Best Online Stock Brokers 2025: Complete Comparison & Rankings

How We Ranked These Brokers

Let's be real: every broker claims to be the best. We cut through the marketing by evaluating what actually matters to investors. Our ranking considers:

• Total cost of ownership — Not just commission-free trades, but margin rates, options fees, cash sweep yields, and hidden costs
• Execution quality — Do they accept payment for order flow (PFOF)? What's the price improvement?
• Platform and tools — Research quality, charting capabilities, and ease of use
• Customer service — Response times, availability, and actual helpfulness
• Account features — IRA options, fractional shares, international trading, crypto access

We also factor in recent regulatory actions, security incidents, and platform outages. A broker with a $45 million SEC fine (looking at you, Robinhood) loses points, even if their app is pretty.

Full Broker Comparison Table

#1 Fidelity: Best Overall Broker

Fidelity consistently tops our rankings because they get the fundamentals right. Zero-commission trades? Check. No payment for order flow on stocks and ETFs? Check. 24/7 customer service that actually answers? Check.

What separates Fidelity from the pack is their research depth. You get access to reports from over 20 providers, including Morningstar, Zacks, and their own equity research team. Their stock screeners are genuinely useful, not just marketing checkboxes.

Bottom line: If you want one broker that does everything well without nickel-and-diming you, Fidelity is hard to beat. They make money from their asset management business, not from selling your order flow.

#2 Charles Schwab: Best for Beginners

Schwab became even more powerful after absorbing TD Ameritrade, giving them the legendary thinkorswim platform alongside their already excellent education resources. For someone just starting out, that combination is unbeatable.

The education center isn't just generic "what is a stock?" content. They offer live webcasts, in-depth courses on options strategies, and their Schwab Coaching service provides personalized guidance. Add 400+ physical branches if you prefer face-to-face help.

Bottom line: If you're new to investing and want to actually learn (not just gamble), Schwab's combination of education, tools, and human support is the best foundation you can build on.

#3 Interactive Brokers: Best for Active Traders

Interactive Brokers is the broker that other brokers fear. Their margin rates start around 5.83% and drop to 4.14% for large balances—while traditional brokers charge 10-12%. If you're trading on margin, the math isn't even close.

IBKR Pro doesn't accept payment for order flow, and they claim this saves clients around $10 per 1,000 shares versus PFOF brokers. Their Trader Workstation (TWS) platform is incredibly powerful, offering access to 150+ markets across 33 countries.

Bottom line: If you trade frequently, use margin, or want global market access, IBKR's cost savings will add up to thousands over time. Just be prepared to spend a weekend learning the platform.

#4 Robinhood: Best for Simple Mobile Trading

Love it or hate it, Robinhood revolutionized retail trading. Their app remains the cleanest, simplest way to buy stocks from your phone. And with their 3% IRA match (with Gold membership), they're now serious competition for retirement accounts too.

But let's be real about the trade-offs. Robinhood makes roughly 70% of their revenue from payment for order flow—selling your orders to market makers like Citadel. They also just paid $45 million to settle SEC charges for various securities violations. Their customer service is... let's say "minimal."

Bottom line: If you want dead-simple mobile trading and can stomach the PFOF model, Robinhood works. The 3% IRA match is genuinely competitive. Just don't expect hand-holding or sophisticated tools.

#5 E*TRADE: Best for Options & Futures

Now owned by Morgan Stanley, E*TRADE combines solid options trading with institutional-grade research. Their Power E*TRADE platform is excellent for options traders, with intuitive chains, probability analysis, and paper trading.

The current sign-up bonus is also massive—up to $10,000 cash for deposits of $1 million or more, with tiered bonuses starting at $1,000 deposits. Just note it expires January 31, 2026.

Bottom line: For options traders who want a proper platform without the IBKR learning curve, E*TRADE hits the sweet spot. The Morgan Stanley research access adds genuine value.

Other Notable Brokers

Public.com — Lowest Margin Rates

Public stands out for two things: the industry's lowest margin rate at 4.9% and their refusal to accept payment for order flow. If you trade on margin and want ethical execution, Public is worth serious consideration. They also offer stocks, bonds, crypto, and alternative investments in one account.

Webull — Best Mobile Charting

Webull offers more advanced charting than Robinhood while maintaining a mobile-first approach. Their 3.5% IRA match (with Premium) beats Robinhood's 3%. The catch? They're owned by a Chinese company (Fumi Technology), which has drawn Congressional scrutiny over data security.

Tastytrade — Best for Options Specialists

Built by options traders for options traders. Their unique pricing ($1 to open, $0 to close, capped at $10/leg) makes high-volume options trading cheaper than anywhere else. The tastylive content is genuinely educational, not just marketing.

Moomoo — Best for Data Junkies

Free Level 2 data, advanced charting, and an 8.1% APY promotional rate (for 3 months) make Moomoo attractive. Like Webull, they're Chinese-owned (Futu Holdings, backed by Tencent), so consider your risk tolerance for data privacy.

How to Choose Your Broker

There's no universally "best" broker—only the best broker for your situation. Ask yourself:

What's your trading style?

• Buy and hold: Fidelity or Schwab for research and low costs
• Active trading: Interactive Brokers for low margin and execution
• Options focus: Tastytrade or E*TRADE for specialized platforms
• Mobile-first: Robinhood or Webull for simplicity

Do you care about PFOF?

If order execution quality matters to you, stick with Fidelity, IBKR Pro, or Public.com—they don't sell your order flow. If you're making small trades and prioritize simplicity, PFOF brokers like Robinhood are fine.

Will you use margin?

Margin rate differences are massive. At 4.9% (Public) vs 12% (some brokers), you'd pay $490 vs $1,200 annually on a $10,000 margin balance. Over time, this adds up to real money.

Do you want retirement accounts?

If you're opening an IRA, the match programs change the calculus. Robinhood's 3% and Webull's 3.5% are free money you won't get at traditional brokers. But there's a 5-year vesting period—read the fine print.