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Commodities trading involves buying and selling raw materials, like bushels of corn or pounds of sugar. You could buy and sell commodities directly, but more often than not you'll trade them through futures contracts, which allow you to bet on the future value of a specific commodity. You can also invest in commodity stocks and ETFs, giving you direct exposure to the companies producing raw materials.
Not all trading platforms allow you to trade futures, and those that do may not offer you the best value in terms of price, resources, tools, and education. With that in mind, let's take a look at the top commodity trading platforms out there, as well as why they've landed on our best-of list.
Broker/Advisor | Best For | Commissions | Learn More | |
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Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
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.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
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.
|
Best For:
Overall for commodities trading |
Commission:
As low as $0 stock trades |
Learn More for Interactive Brokers
On Interactive Brokers' Secure Website. |
![]()
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
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.
|
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
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.
|
Best For:
Professional futures traders |
Commission:
Commission fees vary based on plan chosen. Plans range from a $0 monthly fee, to $99 per month, to a one-time payment of $1,499. |
Learn More for NinjaTrader
On NinjaTrader's Secure Website.
Special Offer
Fund an account and get up to $250* Open and fund a NinjaTrader account & receive up to $250 in commission rebates* for trades placed within 30 days of fund date. |
![]()
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
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.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
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.
|
Best For:
Cheap commodities trades |
Commission:
$0 per trade |
Learn More for Webull
On Webull's Secure Website. |
![]()
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
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.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
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.
|
Best For:
Commodities stocks |
Commission:
Commission-free; other fees apply |
Learn More for E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
On E*TRADE's Secure Website.
Special Offer
Open and fund a brokerage account and get up to $1,000. Terms apply. Open a new eligible E*TRADE brokerage account, fund your account within 60 days of opening, and earn a cash bonus of up to $1,000, depending on the size of your deposit. Offer good for one use per customer, on a single account. Please read full terms and conditions on our website. |
![]()
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
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.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
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.
|
Best For:
Research and education |
Commission:
$0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares. |
When we researched online brokers to create this list of brokerages, some of the things we looked for were low costs, a variety of account types, and great customer service ratings. Everyone's investing journey is different, but I've found these three factors are important for anyone to have a great investing experience.
A great low-cost option for small trade volume. While the interface isn't as clean or modern as that of other brokers, it gets the job done. Interactive Brokers is also a great choice for options investors, traders, and those trading on margin.
As low as $0 stock trades
$0
On Interactive Brokers' Secure Website.
Why Interactive Brokers made the list: Interactive Brokers gives you the best combination of features, low prices, and educational materials. The platform allows you to trade commodity futures on over 30 markets globally, plus has an uber low commission ranging from $0.25 to $0.85 per contract.
While the platform could be difficult to navigate for beginners, advanced futures traders will find it perfectly suitable to whatever strategy they're trying to execute.
A leading futures broker with all the tools you need for technical analysis, charting price movements, and placing trades. Since it's only designed for futures trading, you'll need to use a different broker for any other types of investments.
Commission fees vary based on plan chosen. Plans range from a $0 monthly fee, to $99 per month, to a one-time payment of $1,499.
$0
Fund an account and get up to $250*
On NinjaTrader's Secure Website.
Why NinjaTrader made the list: NinjaTrader is dedicated to buying and selling future contracts. As such, it's one of the most powerful platforms for trading futures, not only for its advanced tools, but also for its Ninja-speed in updating and executing trades.
Trading commissions are also very low, ranging from $0.35 to $1.29 for a free membership. If you subscribe to NinjaTrader's Lifetime plan, you could trade commissions as low as $0.09 to $0.59, though you'll make a one-time payment of $1,499 first.
Webull is a standout mobile investing app. You can access advanced trading tools on desktop and mobile. Basic trades are commission-free, so it's competitive with similar apps. The mobile app offers Lite mode, a simpler interface for beginner investors. Consider opening a Webull account for its advanced toolset, more powerful than its closest competitors'.
$0 per trade
$0
On Webull's Secure Website.
Why Webull made the list: Webull has one of the lowest fees for futures trades, with a per-contract fee ranging from $0.25 to $1.25 (cryptocurrency futures are $1.50 per contract). The platform also has advanced charting tools and screeners, plus educational resources and news feeds to keep you updated on futures markets.
E*TRADE offers low fees and tons of account types. If you need it, chances are, E*TRADE has it. You can access advanced features through its popular Power E*TRADE platform. Open an E*TRADE account to trade fee-free mutual funds and do all your investing in one place.
Commission-free; other fees apply
$0
Open and fund a brokerage account and get up to $1,000. Terms apply.
On E*TRADE's Secure Website.
Why E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley made the list: E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley is a powerful trading platform with a wide assortment of investment options, including commodities stocks, ETFs, and futures trading.
