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Best Brokerage Account Bonuses for 2026: Cash Rewards, Free Stock, and Matches

Review Updated
Joel O'Leary
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 that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation.

Looking to open a new brokerage account, IRA, or 401(k)? The most important thing is choosing the right platform for you -- but a strong bonus can make a big difference, too.

Whether you want an easy win or are willing to save big to earn big, there's probably a brokerage bonus out there for you. Here are all our favorites available now, plus what you should know before you get started.

  • Our team of experts assessed 45+ trading platforms
  • We evaluate all brokerage accounts across the same 4 key criteria: user experience, cost efficiency, product variety, and support and security
  • Our brokerage ratings are never influenced by our advertising partners
  • We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased

Top broker promotions

These promotions can change throughout the year, but the offers below are some of the most competitive we're seeing right now:

  • SoFi Invest®: Earn a 1% match on both 401(k) rollovers and IRA contributions to your SoFi Invest® IRA. Plus, earn up to $1,000 in stock when you open and fund a new SoFi Active Investing account. Terms apply.
  • E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley: Open a new eligible E*TRADE brokerage account, fund your account within 60 days of opening, and earn a cash credit of up to $1,500, depending on the size of your deposit. Offer good for one use per customer, on a single account. Please read full terms and conditions.

Compare brokerages with the best bonuses

Broker Best For Fees Special Offer Learn More
Award Icon 2026 Award Winner
SoFi Invest® Offer Image
4.90/5 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.
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4.90/5 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.
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Best For:

Get a 1% match on your SoFi Invest® IRA contributions and rollovers

Fees:

$0 commission, $0 per trade, other fees may apply

SPECIAL OFFER

Get a 1% IRA Match on contributions & rollovers. Terms apply.

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Offer Image
4.90/5 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.
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4.90/5 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.
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Best For:

Get up to $1,500 with a new brokerage account

Fees:

Commission-free; other fees apply

SPECIAL OFFER

Open and fund a brokerage account and get up to $1,500. Terms apply.

Circle with letter I in it. Open a new eligible E*TRADE brokerage account, fund your account within 60 days of opening, and earn a cash credit of up to $1,500, 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.

Award Icon 2026 Award Winner
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Offer Image
4.00/5 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.
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4.00/5 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.
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Best For:

Get up to $1,000 with a new brokerage account

Fees:

$0 per trade

NEW! Get a cash bonus up to $1,000 when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account.

Circle with letter I in it. $1,000 when you fund with $250,000 or more; $325 when you fund with $100,000-$249,999; $150 when you fund with $25,000-$99,999; $50 when you fund with $5,000-$24,999. Cash promotion is limited to one per customer and can only be applied to one new J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account (General Investment, Traditional IRA, or Roth IRA). To enroll in the up to $1,000 offer, you must open an account through this page.

Learn More for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website.

Award Icon 2026 Award Winner
Robinhood Offer Image
4.80/5 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.
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4.80/5 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.
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Best For:

Choose a free stock valued at up to $200, 1% IRA match

Fees:

$0 on trades of stocks, ETFs and their options. Other fees may apply.

1 Free Stock After Linking Your Bank Account (stock value range $5.00-$200)

Learn More for Robinhood

On Robinhood's Secure Website.

Public Offer Image
4.70/5 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.
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4.70/5 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.
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Best For:

Earn a 1% cash match when you transfer your account

Fees:

$0 commissions, 1%-2% crypto markups

N/A

Learn More for Public

On Public's Secure Website.

Merrill Edge® Self-Directed Offer Image
4.50/5 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.
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4.50/5 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.
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Best For:

Receive a $100 to $600 bonus for deposits over $20,000

Fees:

$0 for online stock and ETF trades

N/A

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.

Details of the best brokerage bonuses

SoFi Invest® IRA Match: 1% match on your SoFi® IRA contributions and rollovers

Award Icon 2026 Award Winner

Our Rating:

4.90/5 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.
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Bottom Line

This brokerage is a clear standout for its well-rated mobile app and has unique investment offerings like IPOs, options, and fractional shares.

Fees:

$0 commission, $0 per trade, other fees may apply

Account Minimum:

$0

SPECIAL OFFER

Get a 1% IRA Match on contributions & rollovers. Terms apply.

How you earn it: You'll earn a 1% match on both 401(k) rollovers and IRA contributions to your SoFi Invest® IRA.

How you qualify: You must have a SoFi Invest® IRA.

Details: Terms and conditions apply. For existing SoFi Invest® IRA members, 401(k) rollovers must be completed using this link. If you don't already have a SoFi Invest® IRA, you'll need to open one and complete the rollover through Capitalize via the same link.

