10 Best Online Stock Brokers For Beginners 2023

This comparison guide reveals the 10 best online stock brokers for beginners in 2023. Read on to discover the cheapest, safest, and most user-friendly brokers in the market.

Pros

• Overall best online stock broker for beginners
  
• 0% commissions when trading under €100,000 per month
• Trade fractional stocks from €10
• Lists over
  2,800 stocks from 16 global exchanges
• XTB app for iOS is rated 4.7/5
• Also lists some of the best cryptos with the most potential
  
• Regulated by the UK's FCA
  

Cons

• Does not accept US clients
• Other than stocks and ETFs, other assets are traded as CFDs

Robinhood ensures that even budget-conscious consumers can invest in the stock market. Its fractional investing tool comes with a minimum trade requirement of just $1. This is also the case with other supported markets, including ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and options. However, do note that Robinhood is only suitable for trading US-listed stocks.

While a selection of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) are listed, options are limited. Nonetheless, Robinhood is a commission-free broker. There are no minimum deposit requirements and both ACH and domestic wires are supported. That said, only the first $1,000 will be credited instantly. If you need higher limits, you'll need the Robinhood Gold account.

This costs $5 per month and comes with additional features, including higher interest rates. Robinhood also offers margin trading accounts, enabling US clients to amplify their positions. The main drawback of Robinhood is its 'Payment for Order Flow' system , which means unfavorable spreads are charged.

Pros

• 0% commission on all supported markets
• Invest in stocks and ETFs from $1
• Also supports stock options and cryptocurrencies
• User-friendly dashboard is ideal for beginners
• Offers a native mobile app for iOS and Android
• Margin trading accounts support leveraged positions
  

Cons

• Payment for Order Flow system means unfavorable spreads
• Non-US stocks are only available via limited ADRs
• Doesn't offer access to individual bonds
  

Although Interactive Brokers is preferred by experienced traders, it's also suitable for beginners. For a start, there is no minimum deposit requirement. What's more, Interactive Brokers supports fractional stocks; the minimum trade size is just $1. We also like that Interactive Brokers supports thousands of stocks from around the world.

In fact, it lists 150 global markets from 33 countries. US clients can buy domestic stocks and ETFs at 0% commission. Non-US clients will pay a variable commission depending on the market and the monthly trading volume. Interactive Brokers is also one of the best online stock brokers for research.

It offers premium analysis tools that cover technical and fundamental data. You'll also find advanced stock screeners, simulators, and expert market insights. Interactive Brokers supports various devices, including desktop software and a mobile app for iOS and Android. Its client interface is also available via standard web browsers.

Pros

• Established stock broker with a solid regulatory framework
• Many account types to choose from
• Offers thousands of stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, and more
• Premium research tools including expert market insights
• One of the best free stock screeners in the market
  
• No minimum account balance is needed
  

Cons

• Only US clients benefit from 0% commission trading
  
• Some international markets come with high fees
  
• Many features are aimed at experienced traders
  

eToro is one of the best online stock brokers for US clients. That said, eToro is a global broker, so traders from most other countries are also accepted. eToro supports more than 3,000 global stocks from multiple exchanges. This includes stocks listed in the US, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe.

Irrespective of the listed exchange, all stocks on eToro can be traded at 0% commission. This is also the case with ETFs. The minimum trade requirement on eToro is $10, regardless of the share price. eToro offers a user-friendly dashboard that comes with financial news, social sentiment metrics, and pricing charts.

eToro also offers copy trading tools. After choosing an experienced investor, you'll automatically copy them like-for-like. Smart portfolios are also popular, which are professionally managed by the eToro team. eToro is available on desktop browsers and as a mobile app for Android and iOS. The minimum deposit to get started is an affordable $10.

However, those outside of the US and the UK will need to deposit at least $50. eToro accepts many convenient payment methods, including Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller. Beginners can start with the free demo account, which never expires. Finally, not only is eToro regulated by FINRA but also by the FCA, CySEC, and ASIC.

Pros

• Buy and sell stocks from just $10
• No trading commissions are charged when trading stocks and ETFs
• Also supports some of the best new cryptocurrencies to buy
• Free demo account that never expires
  
• Copy trading tools allow you to replicate successful investors
  
• Rated 'Excellent' on TrustPilot based on 21,000+ reviews
  

Cons

• eToro's Android app is rated just 4/5 on Google Play
  
• Non-USD payments are charged a 0.5% FX fee
• Analysis tools might not suit experienced traders

Libertex is a hybrid broker that supports real stocks and contracts-for-differences (CFDs). The latter allows you to trade stocks with leverage of up to 5x. This turns a $1,000 balance into $5,000 worth of trading capital. Libertex CFDs support long and short positions, and commissions cost just 0.003% per slide.

Alternatively, you can invest in real stocks at 0% commission without leverage or short-selling tools. Most stocks on Libertex are US-based, although there's also support for limited European and Canadian companies. Libertex offers a user-friendly dashboard that's available online or via its iOS/Android app.

Libertex also supports third-party platforms, including MT4 and MT5. In addition to stocks, you'll also find commodities, forex, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. Libertex is an established stock broker; it was launched in 1997 and is used by over three million investors. That said, Libertex has a TrustPilot score of just 4.1/5 , which could be improved.