Its $0 trading commissions on stocks makes it perfect for those who want to actively trade companies producing commodities, while its low futures trade commissions ($1.50 per contract) can benefit those who want to add futures trading to their portfolio.
Charles Schwab pioneered the low-cost brokerage model decades ago, and that legacy continues with its lineup of no-commission-fee offerings. The robust lineup of account types, investment vehicles, and high quality app round out the stacked feature set.
$0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.
$0
Why Charles Schwab made the list: Charles Schwab is one of the best brokers for getting your feet wet in commodity trading. It has an extensive library on futures, publishes content daily on futures markets, and even offers webcasts with live demos and Q&A sessions.
It is one of the pricier brokers on the list ($2.25 per contract), but could be worth it if you're just starting out.
Commodities trading can be super rewarding, but it's not without its risks, so be sure to review the pros and cons before diving in.
Investors can invest in commodities in a few basic ways.
This would mean physically buying the commodity from a dealer, having it delivered, and storing it. For example, you might buy bars of gold and store them in a safe. Other times, this method is convenient or unfeasible, such as when you want to speculate on oil prices.
Future contracts let you speculate on the future price of an underlying commodity. When you enter a future contract, you agree to pay that price at the contract's end, no matter what the ongoing price is. This is the most common way to invest in commodities, as it doesn't require you to buy the physical goods.
Otherwise known as "commodity stocks," this approach would give you direct exposure to the companies producing raw materials. For example, instead of investing in gold directly, you could buy stocks in a gold company that mines it. Investing in commodities in this way can be cheaper that futures, as many of the best trading platforms charge zero or low fees or equity trades.
If you're not interested in hand-picking commodity stocks, a commodity ETF or mutual fund could give you broad exposure to an industry or sector. For instance, if you don't want to invest in a single oil company, an oil ETF could expose you to a broad range of oil companies, from those who drill for oil to those who transport it.
Keep in mind that if you're going to trade futures on a trading platform, you'll likely need to get special permission from your brokerage. This might also involve opening a separate commodities trading account, as well as signing a disclosure saying you acknowledge and understand the risks of futures trading.
Commodities trading involves buying and selling raw materials, such as metals, or primary agricultural products, like wheat.
More often than not, this trading is done through futures contracts that specify a predetermined price and future date for the delivery of a commodity, thereby allowing investors to bet on price movements. The buyer of a futures contract agrees to pay a specific price when the contract ends; likewise, the seller agrees to sell at that price.
Of course, nobody can predict the future, which is what makes futures contracts a high-risk venture. Weather catastrophes, geopolitical conflicts, and other unpredictable events can easily derail your predictions.
It's best to engage in futures trading only when you have a strong grasp on the commodities market, including both its historical and current price movements. Once you're confident in yourself and your knowledge, only then will the platforms listed above help you get started.
Brokerages we evaluated for consideration on this page: Acorns, Ally Invest, Axos Self-Directed Trading, Betterment, Cash App Investing, Charles Schwab, Delphia, Domain Money, Ellevest, Empower, eToro Brokerage, E*TRADE Core Portfolios from Morgan Stanley, E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, Fidelity, Fidelity Cash Management, Fidelity Go®, Firstrade, FOREX.com, Interactive Brokers, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, M1 Finance, Magnifi, Marcus Invest, Merrill Edge® Self-Directed, Moomoo, NinjaTrader, Personal Capital, Plynk, Prosperi Academy, Public, Robinhood, Rocket Dollar, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios, SoFi Active Investing, SoFi Robo Investing, Stash, Stockpile, tastytrade, Titan, Tornado App, TradeStation, Tradier, Vanguard, Vanguard Digital Advisor®, Wealthfront, Webull, Zacks Trade.
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Interactive Brokers disclosure:
The inclusion of Interactive Brokers’ (IBKR) name, logo or weblinks is present pursuant to an advertising arrangement only. IBKR is not a contributor, reviewer, provider or sponsor of content published on this site, and is not responsible for the accuracy of any products or services discussed.
NinjaTrader special offer disclosure
*Offer valid for a limited time only. Commission rebate will be applied to the account holder’s balance for trades placed within 30 days of fund date. Rebate will be based on trades linked to this promotion only, not any other funded account. Existing clients and inactive account holders are exempt and not eligible. Offer not combinable with other offers. Traders will receive a rebate for commissions up to $250. If applicable, a rebate will be applied by the middle of the
following month. Available for individual accounts only. Joint, IRA and professional accounts are not eligible for this offer. Credits may be subject to US withholding taxes & any associated taxes are the customer’s responsibility. Offer end date and program requirements are subject to change without notice.
Exchange, clearing fee and NFA fees still apply.
E*TRADE services are available just to U.S. residents.