Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab share the front position, with Fidelity praised for low costs and its high-yield cash sweep. Charles Schwab serves as the primary recommendation when investors focus on online stock broker research and user experience.
Choosing the "best" brokerage account depends heavily on your experience level and how you plan to invest. Most major online brokers offer $0 commission on standard stock and ETF trades and have no account minimums , meaning your choice comes down to user experience, research tools, and specialized features.[](https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/best/online-brokers-for-beginners)
Top brokerage accounts are organized below by what they do best:
Charles Schwab is the usual answer, highlighted for its research tools and user experience. Fidelity Investments is frequently paired alongside it for low-cost investing.
Vanguard — Best for Buy-and-Hold & Passive Investors: The pioneer of low-cost index funds. While its trading interface and mobile app are more utilitarian, it remains a favorite for retirement-focused, long-term investors.[](https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/best/online-brokers-for-beginners)
Robinhood — Best for Mobile-First & Casual Trading: Streamlined, highly responsive mobile app interface with unique perks like IRA matching, though it lacks the deep research and complex asset offerings of legacy full-service brokers.[](https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/best/online-brokers-for-beginners)
The best brokerage account depends on whether you want to invest for retirement, buy stocks and ETFs, trade actively, or build long-term wealth with minimal fees.
For most U.S. investors, I'd start by comparing Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and Vanguard. I'd also consider Interactive Brokers for active traders and Robinhood for a simple, mobile-first experience.
The important distinction is that a brokerage account is where you hold investments, while a Roth IRA or traditional IRA is a tax-advantaged account type that you can often open through a brokerage.
My top brokerage picks
1. Fidelity Investments
(Best overall for beginners)
Great for long-term investing, retirement accounts, research, and building a diversified portfolio. Online U.S. stock and ETF trades cost $0, and there's no account-opening minimum.
Best for: starting out, Roth IRAs, long-term wealth building.
A strong choice if you want investment research, customer support, mobile and desktop tools, and the option to visit a branch. Standard online stock and ETF trades are commission-free, with no account minimum.
Best for: investors who value service and flexibility.
Excellent for long-term, buy-and-hold investors who favor diversified index funds and ETFs. Particularly worth considering if you want a simple portfolio that you contribute to regularly.
Best for: retirement savings and passive investing.
Strong for experienced investors who want sophisticated trading tools, international market access, and a broad selection of investments. It may be more complex than necessary for a beginner.
Best for: active traders and international investing.
A mobile-first platform designed to make buying and selling investments straightforward. Worth comparing if ease of use matters most, though you should evaluate its research, support, and account features against your needs.
Best for: app-based investing and a simple interface.
The first four brokers are also represented in independent 2026 brokerage rankings, with Fidelity recognized for beginners, Schwab for overall service, and Interactive Brokers for active traders.
Quick comparison
Brokerage
Main advantage
Main consideration
Fidelity
Best balance of features
Many investment choices can feel overwhelming
Charles Schwab
Service and research
Some specialized investments have fees
Vanguard
Long-term index investing
Less trading-focused experience
Which account should you open?
For a Roth IRA: Start with Fidelity or Schwab if you want a flexible retirement account.
For buying stocks and ETFs with money you may need access to: Consider a regular taxable brokerage account at Fidelity or Schwab.
For investing every month for 10–20 years: Compare Fidelity, Vanguard, and Schwab.
For frequent trading: Compare Interactive Brokers with Schwab.
One important detail: stocks and ETFs can lose value, and investments in a brokerage account generally aren't FDIC-insured. Keep emergency savings separate from money you invest.
If you want to buy stocks online in the U.S., I’d start by comparing a few established brokerage platforms. The best choice depends on whether you're a beginner investing for the long term, someone who wants to trade frequently, or an investor who wants help choosing investments.
My general advice: prioritize low fees, an easy-to-use app, access to diversified index funds and ETFs, and strong account security. You don't need a complicated trading platform to start investing.
5 online stock trading platforms to consider
1. Fidelity
(Best overall starting point)
A strong all-around choice for new investors and long-term savers. Offers stocks, ETFs, retirement accounts, fractional shares, research and educational resources.
If you're in the United States, there are several reputable online services where you can open an investment account and buy shares of stock directly from your computer or phone. Many offer $0 commission on online stock trades, and some let you start investing with as little as $1.
Best online services for buying stocks
1. Fidelity Investments
(Best for beginners)
A strong all-around choice with educational resources, research tools, and fractional shares of eligible U.S. stocks starting at $1. Online U.S. stock trades have $0 commission.
Website:
2. Charles Schwab
A well-established brokerage with investment research, educational materials, customer support, and fractional investing in eligible U.S. stocks. Online fractional purchases can start at $1 under its current offering.
