Many brokerages offer free stock-trading apps for investors who are just getting started.
The best ones offer zero-commission trading, no (or low) account minimums and diverse investment options, plus an intuitive interface and top-notch customer service.
CNBC Select has chosen the best no-commission apps in a variety of categories, from mutual funds to fractional shares. For more info on how we made this list, check out our methodology.
Best free stock-trading platforms of 2026
- Best for streamlined trading: Robinhood*
- Best for joint banking and investing: Ally Invest®
- Best for fractional shares: Charles Schwab
- Best for uninvested funds: Vanguard
- Best for customer service: Fidelity Investments
- Best for educational resources: E-Trade
- Best for mutual funds: J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
Best for streamlined trading: Robinhood
Who's this for? One of the first zero-commission brokerages, Robinhood* has an easy-to-use app that lets you get right to trading.
Standout benefits: Robinhood's IRA* has a contribution match of up to 3%.
Robinhood
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum required to open an account or to start investing
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Commission-free trading; regulatory transaction fees and trading activity fees may apply
Bonus
Get a free stock added to your brokerage account when you link your bank account and fulfill the promotion conditions (keep it or sell after 2 trading days)
Investment vehicles
Brokerage account: Robinhood Financial commission-free investing
Investment options
Stocks, ETFs, options, fractional shares, IPOs, and select cryptocurrencies Robinhood Crypto (availability varies by location)
Educational resources
"Investing basics" blog, an online library of content and Robinhood Snacks newsletter
Terms apply. *(Review Robinhood disclosures here.)
Pros
- $0 minimum deposit to open an account and start investing immediately
- Commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, options and crypto
- Get a free stock just for linking your bank account
- Access to fractional shares (own a piece of stock for just $1)
- Beginner-friendly app with built-in educational content
Cons
- No human advisor or managed portfolio option
- Fees outside of commissions may apply
Best for joint banking and investing: Ally Invest
Who's this for? Ally Invest's intuitive trading platform is great for both novice and experienced investors. You can choose from Ally's self-directed or managed portfolio (essentially a robo-advisor).
Standout benefits: There's no account balance minimum and users can easily transfer funds to and from an Ally Bank savings account.
Ally Invest®
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No account minimum for Self-Directed Trading. $100 minimum for Robo Portfolios. $100,000 minimum for Personal Advice with a dedicated fiduciary advisor.
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Self-Directed Trading has zero commission fees for stock, ETF and options trades; $0.50 per options contract. Robo Portfolios offer two structures: a cash-enhanced portfolio with no advisory, trading or rebalancing fees (30% of portfolio held in interest-earning cash), or a market-focused portfolio with a 0.30% annual advisory fee (approximately 2% cash allocation). ETF expense ratios apply to both.
Investment vehicles
Robo-advisor: Ally Invest Robo Portfolios IRA: Ally Invest Traditional, Roth and Rollover IRAs Brokerage and trading: Ally Invest Self-Directed Trading
Investment options
Stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, mutual funds, margin account and forex trading
Educational resources
Offers informational articles to help users improve their understanding of investment strategies and market trends
Terms apply.
Pros
- $0 minimum deposit for Self-Directed Trading
- No commission fees for stock, ETF and options trades
- Cash-enhanced Robo Portfolio available with zero advisory, trading or rebalancing fees
- Four portfolio types to choose from: Core, Income, Tax-Optimized and Socially Responsible
- Cash buffer in cash-enhanced portfolios earns a competitive variable interest rate
- Seamless integration with Ally Bank for customers who already bank with Ally
- Access to a fiduciary financial advisor through Personal Advice for accounts of $100,000 or more
- 24/7 live customer service
- Includes charts and calculators to help investors analyze trades
Cons
- Cash-enhanced Robo Portfolio holds 30% in cash, reducing overall market exposure
- Market-focused Robo Portfolio charges 0.30% annual advisory fee
- No tax-loss harvesting available on Robo Portfolios
- $100,000 minimum required for access to a human financial advisor
- Mutual funds may require a transaction fee
Best for fractional shares: Charles Schwab
Who's this for? With Schwab Stock Slices, Charles Schwab allows investors to buy fractional shares ("slices") from up to 30 S&P 500 companies all at once, for as little as $5 each.
