Best Online Trading Platforms In January 2026

The key difference between professional and retail trading accounts is that the former are normally only available to traders who meet certain criteria, whereas the latter are available to most adults who want to trade online. The best brokers for professional traders offer dedicated account managers with priority support and shorter queue times. Do our top brokers for pro traders offer security measures to keep large account balances safe? These plans initially helped investors avoid brokerage fees, but the rise of online discount brokers with zero fees has removed this barrier, making the direct stock purchase plan somewhat of a relic. Unless all the funds in your brokerage account are sitting in uninvested cash (brokerage cash accounts are afforded up to $250,000 of protection by Securities Investor Protection Corporation insurance), there is a risk you will lose money.

• However, this may be the only online stock trading platform that doesn’t charge a fee for broker-assisted trading.
• But it was a competitive finisher in primary categories – investment choices, tools and education, and mobile app.
• Trading Futures and Options on Futures involves a substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors.
• The firm ranked first or second in the most important categories – investment choices, mobile app, and tools and education – and that helped lock in its position in the rankings.
• As of Oct. 20, 2025, the company holds $6.4 trillion in discretionary assets and is ranked among the top brokerage firms in terms of assets under management.

What You Can Invest In

The app has a great https://www.forexbrokersonline.com/iqcent-review user interface – it’s easy to deposit checks, check account balances and transfers, check tax forms, and find ATMs all in the same place that you manage your investments. They also offer fee-free, automated rebalancing and 24/7 access to your portfolio. Both portfolios offer a comparatively high interest rate of 4% on the cash holdings, credited monthly.

• It offers three different accounts – one self-directed account you build yourself, a guided account, and a guided account with an advisor.
• Yes, most reputable trading platforms are safe, especially those regulated by recognised financial authorities.
• I did make money on day one, mainly thanks to putting on a GBP-USD trade that covered most of the losses from some of the other trades.
• Interactive Brokers offers a Pro tier with per-share pricing and a Lite tier with commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs.
• Fidelity has long been an industry leader in lowering fees, but it is also widely-regarded for its vast customer service network, which includes 217 customer centers, and provides excellent client support for its low-cost, high-value offering.

Moneta Markets: Best For Cashback Bonus

• $500,000 minimum investment for fully-managed accounts
• One thing I quite like though is that instead of relying on third-party software, the Capital.com trading platform is built in-house, and if you want something you can ask for it.
• There is no longer a real minimum to start investing in the financial markets.
• The trading platform has grown considerably since the acquisition of Gain Capital by StoneX and includes some excellent added-value features like Performance Analytics and trading signals.

Margin rates are the amount of leverage you get when you trade. Funds up to £85k are predicted by the FSCS if a broker defaults, but not above that amount, unless insurance is in place. If you ask a dealer to execute a trade for you and they do it wrong, they will have to make good on what you asked for. Dealing over the phone is also handy if things go wrong and an error needs sorting out or if you have a particularly complicated strategy to execute that requires cross margin calculations that cannot be done online. However, the disadvantage is that your losses are multiplied and if you can lose your entire account balance with small percentages moves. The advantage of this is that you get more exposure to the market and can diversify positions.

Merrill Edge

City Index’s free desktop trading platform is web-based, so there is nothing to download you simply log in and trade on your internet browser. Founded in 1983 City Index has a solid and longstanding presence in online trading; its trading platform is a genuine rival to IG and CMC Markets. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Trading platforms let you speculate with leverage on the price of stocks, commodities, indices, fixed income and foreign exchange by going long or short via futures, options, CFDs or spread betting. Like most of its competition, Ally doesn’t charge commissions for stock or ETF trades, but it does stand out for options trading commissions that are slightly below the industry standard. Either way, you get access to its top trading platforms – including the IMPACT mobile app that helps you sift through ESG investments – and you’ll also get discounts if you’re trading significant volume.

• Desktop platforms are software applications installed on your computer.
• Confirm SIPC coverage and review the broker’s fee schedule, platform access, and research.
• Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market.
• Be careful though as cryptocurrencies are an unproven and unregulated asset class and extremely high risk.
• They all have a different function, so at first it’s like going on a scavenger hunt to find out which platform should be used for what function.

Tradezero – Best Short-selling Broker

The minimum equity requirement for a margin account is $2,000. In addition, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC can force the sale of any securities in your account without prior notice if your equity falls below required levels, and you are not entitled to an extension of time in the event of a margin call. Please read the Special Statement for Uncovered Options Writers before you trade. For more information, please read the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options prior to applying for an account. Banking products and services are provided by Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Member FDIC.

Charles Schwab: Best For Beginners

Most platforms incorporate trading costs into the spread, rather than charging a separate commission, and spreads vary by asset, account type, and live market conditions. We checked how many markets and the types of financial products each platform offers. We looked for platforms that beginners and experienced traders can use, ensuring that all necessary tools and information are readily available.

• Additionally, Webull allows you to trade fractional shares, letting you buy stocks and ETFs for as little as $5, making it accessible for investors with smaller budgets.
• They have a promotions tab that highlights all their current "deals," making it feel more like a carnival than a stock trading platform.
• Investors may also sign up for nearly 100 additional services that offer free trials.
• IBKR is not a contributor, reviewer, provider or sponsor of content published on this site, and is not responsible for the accuracy of any products or services discussed.

Created by the same people who developed TD Ameritrade’s highly regarded thinkorswim platform, tastytrade maintains its stance as the best broker for options because of its intuitive delivery of an industry-best mix of comprehensive options-focused tools and content. In addition to our review of Interactive Brokers’ online brokerage platform, we’ve also reviewed the company’s robo-advisor service, Interactive Advisors. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) offers astonishing access to 160 markets in 36 countries and support for its services in 200 countries and territories, all with funding and trading capabilities in up to 28 currencies. Eventually, Interactive Brokers Inc. was incorporated as a U.S. broker-dealer in 1993, and the company has since developed into one of the industry’s most complete online brokerage platforms. Already known as a platform with industry-leading trading technology and access to abundant account amenities for traders is iqcent legit of all levels.

System response and account access times may vary due to a variety of factors, including trading volumes, market conditions, system performance, and other factors. When trading on margin, an investor borrows a portion https://www.daytrading.com/iqcent of the funds they use to buy stocks to try to take advantage of opportunities in the market. Open and fund a new brokerage account with a qualifying deposit by January 31, 2026.

Best Online Brokers For Investing In Etfs

If you are new to trading, they have a stand-alone app called Investmate, which puts you through a series of bitesize courses that explain the financial markets. One thing I quite like though is that instead of relying on third-party software, the Capital.com trading platform is built in-house, and if you want something you can ask for it. This could be either from not having enough free cash on account to give your position breathing space, or simply putting on trades that are too risky. I’ve just been through a bunch of other trading apps on my phone and still, amazingly enough, none of the other brokers have done this yet.