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Broker Commissions and Fees Comparison (2025)
Brokerage firms account commissions comparison chart. Compare online brokers stock trading fees: best,
worst, and median cost companies.
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Stock Broker Commissions Comparison
1 - fees charged in some cases; see broker reviews for details.
For everyday traders and investors, the price of buying and selling securities is a big factor when choosing an online broker. There is a wide range of fees in the
industry, and these differences often reflect a broker’s size, its list of services, and how strong its customer support is. Many people look for the lowest
commissions and fees, but that goal can hide weak trading tools or poor service,
and some brokers may not be able to keep up with frequent trading.
Since most everyday traders buy and sell stocks and ETFs, those commission rates are the main yardstick for judging broker costs. Broker ads highlight stock and ETF prices, yet among the biggest firms the fee gap is tiny.
Stock Commissions Comparison of the Largest Brokers
The five largest brokers—Fidelity, Vanguard, Charles Schwab, Robinhood, and E*Trade—each charge
$0 for stock and ETF trades.
Even so, their trading platforms and service levels can differ, especially when compared with smaller firms.
Charles Schwab gives every client a top-rated trading platform, while Fidelity is known for long-standing reliability.
Most large brokers also provide full banking features—bill pay, checking, and ATM cards—that appeal to some customers. These perks may persuade some traders to accept slightly higher fees instead of moving to ultra-cheap brokers.
Cost Comparison: Least and Most Expensive Stock Commission Brokers
Among brokers of any size, Webull offers the lowest price—$0.00—for stock, ETF, and options trades.
For anyone seeking the absolute cheapest way to place trades, Webull is hard to beat.
The runner-up is Firstrade, which also charges a $0 fee for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds.
At the high end, Muriel Siebert is the priciest, with a flat $14.95 per trade—almost $30 to buy and later sell a single stock. The broker does not offer extra services or account features that would justify that higher price.
Free Charles Schwab Account
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Median Stock Commissions: The Industry Average
Several brokers group their prices within a similar range, often based on the number of shares in a single stock or ETF order.
If a trade costs more than $1, the broker is probably offering some extra service beyond simple order execution.
If you mainly need a fair-priced order entry, there is little reason to pay more than the bare minimum. For investors who plan to keep a stock or ETF for months or years, the broker is simply the gateway to the market. As long as the firm shows financial strength and follows regulations, the deep-discount model should not be ignored.
Updated on 4/22/2025.
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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