Best Online Brokers, StockBrokers.com 2013

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The StockBrokers.com 2013 Online Broker Review took several hundred hours of research to complete and includes broker ratings for eight different areas across 283 different variables: Commissions & Fees, Ease-of-Use, Platforms & Tools, Research, Customer Service, Offering of Investments, Education, and Mobile Trading.

The results for each of these areas, Top 10 Category finishers, Industry Award winners, and overall scores, can be found on on the full review page. A summary of the final rankings is below:

Published by Blain Reinkensmeyer on Tuesday, February 19, 2013.

TD Ameritrade

TD Ameritrade Review

Trade free for 90 days + get up to $600 - Learn More

  • Gain access to over 100 commission free ETFs.
  • Investment research from S&P, Morningstar Associates, and Minyanville.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$9.99 $9.99 $0.75 $2,500.00

ETRADE

ETRADE Review

  • Special Offer: Trade free for 60 days + Get up to $500 - Learn More
  • Rated the #1 Online Broker 2011 by StockBrokers.com
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$9.99 $9.99 $0.75 $500.00

Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab Review

  • Offers $8.95 flat-rate trades regardless of trade size, account balance, or share price.
  • Was rated highest in investor satisfaction with self-directed services by J.D. Power and Associates, 2009.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$8.95 $8.95 $0.75 $1,000.00

Scottrade

Scottrade Review

  • Special Offer - Get $100 in transfer fees reimbursed - Learn More
  • Straight forward commissions for both stocks and options.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$7.00 $7.00 $1.25 $500.00

Fidelity Investments

Fidelity Investments Review

  • Online trades only $7.95, all the time.
  • 25 different iShares ETFs available for commission-free trading.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$7.95 $7.95 $0.75 $2,500.00

TradeKing

TradeKing Review

  • Special Offer: Get $150 in transfer fees reimbursed - Learn More
  • Rated #1 Online Broker for Customer Service in the StockBrokers.com 2012 Review.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$4.95 $4.95 $0.65 $0.00

optionsXpress

optionsXpress Review

  • Special Offer: Receive $100 when you fund a new optionsXpress account with $500 - Learn More.
  • Acquired by Charles Schwab, giving clients an even more thorough broker offering.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$8.95 $0.00 $1.50 $0.00

tradeMONSTER

tradeMONSTER Review

  • Special Offer: Trade free for 30 days - Learn More
  • Rated "Best in Class: Options Trading" in the 2012 StockBrokers.com Broker Review.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$7.50 $0.00 $0.50 $2,000.00

OptionsHouse

OptionsHouse Review

Receive 150 Free Trades - Promo Code: SBCOM

  • Trade Options up to 5 contracts for $5 ($1 each thereafter) or $8.50 + $.15 per contract.
  • Rated 5 Stars for "Ease of Use" and "Commissions & Fees" in the 2012 Review.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$3.95 $8.50 $0.15 $1,000.00

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers Review

  • Trade on over 100 market centers in 19 countries - Learn More
  • Equity trades are $.005 per share with a minimum of $1.00 and a maximum of .5% of trade value.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$0.0050 $0.00 $0.70 $10,000.00

Firstrade

Firstrade Review

  • Special Offer: Receive 250 free trades and up to $250 cash - Learn More
  • Over 11,000 mutual funds to choose from.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$6.95 $6.95 $0.75 $0.00

ShareBuilder

ShareBuilder Review

  • Special Offer: Receive $100 with any New Account - Learn More
  • One Month Free Trial with all new accounts.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$6.95 $6.95 $0.75 $0.00

TradeStation Securities

TradeStation Securities Review

  • Special Offer: Trade free for 90 days - Learn More
  • Direct market access for equity, options, futures, and forex trading.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$9.99 $0.00 $1.00 $5,000.00

MB Trading

MB Trading Review

1000 Commission Free Trades

  • Rated Best in Class for active trading in the StockBrokers.com's 2012 Review of Online Brokers.
  • One of few online brokers offering flat per contract options trades with no base fees.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$4.95 $0.00 $0.95 $1,000.00

Just2Trade

Just2Trade Review

  • $2.50 equity trades.
  • Trade platform updated in January 2011.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$2.50 $2.50 $0.50 $2,500.00

Lightspeed Trading

Lightspeed Trading Review

  • Special Offer: Free trading platform trial - Learn More
  • A leading provider of direct market access trading technology.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$2.25 $0.00 $0.60 $5,000.00

Cobra Trading

Cobra Trading Review

  • No additional charge for broker assisted trades.
  • Six trade platforms supported.
Stocks* Options Base* Options Contract* Minimum Deposit
$5.00 $5.00 $0.95 $500.00

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