Comparison of online brokerages in the United States

The following is a comparison of notable online brokerages:

Brokerage

Initial
funding
requirement

STOCK trade
commission

ETF trade
commission

Options trade
commission

Annual
account
fee

Real-time
quotes

Real-time
trades

Charles Schwab

$1,000

$8.95

$8.95

$8.95 + $0.75 / contract

E-Trade

$500

$9.99

$9.99

$9.99 + $0.75 / contract

Fidelity

$2,500

$7.95

$7.95

$7.95 + $0.75 / contract

Firstrade

$0

$6.95

$6.95

$6.95 + $0.75 / contract

Interactive Brokers
(per share schedule)

$10,000

$0.005 per share
$1.00 minimum

$0.005 per ETF
$1.00 minimum

$0.00 + $0.75 / contract
($1.00 minimum)

$120.00

LightSpeed
Web Trader

$25,000

$3.00 (varies)

$3.00 (varies)

$0.00 + $0.60 / contract
($1.00 minimum)

Merrill Edge

$0

$6.95

$6.95

OptionsXpress

$0

$8.95

$8.95

$1.25 - $1.50 / contract (varies)

Scottrade

$500

$7.00

$7.00

$7.00 + $1.25 / contract

ShareBuilder

$0

$6.95

$6.95

SogoTrade

$0

$5.00

$5.00

TD Ameritrade

$0

$9.99

$9.99

$9.99 + $0.75 / contract

thinkorswim

$0

$9.99

$9.99

$9.99 + $0.75 / contract

TradeKing

$0

$4.95

$4.95

$4.95 + $0.65 / contract

TradeStation

$5,000

$9.99

$9.99

$1,199.40

USAA

$0

$8.95

$8.95

Vanguard

$3,000

$20.00

$20.00

$20.00

Wells Fargo

$1,000

$8.95

$8.95

$60.00

Zions Direct

$9.95

$9.95

Brokerage

Initial
funding
requirement

Stock trade
commission

ETF trade
commission

Options trade
commission

Annual
account
fee

Real-time
quotes

Real-time
trades

See also