Compare Online Brokers

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Investors searching for a new broker should compare online brokers to find the best trade platform that suits their needs. Below we have a full comparison chart with ten of the top rated online stock brokers: TD Ameritrade, ETRADE, TradeKing, Scottrade, OptionsHouse, OptionsXpress, Zecco, trade MONSTER, and MB Trading.

The below broker ratings chart makes it easy to compare and find a new online broker. While most investors simply seek out low trade commissions it is important to note that trading tools, research, and customer service are also very important when comparing brokers.

This comparison table incorporates data from the StockBrokers.com 2012 Online Broker Review which I highly recommend reading through in conjunction with this chart. Please also refer to my stock brokerage guide here on the site for help, and feel free to email me if you have any specific broker questions.

star Poor
starstar Mediocre
star star star Good
star star star star Excellent
ETRADE Etrade Logo
TD Ameritrade

TD Ameritrade Logo
TradeKing TradeKing Logo Options-
House
OptionsHouse Logo
Scottrade Scottrade Logo trade
MONSTER
trade Monster Logo
Options-
Xpress
OptionsXpress Logo
Zecco Zecco Logo MB Trading MB<br />Trading Logo
  ETRADE
TD Ameritrade
TradeKing Options
House
Scottrade trade
MONSTER
Options
Xpress
Zecco MB
Trading
* - StockBrokers.com 2012 broker review included 24 brokers with ratings in eight categories: commissions & fees, ease of use, platforms & tools, research, customer service, offering of investments, investor education, and mobile trading.

This page was written by Blain Reinkensmeyer and was last updated on 2012-03-01.

thinkorswim, Division of TD Ameritrade, Inc. and Reink Media Group LLC are separate, unaffiliated companies and are not responsible for each other's services and products.
Fees
Trade Commissions $9.99 $9.99 $4.95 $3.95 $7.00 $7.50 $9.95 $4.95 $4.95
Options Trade Base $9.99 $9.99 $4.95 $8.50 $7.00 $7.50 $0.00 $4.95 $0.00
Options Per Contract $0.75 $0.75 $0.65 $0.15 $1.25 $0.50 $1.50 $0.65 $0.95
Broker Assisted $54.99 $44.99 $4.95 $3.95 $27.00 $7.50 $9.95 $19.99 $4.95
Minimum Deposit $500.00 $2,500.00 $0.00 $1,000.00 $500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $1,000.00
Ratings
Overall Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star
Commissions Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star
Tools & Research Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star
Customer Service Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star Star
StockBrokers.com 2012 Review* Recommendations
Discounted Trading     Yes Yes          
Customer Service Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes    
Platforms & Tools Yes Yes         Yes   Yes
Options Traders   Yes Yes Yes   Yes Yes   Yes
Active Traders   Yes             Yes
Tools & Extras
Trader Community Yes Yes Yes   Yes   Yes Yes Yes
Virtual Trading   Yes   Yes   Yes Yes   Yes
International Trading Yes Yes     Yes   Yes   Yes
Recap