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Top 10 Online Brokerages in 2026
10 remaining
#1
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab remains the gold standard in 2026 with $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and options ($0.65 per options contract). Standout features include the Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium robo-advisor ($300 one-time planning fee, $0 advisory fee for portfolios under $25,000), a cash management account yielding 4.25% APY, and access to 24/7 live customer support. Schwab offers over 4,000 no-transaction-fee mutual funds and advanced trading platforms like StreetSmart Edge. Margin rates start at 11.575% for debit balances under $50,000. Best for long-term investors and retirement savers. Weakness: International stock trading is limited compared to some global-focused brokers.
#2
Fidelity Investments
Fidelity continues to dominate with $0 commissions and zero account minimums for standard brokerage accounts. Key features include the Fidelity Crypto offering (trade Bitcoin and Ethereum with 1% spread), the Fidelity Bloom app for automated savings (up to 5% APY on cash), and the Fidelity Basket Portfolios (create personalized index-like baskets for $4.99/month or $0 with $50,000+). The Active Trader Pro platform provides real-time Level 2 quotes and advanced charting. Margin rates are competitive at 11.075% for balances under $25,000. Best for active traders and crypto enthusiasts. Weakness: International trading is limited to select markets and requires manual currency conversion.
#3
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the top choice for global investors in 2026, offering access to 150+ markets in 33 countries. Commissions are low: $0.005 per share for US stocks (max 1% of trade value). Standout features include the IBKR Lite (free trades with payment for order flow) and IBKR Pro (lowest margin rates starting at 6.83% for USD balances under $100,000). The platform supports fractional shares, options, futures, forex, and bonds. The Trader Workstation (TWS) offers advanced algorithmic trading and risk management tools. Best for international investors and high-volume traders. Weakness: The learning curve is steep for beginners due to complex platform interfaces.