{
  "canary": "3d7e9185e4a1101f",
  "category": {
    "blocked": false,
    "commerce": true,
    "criteria": [
      {
        "group": "Fees",
        "key": "trading_commissions",
        "label": "Trading Commissions",
        "poids": 5,
        "primary": true,
        "sens": "plus_bas_mieux",
        "type": "prix",
        "unit": "USD"
      },
      {
        "group": "Fees",
        "key": "transfer_fee",
        "label": "Transfer Fee",
        "poids": 2,
        "sens": "plus_bas_mieux",
        "type": "prix",
        "unit": "USD"
      },
      {
        "group": "Fees",
        "key": "margin_rates",
        "label": "Margin Rates",
        "poids": 1,
        "sens": "plus_bas_mieux",
        "type": "pourcentage"
      },
      {
        "group": "Platform Features",
        "key": "platform_ease_of_use",
        "label": "Platform Ease of Use",
        "options": [
          "Low",
          "Moderate",
          "High"
        ],
        "poids": 4,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "ordinal"
      },
      {
        "group": "Platform Features",
        "key": "educational_resources",
        "label": "Educational Resources",
        "options": [
          "Limited",
          "Standard",
          "Extensive"
        ],
        "poids": 3,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "ordinal"
      },
      {
        "group": "Platform Features",
        "key": "research_tools",
        "label": "Research Tools",
        "options": [
          "Basic",
          "Advanced",
          "Comprehensive"
        ],
        "poids": 3,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "ordinal"
      },
      {
        "group": "Platform Features",
        "key": "mobile_app_quality",
        "label": "Mobile App Quality",
        "options": [
          "Basic",
          "Good",
          "Excellent"
        ],
        "poids": 3,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "ordinal"
      },
      {
        "group": "Platform Features",
        "key": "customer_support",
        "label": "Customer Support",
        "options": [
          "Poor",
          "Average",
          "Excellent"
        ],
        "poids": 2,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "ordinal"
      },
      {
        "group": "Getting Started",
        "key": "account_minimum",
        "label": "Account Minimum",
        "poids": 3,
        "sens": "plus_bas_mieux",
        "type": "prix",
        "unit": "USD"
      },
      {
        "group": "Investment Options",
        "key": "available_investment_types",
        "label": "Available Investment Types",
        "options": [
          "Stocks",
          "ETFs",
          "Mutual Funds",
          "Bonds",
          "Options",
          "Crypto"
        ],
        "poids": 3,
        "sens": "neutre",
        "type": "set"
      },
      {
        "group": "Account Features",
        "key": "account_types",
        "label": "Account Types",
        "options": [
          "Taxable Brokerage",
          "IRA",
          "Roth IRA",
          "401(k)",
          "403(b)"
        ],
        "poids": 2,
        "sens": "neutre",
        "type": "set"
      },
      {
        "group": "Account Features",
        "key": "fractional_shares",
        "label": "Fractional Shares",
        "poids": 2,
        "sens": "plus_haut_mieux",
        "type": "boolean"
      }
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "a": "Charles Schwab is currently ranked highest for beginners, followed closely by TD Ameritrade, based on factors like platform ease of use and educational resources.",
        "q": "What are the best online brokers for beginners in the US in 2026?"
      },
      {
        "a": "Both offer strong educational resources and user-friendly platforms, making them excellent choices for beginners, with Charles Schwab leading slightly in our overall scoring.",
        "q": "How do Charles Schwab and TD Ameritrade compare for new investors?"
      },
      {
        "a": "Key considerations include trading commissions, platform ease of use, and the availability of educational resources and research tools to help you learn.",
        "q": "What factors are most important when choosing a beginner-friendly online broker?"
      },
      {
        "a": "No, our rankings are completely neutral and based on objective data and analysis of each broker's features; we do not accept payments for placement.",
        "q": "Is your online broker ranking for beginners influenced by payments from the brokers?"
      }
    ],
    "kind": "category",
    "model": "",
    "ms": 2472,
    "neutral": false,
    "path": [
      "finance",
      "investing",
      "online-brokers"
    ],
    "price_key": "trading_commissions",
    "profile_questions": [
      {
        "options": [
          "Long-term growth",
          "Income generation",
          "Short-term trading"
        ],
        "q": "What is your primary investment goal?"
