Chapter 03 · Start investing

Which broker fits you?

8 brokers compared on cost, ease of use, safety and choice. Enter your own amounts and the ranking recalculates.

* Based on your monthly amount and portfolio; ranking uses the public method below. Data checked 2026-11-06.

1
Fidelity
Long-term index investors who want taxable, IRA and HSA in one place
ETF trade
Free
Account / custody fee
$0; $0 to transfer out
Minimum deposit
$0
Fractional shares
Yes
Auto-invest
Yes
App rating iOS / Android
4.8 / 4.2
Protection
FINRA/SIPC to $500k + excess-SIPC coverage
Interest on cash
Money-market core (SPAXX) ≈3.5%, variable

$3estimated cost per year*fees $0 · exit $0 · missed interest $3
Cost10.0
Ease of use9.0
Safety10.0
Choice10.0
Overall9.8
- $0 commissions and $0 transfer-out fee
- Zero-expense-ratio index funds, no minimum
- Fractional shares and recurring buys from $1, also in IRAs and HSAs
- Default cash fund SPAXX carries a 0.42% expense ratio
- No new accounts for non-US residents
Visit Fidelity →Checked 2026-11-06
2
Vanguard
Buy-and-hold investors in Vanguard funds and ETFs
ETF trade
Free
Account / custody fee
$25/yr, waived with e-delivery; $100 full transfer out
Minimum deposit
$0
Fractional shares
Yes
Auto-invest
Yes
App rating iOS / Android
4.6 / 2.9
Protection
FINRA/SIPC to $500k + additional private insurance
Interest on cash
Settlement money fund (VMFXX) ≈3.8%, variable

$10estimated cost per year*fees $0 · exit $10 · missed interest $0
Cost6.3
Ease of use7.5
Safety10.0
Choice7.8
Overall7.7
- Low-cost own index funds and ETFs (total market fund 0.04%)
- Uninvested cash earns a money-market yield
- Recurring investing into Vanguard funds and ETFs
- $100 to transfer out; $25 yearly fee without e-delivery
- Fractional shares only for Vanguard ETFs; Android app rated 2.9
Visit Vanguard →Checked 2026-11-06
3
Public
Stocks, Treasuries and high-yield cash in one app
ETF trade
Free
Account / custody fee
$0; $100 to transfer out; $3.99/mo if dormant under $70
Minimum deposit
$0
Fractional shares
Yes
Auto-invest
Yes
App rating iOS / Android
4.7 / 4.3
Protection
FINRA/SIPC to $500k (clearing via Apex)
Interest on cash
High-yield cash account 3.30% APY, variable

$15estimated cost per year*fees $0 · exit $10 · missed interest $5
Cost5.1
Ease of use9.0
Safety10.0
Choice5.6
Overall7.2
- $0 commissions
- High-yield cash account without subscription
- Investment plans from $1
- $100 transfer-out fee
- No custodial accounts or HSA
Visit Public →Checked 2026-11-06
4
E*TRADE
Investors who want strong tools plus a low-minimum robo
ETF trade
Free
Account / custody fee
$0; $75 full transfer out
Minimum deposit
$0
Fractional shares
Yes
Auto-invest
Yes
App rating iOS / Android
4.7 / 4.6
Protection
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, FINRA/SIPC to $500k
Interest on cash
Not published for brokerage cash

$45estimated cost per year*fees $0 · exit $8 · missed interest $38
Cost2.3
Ease of use9.3
Safety10.0
Choice7.8
Overall6.4
- $0 stock/ETF commissions
- Automatic investing from $25 and fractional shares
- Robo (Core Portfolios) from $500 at 0.30%
- $75 fee for a full transfer out
- Fractional shares need $5 and eligible securities
Visit E*TRADE →Checked 2026-11-06
5
Charles Schwab
All-in-one investors who also want banking and branches
ETF trade
Free
Account / custody fee
$0; $50 for a full transfer out
Minimum deposit
$0
Fractional shares
Yes
Auto-invest
Yes
App rating iOS / Android
4.8 / 3.2
Protection
FINRA/SIPC to $500k + excess-SIPC coverage
Interest on cash
0.01% on uninvested cash; ≈3.8% via a money fund

