Best Online Stock Brokers in the USA for 2025

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The U.S. investing landscape in 2025 is more dynamic than ever. From commission-free stock trading to AI-powered portfolio management, online brokers have transformed how everyday Americans invest. Whether you’re a beginner building your first portfolio or an experienced trader seeking advanced tools, choosing the right broker can significantly impact your returns, costs, and experience.

With dozens of platforms competing for attention, each offering different features, fees, and perks, it’s essential to understand your own investing style and match it with a broker that fits your needs.

This guide breaks down the best online stock brokers for U.S. investors in 2025, focusing on fees, research tools, trading platforms, and special features.

Key Factors When Choosing an Online Broker

Before jumping into the rankings, here are the main aspects U.S. investors should evaluate:

  1. Commissions & Fees – Many brokers now offer $0 commissions for stocks and ETFs, but options trading, mutual funds, and other products may still carry costs.
  2. Trading Platform & Tools – Advanced charting, customizable dashboards, and mobile app quality are crucial for active traders.
  3. Investment Choices – Look for a wide selection of stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, options, futures, and even crypto.
  4. Account Types – Ensure they support taxable brokerage accounts, IRAs, and other retirement accounts.
  5. Research & Education – Analyst ratings, screeners, and educational materials are essential for making informed decisions.
  6. Customer Service – Fast, reliable support can save time and money during high-stakes trades.
  7. Security & Regulation – U.S. brokers should be registered with FINRA and SIPC for investor protection.

Top U.S. Online Brokers for 2025

1. Fidelity Investments

  • Best For: Long-term investors, retirement savers
  • Trading Costs: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs
  • Key Features:
    • Industry-leading research from more than 20 providers
    • Robust retirement planning tools
    • Zero expense ratio index funds
    • Strong customer service, including local branches
  • Pros:
    • Wide selection of investment options
    • No account fees or minimums
    • Excellent IRA offerings
  • Cons:
    • Active traders may prefer more advanced charting tools

2. Charles Schwab

  • Best For: All-around investors seeking value and service
  • Trading Costs: $0 for stocks and ETFs
  • Key Features:
    • Schwab Intelligent Portfolios for robo-advisory services
    • Powerful StreetSmart Edge trading platform
    • Access to futures and options
  • Pros:
    • Extensive branch network
    • High-quality research tools
    • No account minimums
  • Cons:
    • Mutual fund commission fees on some non-Schwab funds

3. TD Ameritrade (Now part of Charles Schwab)

  • Best For: Active traders
  • Trading Costs: $0 for stocks and ETFs
  • Key Features:
    • Thinkorswim platform with professional-level charting
    • Extensive options and futures trading
    • Market news and live CNBC streaming
  • Pros:
    • Advanced trading tools
    • Wide range of asset classes
    • Paper trading for practice
  • Cons:
    • Integration with Schwab still ongoing

4. E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

  • Best For: Beginner-to-intermediate investors
  • Trading Costs: $0 for stocks and ETFs
  • Key Features:
    • Intuitive Power E*TRADE platform
    • Excellent educational library
    • Retirement accounts and managed portfolios available
  • Pros:
    • Strong options trading interface
    • Helpful planning calculators
  • Cons:
    • Some mutual funds carry high fees

5. Interactive Brokers (IBKR)

  • Best For: Global investors and professionals
  • Trading Costs: $0 for U.S.-listed stocks (IBKR Lite)
  • Key Features:
    • Access to 150+ markets worldwide
    • Advanced trading tools and APIs
    • Margin rates among the lowest in the industry
  • Pros:
    • Extensive asset selection
    • Professional-grade analytics
  • Cons:
    • Steeper learning curve for beginners

6. Robinhood

  • Best For: Mobile-first, beginner traders
  • Trading Costs: $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options
  • Key Features:
    • Simple, intuitive mobile app
    • Fractional shares investing
    • Cryptocurrency trading
  • Pros:
    • No account minimums
    • Easy-to-use interface
  • Cons:
    • Limited research tools
    • No retirement accounts

7. Merrill Edge (Bank of America)

  • Best For: Bank of America customers
  • Trading Costs: $0 for stocks and ETFs
  • Key Features:
    • Preferred Rewards program boosts benefits
    • Strong integration with BofA accounts
    • In-depth research from Bank of America Global Research
  • Pros:
    • High-quality customer service
    • Free transfers between BofA and Merrill accounts
  • Cons:
    • Less competitive for active day traders

8. Webull

  • Best For: Tech-savvy, commission-free traders
  • Trading Costs: $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options
  • Key Features:
    • Advanced charting in mobile and desktop platforms
    • Extended-hours trading
    • Fractional shares
  • Pros:
    • Zero commissions
    • Clean, modern interface
  • Cons:
    • Limited mutual fund offerings
    • Lacks extensive research reports

9. SoFi Invest

  • Best For: Beginners seeking a mix of self-directed and automated investing
  • Trading Costs: $0 for stocks and ETFs
  • Key Features:
    • Automated robo-advisory service
    • Fractional share investing
    • Integration with SoFi’s personal finance products
  • Pros:
    • No management fees on robo portfolios
    • Educational resources and member perks
  • Cons:
    • Fewer research tools than traditional brokers

10. Vanguard

  • Best For: Long-term index fund investors
  • Trading Costs: $0 for Vanguard ETFs and most stocks
  • Key Features:
    • Low-cost index funds and ETFs
    • Retirement-focused tools
    • Target-date funds for hands-off investing
  • Pros:
    • Extremely low fund fees
    • Ideal for buy-and-hold strategies
  • Cons:
    • Trading platform less advanced than competitors

Specialized Broker Picks

  • Best for Options Traders: tastytrade – Advanced options platform with competitive pricing.
  • Best for International Stocks: Interactive Brokers – Unmatched access to global markets.
  • Best for Banking Integration: Merrill Edge – Perfect for Bank of America customers.

Trends in Online Stock Brokerage for 2025

  1. AI-Driven Investing Tools – Many brokers now offer AI-powered trade ideas and portfolio suggestions.
  2. Fractional Shares Expansion – Increasing accessibility to high-priced stocks like Amazon or Berkshire Hathaway.
  3. Crypto Integration – Platforms are slowly adding regulated crypto trading alongside traditional securities.
  4. Enhanced Mobile Trading – More brokers are making desktop-grade features available in mobile apps.
  5. ESG Investing Focus – Growing selection of socially responsible and green investment options.

How to Choose the Best Broker for You

  • If you trade often, prioritize low-cost options trades and advanced platforms like Thinkorswim or IBKR.
  • If you’re a long-term investor, focus on fund selection, retirement account features, and fees.
  • If you value simplicity, opt for Robinhood, SoFi, or Webull.
  • If you want strong research, look at Fidelity, Schwab, or Merrill Edge.

Final Thoughts

The “best” broker depends entirely on your personal investing style. In 2025, U.S. investors are fortunate to have an abundance of top-tier options, most of which offer commission-free trading, robust tools, and a range of investment products. Whether you’re building wealth for retirement, trading options daily, or diversifying globally, the right broker can help you achieve your goals more efficiently.

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