2 Best Brokerage Firms in 2025


The 2 best brokerage companies that offer low trading commissions and the highest quality of investment services


Best Brokerage Companies in 2025


In 2025, our research ranks Charles Schwab and Robinhood as the top 2 brokerage firms for self-directed investors. Below are their scores across key categories, their commissions and fees, current promotions, and links to detailed reviews.


Pricing


Broker Fees Stock/ETF
Commission
Mutual Fund
Commission
Margin
Rate
Maintenance
Fee
Annual IRA
Fee
Charles Schwab $0 $49.95 ($0 to sell) 12.575% $0 $0
Robinhood $0 na 5.75% $0 $0


Services


Broker Review Cost Investment Products Trading Tools Customer Service Research Overall Rating
Charles Schwab
Robinhood


Promotions


Charles Schwab: $0 commissions + satisfaction guarantee at Charles Schwab.

Robinhood: 3% IRA match and up to $200 FREE stock at Robinhood.


Key Takeaways


• Robinhood and Schwab each deliver a broad set of financial services you should know about.

• Advisory accounts are available only at Schwab.

• Robinhood, but not Schwab, supports cryptocurrency trading.


Schwab’s approach to investing, trading, and money management differs from Robinhood’s, yet the firm delivers many advantages, such as:

Wide range of securities: Beyond Robinhood’s lineup, Schwab lets you trade bonds, preferred shares, mutual funds, annuities, and closed-end funds. The fixed-income menu covers Treasuries, TIPS, STRIPS, commercial paper, corporates, foreign bonds, and mortgage-backed debt. Many assets trade with zero commission, and those that do not are priced reasonably (for example, $1 per bond).


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Global and OTC stocks: Schwab offers access to worldwide exchanges such as Toronto and Hong Kong, with trades in U.S. dollars or local currency. International stock trades typically cost under US$15, and OTC orders are $6.95.

Futures and forex: Schwab also supports futures and forex. Futures cost $2.25 per contract per side, while forex has no separate commission; Schwab earns through the bid-ask spread.

Many account types: Choices include individual, joint, SEP, SIMPLE, custodial, trust, charitable, 529, Coverdell, and estate accounts.


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International accounts: Schwab opens brokerage accounts for many non-U.S. residents—no U.S. address required, just a passport copy.

Advanced software: Schwab’s thinkorswim platform (web, mobile, desktop) delivers back-testing, direct-access routing, pairs trading, and other pro-grade tools.


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Advisory service: Schwab offers both robo and human advice with competitive fees and minimums. High-net-worth clients can enroll in the Wealth Advisory program for in-depth tax and estate planning.


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Branch network: Schwab runs 300-plus U.S. branches and several abroad (including Hong Kong and London).

Strong education and research: Articles, videos, OnInvesting magazine, and Schwab Network live broadcasts are available—many without logging in.

Schwab Bank: FDIC-insured checking and savings link seamlessly to brokerage accounts, with free debit cards that reimburse worldwide ATM fees.

Insurance options: Through Crump Life Insurance Services, Schwab clients can obtain term and permanent life, disability, and long-term care policies.


Review


Read Charles Schwab Review


Promotion


$0 commissions + satisfaction guarantee at Charles Schwab.

Visit Schwab Website


For self-directed investors, Robinhood supplies useful tools, resources, and perks, including:

Zero-cost trading: Investors can trade U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs, and options with no commissions or per-contract fees.

Improved option tools: The platform now shows preset strategies plus visual and numeric profit-and-loss diagrams.

Cryptocurrency trading: Robinhood offers 22 coins—majors like bitcoin and niche names like Tezos— commission-free aside from spreads.


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User-friendly software: Website and mobile app share the same clean design and order ticket with stop, trailing, and recurring orders.


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Extended hours: Pre-market starts at 7 a.m. EST; post-market runs to 8 p.m. Plus, a 24-hour session covers 918 stocks and ETFs, while crypto trades 24/7.


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Fractional shares: Order tickets let you toggle between dollars and shares for both stocks and crypto.

IPO access: Use the IPO hub to request shares of new offerings before they trade on exchanges.

Spending account: A separate FDIC-insured cash account (via Chase Bank) includes digital checks, a debit card, and easy transfers.

Debit-card perks: Earn cash-back deals, get early direct deposits, split paychecks, and round up purchases into investments—with no overdraft fees.


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Rewards: Referral bonuses can add up to $1,500 a year in free fractional shares.


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Retirement accounts: Robinhood offers Roth and Traditional IRAs with no annual or closing fees and an unmatched IRA contribution bonus—currently 1% for standard users and 3% for Gold members.


Review


Read Robinhood Review


Promotion


3% IRA match and up to $200 FREE stock at Robinhood.

Visit Robinhood Website

Best Brokerage Firms Recap

Charles Schwab and Robinhood stand out as the best brokerage firms of 2025. Each shines in different areas, so the right choice depends on your specific goals. With the information above, selecting the best partner for your investing journey should now be much simpler.


Updated on 4/22/2025.


About the Author
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.