Best Brokers for Beginners
A first broker should be easy to use, properly regulated, and cheap enough that fees do not quietly eat a small starting balance. Range of exotic markets matters far less.
How this ranking is built
Every broker carries the same five scores across the whole site. This page re-weights them for this specific use case — nothing is hand-placed, and the weighting is shown here so you can disagree with it:
Ease of use is rated separately from “Platform & Tools”, because they are not the same thing: a platform can be powerful and still be the wrong place to learn. That is why the most feature-dense brokers do not top this particular list. CFD-only brokers are left out of it entirely. They are legitimate regulated businesses, but leveraged derivatives are a poor place to learn, and most retail accounts trading them lose money.
Plain Investor has no commercial relationship with any broker listed. Rankings reflect independent research only. Scores reflect our methodology as of September 2026 and are not personalised advice — always verify current terms with the broker.
- 1
Charles Schwab
4.5fitWhy here: thinkorswim's professional tooling alongside full-service support
Watch out: Low interest paid on uninvested cash; limited crypto access
Read the full Charles Schwab review → - 2
Fidelity
4.5fitWhy here: Zero-fee index funds and unusually deep retirement planning tools
Watch out: Less suited to active derivatives trading than some rivals
Read the full Fidelity review → - 3
Robinhood
4.3fitWhy here: A genuinely simple mobile app with an IRA contribution match
Watch out: No mutual funds or individual bonds, and a $100 outgoing transfer fee
Read the full Robinhood review → - 4
Trading 212
4.1fitWhy here: Pies and AutoInvest, with a £1 minimum to start
Watch out: No mutual funds, bonds, desktop platform or phone support
Read the full Trading 212 review → - 5
Revolut
3.9fitWhy here: Investing built into an app millions already have open
Watch out: A narrow menu with tiered free-trade limits; not a dedicated broker
Read the full Revolut review → - 6
eToro
3.8fitWhy here: CopyTrader, the most developed social investing product
Watch out: Heavy CFD component outside the US and UK, plus withdrawal and FX fees
Read the full eToro review → - 7
XTB
3.8fitWhy here: Commission-free stocks and ETFs up to a high monthly threshold
Watch out: The product range is CFD-weighted, and availability varies by country
Read the full XTB review → - 8
IG
3.7fitWhy here: Trading since 1974, LSE-listed, with very wide market access
Watch out: Most of the range is leveraged rather than owned
Read the full IG review → - 9
Interactive Brokers
3.6fitWhy here: Unmatched global market access from a single account
Watch out: Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve
Read the full Interactive Brokers review → - 10
Public.com
3.5fitWhy here: Moved away from payment for order flow on stock and ETF trades
Watch out: A shorter track record, with some features behind a subscription
Read the full Public.com review → - 11
DEGIRO
3.3fitWhy here: Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe
Watch out: Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents
Read the full DEGIRO review → - 12
Webull
3.3fitWhy here: Charting and paper trading well beyond what a free app usually offers
Watch out: No mutual funds, and its ownership history has drawn US scrutiny
Read the full Webull review → - 13
Saxo Bank
3.1fitWhy here: Professional-grade platforms and exceptional instrument breadth
Watch out: Premium pricing, with custody fees on some account tiers
Read the full Saxo Bank review →