      },
      {
        "options": [
          "Under $1,000",
          "$1,000 - $5,000",
          "$5,000 - $10,000",
          "Over $10,000"
        ],
        "q": "How much do you plan to invest initially?"
      },
      {
        "options": [
          "None",
          "Some",
          "Moderate"
        ],
        "q": "What is your experience level with investing?"
      }
    ],
    "subject": "service",
    "suggestions": [
      "compare online trading platforms",
      "low fee stock brokers",
      "best robo advisors for beginners",
      "how to start investing with little money"
    ],
    "synthese": [
      "This comparison evaluates nine online brokers based on twelve criteria, including trading commissions, transfer fees, margin rates, platform ease of use, educational resources, and research tools, with Charles Schwab ranking first overall with a score of 99 out of 100, largely due to its perfect scores in customer support and educational resources, and it is also identified as the cheapest option among those reviewed.",
      "The facts in this summary are computed from the table below; only the wording is generated."
    ],
    "tier": "gold",
    "title": "Best Online Brokers for Beginners in the US",
    "unranked": false,
    "visual": "logo"
  },
  "country": "US",
  "freshness": {
    "age_days": 6.8,
    "stale": true,
    "ttl_days": 1
  },
  "items": [
    {
      "badges": [
        "best_overall",
        "cheapest"
      ],
      "description": "Charles Schwab is known for its robust research tools, excellent customer service, and a wide range of investment options.",
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://www.schwab.com/",
      "logo_dom": "charles.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/charles.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "Charles Schwab",
      "provider": "Charles Schwab",
      "score": 99.0,
      "source_url": "https://www.schwab.com/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 100.0,
        "educational_resources": 100.0,
        "margin_rates": 77.0,
        "mobile_app_quality": 100.0,
        "platform_ease_of_use": 100.0,
        "research_tools": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "account_minimum": 0.0,
        "account_types": [
          "Taxable Brokerage",
          "IRA",
          "Roth IRA"
        ],
        "available_investment_types": [
          "Stocks",
          "ETFs",
          "Mutual Funds",
          "Bonds",
          "Options"
        ],
        "customer_support": "Excellent",
        "educational_resources": "Extensive",
        "fractional_shares": true,
        "margin_rates": 9.75,
        "mobile_app_quality": "Excellent",
        "platform_ease_of_use": "High",
        "research_tools": "Comprehensive",
        "trading_commissions": 0.0,
        "transfer_fee": 0.0
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "TD Ameritrade (now part of Schwab) offers excellent educational resources and research tools, suitable for beginners and experienced traders.",
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://www.tdameritrade.com/",
      "name": "TD Ameritrade",
      "provider": "TD Ameritrade",
      "score": 98.0,
      "source_url": "https://www.tdameritrade.com/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 100.0,
        "educational_resources": 100.0,
        "margin_rates": 70.0,
        "mobile_app_quality": 100.0,
        "platform_ease_of_use": 100.0,
        "research_tools": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "account_minimum": 0.0,
        "account_types": [
          "Taxable Brokerage",
          "IRA",
          "Roth IRA"
        ],
        "available_investment_types": [
          "Stocks",
          "ETFs",
          "Mutual Funds",
          "Bonds",
          "Options",
          "Futures"
        ],
        "customer_support": "Excellent",
        "educational_resources": "Extensive",
        "fractional_shares": true,
        "margin_rates": 10.75,
        "mobile_app_quality": "Excellent",
        "platform_ease_of_use": "High",
        "research_tools": "Comprehensive",
        "trading_commissions": 0.0,
        "transfer_fee": 0.0
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "E*TRADE provides a solid platform for beginners with good educational content and research tools, though some fees may apply.",
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://www.etrade.com/",
      "logo_dom": "etrade.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/etrade.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "E*TRADE",
      "provider": "E*TRADE",
      "score": 97.0,
      "source_url": "https://www.etrade.com/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 100.0,