$43estimated cost per year*fees $0 · exit $5 · missed interest $38
Cost2.4
Ease of use8.0
Safety10.0
Choice8.9
Overall6.4
- $0 stock/ETF commissions, fractional shares from $1
- Low-cost own index funds (SWTSX 0.03%)
- Accepts non-US residents in qualifying countries
- Uninvested cash earns only 0.01% unless you buy a money fund
- $50 fee for a full transfer out
Visit Charles Schwab →Checked 2026-11-06
6
Interactive Brokers
Cost-conscious and global investors
ETF trade
Free (IBKR Lite manual orders; recurring plans billed at Fixed pricing)
Account / custody fee
$0; $0 to transfer out
Minimum deposit
$0
Fractional shares
Yes
Auto-invest
Yes
App rating iOS / Android
4.5 / 4.6
Protection
FINRA/SIPC to $500k + excess-SIPC coverage
Interest on cash
Pro 3.38% / Lite 2.38% above $10k, variable

$38estimated cost per year*fees $0 · exit $0 · missed interest $38
Cost2.7
Ease of use9.1
Safety10.0
Choice5.6
Overall6.2
- Interest on idle cash above $10,000
- $0 transfer-out fee, no minimum
- Global market access
- No interest on the first $10,000 of cash
- Complex platform and pricing for beginners
Visit Interactive Brokers →Checked 2026-11-06
7
Webull
App investors who want charting tools
ETF trade
Free
Account / custody fee
$0; $75 to transfer out
Minimum deposit
$0
Fractional shares
Yes
Auto-invest
Yes
App rating iOS / Android
4.7 / 4.6
Protection
FINRA/SIPC to $500k
Interest on cash
Not shown publicly

$45estimated cost per year*fees $0 · exit $8 · missed interest $38
Cost2.3
Ease of use9.3
Safety10.0
Choice5.6
Overall6.1
- $0 commissions
- Recurring investments from $1
- Low-cost robo (0.20%, $100 minimum)
- $75 fee to transfer out
- No mutual funds or HSA
Visit Webull →Checked 2026-11-06
8
Robinhood
Mobile-first beginners investing small amounts
ETF trade
Free
Account / custody fee
$0; $100 to transfer out
Minimum deposit
$0
Fractional shares
Yes
Auto-invest
Yes
App rating iOS / Android
4.3 / 4.8
Protection
FINRA/SIPC to $500k + excess-SIPC policy
Interest on cash
3.60% with Gold ($5/mo); 0.01% without

$48estimated cost per year*fees $0 · exit $10 · missed interest $38
Cost2.2
Ease of use9.1
Safety10.0
Choice5.6
Overall6.0
- $0 commissions
- Fractional shares and recurring buys from $1
- IRA contribution match (1%, 3% with Gold)
- $100 fee to transfer out
- Good cash rate requires paid Gold
- No mutual funds or HSA
Visit Robinhood →Checked 2026-11-06

How we score

Cost (40%): estimated all-in yearly cost for your monthly investment, portfolio and cash — trade and account fees, plus the transfer-out fee spread over 10 years (where published), plus the interest you miss on cash compared with the best-paying broker (unpublished rates count as 0%) — relative to the cheapest. Ease of use (20%): average App Store and Google Play rating. Safety (25%): regulator (5), legally segregated client assets (3), investor-protection scheme or bankruptcy-remote custody (2). Choice (15%): account types and features such as automatic investing, fractional shares and kids or retirement accounts. FX costs, spreads and ETF expense ratios are not included (for Meesman, which only offers its own funds, the fund cost is included).

IBKR pays no interest on the first $10,000. Robinhood's 3.60% requires paid Gold, Schwab's ≈3.8% requires buying a money fund yourself; both are counted at their default rate.

Not advice. Fees change; always confirm current pricing with the broker. Sources per broker are listed in our open data. Links may be affiliate links; that never affects the calculation.

Frequently asked questions

Which broker is cheapest?

For $500 a month and a $10,000 portfolio, Fidelity is cheapest in our calculation ($3 a year). Change the amounts above for your situation.

How do I choose a broker as a beginner?

Look at three things: low fixed costs for regular ETF investing, a strong regulator with investor protection, and an app you'll actually use. Start small; you can switch later.

Is my money safe if a broker fails?

At regulated US brokers your securities are held separately, and SIPC protects up to $500,000 (including $250,000 cash) if a member firm fails. It does not protect against market losses.

Next · chapter 04

Keep more of it

401(k), IRA and HSA: the accounts that cut your tax bill.

Continue →

Which broker fits you?

Fidelity

Vanguard

Public

E*TRADE

Charles Schwab

Interactive Brokers

Webull

Robinhood

How we score

Frequently asked questions

Keep more of it