Source-checked October 3, 2026 · U.S. brokerage research
Choose the account that fits your investing plan—not the app with the loudest promotion.
For a first brokerage account, start with the account type, investments you intend to hold and the help you may need. A low trading commission matters, but so do fund expenses, transfer charges, borrowing costs and the terms for uninvested cash.
Long-term investing and frequent trading require different workflows.
A $0 commission is one price component, not an all-inclusive promise.
Five platforms, without a universal winner
This is a selected comparison, not a ranking of every U.S. broker. Pricing below concerns standard self-directed online U.S. stock/ETF trades, subject to each provider’s exclusions. It does not cover every security, account, service or professional-customer designation.
Scroll across the table to see all columns.
| Provider | Published baseline | Useful next check |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity | $0 online U.S. stock/ETF commission; separate charges can apply, including service fees on certain ETFs. | Compare the actual fund selection, account type and fees for investments you plan to hold. |
| Charles Schwab | $0 online listed-equity commission; the thinkorswim suite includes paperMoney simulation. | Decide whether you need a trading workstation or a simpler long-term investing workflow. |
| E*TRADE | $0 online U.S.-listed stock/ETF commission; OTC and other exclusions apply. | Read the account’s full schedule, including assisted trades and any services you expect to use. |
| Robinhood | Commission-free stock/ETF trading; regulatory and other applicable fees remain. | Check the specific account, cash arrangement and optional paid services—not just the trade ticket. |
| Webull | $0 commission for U.S.-listed stocks/ETFs; paper trading is documented. | Check which products the simulator supports and how practice differs from your intended live account. |
The order above is not a score. We have not tested these services’ support quality, accessibility or ease of use. A feature shown in a provider’s documents may also depend on account eligibility or platform version.
A practical selection checklist
- Choose the account first. Identify whether you need a taxable account or an eligible retirement arrangement. Read contribution, withdrawal and transfer rules separately from trading features.
- List the holdings you actually need. Check specific funds, fractional-share availability, recurring purchases and any minimums. Do not assume every product is available because the broker offers “stocks and ETFs.”
- Price a normal year. Include fund expenses and expected account/service charges. Add margin interest only if borrowing is actually part of the plan; borrowing introduces additional risk.
- Inspect the routine workflow. Find statements, tax documents, order status, cash availability and support contact methods. Note anything you cannot understand before funding.
- Check the exit. Review transfer-out charges, restrictions on transferring fractional holdings, and the treatment of any promotional offer.
Try a workflow, not a prediction contest
A simulator can help you learn order entry without committing real money. It cannot establish that a strategy will work with real fills, spreads, market stress or emotions. You do not need options or day trading to begin investing.
Account protection is not investment protection
FDIC insurance does not cover stocks, bonds or mutual funds, even when purchased through an insured bank. SIPC protection concerns missing customer assets in a member-broker liquidation; it does not reimburse ordinary market losses. Eligible bank-sweep deposits and brokerage securities have different protections. Read the terms for the particular product.
Before you decide
Write down two requirements that matter most to you, the investments you plan to buy and the total costs you found. If a broker cannot explain an important term clearly, leave that question unresolved rather than treating the brand name as an answer.
Build the plan behind the account
Beginner investing checklist · Index funds explained · Explore costs and growth assumptions
How this guide was researched
Updated October 3, 2026 using the linked U.S. provider documents and investor-protection resources. This is a public-document review, not a hands-on account test. We have not measured fill quality, support response times or app usability, and do not assign star ratings. Provider pages are evidence of stated terms—not independent proof of performance.
Broker links on this page are direct information links without referral codes. InvestPips displays advertising elsewhere on the site; ads are separate from this comparison. Check current terms before acting. Read our editorial and advertising notes.
What changed in this update
Removed unsupported best-in-class claims, referral-style calls to action and an inactive newsletter link. Corrected language that treated brokerage investments as FDIC-insured or all trading as fee-free. The 2025 comparison has been substantively rebuilt, not merely re-dated. The existing URL and original publication date were retained.
Educational information for U.S. readers, not personalized investment advice. Products, eligibility and costs can change. Investing can result in loss.