        "educational_resources": 100.0,
        "margin_rates": 59.0,
        "mobile_app_quality": 100.0,
        "platform_ease_of_use": 100.0,
        "research_tools": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "account_minimum": 0.0,
        "account_types": [
          "Taxable Brokerage",
          "IRA",
          "Roth IRA"
        ],
        "available_investment_types": [
          "Stocks",
          "ETFs",
          "Mutual Funds",
          "Bonds",
          "Options"
        ],
        "customer_support": "Excellent",
        "educational_resources": "Extensive",
        "fractional_shares": true,
        "margin_rates": 12.75,
        "mobile_app_quality": "Excellent",
        "platform_ease_of_use": "High",
        "research_tools": "Comprehensive",
        "trading_commissions": 0.0,
        "transfer_fee": 0.0
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "best_for": "new investors that want simple access to fee-free investing and helpful customer support",
      "cons": [],
      "description": "Fidelity makes it easy to start investing, and even easier to stick with it as you learn, offering simple, commission-free trades, helpful education, and access to real support.",
      "link_url": "https://fidelity.com/",
      "logo_dom": "fidelity.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/fidelity.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "Fidelity",
      "pros": [
        "No trading fees on stock",
        "Access to hundreds of educational resources and training",
        "Well-designed mobile app",
        "24/7 customer service over the phone",
        "Responsive live chat"
      ],
      "provider": "Fidelity",
      "rating": 5.0,
      "score": 90.0,
      "source_url": "https://www.fool.com/money/buying-stocks/best-online-stock-brokers-for-beginners/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 100.0,
        "educational_resources": 100.0,
        "margin_rates": 88.0,
        "mobile_app_quality": 100.0,
        "platform_ease_of_use": 100.0,
        "research_tools": 50.0
      },
      "values": {
        "account_minimum": 0,
        "account_types": [
          "Taxable Brokerage",
          "IRA",
          "401(k)",
          "Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)"
        ],
        "available_investment_types": [
          "Stocks",
          "ETFs",
          "Options",
          "Mutual Funds",
          "Fixed Income"
        ],
        "customer_support": "Excellent",
        "educational_resources": "Extensive",
        "fractional_shares": true,
        "margin_rates": 8.5,
        "mobile_app_quality": "Excellent",
        "platform_ease_of_use": "High",
        "research_tools": "Advanced",
        "trading_commissions": 0,
        "transfer_fee": 0.0
      },
      "verified": true
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://vanguard.com/",
      "name": "Vanguard",
      "score": 72.0,
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 100.0,
        "educational_resources": 100.0,
        "mobile_app_quality": 50.0,
        "platform_ease_of_use": 50.0,
        "research_tools": 100.0
      },
      "values": {
        "account_minimum": 0,
        "account_types": [
          "Taxable Brokerage",
          "IRA",
          "Roth IRA"
        ],
        "available_investment_types": [
          "Stocks",
          "ETFs",
          "Mutual Funds",
          "Bonds",
          "Options"
        ],
        "customer_support": "Excellent",
        "educational_resources": "Extensive",
        "fractional_shares": true,
        "margin_rates": null,
        "mobile_app_quality": "Good",
        "platform_ease_of_use": "Moderate",
        "research_tools": "Comprehensive",
        "trading_commissions": null,
        "transfer_fee": null
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "Ally Invest offers commission-free stock and ETF trades, competitive margin rates, and a straightforward platform.",
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://www.ally.com/",
      "logo_dom": "ally.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/ally.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "Ally Invest",
      "provider": "Ally Invest",
      "score": 66.0,
      "source_url": "https://www.ally.com/invest/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 50.0,
        "educational_resources": 50.0,
        "margin_rates": 100.0,
        "mobile_app_quality": 50.0,
        "platform_ease_of_use": 100.0,
        "research_tools": 50.0
      },
      "values": {
        "account_minimum": 0.0,
        "account_types": [
          "Taxable Brokerage",
          "IRA",
          "Roth IRA"
        ],
        "available_investment_types": [
          "Stocks",