Standout benefits: Clients receive market commentary and earnings reports from top financial media, including Reuters and Morningstar.
Charles Schwab
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No account minimum for active investing through Schwab One® Brokerage Account. Automated investing through Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® requires a $5,000 minimum deposit
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Schwab One® Brokerage Account has no account fees, $0 commission fees for stock and ETF trades, $0 transaction fees for over 4,000 mutual funds and a $0.65 fee per options contract
Bonus
None
Investment vehicles
Robo-advisor: Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium™ IRA: Charles Schwab Traditional, Roth, Rollover, Inherited and Custodial IRAs; plus, a Personal Choice Retirement Account® (PCRA) Brokerage and trading: Schwab One® Brokerage Account, Brokerage Account + Specialized Platforms and Support for Trading, Schwab Global Account™, Schwab Organization Account and Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade™
Investment options
Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs and ETFs
Educational resources
Extensive retirement planning tools
Terms apply.
Pros
- $0 minimum deposit for active investing
- No commission fees for stock and ETF trades and no transaction fees for over 4,000 mutual funds
- Offers extensive retirement planning tools
- Users can get on-demand advice from a professional advisor/Schwab expert
- Robo-advisor Schwab Intelligent Portfolios® available as a no-fee automated service option (with Premium version available for a fee)
- Award-winning thinkorswim® trading platforms and all their cutting-edge tools are now available at Schwab.
- 24/7 customer support access by phone or chat
- Charles Schwab offers over 300 brick-and-mortar branches across the U.S. for in-person support
Cons
- Specific transactions may require commission fee
- Robo-advisor Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium charges a one-time planning fee of $300, then a $30 per month advisory fee. For that price, you get unlimited 1:1 guidance from a CFP, interactive planning tools, plus a personalized roadmap for reaching your goals
Best for uninvested funds: Vanguard
Who's this for? Known for its low-cost investing options, Vanguard is a good option if you want to keep more cash on hand.
Standout benefits: Any uninvested funds are automatically placed in the Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund, which can deliver a better return than some competitors' default 0.01% options.
Vanguard
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum to open a Vanguard account, but minimum $1,000 deposit to invest in many retirement funds; robo-advisor Vanguard Digital Advisor® requires minimum $100 to enroll.
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Zero commission fees for stock and ETF trades; zero transaction fees for over 3,000 mutual funds; $20 annual service fee for IRAs and brokerage accounts (waived with at least $50,000 in qualifying Vanguard assets or by opting into paperless statements); robo-advisor Vanguard Digital Advisor® charges approximately 0.15% net advisory fee annually (after fund revenue credits; 90-day fee waiver for new clients).
Bonus
None
Investment vehicles
Robo-advisor: Vanguard Digital Advisor® IRA: Vanguard Traditional, Roth, Rollover, Spousal and SEP IRAs Brokerage and trading: Vanguard Trading Other: Vanguard 529 Plan
Investment options
Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, ETFs and options
Educational resources
Retirement planning tools
Terms apply.
Pros
- No commission fees for stock and ETF trades
- No transaction fees for over 3,000 mutual funds
- One of the largest ETF and mutual fund offerings available, with an average expense ratio of 0.07%
- Robo-advisor Vanguard Digital Advisor® available with 90-day fee-free trial and approximately 0.15% net annual advisory fee after that
- Three portfolio strategies available through Digital Advisor: all-index, active/index, and ESG
- Vanguard Personal Advisor® offers access to a team of financial advisors starting at $50,000; dedicated CFP access available at $500,000 through Personal Advisor Select®
- Vanguard 529 Plan helps you save for college early on
- Excellent customer service with phone and email access Monday through Friday
Cons
- $20 annual service fee for IRAs and brokerage accounts (waived at $50,000 in qualifying assets or with paperless statements)
- Vanguard Digital Advisor® requires $100 minimum to enroll and charges approximately 0.15% net advisory fee after 90-day trial
- Digital Advisor portfolios invest only in Vanguard funds (no access to third-party ETFs)
- Basic trading platform compared to competitors; limited research and data tools
- No cash management account
Best for customer service: Fidelity Investments
Who's this for? Fidelity topped J.D. Power's 2024 U.S. Self-Directed Investor Satisfaction Study and earned an A+ from the Better Business Bureau, making it a good choice if you prioritize customer service.
