Interested in the best online brokers of 2022? Whether you want to invest in Boeing (NYSE: BA) or Tesla (Nasdaq: TSLA), you will need to get an online broker account first. An online platform allows you to trade from any location that has an internet connection. Because the brokerage automatically processes these trades, they do not have to charge as much as traditional brokerage firms.

An online broker basically serves as the middleman during your stock purchase. They help to mediate the exchange between a buyer and seller for different stocks, bonds and other financial instruments. While some of these brokers charge a fee for their services, there are also online brokers available who do not charge commission. To discover the best online brokers of 2022, read on.

The Best Online Brokers of 2022

8. Interactive Brokers

If you are looking for a low-cost platform, Interactive Brokers is the place to go. It is also a great place for trading options. While other online brokers have better interfaces, the platform at Interactive Brokers will do everything you need it to. While the interface is fairly simple, Interactive Brokers offers robust features. It was originally designed for advanced traders, which is one of the reasons why it offers volume-based discounts.

With Interactive Brokers, you can use the Pro version or the Lite version. The Pro version charges $0.05 per share after your first 200 shares. If you buy less than 200 shares, you have to pay $1. The Pro version also charges $0.65 per options contract. Meanwhile, the Lite version does not charge you anything per trade.

• Star rating: 4/5
• Fees: $.005 per share with IBKR Pro and $0 per share with IBKR Lite
• Account minimum: $0

7. TradeStation

TradeStation uses a web-based platform to help active traders conduct their trades. This platform can be downloaded on your desktop device. Traders love TradeStation because of how robust it is. With this platform, you get an entire range of trading tools some other platforms don’t offer.

In addition to the desktop platform, you can also check out TradeStation’s mobile app. This app allows you to pick price alerts and view watch lists. Plus, you can analyze stock charts through the platform. Depending on how much you deposit in your account, you can also receive $50 to $5,000 in rewards.

• Star rating: 4/5
• Fees: $0 per trade and $0.50 per option trade
• Account minimum: $0

6. Merrill Edge

Merrill Edge is known for having some of the best analysts and researchers in the industry. The in-house team of analysts compiles detailed reports for different companies. New investors can also access Merrill Edge’s educational materials.

One of the advantages of using Merrill Edge is getting easy access to funds in your Bank of America account as well. Because of this integration, you can easily move funds from your Bank of America account to Merrill Edge for free.

Merrill Edge often offers promotions, so you may be able to get extra money for opening an account. For example, one of the most recent promotions involved giving new clients $600 for depositing a certain amount of money in a new account. These promotions normally must meet certain requirements, so you should make sure to read the promotion’s rules before investing.

If you care about environmental, social and governance (ESG) research, Merrill Edge is the place to go. Fund Story, Stock Story and Portfolio Story allow you to read up on the latest research. Plus, you can also get full ESG reports as well. If you’re investing with ESG in mind, Merrill Edge could be the best online broker for you.

Owned by Bank of America, Merrill Edge does not charge any fees for trading stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Through Merrill Edge, users can enjoy some of the industry’s top rewards. The Preferred Rewards program gives users a variety of benefits, but you need to have a minimum account balance to qualify for the program.

• Star rating: 4.5/5
• Fees: $0 per stock or ETF and $0.65 per options contract
• Account minimum: $0

5. Ally Invest

Ally Invest is ideal if you’re already a customer at Ally Bank, but anyone can use this platform. This online broker charges nothing for its ETF and stock trades. With Ally Invest’s add-on feature, you can also get option contracts for $0.50. If you want to buy a mutual fund, you will have to pay $9.95 per trade.

Depending on your initial deposit, you can get up to $3,500 for starting an account with Ally Invest. This online broker does not offer extensive educational resources like other companies, but it is known for having excellent customer support. Because Ally Invest is integrated with Ally Bank, it is a great option online broker for traders who want all of their finances situated in one location.

• Star rating: 4.5/5
• Fees: $0 per stock and $0.50 per option contract
• Account minimum: $0

4. E*TRADE

E*TRADE was originally started in 1982. It has the distinction of being the first online brokerage in the entire country. Other than its robust web platform, the company offers two mobile apps. Plus, the Power E*TRADE platform is ideally designed for trading option contracts.

With E*TRADE, you can enjoy having excellent trading tools. While E*TRADE holds its own with stock trading, it really stands out with option contracts. Consistently ranked as one of the best web-based platforms, E*TRADE is a must have on our list of the best online brokers of 2021.

• Star rating: 4.5/5
• Fees: $0
• Account minimum: $0

The Top 3 Best Online Brokers of 2022

3. Charles Schwab

Today, Charles Schwab has more than $3 trillion in client assets. In addition to serving as a full-service brokerage since 1973, the company is currently a top online broker as well. By using Charles Schwab, you can get easy access to top-notch trading tools, stock research and other benefits.

Since it was founded, Charles Schwab has focused on a customer-first approach. The online platform does not charge any fees for conducting stock trades. Plus, there is no minimum for opening an account.

Other than its customer service, this online broker is popular because of its high-quality market research. Charles Schwab uses 25 in-house experts to create its Schwab Insights. Plus, you can use a robo-advisor through the Schwab Intelligent Portfolios feature or human advisors through the Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium program.

• Star rating: 5/5
• Fees: $0 per stock and $0.65 per option trade
• Account minimum: $0

Best Online Brokers Reviews