|
Webull vs M1 Finance in 2026
|
Webull vs. M1 Finance Introduction
Before you open a brokerage account, it helps to understand the investing style each firm is built for. Webull and M1 Finance take very different approaches.
Pricing
| Broker Fees |
Stock/ETF
Commission |
Mutual Fund
Commission |
Options
Commission |
Maintenance
Fee |
Annual IRA
Fee |
|
Webull
|
$0
|
na
|
$0 per contract
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
M1 Finance
|
$0
|
na
|
na
|
$0
|
$0
|
Services
| Broker Review |
Cost |
Investment Products |
Trading Tools |
Customer Service |
Research |
Overall Rating |
|
Webull
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M1 Finance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investment Offerings
M1 Finance users invest through Pies, which are bundles of stocks, closed-end funds, and exchange-traded funds created by M1. These Pies follow themes such as socially responsible investing, retirement, or international growth. Browsing available Pies and putting money into them is straightforward.
Investors who want more control can also build their own Pies. Adding stocks and funds and setting target weights is simple, and cryptocurrencies can now be added to a custom Pie. Accounts are limited to five Pies, and each Pie can hold up to 100 positions. That means an account can hold up to 500 positions total.
Whether you use M1’s prebuilt Pies or create your own, the approach is still self-directed because the account owner chooses what to buy and sell. M1 Finance does not offer managed accounts.
Webull also offers self-directed accounts only. Within those accounts, traders can buy and sell the
same core securities M1 offers (stocks, ETFs, and closed-end funds) plus bonds, futures, and
options. Webull also offers a much larger lineup of OTC stocks. M1 Finance supports only a small number of over-the-counter securities.
A major Webull advantage is access to the full regular trading session. The U.S. stock market is open from 9:30 am, EST, until 4:00 pm.
M1 Finance clients can only have trades sent to the exchanges during set trading windows. Regular members get the morning window. Plus members receive a second afternoon window. Plus costs $3 per month.
M1 Finance Plus members also receive 10 on-demand crypto trades each month. Regular members can only trade crypto during the morning window.
Both brokers support taxable accounts and tax-advantaged accounts. M1 Finance also offers custodial accounts, joint accounts, and trusts, which Webull does not.
Winner: Webull
Margin Accounts
Webull uses a traditional tiered structure for margin rates. It starts at 8.74%
for balances under $25k and drops to 4.74% for margin debits above $3m. Webull’s platform also displays multiple helpful margin figures, including overnight leverage.
M1 Finance takes a different route with its margin feature, M1 Borrow. Eligible accounts are
automatically enrolled. Investors can borrow up to 40% of their account value, either as cash or to buy
more securities. Borrowing currently costs a flat 5.65%. M1’s system only shows a security’s maintenance requirement.
Winner: Again, it seems debatable
Websites
Even though the two brokers already look quite different, the gap becomes even wider with their software. M1 Finance provides a basic website for account management and investing. Since M1 uses trading windows, clients do not send orders to exchanges directly. Instead, users add holdings to Pies and M1 submits grouped orders at set times. As a result, the order interface is simple and does not include advanced order types.
Charting on the M1 site is also very limited. There are no tools beyond volume, and line charts are the only display option.
Webull’s website offers far more advanced charting. Unlike M1, charts can be expanded to the full width of a monitor. There are multiple chart styles and a large set of technical indicators.
Webull also includes a real trade ticket, and it comes in several versions. Together, they add features like OCO orders, a dedicated sell short button, and multi-leg order entry.
Winner: Webull
Mobile Apps
Mobile trading tells a similar story. The M1 app is simple but easy to use. The bottom tabs are organized around tasks (investing, borrowing, spending, and research). The Invest tab is used to manage Pies, while Research is where you’ll find security profiles.
Webull’s app includes two advanced order tickets (the same ones available on the website). One is called “Big Button,” and it uses large trade buttons that help place crypto and securities orders quickly.
Webull’s app also includes a feature that M1 does not have: social networking tools.
Winner: Webull
Extra Services
IPO Access: Webull has it. M1 Finance does not.
Fractional-share Trading: Available at both broker-dealers.
IRAs: An Individual Retirement Account can be opened at either brokerage house in Roth or Traditional format. M1 Finance also has the SEP account. Webull only permits one IRA type per customer. Only M1 Finance charges a fee to close an IRA (currently, that’s $100).
Banking Tools: M1 Finance offers Spend, which includes a checking account and a
debit card. A savings account is planned. Webull pays a very high
3.35% APY on cash balances.
Dividend Reinvesting: Only available inside an M1 Finance account.
Winner: M1 Finance
Recommendations
Active Stock Trading: Webull, no question. Paper trading is included.
Small Accounts: M1 Finance requires $500 to begin investing in an IRA (or $100 for a taxable account). Webull has no minimums.
Beginners: A broker-built Pie might sound perfect for new investors, but in our experience the Pie method can feel confusing on M1’s site. We prefer Webull for small-dollar fractional-share investing and the availability of simulated trading.
Mutual Fund Trading: Neither broker offers it, but Charles Schwab has thousands of mutual funds with no transaction fees.
Long-Term Investors & Retirement Savers: M1 Finance’s retirement-focused Pies may be useful for investors working toward long-term goals.
Webull vs M1 Finance Summary
These two brokers differ a lot, both in their investing philosophy and in the trading tools they provide.
|
|
Updated on 2/6/2026.
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.
|