Standout benefits: As a Fidelity investor, you can purchase fractional shares for as little as $1.
Fidelity Investments
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum to open a Fidelity Go® account, but minimum $10 balance for robo-advisor to start investing.
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Zero commission fees for stock, ETF, options trades and some mutual funds; zero transaction fees for over 3,400 mutual funds; $0.65 per options contract. Fidelity Go® has no advisory fees for balances under $25,000 (0.35% per year for balances of $25,000 and over, which includes access to unlimited 30-minute coaching calls with a Fidelity advisor and tax-loss harvesting on taxable accounts).
Bonus
None currently. Check Fidelity's promotions page for the latest offers here.
Investment vehicles
Robo-advisor: Fidelity Go® IRA: Traditional, Roth and Rollover IRAs Brokerage and trading: Fidelity Investments Trading Other: Fidelity Investments 529 College Savings; Fidelity HSA®
Investment options
Stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, CDs, options and fractional shares
Educational resources
Extensive tools and industry-leading, in-depth research from 20-plus independent providers
Terms apply.
Pros
- No commission fees for stock, ETF, options trades
- No transaction fees for over 3,400 mutual funds
- Fidelity Go® portfolios use Fidelity Flex® mutual funds with zero expense ratios
- Human advisors manage day-to-day Fidelity Go® portfolio decisions
- Unlimited 30-minute coaching calls with a Fidelity advisor for accounts of $25,000 and over (at no extra cost)
- Tax-loss harvesting available on taxable Fidelity Go® accounts with $25,000 or more
- Abundant educational tools and resources with research from 20-plus independent providers
- 24/7 customer service
- Over 100 brick-and-mortar branches across the U.S. for face-to-face support
Cons
- Fidelity Go® has a 0.35% advisory fee per year for balances of $25,000 and over
- Fidelity Go® invests only in Fidelity Flex® mutual funds (no third-party ETFs or individual securities available)
- No socially responsible or ESG portfolio option through Fidelity Go®
- Some of Fidelity's mutual funds require reaching specific thresholds
- Reports of platform outages during heavy trading days
Best for educational resources: E-Trade
Who's this for? E-Trade has a comprehensive library of online resources, including retirement and tax-planning guides, market analysis from Morgan Stanley analysts and on-demand educational events and webinars.
Standout benefits: E-Trade's mobile app lets you customize your portfolio, including creating watchlists of assets you're interested in.
E*TRADE
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum to open an E*TRADE brokerage account; minimum $500 deposit to invest in robo-advisor platform Core Portfolios.
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Zero commission fees for stock, ETF and options trades; zero transaction fees for over 4,400 mutual funds; robo-advisor Core Portfolios charges 0.30% annual advisory fee
Investment vehicles
Robo-advisor: E*TRADE Core Portfolios IRA: E*TRADE Traditional, Roth, Rollover, Beneficiary, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, IRA for Minors and E*TRADE Complete™ IRA Brokerage and trading: E*TRADE Trading Other: E*TRADE Coverdell ESA (Education Savings Account), Custodial Account for minors and small business retirement plans
Investment options
Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, ETFs, options and futures
Educational resources
Educational library includes in-depth articles and videos for any type of investor; access to Morgan Stanley research and institutional-grade market insights following E*TRADE's acquisition.
Terms apply.
Pros
- No commission fees for stock, ETF and options trades
- No transaction fees for over 4,400 mutual funds
- Core Portfolios offers automated investing with a choice of standard, socially responsible (ESG), smart beta and tax-sensitive portfolio strategies
- Tax-loss harvesting available through Core Portfolios at no additional cost
- Backed by Morgan Stanley’s institutional research and wealth management resources
- E*TRADE Coverdell ESA helps you save for college early on
- Active traders receive volume discounts on options
- Free analyst research and investing tools
- Strong mobile platform with Power E*TRADE for advanced trading
Cons
- Core Portfolios requires $500 minimum to enroll and charges 0.30% annual advisory fee
- No access to certified financial planners through Core Portfolios
- No forex trading
- Website can be cumbersome to navigate
Best for mutual funds: J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
Who's this for? J.P. Morgan's Self-Directed Investing is one of the few platforms that offers commission-free online mutual fund trading.
Standout benefits: If you're a new investor, you'll appreciate the intuitive interface and the lack of a minimum balance requirement.
