brokers we review.
  • We tested each online broker's website, desktop platforms, and mobile app, where applicable.
  • We maintained strict editorial independence; brokers cannot pay for inclusion or a higher rating.

Our research team meticulously collected data on every feature of importance to a wide range of customer profiles, including beginners, casual investors, passive investors, and active traders. We carefully track variables like margin rates, trading costs, fees, and platform features and use them to help rate brokers across a range of categories measuring ease of use, range of investments, research, education, and more.

At StockBrokers.com, our reviewers use a variety of computing devices to evaluate platforms and tools. Our reviews and data collection were conducted using the following devices: iPhone SE running iOS 17.5.1, MacBook Pro M1 with 8 GB RAM running the current MacOS, and a Dell Vostro 5402 laptop i5 with 8 GB RAM running Windows 11 Pro.

Each broker was evaluated and scored on over 200 different variables across seven key categories: Range of Investments, Platforms & Tools, Research, Mobile Trading, Education, Ease of Use, and Overall. Learn more about how we test.

Trading platforms tested

We tested 14 online trading platforms for this guide:

Read next

More guides

Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025 Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025 Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025 Best Rollover IRAs for 2025 Best IRA Accounts for 2025 Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025 Best International Brokers for Stock Trading in 2025 Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders Best Roth IRA Accounts for 2025 Best Brokerage Firms for High Net Worth Individuals for 2025 Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025 Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market Best US Forex Brokers for 2025 Best Brokers for Order Execution of 2025 Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025 Best Brokers for Penny Stock Trading of 2025

Popular stock broker reviews

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Review Merrill Edge Review Ally Invest Review Webull Review Fidelity Review E*TRADE Review Interactive Brokers Review tastytrade Review eToro Review Firstrade Review Charles Schwab Review TradeStation Review Robinhood Review Public.com Review

About the Editorial Team

Jessica Inskip

Jessica Inskip is Director of Investor Research at StockBrokers.com, bringing 15 years of experience in brokerage and trading strategy. A former FINRA-licensed rep, she held Series 7, 63, 66, and 4 licenses. Jessica focuses on investor education and brokerage industry research, appears regularly on CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg, and hosts the Market MakeHer podcast.

Jeff Anberg

Jeff Anberg is a Senior Editor at StockBrokers.com. Along with years of experience in media distribution at a global newsroom, Jeff has a versatile knowledge base encompassing the technology and financial markets. He is a long-time active investor and engages in research on emerging markets like cryptocurrency. Jeff holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature with a minor in Philosophy from San Francisco State University.

Blain Reinkensmeyer

Blain Reinkensmeyer has 20 years of trading experience with over 2,500 trades placed during that time. He heads research for all U.S.-based brokerages on StockBrokers.com and is respected by executives as the leading expert covering the online broker industry. Blain’s insights have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Chicago Tribune, among other media outlets.

close
navigate_before navigate_next