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Joel O’Leary is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, mortgages, and other personal finance topics. Joel has been writing about personal finance since 2018, previously leading editorial content for the How To Money podcast and serving as a resident writer at Budgets Are Sexy. He bought his first rental property at age 18, funding the down payment with savings from his high school job at McDonald’s -- a testament to his lifelong passion for smart money decisions. His work aims to make personal finance accessible and actionable for everyday readers. When he’s not writing, Joel enjoys surfing and spending time with his family.
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SoFi Active Investing is one of the best brokerages for beginners in 2026 -- and it earned our award for Best Stock Broker for Beginners to back that up. You get commission-free stock, ETF, and options trades, no account minimum, fractional shares starting at $5, and a 1% match on IRA contributions. Terms apply.
For everyday investors building wealth for the long haul, that combination is tough to beat. Active traders who live in advanced charts and research will feel boxed in -- but most beginners won't.
4.90/5
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
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Bottom Line
This brokerage is a clear standout for its well-rated mobile app and 1% IRA match on rollovers. It also has unique investment offerings like IPOs, options, and fractional shares.
Fees:
$0 for stocks, $0 for options contracts
Account Minimum:
$0
Get up to $3,000 in stock when you fund a new account between 9/28-10/18.
The probability of a member receiving $3,000 is 0.028%. If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Members must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. The probability percentage is subject to decrease.
At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.
Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring brokerages from reputable brands. Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates brokerage accounts.
At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.
Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring brokerages from reputable brands. Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates brokerage accounts.
SoFi Active Investing at a glance
Account minimum
$0
Stock & ETF trades
$0 commission
Options trades
$0 commission, no per-contract fee
Mutual funds
6,800+ no-transaction-fee funds
Fractional shares
Yes, from $5
IPO access
Yes, open to all users
IRA match
1% on contributions and eligible rollovers (terms apply)
Advisory
1 free CFP session; unlimited with SoFi Plus
Outgoing transfer (ACAT)
$100
IRA closing fee
$100
Outgoing wire
$25 (ACH is free)
Inactivity fee
$25 per account for every 6 months of login activity
SoFi Active Investing fits beginner and casual investors who want a clean, low-cost platform they don't have to babysit. The app is intuitive to use, the fees are minimal, and the core investment options cover what most people actually need.
If you're just starting out -- or you want a no-fuss account that plugs straight into your banking -- SoFi® is one of the best brokers to start with.
Skip it if you're an advanced trader. SoFi® is light on deep research, screeners, and pro-grade tools, and it doesn't offer individual bonds or CDs. If that's your world, you'll outgrow it fast. There are other top stock brokers with tools to fit you better.
What you can invest in with SoFi Active Investing
SoFi Active Investing covers the building blocks most investors need in one app. You can trade stocks, ETFs, and options with zero commissions and no options contract fees. Terms apply. It also offers 6,800-plus no-transaction-fee mutual funds.
SoFi®'s fractional shares let you buy a slice of a pricey stock for as little as $5, so names like Apple, Amazon, or Nvidia are in reach on any budget. Terms apply. The whole thing is dead simple -- you just enter the dollar amount you want to invest -- which is exactly why SoFi Active Investing earned our 2026 award for Best Stock Broker for Fractional Shares.
SoFi® is also a top broker for IPO access. Getting in on IPOs usually takes a big account or accredited status, but SoFi® opens new IPOs to all its users.
The 1% IRA match, explained
SoFi® matches 1% on IRA contributions and eligible rollovers, which is a perk you rarely see outside an employer 401(k). Terms apply.
If you max out your 2026 IRA contributions ($7,500 for folks under 50), that's $75 added to your retirement account as a match. It's not life-changing money, but it's a win regardless. Contributions have to come by transfer from a SoFi® account and the match has to stay put for five years, so read the terms first.
If retirement saving is your main goal, it's worth seeing how SoFi® stacks up against the best IRA accounts before you commit.
SoFi Active Investing fees
SoFi Active Investing is genuinely cheap to use. There are no account management fees and no commissions on stocks, ETFs, or options. Terms apply. Some mutual funds and ETFs carry their own fund fees, but those come from the fund itself and apply at any brokerage -- not from SoFi®.
Where SoFi® does charge is mostly on the way out. Closing an IRA costs $100, transferring your investments to another broker costs $100, and an outgoing wire runs $25 (ACH transfers are free). Also if you sell IPO shares within 120 days you'll pay a $50 fee.
