PickedFinance
Comparison guide

Best brokerage accounts for beginners

Most large brokers now charge $0 to trade US stocks and ETFs online, so for a beginner the differences are in minimums, fractional shares, account fees and how easy it is to start small. We read each firm’s own pricing page on Nov 10, 2026.

By PickedFinance Editorial TeamLast updated Rates checked Nov 10, 2026

Disclosure: links on this page currently go straight to each provider’s own site, and we don’t earn a commission from them. If we join a provider’s affiliate program later, that will never change which products we include or how we order them. How we make money.

How this page was made: it’s built from each provider’s own terms, rate and fee pages and from regulator sources, all listed at the bottom. We haven’t opened these accounts or products to test them, and we don’t give scores. Every rate shows the day we checked it. Our methodology.

Quick answer

Short answer: Fidelity and Schwab both showed $0 online stock and ETF trades, no account minimums and fractional shares from $1 on Nov 10, 2026, which makes either an easy first account. Vanguard suits fund investors but may charge a $25 annual fee unless you choose e-delivery. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

Last updated Rates checked Nov 10, 2026

Key facts at a glance

Key facts (each rate shows the day we checked it on the provider’s page)
PickProductBest forKey terms
Easiest all-round startFidelity brokerage accountBeginners who want one account for everything$0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026
Fractional shares in 7,000+ stocks and ETFsSchwab brokerage accountSmall dollar amounts in individual stocks$0 (online listed stocks and ETFs) as of Nov 10, 2026
Index fund investorsVanguard Brokerage AccountBuy-and-hold index fund investors$0 (online stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026

We read each broker’s pricing or account page on Nov 10, 2026. We don’t score brokers and have no affiliate relationship with any of them; links go to their own sites. SIPC[7] protection at member brokers covers missing cash and securities if a firm fails, up to $500,000 including $250,000 for cash, but it does not protect against investment losses.

Our picks

Easiest all-round start
Fidelity brokerage account
$0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026; no account minimums; fractional shares from $1.
Visit Fidelity (opens in a new tab)
Fractional shares in 7,000+ stocks and ETFs
Schwab brokerage account
$0 (online listed stocks and ETFs) as of Nov 10, 2026; $0 account minimums.
Visit Schwab (opens in a new tab)
Index fund investors
Vanguard Brokerage Account
$0 (online stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026; no minimum to open.
Visit Vanguard (opens in a new tab)

How do they compare?

From each broker’s page, Nov 10, 2026
BrokerStock/ETF tradesOptionsAccount minimumFractional sharesAccount fee
Fidelity$0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026$0.65 per contract (online options) as of Nov 10, 2026NoneYes, from $1 (US stocks and ETFs)No fees to open a retail brokerage account
Schwab$0 (online listed stocks and ETFs) as of Nov 10, 2026$0.65 per contract (online options) as of Nov 10, 2026$0Yes, from $1 (7,000+ US-listed stocks and ETFs)$0 opening and maintenance (brokerage and IRA)
Vanguard$0 (online stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026Not checkedNoneNot checked$25 annual account service fee (waived with e-delivery or $1 million in qualifying assets) as of Nov 10, 2026
E*TRADE$0 (US exchange-listed stock and options trades) as of Nov 10, 2026$0.65 per contract ($0.50 at 30+ trades a quarter) as of Nov 10, 2026Not checkedNot checkedNot checked

The picks in detail

Easiest all-round start

1. Fidelity brokerage account

Best for: Beginners who want one account for everything

Fidelity’s pricing page (Nov 10, 2026) shows $0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026, $0.65 per contract (online options) as of Nov 10, 2026, $0 for Fidelity funds and no-transaction-fee funds on purchase, and “no minimums to open an account.” Its fractional shares page says you can start with as little as $1 in US stocks or ETFs, with zero account fees to open a retail brokerage account.

Key terms: $0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 Fidelity terms

Pros

  • No minimums or account-opening fees
  • Fractional shares from $1
  • Wide fund lineup at $0 to buy

Cons

  • Options carry a $0.65 contract fee
Visit Fidelity (opens in a new tab)
Fractional shares in 7,000+ stocks and ETFs

2. Schwab brokerage account

Best for: Small dollar amounts in individual stocks

Schwab shows $0 (online listed stocks and ETFs) as of Nov 10, 2026, $0.65 per contract (online options) as of Nov 10, 2026, and $0 opening and maintenance fees and $0 minimums for brokerage and IRA accounts. Its fractional shares page lists more than 7,000 US-listed stocks and ETFs from $1. Broker-assisted trades add a $25 service charge.

