Ranked from our published scores

Best Brokers for Long-Term and ETF Investing

For buy-and-hold investing the priorities are low ongoing cost, genuine ownership of the assets, a solid regulator, and enough range to build a diversified portfolio.

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:

Costs & Feesx2Platform & Toolsx0.5Regulation & Trustx1.5Asset Rangex1.5Account Access & Supportx1

CFD-only brokers are excluded here by definition: a contract for difference is a leveraged bet on a price, not ownership of an asset you can hold for decades.

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
Interactive Brokers
4.8fit
Why here: Unmatched global market access from a single account
Watch out: Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve
Real assets · SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others
Read the full Interactive Brokers review →
2
Fidelity
4.7fit
Why here: Zero-fee index funds and unusually deep retirement planning tools
Watch out: Less suited to active derivatives trading than some rivals
Real assets · SEC, FINRA, SIPC
Read the full Fidelity review →
3
Charles Schwab
4.5fit
Why here: thinkorswim's professional tooling alongside full-service support
Watch out: Low interest paid on uninvested cash; limited crypto access
Real assets · SEC, FINRA, SIPC
Read the full Charles Schwab review →
4
IG
4.0fit
Why here: Trading since 1974, LSE-listed, with very wide market access
Watch out: Most of the range is leveraged rather than owned
Mixed · FCA, ASIC and other regional regulators
Read the full IG review →
5
Saxo Bank
3.8fit
Why here: Professional-grade platforms and exceptional instrument breadth
Watch out: Premium pricing, with custody fees on some account tiers
Real assets · Danish FSA as a licensed bank, plus FCA and others
Read the full Saxo Bank review →
6
Webull
3.7fit
Why 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
Real assets · SEC, FINRA, SIPC
Read the full Webull review →
7
DEGIRO
3.5fit
Why here: Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe
Watch out: Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents
Real assets · BaFin, through flatex's German banking licence
Read the full DEGIRO review →
8
eToro
3.5fit
Why here: CopyTrader, the most developed social investing product
Watch out: Heavy CFD component outside the US and UK, plus withdrawal and FX fees
Mixed · FCA, CySEC, ASIC; SEC-registered US entity
Read the full eToro review →
9
Public.com
3.5fit
Why 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
Real assets · SEC, FINRA, SIPC
Read the full Public.com review →
10
Robinhood
3.5fit
Why 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
Real assets · SEC, FINRA, SIPC
Read the full Robinhood review →
11
XTB
3.5fit
Why 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
Mixed · FCA, KNF, CySEC, DFSA and others
Read the full XTB review →
12
Trading 212
3.3fit
Why here: Pies and AutoInvest, with a £1 minimum to start
Watch out: No mutual funds, bonds, desktop platform or phone support
Real assets · FCA
Read the full Trading 212 review →
13
Revolut
2.9fit
Why here: Investing built into an app millions already have open
Watch out: A narrow menu with tiered free-trade limits; not a dedicated broker
Real assets · Varies by region: FCA in the UK, an EU entity in the EEA
Read the full Revolut review →