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Broker Commissions and Fees Comparison for 2026
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Stock Broker Commissions Comparison
1 - fees charged in some cases; see broker reviews for details.
For any retail trader or investor, the cost of buying and selling securities is a major factor in choosing an online broker. There is a range of commissions in the
industry, and the differences in cost often reflect a brokerage firm’s size, range of services, and level of customer support. Many investors naturally look for the
lowest brokerage commissions and fees available, but that may not always be the best strategy, because it can overlook possible weaknesses in
service or technology when placing trades, or a broker’s inability to support frequent trading.
Since most retail traders use stocks and ETFs to trade the markets, those commissions tend to be the main benchmark used to evaluate broker cost. Most advertising from
brokers focuses on stock and ETF commission prices, but among the largest brokers there is often only a small
difference in commissions.
Stock Commissions Comparison of the Largest Brokers
The largest brokers generally charge
$0 for online stock and ETF trades.
Obviously, there are service and trading platform differences to consider among the largest brokers, and how they take care of their customers compared
to smaller brokers.
Charles Schwab offers a very strong trading platform for all of its customers, while Fidelity has a long-standing reputation as a
dependable broker.
Most large brokers offer full-service banking options to their customers with bill pay, checking privileges, and ATM cards, which may
appeal to a certain type of customer. Some of these benefits may play into the decision to accept a higher commission compared to deeply discounted brokers.
Cost Comparison: Least and Most Expensive Stock Commission Brokers
Among brokers of all sizes, some of the least expensive commissions for stock, ETF, and options trades are
$0.00, including offers from Robinhood.
For anyone looking for one of the cheapest ways to buy and sell securities, this would be a strong choice.
Another broker with very low brokerage commissions and fees is
moomoo, with
a $0 commission rate on stocks, ETFs, and many options trades.
At the other end of the spectrum are the most expensive brokers for retail traders. Muriel Siebert takes top honors with a flat $14.95 commission per trade,
totaling nearly $30 to buy and sell a single security. There are no service and account
differences that justify the greater cost.
Free Robinhood Account
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Median Stock Commissions: The Industry Average
A number of brokers do use a similar commission ‘range’ for their services, which is usually tied to the number of stock or ETF shares in a single trade.
If one is paying more than $1 per trade, there will probably be some other service or role the broker can play, aside from being a simple way to place a trade.
In the end, every trader or investor has to evaluate their own needs, and if all someone wants to do is place a trade at a fair price, there is probably little reason
to pay more than the absolute minimum. Especially for those who plan to hold a stock or ETF for months or even years, the online broker is only the portal to
the marketplace that provides a simple and verifiable way to participate. As long as the broker can demonstrate financial stability and regulatory compliance, there
is little reason to ignore the deep discount available.
Updated on 3/30/2026.
Chad Morris is a financial writer with more than 20 years experience
as both an English teacher and an avid trader. When he isn’t writing
expert content for Brokerage-Review.com, Chad can usually be found
managing his portfolio or building a new home computer.
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