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
Minimum deposit and balance
No minimum deposit to open an account. Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle.
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle.
Enjoy zero commission fees on online trades for U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options with a $0.65 fee per contract. The account also has transfer and incidental fees. Sales of U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs and options are subject to a transaction fee of between $0.01 and $0.03 per $1,000 principal.
Bonus
Earn up to $1,000 cash when you open and fund a new J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with qualifying new money by July 21, 2026: $50 bonus for $5,000–$24,999; $150 for $25,000–$99,999; $325 for $100,000–$249,999; $1,000 for $250,000 or more. New money must be funded within 45 days and maintained for 90 days from enrollment. Terms apply.
Investment vehicles
IRA: Traditional, Roth and Rollover IRAs | Brokerage and trading: General investment account, joint account, trust account
Investment options
Stocks, ETFs (including cryptocurrency ETFs), mutual funds, money market funds, options, fixed income products, and treasuries
Educational resources
Retirement planning tools, J.P. Morgan analyst research and insights, stock screeners, advanced charting and personalized market alerts
Terms apply.
Pros
- Commission-free online trades on U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options
- No minimum account balance to get started
- Fractional shares available for S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 stocks and ETFs starting at $5
- Access to J.P. Morgan analyst research, price targets and market insights
- Advanced tools, including stock screeners, watchlists and performance tracking
- Cryptocurrency ETFs available, including Bitcoin and Ethereum
- Seamless integration with Chase banking accounts for instant money transfers and consolidated tax reporting
- Margin trading available on stocks, ETFs, options, fixed income and mutual funds
- Can open a general investment account, trust account, Traditional or Roth IRA
Cons
- Sales are subject to a regulatory transaction fee of between $0.01 and $0.03 per $1,000 of principal
- Platform is better suited for beginner to intermediate investors
- No robo-advisor option for automated investing
- Limited account types compared to full-service brokerages (no 529 plan or custodial accounts)
How to choose an investing app
There is no single trading app that checks every box, so make sure you pick one that meets your needs by considering the below:
- Trading style: Are you an active trader? Look for apps with strong research, charting and quick execution. If you're more hands-off, explore apps with automatic investing and pre-built portfolios.
- Pricing: We've picked apps that offer commission-free trades on stocks and ETFs, but you should also look at subscription fees, expense ratios and options contract fees.
- Account minimums: Look for low or no minimum deposits.
- Features: If you're getting started, fractional shares are a great way to go.
- Asset variety: Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, crypto, bonds? Pick an app that offers what you want to buy.
- Account types: Do you need taxable, Roth IRA, traditional IRA or SEP IRA accounts?
- Interface: Must be intuitive, clean and easy to navigate for your skill level.
- Tools: Look for auto-investing, real-time data, news and analyst ratings if needed.
Compare investment accounts
FAQs
What is zero-commission trading?
With zero-commission trading, a broker doesn't charge a fee to execute a trade. You may have to pay third-party fees, like mutual fund transaction fees and charges for options contracts.
What fees should I look for when trading?
Each brokerage platform charges different fees, but aside from commissions, investors should look at per-contract fees (for options), brokerage-assisted trades, management or advisory fees, and transfer fees (when switching brokerages).
What are expense ratios?
An expense ratio is an annual fee charged to investors that covers the administrative and operating expenses of ETFs or mutual funds. This cost is expressed as a percentage and deducted from the amount you've invested, which lowers the returns you receive.
Can I start trading with just $1?
While some platforms may have higher monetary requirements, J.P. Morgan's Self-Directed Investing allows you to start trading with just $1.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every stock-trading platform review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of investing products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best free stock-trading platforms.
Our methodology
To determine which zero-commission trading platforms offer the best for investors, CNBC Select chose at 10 leading platforms. We then compared each one based on the following factors:
- Investment account types
- Selection of investments
- Investment account minimums
- Investment account and advisory fees
- Expense ratios of available investments
- Trading fees
- Available technology, including mobile platforms
- Educational tools and resources
- Customer support
After reviewing the above features, we based our recommendations on platforms offering the widest range of investment options, robust educational tools and resources, user-friendly technology, as well as the lowest fees and expense ratios. We reviewed each company's customer support structure, available avenues of communication and app reviews.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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*(Review Robinhood disclosures here.)
