Our take
Brokers we'd actually use
Short, opinionated notes — not a sponsored leaderboard. Links go to each broker's official site (no referral codes). Availability and fees vary by country. Capital at risk.
Trading 212
4.7Commission-free stocks & ETFs with fractional shares.
Min deposit
$1
Fees
$0 commission
Markets
Stocks, ETFs, CFDs
Best for
Beginners & long-term investors
Account types
ISA (UK), General Investment, CFD
Platforms
iOS, Android, Web
Research tools
Basic charts and news
- Zero-commission stock & ETF investing
- Fractional shares from $1
- Built-in Pies for automated portfolio rebalancing
- Clean, beginner-friendly mobile app
- ISA accounts available (UK tax-free)
- No FX fees on USD, EUR, GBP accounts
- No bonds or mutual funds
- Limited research tools vs pro platforms
- Waiting list for new accounts during high demand
- CFD side can be risky for beginners
Interactive Brokers
4.6Pro-grade access to 150+ global markets.
Min deposit
$0
Fees
From $0 (IBKR Lite) or $0.0035/share (IBKR Pro)
Markets
Stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds, funds
Best for
Advanced & active traders
Account types
Individual, Joint, IRA, Trust, Corporate
Platforms
TWS Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Web Trader, APIs
Research tools
Advanced tools, analyst reports, market scanners
Margin rate
From 5.83% (tiered based on balance)
- Access to 150 markets in 33 countries
- Powerful desktop platform (Trader Workstation)
- Industry-leading low margin rates
- Excellent for options and futures trading
- Real API access for algo traders
- Best-in-class FX conversion rates
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- UI is functional but dated
- Can feel overwhelming if you just want to buy ETFs
- Inactivity fee if under $2k and less than $10 commission/month
eToro
4.3Social trading and copy portfolios.
Min deposit
$50 (varies by country)
Fees
$0 stock commission (spreads apply)
Markets
Stocks, ETFs, crypto, CFDs, commodities
Best for
Social & copy traders, crypto exposure
Account types
Retail, Professional, Islamic, Corporate
Platforms
iOS, Android, Web
Research tools
Social feed, copy stats, basic charts
- CopyTrader lets you mirror successful investors
- Wide range including crypto and commodities
- Polished, intuitive mobile app
- Good for beginners who want social features
- Demo account to practice
- $5 withdrawal fee on all withdrawals
- Higher FX conversion fees (50 pips)
- Spreads on crypto can be steep
- Limited fundamental analysis tools
- Only fractional shares on some stocks
- Not available in all regions (e.g., US has restrictions)
Quick comparison
| Broker | Min deposit | Commission | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading 212 | $1 | $0 commission | Beginners & long-term investors |
| Interactive Brokers | $0 | From $0 | Advanced & active traders |
| eToro | $50 (varies by country) | $0 stock commission | Social & copy traders, crypto exposure |
How we'd choose
New to investing: Trading 212 is hard to beat — zero fees, fractionals, and an app that makes sense. Pies are great for set-and-forget portfolios.
Options or global markets:Interactive Brokers is the grown-up choice. The UI isn't pretty, but costs and market access are excellent.
Want to copy other traders:eToro's CopyTrader is useful — just watch withdrawal fees and FX spreads.
Most beginners can start on a zero-commission app. Move to IBKR later if you outgrow it — plenty of people never need to.
Capital at risk. Investments can go down as well as up. Links are to official broker sites — no referral codes on this page.