SoFi® and Capitalize will process the rollover at no additional cost, but SoFi® is not responsible for any fees charged by your current 401(k) provider -- be sure to check with them for potential costs. For IRA contributions, only deposits made via ACH or cash transfer from a SoFi Bank account are eligible for the 1% match. Full terms and conditions are available here.

SoFi Active Investing: Get up to $1,000 with a new brokerage account

SoFi Active Investing
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing

On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.

The bonus: SoFi®'s offering up to $1,000 in stock when you open and fund a new SoFi Active Investing brokerage account. Terms apply.

How it works:

  • Open an eligible SoFi Invest® self-directed brokerage account.
  • Fund your account with at least $50 within 45 days of account opening
  • Play SoFi®'s electronic "claw" game and pick out a bonus ranging from $5 to $1,000 Terms apply

Details: With SoFi®'s "claw game" format, bonuses are given out randomly, as opposed to being based on your deposit amount. Almost all users will end up with a bonus of less than $100, but you could get much more if you're lucky.

If you're not able to land a large bonus elsewhere, it might be worth rolling the dice with SoFi®.

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley: Earn up to $1,500 with a new brokerage account

Our Rating:

4.90/5 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.
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Bottom Line

Fees:

Commission-free; other fees apply

Account Minimum:

$0

SPECIAL OFFER

Open and fund a brokerage account and get up to $1,500. Terms apply.

Circle with letter I in it. Open a new eligible E*TRADE brokerage account, fund your account within 60 days of opening, and earn a cash credit of up to $1,500, 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.

The bonus: Right now with E*TRADE, you can earn as much as $1,500 by opening a new brokerage account.

How it works:

  • Open an eligible E*TRADE brokerage (non-retirement) account using promo code OFFER26 by 6/30/26
  • Fund your account within 60 days of account opening with $1,000 or more of new funds
  • Land a cash bonus that varies based on how much you deposit

Details: As mentioned, your exact bonus will vary based on how much you put into your account. A $5,000 deposit, for example, nets you a $150 bonus, while a $20,000 deposit earns you $300.

To qualify for the max $1,500 bonus, you'd have to deposit $500,000 in your first 60 days. Still, this is one of the better tiered bonuses you'll find.

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing: Earn up to $1,000 with a new brokerage account

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
Learn More for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website.

Award Icon 2026 Award Winner

Our Rating:

4.00/5 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.
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Bottom Line

A no-frills platform with $0 mutual fund fees, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers easy trading, an optional robo-advisor, and seamless Chase integration.

Fees:

$0 per trade

Account Minimum:

$0

NEW! Get a cash bonus up to $1,000 when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account.

Circle with letter I in it. $1,000 when you fund with $250,000 or more; $325 when you fund with $100,000-$249,999; $150 when you fund with $25,000-$99,999; $50 when you fund with $5,000-$24,999. Cash promotion is limited to one per customer and can only be applied to one new J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account (General Investment, Traditional IRA, or Roth IRA). To enroll in the up to $1,000 offer, you must open an account through this page.
Learn More for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website.

The bonus: Right now, you can land a cash bonus of as much as $1,000 by opening and funding a new J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account by April 21.

How it works:

  • Open an eligible J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account by April 21; it can be a standard investment account, a traditional IRA, or a Roth IRA.
  • Fund your account with "qualifying new money" within your first 45 days. Your bonus will be determined on day 45 based on your total transfer amount.
  • Maintain your new funds at 90 days from enrollment. Then, your bonus will be added directly into your account within 15 days.

Details: Here again, your actual bonus amount is determined by how much money you put in. The bigger your deposit, the bigger the bonus:

Bonus Transfer Amount
$50 $5,000 - $24,999
$150 $25,000 - $99,999
$325 $100,000 - $249,999
$1,000 $250,000 or more
Data source: J.P. Morgan.

Most people are probably looking at a bonus of either $50 or $150.

Robinhood: Free stock valued at up to $200, 1% IRA match

Robinhood
Learn More for Robinhood

On Robinhood's Secure Website.

Award Icon 2026 Award Winner

Our Rating:

4.80/5 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.
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Bottom Line

Robinhood continues to lead the way in making investing more accessible. Plus, the investing pioneer's IRA match stands out, especially if you use Robinhood Gold.

Fees:

$0 on trades of stocks, ETFs and their options. Other fees may apply.

Account Minimum:

$0

1 Free Stock After Linking Your Bank Account (stock value range $5.00-$200)

Learn More for Robinhood

On Robinhood's Secure Website.

