Trading & investing

Best brokers to use

OppHub highlights money-making ideas — these are the brokerages we recommend when you're ready to act. Each pick includes honest pros and cons. Some links are partner referrals; we may earn a reward at no extra cost to you.

About the order: We list brokers from easiest onboarding to most advanced tools — not “worst to best.” Robinhood is #1 because most OppHub readers are starting out, not because it beats IBKR on every metric.

Not investment advice. Options and margin involve risk. Read each broker's disclosures before opening an account. View live market data →

1. Best to start

Robinhood

Commission-free investing from $1 — built for mobile-first beginners.

NerdWallet (2026): best for basic stock trading. Investopedia: strong for crypto access.

Pros

Invest in 6,000+ US stocks and ETFs from as little as $1
Commission-free stock and ETF trades
Clean, beginner-friendly mobile app
Competitive cash sweep interest on uninvested cash
Free bonus stock when you join through a referral link

Cons

Fewer advanced charting and research tools than pro platforms
Customer support is mostly in-app — not ideal for urgent issues
Options and margin require extra approval and carry real risk
Promotions and rates change — always read current terms

Join Robinhood & claim your bonus

2. Best to level up

Webull

Charts, extended hours, and paper trading for active retail traders.

NerdWallet (2026): 5.0 rating, best for paper trading. Investopedia: best low-cost options broker.

Webull mobile app showing portfolio, AAPL charting, and options chain

Chart-heavy tradersExtended hoursPaper trading practice

Join through OppHub referral — free stock and transfer bonuses may apply (see Webull for current offers).

Pros

Advanced charting and technical indicators
Extended-hours trading on many symbols
Paper trading to practice without real money
Commission-free stocks and ETFs on standard accounts
Options and crypto available (product availability varies)

Cons

Interface can feel overwhelming for complete beginners
Promotions and free-stock offers change frequently
Customer service quality varies by issue type
Not the best fit if you only want a dead-simple app

Open Webull with referral

3. Best for options

Tradier

Award-winning options brokerage with API access and live US support.

Benzinga Fintech Awards (2024): most innovative options broker. Built for active options traders and API users.

Tradier trading platforms on desktop, tablet, and mobile — the home of active traders

Options tradersActive investorsAPI / automation

3 months of Tradier Pro free with $5,000+ deposit through OppHub referral.

Pros

Commission-free stock and options trading on Pro plans
Strong options chains, multi-leg orders, and advanced order types
3 free months of Tradier Pro with qualifying deposit (promo terms apply)
Live US-based phone support — real humans, not chatbots
Web, desktop, and mobile platforms plus developer API

Cons

$5,000 minimum deposit to qualify for the referral promo
Pro subscription ($10–$35/mo) after the free trial period
Index options carry per-contract fees on top of plan pricing
Less beginner-friendly than simple mobile-first apps

Open Tradier account

4. Best for advanced & global

Interactive Brokers

Professional-grade tools and global market access for serious investors.

Investopedia (2026): best for advanced traders and international markets. NerdWallet: best for advanced stock trading.

Interactive Brokers Client Portal, Trader Workstation, and mobile apps on desktop and phone

Global marketsLow margin ratesPower users

Join through OppHub referral — new account perks may apply (see IBKR for current offer).

Pros

Access to stocks, options, futures, forex, and bonds worldwide
Among the lowest margin rates in the industry
Institutional-quality execution and research tools
Strong for portfolios that outgrow beginner apps

Cons

Steep learning curve — not built for casual first-time users
Some account types have monthly minimums or inactivity fees
Mobile experience is capable but less polished than Robinhood/Webull
Promotions and fee schedules change — read current IBKR terms

Open IBKR with referral

How we order these brokers

There is no single “#1 broker” for everyone. Fidelity and Schwab often win general “best overall” lists, but OppHub only covers brokers where we have active partner referral links. Within our four picks, independent reviewers usually praise different platforms for different jobs:

1.Robinhood — best to start. NerdWallet (2026): best for basic stock trading. Investopedia: strong for crypto access.
2.Webull — best to level up. NerdWallet (2026): 5.0 rating, best for paper trading. Investopedia: best low-cost options broker.
3.Tradier — best for options. Benzinga Fintech Awards (2024): most innovative options broker. Built for active options traders and API users.
4.Interactive Brokers — best for advanced & global. Investopedia (2026): best for advanced traders and international markets. NerdWallet: best for advanced stock trading.

If you want one rule of thumb: start with Robinhood or Webull for simple US stock investing; move to Tradier when options and automation matter; choose IBKR when you need global markets, futures, or professional-grade tools. IBKR ranks highest among these four for advanced and international trading in Investopedia's 2026 broker review, while Robinhood and Webull lead for mobile-first beginners on NerdWallet.

Ratings paraphrased from public 2024–2026 reviews (NerdWallet, Investopedia, Benzinga Fintech Awards). Offers and fee schedules change — verify on each broker's site before signing up. Questions? Contact us.