Pros

• Choose between real stocks or leveraged CFDs
• Very competitive spreads
  
• Established in 1997
• Offers plenty of research and analysis tools
• Also supports commodities, forex, bonds, and cryptocurrencies
  
• Free demo account pre-loaded with virtual funds
  

Cons

• Does not accept clients from the US or Hong Kong
• Leveraged CFDs are not suitable for beginners
  
• Limited range of stocks when compared to other brokers
  

Now let's summarize everything by comparing the best platforms for stock trading in 2023.

We'll now discuss what factors need to be considered when choosing the right brokerage account in 2023.

• Regulation and Safety : The safety of your investment capital and securities is the most important factor. US clients should only consider brokers that are regulated by FINRA and covered by the SIPC. In the event of a brokerage failure, the SIPC covers investors up to $500,000 . Non-US clients should look for similar protections. For instance, UK clients should only use brokers approved by the FCA and protected by the FSCS.
  
• Range of Stocks : Diversification is a sensible strategy when investing in stocks, so choose a broker that supports a wide range of markets. For example, XTB supports thousands of stocks from 16 global exchanges. In contrast, other than a small selection of ADRs, Robinhood only offers US-listed stocks. To diversify further, choose an online stock broker that also offers other assets, such as ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, and commodities.
  
• Fees : The best stock brokers offer 0% commission trading on US-listed companies. eToro goes one step further by offering commission-free trading on international markets, including the UK, Hong Kong, and Germany. You should also consider spreads, margin rates, and ongoing account fees. Deposit and withdrawal fees are also charged by some brokers, so be sure to check this before proceeding.
  
• Tools and Analysis : It's wise to choose an online broker that offers adequate tools and features for your financial goals. For example, eToro offers managed smart portfolios and copy trading. These tools appeal to investors who want to trade stocks passively. Hands-on investors should look for brokers offering pricing charts, financial news, technical indicators, and stock screeners.
  
• Minimum Deposit : Most online brokers have either reduced or completely removed their minimum account requirements. For example, there is no minimum deposit threshold at XTB, Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, or Fidelity. That said, specialist accounts – such as those linked to margin trading or managed portfolios, typically come with much higher minimums.
  
• Demo Account : Another must-have tool when trading stocks as a beginner is a demo account. Otherwise referred to as 'paper trading' or 'trading simulators', demo accounts allow you to buy and sell stocks risk-free. Pricing data will mirror live market conditions in real-time, allowing you to craft a strategy without risking any trading capital. Just remember that some demo accounts come with a time limit.
  
• Mobile App : The future of online investing is mobile trading, so make sure you choose a broker that offers a mobile app. In doing so, you can buy and sell stocks even when you're away from your primary desktop device. The mobile app should offer a solid user experience; check Google Play or the App Store for reviews from other customers. We prefer investing apps that offer full functionality, meaning the same features as the desktop version.
  
• Payment Methods : The best brokerage accounts for stock trading support local banking methods, such as domestic wires and ACH. That said, the likes of XTB, eToro, and AvaTrade also support debit/credit cards and e-wallets. This makes it a lot more convenient to deposit and withdraw funds. Some payment methods can attract additional fees and account minimums, so do bear this in mind.
  
• Customer Service : The best online stock brokers offer an excellent customer experience, meaning accessible and responsive support. This usually comes via a live chat button. Most brokers offer 24/5 support, although some extend this to 24/7. Waiting times should be kept to a minimum when using chat live.
  

There are hundreds of online brokers in the market. Oftentimes, it's challenging to separate one broker from the next, so we developed a meticulous methodology. We began the research process by shortlisting reputable brokers based on regulatory status and consumer protections. For example, SIPC and FSCS protections for US and UK clients, respectively.

Next, we examined the pricing structure for each shortlisted broker, covering a wide range of data points. This includes commissions for domestic and international trades, spreads, deposits/withdrawals, and margin facilities. Preference was also given to online stock brokers offering fractional ownership.

This ensures that traders of all budgets can invest in the stock market. Once the fundamentals were covered, we then ranked brokers based on additional tools, features, and services. This included everything from the investment dashboard, technical indicators, and pricing charts to research reports, copy trading, and managed portfolios.

In addition, we also explored supported stock exchanges, with priority given to brokers offering a broad range of markets. This ensures that investors can create a diversified portfolio from a single brokerage account. Ultimately, while this criteria list enabled us to rank the 10 best online stock brokers for this guide – independent research is advisable.

In summary, choosing the right stock broker is an important task. Overall, we rate XTB as the best option for beginners.

More than 2,800 stocks can be traded at 0% commission, covering 16 global exchanges. There is no minimum account balance and stocks can be traded from just €10.

We found that XTB is the overall best stock broker. Thousands of 0% commission stocks are supported from 16 global exchanges.

To choose the right stock broker for you, explore factors such as supported markets, fees, trading tools, minimum deposit requirements, and safety.

One of the safest stock brokers online is eToro; it's regulated by FINRA, FCA, CySEC, and FCA.

You'll need a brokerage account to buy stocks online. Some of the best online stock brokers include XTB, eToro, Robinhood, and Interactive Brokers.

The top online stock brokers support fractional shares, often at a minimum of just $1. This means you can buy small slices of each company.

Cheap stock brokers like XTB and eToro offer 0% commission trading on US and international markets. These brokers also offer fee-free USD payments.

With the odd exception like Starbucks and Coca-Cola, the vast majority of stocks need to be bought from a brokerage account.

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