Robinhood promotions are easy to earn and offer great value to customers. Here are two we love:

Free stock for linking a bank or debit card

When you open a Robinhood account and link your bank account or debit card, you'll receive a free stock valued between $5 and $200. Even better: You can choose your free stock from a curated list of 26 top-performing companies. While most Robinhood users will receive stocks valued at $5, there's a 0.9% chance of scoring $10 and a 0.1% chance of landing the maximum $200 value.

IRA match

Robinhood also offers a 1% match on IRA contributions (upgraded to 3% for those who sign up for Robinhood Gold). This promotion is a rare perk in the brokerage world, and makes Robinhood one of the best IRA accounts out there. If you're ready to supercharge your retirement, Robinhood is ready to help.

Public: Earn a 1% cash match when you transfer your account

Public
Learn More for Public

On Public's Secure Website.

Our Rating:

4.70/5 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.
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Bottom Line

Public is an investing platform that simplifies trading stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, and crypto. With zero fees on many trades, Public stands out as a low-cost brokerage, while also providing yield-focused products to help you earn returns on your cash.

Fees:

$0 commissions, 1%-2% crypto markups

Account Minimum:

$1

Learn More for Public

On Public's Secure Website.

Public now offers a simple, uncapped transfer bonus that scales with the size of your portfolio. This can be a huge boost, but it requires you to stay with Public for a long while.

How it works: When you transfer an eligible account to Public, you'll receive a 1% cash match based on the total value of assets you move over. There's no cap. If you transfer $100,000 in assets from your brokerage to Public, you'll earn $1,000. Transfer $2 million and you'll earn $20,000.

Once your transfer is complete (typically within seven to 10 business days) the bonus is credited to your Public account as cash.

What's eligible: Public supports transfers of brokerage accounts and many retirement accounts, including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, Rollover IRAs, and certain 401(k) rollovers. Eligible assets include stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, and cash.

Other important details: The matched funds must remain in your Public account for five years to keep the bonus. Withdrawing them earlier could result in forfeiture of the reward.

One cool convenience thing: If your current brokerage charges a transfer-out fee, Public will reimburse up to $100 per transfer, as long as the transferred balance is $5,000 or more.

Merrill Edge: $100 to $600 bonus for deposits over $20,000

Our Rating:

4.50/5 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.
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Bottom Line

Merrill Edge® Self-Directed is a standout brokerage with $0 online stock and ETF trades, strong research offerings, and excellent customer support. Owned by Bank of America, you can also get access to its fantastic Preferred Rewards program.

Fees:

$0 for online stock and ETF trades

Account Minimum:

$0

Merrill Edge only offers one true bonus that has the ability to fatten your account balance, but it's a good one:

Tiered cash bonus for new accounts

Merrill Edge rewards new account holders with cash bonuses based on deposit size.

Here's how the tiers break down:

  • $100 for deposits of $20,000 to $49,999
  • $150 for deposits of $50,000 to $99,999
  • $250 for deposits of $100,000 to $199,999
  • $600 for deposits of $200,000 or more

To qualify for this Merrill Edge promotion, investors must make deposits within 45 days and leave the funds in their account for at least 90 days. As with any promotion, make sure you read the fine print before you get started to ensure you meet all requirements.


What is a brokerage account bonus?

Brokerage bonuses are one-time incentives offered by investment platforms to attract new customers. In some cases, you can earn hundreds of dollars in cash or stock, or even a contribution match with a retirement account.

A one-time bonus probably shouldn't be the only reason to choose one brokerage account over another. But if you're looking at a few that are pretty much neck-and-neck, the right bonus can definitely put one over the top.

How to pick the best bonus for you

The most important thing in a broker bonus: Attainability. Thousands of dollars in bonus cash is nice, but not if you can't actually get it.

The biggest bonuses are usually reserved for the biggest deposit amounts -- so unless you've got millions in the bank, try not to get lured in by the biggest headline number. Do some research and figure out how much you're likely to actually earn.

Also, keep in mind that most bonuses are reserved for new customers and usually have minimum deposit or holding period requirements. And again, I don't recommend making your decision based on a bonus alone.

For more on picking the right broker and bonus for you, check out our list of the best brokerage accounts available now.

FAQs

  • They can be -- especially 1% matching bonuses for money you are already planning to invest. If you're opening a new account, rolling over an old 401(k), or moving investments anyway, a bonus is basically a head start.

    The mistake is chasing a reward that forces you into a platform you won't want long term.

  • Most brokerages support in-kind transfers, meaning your investments move over without being sold. That helps you avoid triggering taxes or being out of the market. Just confirm which assets are eligible before initiating a transfer.