Axos Self-Directed Trading: Commission-Free Trading With No Minimum Investment
Review
Updated
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Axos Self-Directed Trading gives you control over a low-cost portfolio and addresses some of the concerns raised about the company’s Managed Portfolio -- specifically, there’s no minimum investment. Plus, you can open an individual, joint, or retirement account. Along with investing, Axos customers can also open free checking and savings accounts to manage all their money through one app. Read our Axos Self-Directed Trading review to see if this brokerage is right for you.
On Axos Self-Directed Trading's Secure Website.
The combination of commission-free stock and ETF investing, along with great banking features, makes this a strong option to consider for investors wanting to manage their finances under one roof.
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On Axos Self-Directed Trading's Secure Website.
This stock broker is a good fit for: Experienced investors who want access to low-cost, self-directed investing integrated with comprehensive online banking and lending services.
With a free account, you can trade stocks and ETFs with zero commissions. You'll pay a $9.95 fee per trade for mutual funds trading.
There's no minimum investment to open a self-directed investment account with Axos. (However, there's a $50 minimum to open an IRA and a $500 minimum to open a Managed Portfolio.)
Get access to advanced trading options for additional fees. Options trading is available with a free account, and you'll pay a $1 fee per trade ($0.80 with an Axos Elite subscription for $10 per month).
For access to margin trading, you'll have to subscribe to an Axos Elite account, and you'll pay 5.5% on trades.
Along with investing, Axos Bank offers many other financial services, including checking, savings, and money market accounts, plus mortgages, personal loans, and auto loan refinancing.
You can get access to these services with a free Axos account and manage them all in one place through the Axos app or your online banking account.
As a stripped-down, online-only financial services firm, Axos doesn't give customers access to human advisors. If you want guidance with your portfolio, you're better off using its Managed Portfolio and automated investment option directed by a robo-advisor.
Customers can contact Axos customer service by sending a message through their account in the app, and non-customers can email customer support. Axos Self-Directed Trading doesn't offer in-person service or phone support, so you'll likely have to wait a day or two for a response.
When you open an Axos Self-Directed Trading account, you'll get access to a trading platform that offers commission-free stock and ETF trades, plus more than 10,000 mutual funds. Approved members get access to options and margin trading. You can open an individual or joint taxable investment account; plus, you can open a self-directed IRA.
There's no minimum investment needed to open a self-directed investment account. But you will have to invest at least $50 to open an IRA.
With a free Axos Self-Directed Trading account you can open an individual or joint taxable investment account or apply for a traditional or Roth IRA. These accounts give you access to commission-free stock and ETF trades, and mutual funds trading.
For more perks, you can sign up for an Axos Elite membership for $10 per month. The membership gets you a reduced fee on options contracts, plus access to margin trades, extended market hours until 7 p.m. (Eastern), and real-time market data.
If you prefer hands-off investing, you can open a Managed Portfolio, rather than an Axos Self-Directed Trading account. These automated portfolios include automatic rebalancing and can adjust based on your goals and timeline.
In addition to the brokerage, Axos offers many other financial services, so you can manage your money all through one app. Get access to checking, high-yield savings, and money market accounts, as well as mortgages, personal loans, and auto loan refinancing.
Here are the main fees to keep in mind for an Axos investment account:
| Service | Basic Axos Cost | Axos Elite Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $0 | $10 |
| Annual custodial fee for IRA | $60 | $60 |
| Stock trades | $0 | $0 |
| ETF trades | $0 | $0 |
| Options contracts | $1 | $0.80 |
| No-load mutual fund trades | $9.95 | $9.95 |
| Margin trades | n/a | 5.5% |
We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2025.
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Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
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If you want managed investing: Betterment offers low-cost automated investing with no minimum investment balance.
Customers can contact Axos customer support anytime by logging into their account online or in the app and sending a message. Non-customers can get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Axos is an online-only firm, so you don't have access to brick-and-mortar branches for support, and it doesn't list a customer service phone number to speak with a representative.
Similarly, Axos Self-Directed Trading customers don't have access to human advisors for account questions.
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