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US Brokerage Reviews

Honest, AI-researched reviews of 13 popular US brokerages — fees, features, and who each one is best for.

Charles Schwab

SIPCFINRA

Best all-around US broker for investors who want zero commissions, every account type imaginable, top-tier trading tools, and human support — all under one roof

Commissions$0 online commission on US exchange-listed stocks and ETFs
Options$0 base commission + $0.65 per contract
Individual BrokerageJoint BrokerageTraditional IRARoth IRA+14 more

E*TRADE

SIPCFINRA

Best for options traders and retirement planners who want a full-service broker-bank platform under one roof

Commissions$0 online stock and ETF trades
Options$0.65 per contract ($0.50 with 30+ trades/quarter)
BrokerageCustodialTraditional IRARoth IRA+9 more

Fidelity

SIPCFINRA

Best all-around US broker for long-term investors, retirement savers, and families who want zero fees and serious tools under one roof

Commissions$0 online stock and ETF trades
Options$0.65 per contract (buy-to-close orders of $0.65 or less are free)
BrokerageTraditional IRARoth IRARollover IRA+6 more

Interactive Brokers

SIPCFINRA

Best for active traders, margin users, and international investors who want the lowest costs and broadest market access — but overkill for casual buy-and-hold beginners

CommissionsIBKR Lite: $0 on US exchange-listed stocks and ETFs. IBKR Pro: $0.0005-$0.0035/share (Tiered) or $0.005/share (Fixed)
Options$0.15-$0.65 per contract (Tiered) or $0.65 per contract (Fixed)
Individual BrokerageJointTrustUGMA/UTMA+10 more

M1 Finance

SIPCFINRA

Best for buy-and-hold investors with $10,000+ who want automated portfolio management and cheap margin, but a poor fit for beginners, active traders, or anyone who wants options

Commissions$0 commissions on stocks and ETFs
OptionsOptions trading not available
Individual BrokerageJoint BrokerageCustodial AccountTraditional IRA+4 more

Merrill Edge

SIPCFINRA

Best for Bank of America customers with $50K+ in combined balances who want their banking and investing rewards to compound together

Commissions$0 online stock and ETF trades
Options$0 base + $0.65 per contract
Individual BrokerageJoint BrokerageTraditional IRARoth IRA+8 more

Public

SIPCFINRA

Best for active options traders and yield-seekers who want the industry's only rebate program, cheap margin, and modern AI tools

Commissions$0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and options
Options$0 per contract (plus $0.06-$0.18 rebate back to trader)
BrokerageTraditional IRARoth IRARollover IRA

Robinhood

SIPCFINRA

4.2/5

Commissions$0 stocks/ETFs
Options$0/trade ($0.50/contract futures, $0.35/contract index options with Gold)
Individual TaxableTraditional IRARoth IRACash Management

Robinhood

SIPCFINRA

Best for mobile-first investors who want the IRA match, high cash yield, and a growing feature set

Commissions$0 online stock, ETF, options, and crypto trades
Options$0 per trade + $0.04/contract regulatory fees
BrokerageTraditional IRARoth IRARollover IRA+3 more

SoFi Invest

SIPCFINRA

Best for beginner to intermediate investors who want zero-cost trading (especially options), an IRA match, and IPO access in a simple, app-first experience

Commissions$0 online stock, ETF, and options trades
Options$0 per contract (no commissions, no contract fees, no exercise/assignment fees)
Individual BrokerageJoint Brokerage (JTWROS)Traditional IRARoth IRA+3 more

Vanguard

SIPCFINRA

Best for long-term passive investors wanting lowest all-in costs with guaranteed fee reductions

Commissions$0 online stock and ETF trades
Options$1 per contract, no base commission
BrokerageTraditional IRARoth IRARollover IRA+6 more

Webull

SIPCFINRA

Best for cost-conscious options traders who want zero contract fees and solid charting without paying for premium features

Commissions$0 online stock and ETF trades
Options$0 per contract (equity options); $0.50 per contract (index options)
Individual Brokerage (Cash)Individual Brokerage (Margin)Traditional IRARoth IRA+2 more

tastytrade

SIPCFINRA

Best for active options traders doing 10+ contracts per leg who want the cheapest all-in cost and a derivatives-focused platform

Commissions$0 online stock and ETF trades
Options$1/contract to open ($10/leg cap), $0 to close
Individual BrokerageJoint BrokerageTraditional IRARoth IRA+3 more

Reviews are based on publicly available information from broker websites. Fees and features may change. Not financial advice. See our disclaimer.