Those transfer costs are on the high side, so factor them in if you think you might move your account later. Paper statement and confirmation fees only kick in if your email delivery fails.
Is SoFi Active Investing safe?
SoFi Active Investing is a legitimate, regulated brokerage. Trades run through SoFi Securities LLC, a member of FINRA and SIPC, and your account is SIPC insured up to $500,000, including $250,000 for cash. That protects your securities if the brokerage itself ever failed -- it does not cover normal market losses (which no broker insures against).
Where SoFi Active Investing falls short
SoFi®'s research tools are a little thin. You get some market insights and third-party data, so you're not flying blind, but investors who lean on advanced analysis will get more from Fidelity or Charles Schwab.
Straightforwardness is SoFi®'s strength -- just know there's a ceiling if you're more advanced.
It also doesn't offer individual bonds and CDs. Those steady, lower-risk options are handy for conservative investors, and you'll only get bond exposure here through funds. And as noted, the $100 transfer and closing fees make leaving pricier than it should be.
Alternatives to Consider
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 2026.
Broker
Best For
Commissions
Learn More
5.00/5
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
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Full-service investing at every experience level
$0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETFs*. No account fees****.
4.00/5
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
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
On
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's
Secure Website.
4.90/5
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
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Low-cost investing with a full-featured platform
$0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.
Fund it and start investing with as little as $5 -- there's no minimum balance. Terms apply.
The hardest part of investing is just getting started. Luckily, SoFi® makes it very approachable with step-by-step instructions.
Is SoFi Active Investing worth it?
For beginner and casual investors, yes. SoFi Active Investing hits the sweet spot: no account minimum, $5 fractional shares, commission-free stocks, ETFs, and options, a rare beginner-friendly mutual fund lineup, and IPO access most brokers reserve for the wealthy. Terms apply.
Add the 1% IRA match and free financial planning, and it's an easy stock trading app to recommend for building long-term wealth. Terms apply.
Advanced traders chasing deep research tools should look elsewhere. But for most people getting started, SoFi® delivers exactly what they need. If it sounds like your speed, you can open a SoFi Active Investing account here.
Yes. Every SoFi® member gets one 30-minute session with a Certified Financial Planner, and SoFi Plus members get unlimited access. The planners are fiduciaries, so they won't push you toward specific products.
You first need to sell the holdings you want to cash out, then transfer the proceeds to a linked bank account from the app. ACH transfers are free and usually land within a few business days. You can't withdraw money still tied up in unsettled trades.
You can close a SoFi Active Investing account in the app or through support after selling or transferring out your holdings. Closing a standard taxable account is free, but closing an IRA costs $100, and transferring your investments to another broker also costs $100.
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Motley Fool Stock Disclosures
Charles Schwab is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Joel O'Leary has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, and Intuit. The Motley Fool recommends Charles Schwab and recommends the following options: short September 2026 $95 calls on Charles Schwab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Fidelity Disclosure:
Fidelity disclosure Investing involves risk, including risk of loss
* - $0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (historically from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). Other exclusions and conditions may apply. A limited number of ETFs are subject to a transaction-based service fee of $100. See full list at Fidelity.com/commissions. Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Institutional® are subject to different commission schedules.
**Fidelity Crypto® is offered by Fidelity Digital Assets®. Investing involves risk, including risk of total loss. Crypto as an asset class is highly volatile, can become illiquid at any time, and is for investors with a high risk tolerance. Crypto may also be more susceptible to market manipulation than securities. Crypto is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Investors in crypto do not benefit from the same regulatory protections applicable to registered securities. Fidelity Crypto® accounts and custody and trading of crypto in such accounts are provided by Fidelity Digital Asset Services, LLC, which is chartered as a limited purpose trust company by the New York State Department of Financial Services to engage in virtual currency business (NMLS ID 1773897). Brokerage services in support of securities trading are provided by Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (“FBS”), and related custody services are provided by National Financial Services LLC (“NFS”), each a registered broker-dealer and member NYSE and SIPC. Neither FBS nor NFS offer crypto as a direct investment nor provide trading or custody services for such assets. Fidelity Crypto and Fidelity Digital Assets are registered service marks of FMR LLC.
***Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request. ****Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See Fidelity.com/commissions for further details.
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Disclosure:
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
2026 Award Winner