Website:
3. Robinhood
A mobile-first platform designed for straightforward stock trading. It offers commission-free stock trades and fractional-share investing, making it worth comparing if you prefer using an app.
Website:
4. E*TRADE
Offers online stock trading, research, and tools for both newer and more experienced investors. Online stock trades generally carry $0 commission; fractional investing options are more limited than at some competitors.
Website:
5. Interactive Brokers
Best worth considering if you want access to international markets, advanced trading tools, or a wider range of investments. Pricing depends on the account and trading plan you choose.
Website:
6. Vanguard
Particularly worth considering if your goal is long-term investing through low-cost index funds and ETFs, rather than frequent stock trading. Online stock and ETF trades have $0 commission, and eligible Vanguard ETFs can be purchased from $1.
Website:
Which one should you choose?
If your priority is…
Consider
Just getting started
Fidelity
Personal service and research
Charles Schwab
A simple mobile app
Robinhood
Active trading tools
E*TRADE
International stock markets
Interactive Brokers
Long-term index investing
How to buy your first stock
Open a brokerage account on the service's official website.
Verify your identity and provide the required information.
Deposit money from your bank account.
Search for a company by name or ticker symbol (for example, Apple or AAPL).
Choose how much to invest, review the order, and submit your purchase.
You don't necessarily need enough money to buy a whole share. With fractional shares, you may be able to invest a small dollar amount instead.
A few things to check before opening an account: Account eligibility, trading fees, other possible charges, and whether the specific stocks you want are available. Stocks can lose value, and commission-free trading does not mean investing is risk-free.
Let me narrow it down for you
Are you looking to buy stocks for the first time, or do you already have some investing experience? I can recommend the most suitable service based on your budget and goals.
You can buy stocks online through a stock brokerage account. If you're in the United States, several reputable platforms let you open an account online, start with a small amount of money, and buy stocks from your phone or computer.
Here are my top options for getting started in 2026.
Best places to buy stocks online
1. Fidelity
(Best overall for beginners)
Offers $0 online stock-trading commissions, fractional shares, investment research, and educational resources. Good for beginners and long-term investors.
Great for investors who want research tools, educational resources, and access to in-person support. Online U.S. stock trades generally have $0 commissions.
A simple, mobile-focused app that lets you buy stocks by dollar amount, including fractional shares. Standard stock trades have $0 commissions, although other fees may apply.
Worth considering if your goal is long-term investing, particularly in diversified index funds and ETFs rather than frequently trading individual stocks.
Choose a brokerage. Fidelity is a good starting point for most beginners.
Open an account. Apply online and provide the identification and financial details requested.
Add money. Link your bank account and transfer an amount you can afford to invest.
Choose a stock. Search for a company by its name or ticker symbol, such as AAPL for Apple.
Place your order. Enter the dollar amount or number of shares you want to buy, review the order, and submit it.
You can read the SEC's explanation of brokerage accounts at Investor.gov.
A few important tips: Start small, avoid borrowing money to trade, and remember that stock prices can fall. Check that a brokerage is registered and understand that SIPC protection does not cover investment losses.
Offers extensive investment research, educational resources, customer support and the thinkorswim platform for more advanced trading. A good option if you want room to grow.
Has a streamlined app that lets you buy stocks and fractional shares. Worth considering if you want a straightforward mobile-first experience, though its research tools are less extensive than some traditional brokers.
Good for investors who want educational materials and research alongside trading tools. Its standard app is approachable, with more advanced capabilities available as you gain experience.
Best to consider if you want advanced trading tools, access to international markets and a broad selection of investments. Its interface and pricing structure can be more complex for beginners.
These are general-fit recommendations, not a guarantee of investment performance. The platforms above generally offer commission-free online trading of eligible U.S.-listed stocks, but other fees can apply.
Before opening an account
Compare total costs. Check account fees, options charges, margin interest and fees for transferring your account.
Check account protection. SIPC coverage can protect eligible customer assets if a member brokerage fails, subject to limits and conditions. It does not protect you from stock-market losses.
Start with a plan. If you're investing for years rather than trading daily, diversified ETFs may be worth researching alongside individual stocks.
Verify the firm. Use the SEC's Investor.gov broker guidance to learn how to check registration and background information.
Let me narrow it down for you
The best platform depends on how you intend to invest. Which describes you best?
Choose a broker that fits your experience level and goals.
Open an account by providing your identification, Social Security number, and basic personal info.
Link your bank account to deposit funds electronically.
Search for the stock ticker (e.g., AAPL for Apple) on the platform, choose how many shares or fractional dollars you want to invest, and place your buy order.
If you'd like to narrow it down, let me know:
Are you looking for a beginner-friendly app or a more advanced trading platform?
Do you want to buy individual company stocks or prefer hands-off index funds/ETFs?
