Best Online Stock Brokerages – Comparison

Last updated: March 29, 2014

There are lots of online stock brokerages out there, but I was wondering which one is the best and how to choose the right one for my investment styles and objectives. I spent many days to select one for myself. So, I thought it would be useful to compare all of them in a page which may help you to select one that meet your needs.

First you need to ask your-self what is your investment style and objective.

Active Investor:

You are a frequent trader and look to make money in short-term with the market movements. Due to the high number of trade in a month, you will need to look a broker with the following features:

• Low trade commission fee, price per option – Clearly this is important for you make good money after brokerage the commissions.
• Available Assert class
• Fast trading feature and after-hours trading

Do-it-yourself Investor

You know about investing, and you invest for medium-term to long-term. You will need to look for the following features:

• Low commissions
• Large variety of Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs
• Research report and data analysis tools

Beginner investor

If you are just beginning to invest you will need to for the following features:

• Large variety of Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs
• User Friendly Online interface
• Low account minimum and no account inactivity fees

Low lets compare and choose the best online stock brokerages

TD Ameritrade Trade Commission fee: $9.99 Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: 100+ commission Free ETFs Minimum deposit to open account: $0 for cash account, $2,000 for margin account Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: No inactive or maintenance fee Special offers: Trade commission-free for 60 days + get up to $600

Scottrade Trade Commission fee: $7.00 Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: ETF for $7.00, comission-free NTFs fund, $17 for others Minimum deposit to open account: $500 for a cash account, $2000 for a margin account Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: $500 for a cash account, $2,000 for a margin account, No inactivity, account maintenance Special offers: non

Fidelity Trade Commission fee: $7.95 Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: 65 iShare ETFs free, Purchase 10 Fidelity sector ETFs online, All other ETFs $7.95, Mutual funds $7.95 Minimum deposit to open account: $2500 Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: There is no inactivity fee Special offers: non

Etrade Trade Commission fee: $9.99 Commission-free ETFs: $9.99 Mutual funds: $0 No-load, no-transaction-fee funds4 & $19.99 for Transaction-fee funds Minimum deposit to open account:$500 for non-retirement cash account, $0 for retirement cash account, $2000 for margin account Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: $500 deposit Special offers: Get up to $600 Plus 60 days of free trades for deposits of $10k or more

Sharebuilder Trade Commission fee: $6.95 Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: $6.95, $19.95 for mutual funds Minimum deposit to open account: $0 to open cash account, $2000 for margin account Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: No account minimum; No inactivity fees Special offers: Get up to $600

Interactive Brokers Trade Commission fee: $0.005 per share, $1 minimum Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: $0.005 per unit, $1 minimum Minimum deposit to open account: $10000 for non-IRA account, $5000 for IRA account Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: $10 USD inactive fee if balance above $2000, $20 USD inactive fee if balance below $2000 Special offers: non

OptionsHouse Trade Commission fee: $4.75 Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: $4.75 for ETFs and $9.95 for mutual funds Minimum deposit to open account:$1000 for cash account, $2000 for margin account Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: No volume requirements, or maintenance or inactivity fees Special offers: 100 commission free trade + Get a Free iPad Mini when you open and fund an account

Schwab Trade Commission fee: $8.95 Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: ETFs for $8.75, and mutual funds for 76 to buy, $0 to sell Minimum deposit to open account:$1000 to open an account Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: No account maintenance or inactivity fees Special offers: non

TradeStation Trade Commission fee: Price range from $4.99 to $9.99 Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: Price range from $4.99 to $9.99 Minimum deposit to open account: $5000 for non-daytraders, $30 000 for daytraders Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: TradeStation charges a $99.95 per month Account Service Fee unless waived by account activity or balance thresholds Special offers: Trade Commission-Free for 90 Days

Trade king Trade Commission fee: $4.95 Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: $4.95 for ETFs and $9.95 for Mutual funds Minimum deposit to open account:$0 for cash account, $2000 for margin account Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: No minimus, or maintenance fees Special offers: non

Trade monster Trade Commission fee: $4.95 Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: $4.95 for ETFs and $15 to buy mutual funds, $0 to sell Minimum deposit to open account:$2000 Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: No inactivity, account maintenance fees Special offers: non

USAA Brokerage Trade Commission fee: $8.95 for Gold members, $5.95 for Platinum members Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: $8.95 for Gold members, $5.95 for Platinum members Minimum deposit to open account:$0 Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: No inactivity fees or no account maintenance fees Special offers: 50 Free trades when you open an account

Merrill Edge Trade Commission fee: $6.95 Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: $6.95 for ETFs, $19.95 for mutual funds Minimum deposit to open account:$0 Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: No inactivity fees or maintenance fees Special offers: Upto $600 and 300 free trades

Light Speed Trade Commission fee: $2.99 (maximum 50 000 shares) Commission-free mutual funds and ETFs: $2.99 for ETFs Minimum deposit to open account:$50000 Minimum balance for no inactivity fee: Maintain minimum $5000 to use web trader Special offers: non