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.
The top options broken down by their strongest use cases include:
Fidelity : Best overall for beginners, long-term investors, and mobile app usability. It features a $0 minimum, robust educational resources, fractional shares, and excellent customer service with physical branches available.[](]()]()
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.
Robinhood : Best for absolute simplicity and casual investing. It features a streamlined, frictionless interface for trading stocks and crypto, though it lacks the deep research and complex analytical tools of Schwab or Fidelity.
To help narrow down which account fits you best, tell me:
Are you investing for long-term retirement/wealth or active day trading?
Do you prefer a mobile app or a desktop platform?
Are you interested in specific assets like crypto, options, or international stocks?
For most U.S. investors, I’d start by comparing Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and Vanguard. If you’re a beginner or building wealth for the long term, you probably don’t need a complicated trading platform.
Recent 2026 comparisons consistently put Fidelity and Schwab among the leading all-around choices, while Interactive Brokers stands out for more advanced traders. The best choice depends on your goals, fees, investment options, and how you want to manage your money.
My top brokerage picks
1. Fidelity
(Best overall)
A strong choice for beginners, retirement savers, and long-term investors. Offers $0 online commissions on U.S. stock and ETF trades, fractional-share investing from $1, and a broad selection of investments.
Account minimum: $0 for a standard retail brokerage account.
Great for investors who want research, customer support, retirement accounts, and the option to grow into more advanced trading tools. Online U.S. stock and ETF trades are commission-free.
Account minimum: $0 for standard brokerage accounts.
Worth considering if your plan is to regularly buy diversified index funds and hold them for years. Particularly well known for low-cost index funds and ETFs.
Check fund-specific minimums and account fees before opening.
A good fit for experienced investors who need extensive global market access, sophisticated trading tools, or multiple asset classes. The interface can be overwhelming for first-time investors.
Account minimum: $0 for standard individual accounts; pricing depends on the plan and trades.
A solid option for investors who want accessible trading tools, educational resources, and room to explore more active strategies. Online U.S. stock and ETF trades have $0 commissions.
Account minimum: $0 for standard brokerage accounts.
Remember that $0 commissions don't mean every investment is free. Fund expenses, options fees, margin interest, and certain transaction fees may still apply.
Which account should you open?
The brokerage firm is only half the decision. The type of account matters, too.
Regular taxable brokerage: For investing money you may want to access before retirement. Selling investments at a profit can trigger capital gains taxes.
Roth IRA: For eligible retirement savers who want tax-free qualified withdrawals. Contributions are subject to eligibility and annual limits.
Traditional IRA: For retirement savings that may qualify for an upfront tax deduction.
Managed investment account: If you want automated investing or professional portfolio management, usually for an additional fee.
Let me narrow it down for you
1. What is your main goal?
Build wealth over 5–20+ years
Retirement savings
Save for a home or another near-term goal
Trade stocks and options actively
Generate dividends or investment income
2. How experienced are you?
Beginner
Some investing experience
Experienced investor or trader
3. How much will you initially invest?
Under $100
$100–$1,000
$1,000–$10,000
Over $10,000
4. Which account are you looking for?
Regular brokerage account
Roth IRA
Traditional IRA
Not sure yet
5. What matters most?
Low fees and simplicity
Research and customer service
Mobile app and ease of use
Interest on uninvested cash
Advanced trading tools
[Find my best brokerage]
My starting recommendation, before knowing more about you, is Fidelity for a first brokerage account and Vanguard if your primary focus is long-term, low-cost index investing. The answers above can help determine which is the better fit for your situation.
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?