Key terms: $0 (online listed stocks and ETFs) as of Nov 10, 2026 Schwab terms

Pros

  • $0 minimums on brokerage and IRAs
  • Fractional shares across 7,000+ stocks and ETFs

Cons

  • $25 service charge for broker-assisted trades
Visit Schwab (opens in a new tab)
Index fund investors

3. Vanguard Brokerage Account

Best for: Buy-and-hold index fund investors

Vanguard’s brokerage page shows $0 (online stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 and no fee or minimum to open an account. It may charge a $25 annual account service fee (waived with e-delivery or $1 million in qualifying assets) as of Nov 10, 2026. Most Vanguard mutual funds require $1,000 to $100,000 to start depending on the fund and share class, so with a small balance you may need to start with ETFs or stocks instead.

Key terms: $0 (online stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 Vanguard terms

Pros

  • No minimum to open
  • Index fund focus

Cons

  • $25 annual fee unless you choose e-delivery
  • Mutual fund minimums of $1,000+ for most funds
Visit Vanguard (opens in a new tab)
Best for Beginners who may trade options later

4. E*TRADE brokerage account

Best for: Beginners who may trade options later

E*TRADE’s pricing page shows $0 (US exchange-listed stock and options trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 and an options contract fee of $0.65 per contract ($0.50 at 30+ trades a quarter) as of Nov 10, 2026. We didn’t check E*TRADE’s account minimums or fractional share policy on Nov 10, 2026, so they aren’t listed.

Key terms: $0 (US exchange-listed stock and options trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 E*TRADE terms

Pros

  • Lower options fee for active traders

Cons

  • We didn’t verify minimums or fractional shares
Visit E*TRADE (opens in a new tab)

Also considered

Robinhood’s fee support page returned “Page not found” when we checked on Nov 10, 2026, so it isn’t included. If you’d rather not pick investments yourself, see best robo-advisors.

Your first account: taxable or IRA?

A regular (taxable) brokerage account lets you withdraw anytime. An IRA gives tax advantages for retirement savings but has contribution limits ($7,500 for 2026, or $8,600 if you’re 50 or older, per the IRS[8]) and withdrawal rules. See Roth vs. traditional IRA.

Who should skip this

  • You don’t have an emergency fund yet. Investments can lose value; keep short-term money in an insured savings account.
  • You have high-interest debt. Paying down a card that charges 20% or more saves that interest for certain; investments don’t guarantee any return.
  • You want someone to manage it for you. A robo-advisor may suit you better.

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need to start investing?
At Fidelity and Schwab, there’s no account minimum and you can buy fractional shares from $1, per their pages on Nov 10, 2026. Vanguard has no minimum to open, but most of its mutual funds require $1,000 or more.
Are brokerage accounts insured?
Not like bank deposits. SIPC[7] protects customers of failed member brokerages up to $500,000, including $250,000 for cash, for missing assets. It does not protect against market losses.
Do I pay to buy stocks?
Not at these brokers for online US stock and ETF trades: each showed $0 commissions on Nov 10, 2026. Options carry per-contract fees, and some trades (like broker-assisted ones at Schwab) cost extra.
Which is better, Fidelity or Schwab?
Both are strong for beginners. See our Fidelity vs. Schwab comparison.
Do you earn money from these brokers?
No. We have no affiliate relationship with any broker on this page.

Sources

Every source below was opened and read for this page (rates last checked Nov 10, 2026). Providers’ own pages are labeled with the provider’s name; regulator pages are labeled with the agency. Rates and terms change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you apply.

  1. Fidelity: Commissions, margin rates and fees (fidelity.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  2. Fidelity: Fractional shares (fidelity.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  3. Schwab: Pricing (schwab.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  4. Schwab: Fractional shares (Stock Slices) (schwab.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  5. Vanguard: Brokerage accounts (investor.vanguard.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  6. E*TRADE: Pricing and rates (us.etrade.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  7. SIPC: What SIPC protects (sipc.org, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  8. IRS: Retirement topics — IRA contribution limits (irs.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
comparison

Fidelity vs. Vanguard

Both charge nothing for online stock and ETF trades. The gaps are in the smaller fees: options contracts, phone trades, leaving the firm, and Vanguard’s $25 account fee if you skip e-delivery.

best of

Best investing apps

Most investing apps now charge $0 to trade US stocks and ETFs. The differences are in options pricing, subscriptions, and the fees you only notice later, like moving your account out.

best of

Best Roth IRA accounts

Where you open a Roth IRA matters less than funding it, but fees and minimums differ. We read each firm’s Roth IRA and pricing pages on Nov 10, 2026.

comparison

Fidelity vs. Schwab

On core costs, the two are nearly identical: $0 online stock and ETF trades, $0.65 per options contract and no account minimums. The differences show up in fractional share coverage, robo-advisor pricing and extras.

best of

Best robo-advisors

A robo-advisor builds and rebalances a portfolio for you for an advisory fee, usually a small percentage of your balance each year, plus the expense ratios of the funds it uses. We read each firm’s own page on Nov 10, 2026.

guide

Roth vs. traditional IRA

Both IRAs share one contribution limit. The difference is when you pay tax: a traditional IRA may give you a deduction now and taxes withdrawals later; a Roth IRA gives no deduction now but qualified withdrawals are tax-free.