Every stock trading platform is unique. With each broker offering $0 stock and ETF trading, deciding which one to use comes down to differences in the overall trading experience. Investment options, trading tools, market research, initial training, customer service, and ease of use are all factors that investors should consider when choosing a broker.

 

What are the best trading platforms of 2021 and their pros and cons? 

 

1-) TD Ameritrade: 

 

TD Ameritrade offers $0 transactions, great trading platforms, excellent market research, industry-leading training for beginners, and reliable customer service. This exceptionally extensive experience makes TD Ameritrade our top broker overall in 2021.

 

Pros

An excellent tutorial for beginners.

The thinkorswim platform suite is our best desktop platform for 2021.

Futures and forex trading are available.

 

Cons

$6.95 fee per transaction for penny stocks.

No access to international exchanges.

 

2-) Fidelity:

 

Fidelity is a value-driven online broker that offers $0 trading, industry-leading research, excellent trading tools, an easy-to-use mobile app, and comprehensive retirement services. Serving over 32 million customers, Fidelity is a winner for everyday traders.

 

Pros

The perfect mobile app for investors.

Our top pick for order execution is no pay for order flow (PFOF).

 

Cons

Margin rates may be higher than their peers.

No private browsing on mobile devices.

Banking services are offered through a third party.

 

3-) Charles Schwab: 

 

With over $6 trillion in client assets, Charles Schwab knows how to consistently deliver value to his clients. Highlights include $0 transactions, excellent stock research, a selection of trading instruments, and industry-leading financial planning services.

 

Pros

 

Our top pick for stock and market research.

Fractional numerals are available.

Multiple financial planning services.

 

Cons

The mobile app lacks alerts, streaming offers, and options chains.

 

4-) Interactive Brokers: 

 

Once again, in 2021 Interactive Brokers is our top pick for professionals due to its enterprise-grade desktop trading platform and lowest margin rates. Professionals aside, Interactive Brokers also appeals to casual traders with its $0 trading and user-friendly web platform. Read the full review

 

Pros

Great web-based client portal for casual traders.

It offers access to global markets.

Robust mobile application.

 

Cons

TWS desktop platform best suited for professionals, not beginners.

 

 

5-) E*TRADE: 

 

Established in 1982 as one of the first online brokerages in the United States, E*TRADE's highlights include $0 transactions, two excellent mobile apps, and Power E*TRADE which is great for beginners, active trading and options trading platform is included. Read the full review

 

Pros

Excellent web and mobile platforms; Power E*TRADE.

Our top pick for options trading.

 

Cons

$1,000 minimum for data flow.

The range of educational materials is limited to peers.

 

Other Trading Platforms

 

In addition to our top five trading platforms for 2021, we reviewed six more: Merrill Edge, Firstrade, Ally Invest, TradeStation, Webull, and Robinhood. Here are our top-tier packages for each. Read our reviews to dive deeper.

 

• Merrill Edge — Merrill Edge offers $0 trading with industry-leading research tools and excellent customer service. Even better, for existing Bank of America customers, Merrill Edge's Preferred Rewards program provides the best rewards of any bank broker we tested in 2021.

 

• Firstrade — While Firstrade is easy to use and great for Chinese-speaking traders, its overall offering struggles to stand out against brokers that also offer $0 stock trading.

 

• Ally Invest — For existing Ally customers looking to invest in stocks, Ally's universal account experience and easy-to-use website are a convenient solution.

 

• TradeStation — As a trading technology leader, TradeStation supports casual traders through its web-based platform and active traders through its award-winning desktop platform, all with $0 stocks and ETF trading.

 

• Webull — Webull offers a unique community experience and easy-to-use trading platforms that will delight most young traders. However, for day trading, Webull lacks the trading tools and features to compete with industry leaders who also offer $0 stock and ETF trading.

 

• Robinhood - Robinhood was shining thanks to its easy-to-use mobile app and $0 transactions. Today, however, all of the largest online brokers offer free stock and ETF trading. As a result, it's much harder for Robinhood to outrun the competition.

 

 

We hope that this blog post will be beneficial for you. We will continue to create useful works in order to get inspired by everyone. We are sure that we will achieve splendid things altogether. Keep on following Finage for the best and more.  

 

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