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The Ascent's Brokerage Reviews

Review Updated
Cole Tretheway
By: Cole Tretheway

Our Brokerages Expert

Nathan Alderman
Check IconFact Checked Nathan Alderman
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

If you're ready to get started with buying stocks, mutual funds, or other investments, you'll first need a brokerage account. Below, you'll find links to all of our brokerage account reviews. Our experts have reviewed a wide range of stock brokers, trading platforms, and investing apps to help you find the best option for your needs.

Brokerage and trading platform reviews

Brokerage versus reviews

Best of brokerage lists

Methodology

The Ascent strives to provide useful and up-to-date brokerage reviews. Our financial experts rate products based on the following features: fees, ease of use, and quality of the trading platform and research offerings.

To learn more about how we go about reviewing brokers, read our public ratings methodology.

Top Brokers of 2024

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Fees:

$0 for stocks, ETFs, and options

Account Minimum:

$0

Highlights:

With no commissions, access to trade fractional shares and cryptocurrency through Robinhood Crypto, Robinhood is a no frills but efficient brokerage account.

Open Account for Robinhood

On Robinhood's Secure Website.

Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Fees:

$0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades; trade fractional shares for as little as $1

Account Minimum:

$0

Highlights:

Fidelity is one of the largest and one of the most well-rounded brokerages available in the U.S. today. Importantly, Fidelity offers $0 commission for online stock and ETF trades, plus a high-quality mobile app that's good for both beginners and seasoned investors.

Open Account for Fidelity

On Fidelity's Secure Website.

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Fees:

Commission-free; other fees apply

Account Minimum:

$0

Highlights:

E*TRADE manages to cater to active traders with multiple trading platforms, while also appealing to long-term investors with thousands of mutual funds and ETFs that can be traded commission-free.

Open Account for E*TRADE

On E*TRADE's Secure Website.

Our Brokerages Experts