To walk you through, one of our Nerds recorded the step-by-step process when she opened an account as part of our research for this list. Motley Fool Money is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters. These fees are fairly standard in the industry, but worth considering if you plan to engage in more complex trading activities. One thing to note is that Fidelity charges $49.95 for redeeming no transaction fee, non-Fidelity funds within 60 days of buying them — so hold onto them to avoid that. Fidelity’s platform is straightforward, offering just enough information to make informed decisions without being overwhelming. While it may not have the ultra-modern aesthetics of newer platforms like Robinhood, its reliability and functionality are consistently high.

Brokers With KWD Account

WallStreetZen does not bear any responsibility for any losses or damage that may occur as a result of reliance on this data. All of these apps are fully insured and licensed in the U.S., and offer a safe and secure way to invest. You just need to find one that fits your investing style to get started.

If you use an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might not even get a say in who brokers your account. Many even have apps where you can get started right from your phone. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing doesn’t charge commissions on trades (with the exception of options contracts) and doesn’t require an account deposit of any size on day one to open an account. There are also some powerful tools that will help you build a diversified portfolio. Public also acts as a micro-investing app, allowing you to invest in fractional shares with as little as $1. One major callout before going any further, however, is that while M1 Finance offers pre-made portfolios aligned to several investing goals, the company is not an advisory service.

The Latest in Investing

In addition, Fidelity Youth Accounts also get to benefit from Fidelity’s competitive interest for uninvested cash. Most importantly, education isn’t an afterthought; it’s integrated into the experience. When a broker makes learning intuitive and ongoing, users are more likely to stay engaged, avoid costly mistakes and gradually build the knowledge they need to invest more actively. Over time, that combination of usability and educational support becomes one of the most valuable tools in a new investor’s journey. Robinhood pioneered the commission-free investing movement and remains one of the easiest ways for beginners to get started.

Other Options: Top robo-advisors

Many online brokers now offer commission-free trades, which can be particularly advantageous for beginners starting with a smaller investment. They’ve built platforms that cater to investors of all experience levels, with easy-to-use interfaces, educational content, and customer support to guide you through your investment journey. best online brokers for beginners In fact, the rise of online trading has given birth to a new generation of investors who’ve started with little to no knowledge of the stock market.

If you’re looking to invest in foreign markets, you’ll want to find a broker that offers access but also specializes in investments outside the U.S. You should also look out for account minimums, which can be steep with some brokerages. As a beginner investor, you have access to several great brokerage services that don’t have balance requirements.

• We fact-check every single statistic, quote and fact using trusted primary resources to make sure the information we provide is correct.
• At any time you can sell them (although there are some tax implications when you do this) to turn them back into cash.
• It may also be a little nerve-racking to start investing when the stock market is as volatile as it’s been so far in 2025.
• So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information.
• Most go well beyond just allowing you to buy and sell stocks—they’re research portals, trade-idea generators, and access points for a wide array of investments that go well beyond stocks.

The 7 Best Online Brokerage Accounts for Beginners in 2025:

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. Please ensure you understand how this product works and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing money.

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Schwab offers a web-based platform, a mobile app and its proprietary trading software StreetSmart Edge. As you gain confidence, dive deeper into portfolio strategy, diversification, tax‑efficient accounts, and advanced investment products. Beginner-friendly brokers offer guides, webinars, demo accounts, and in‑platform tips to boost your confidence and financial literacy. EToro does not offer retirement accounts, and the desktop experience may be too confusing for beginners. Betterment is a robo-advisor that offers fully automated investment management, including asset allocation, automatic rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting, and dividend reinvestment. Even if you don’t know what those things are, Betterment makes it simple to invest on a set-it-and-forget-it schedule.

Plus500 is a global multi-asset fintech group that operates trading platforms globally, offering a range of trading products, including CFDs, Share dealing and Futures trading (US). Analytics Insight is an award-winning tech news publication that delivers in-depth insights into the major technology trends that impact the markets. The content produced on this website is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or recommendation. Always conduct your own research or check with certified experts before investing, and be prepared for potential losses.

Based on our analysis of over 20 online brokers, Charles Schwab, Firstrade, Fidelity and Webull have some of the best resources and support for beginner investors. An online broker may charge you to transfer money into your account or to withdraw your funds. Consider potential transfer fees and whether you would have to sell your investments (and pay fees and taxes) to withdraw your money.

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SoFi Active Investing is perfect for beginners looking for comprehensive support. You can enjoy free stock, options, and ETF trades with a $0 minimum deposit. A standout feature of SoFi is its access to a financial advisor, which is rare among other platforms. This is especially valuable for new investors who may want expert guidance as they begin their investment journey. Despite Charles Schwab’s overall affordability, certain online brokerage accounts, products, and features are more expensive. For example, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios has a $5,000 minimum with an even higher $50,000 minimum requirement to unlock tax-loss harvesting.

Meanwhile, Firstrade’s educational resources include primers on many basic investment types, explanatory videos, and an A-to-Z glossary to help you become more familiar with vital investing terms. For starters, Firstrade has some of the best trading fees among all investing apps. Still, if you’re a beginner who’s not sure if you’ll be more into trading, or more into long-term investing, a Vanguard account is a good place to start. More importantly, though, Robinhood has evolved from a bare-bones app appealing to mostly beginner investors to a fuller-featured account suitable for a wider range of experience levels.

• Those are some of the major features that you’ll want to consider, but you may have other “must-have” features depending on your needs.
• Fidelity is perfect for those seeking a low-cost, comprehensive brokerage with a broad range of investment options.
• It’s a robo-advisor that takes your spare change and invests it for you automatically.
• Of all the best brokers for beginners I’ve covered here, Acorns is the most hands-off.

But you will need enough money to purchase the investments you choose. Stock share prices can vary widely, but some brokers allow you to purchase fractional shares, which are a smaller slice of a stock. Other investments, like mutual funds, may have investment minimums, but generally speaking, you can find options that don’t — especially at the brokers we’ve chosen to appear here. We spent hours analyzing the best brokers for beginners to find ones that offer low costs, helpful educational content and a broad investment selection.

Best for Young Investors

They typically invest in low‑cost ETFs and manage portfolio rebalancing. While some experts may miss personalised financial planning, robo‑advisors suit beginners who prefer automation. Robinhood does have limitations, though, as they don’t offer retirement accounts, or access to mutual funds or bonds. And Robinhood has had its fair share of controversy (including platform outages) over the years. Finding a quality brokerage account that makes it easy to start has never been easier.