          "ETFs",
          "Mutual Funds",
          "Bonds",
          "Options"
        ],
        "customer_support": "Average",
        "educational_resources": "Standard",
        "fractional_shares": true,
        "margin_rates": 7.5,
        "mobile_app_quality": "Good",
        "platform_ease_of_use": "High",
        "research_tools": "Advanced",
        "trading_commissions": 0.0,
        "transfer_fee": 0.0
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "best_for": "all-in-one financial app",
      "cons": [],
      "description": "SoFi Invest is an accessible all-around brokerage for new investors, offering an intuitive platform with $0 commissions, ETFs, fractional shares, and more.",
      "logo_dom": "sofi.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/sofi.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "SoFi Invest",
      "pros": [],
      "provider": "SoFi",
      "rating": 4.9,
      "score": 56.0,
      "source_url": "https://www.fool.com/money/buying-stocks/best-online-stock-brokers-for-beginners/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 50.0,
        "educational_resources": 50.0,
        "margin_rates": 100.0,
        "mobile_app_quality": 50.0,
        "platform_ease_of_use": 100.0,
        "research_tools": 0.0
      },
      "values": {
        "account_minimum": 0.0,
        "account_types": [
          "Taxable Brokerage",
          "IRA",
          "Roth IRA"
        ],
        "available_investment_types": [
          "Stocks",
          "ETFs",
          "Fractional Shares"
        ],
        "customer_support": "Average",
        "educational_resources": "Standard",
        "fractional_shares": true,
        "margin_rates": 7.5,
        "mobile_app_quality": "Good",
        "platform_ease_of_use": "High",
        "research_tools": "Basic",
        "trading_commissions": 0,
        "transfer_fee": 0.0
      },
      "verified": true
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "Webull provides commission-free trading with advanced charting tools and a mobile-first approach, appealing to younger investors.",
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://www.webull.com/",
      "logo_dom": "webull.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/webull.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "Webull",
      "provider": "Webull",
      "score": 53.0,
      "source_url": "https://www.webull.com/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 50.0,
        "educational_resources": 50.0,
        "margin_rates": 94.0,
        "mobile_app_quality": 50.0,
        "platform_ease_of_use": 50.0,
        "research_tools": 50.0
      },
      "values": {
        "account_minimum": 0.0,
        "account_types": [
          "Taxable Brokerage",
          "IRA",
          "Roth IRA"
        ],
        "available_investment_types": [
          "Stocks",
          "ETFs",
          "Options"
        ],
        "customer_support": "Average",
        "educational_resources": "Standard",
        "fractional_shares": true,
        "margin_rates": 7.99,
        "mobile_app_quality": "Good",
        "platform_ease_of_use": "Moderate",
        "research_tools": "Advanced",
        "trading_commissions": 0.0,
        "transfer_fee": 0.0
      }
    },
    {
      "badges": [],
      "description": "Robinhood offers a simple, commission-free trading platform with fractional shares, ideal for absolute beginners.",
      "estimated": true,
      "link_url": "https://robinhood.com/",
      "logo_dom": "robinhood.com",
      "logo_url": "https://unavatar.io/robinhood.com?fallback=false",
      "name": "Robinhood",
      "provider": "Robinhood",
      "score": 45.0,
      "source_url": "https://robinhood.com/",
      "subscores": {
        "customer_support": 50.0,
        "educational_resources": 0.0,
        "margin_rates": 63.0,
        "mobile_app_quality": 50.0,
        "platform_ease_of_use": 100.0,
        "research_tools": 0.0
      },
      "values": {
        "account_minimum": 0.0,
        "account_types": [
          "Taxable Brokerage",
          "IRA",
          "Roth IRA"
        ],
        "available_investment_types": [
          "Stocks",
          "ETFs",
          "Options",
          "Crypto"
        ],
        "customer_support": "Average",
        "educational_resources": "Limited",
        "fractional_shares": true,
        "margin_rates": 12.0,
        "mobile_app_quality": "Good",
        "platform_ease_of_use": "High",
        "research_tools": "Basic",
        "trading_commissions": 0.0,
        "transfer_fee": 0.0
      }
    }
  ],
  "lang": "en",
  "license": "Citation with a link to the URL is allowed. Bulk extraction and redistribution of the catalog is prohibited. Volume access: contact us.",
  "markdown_url": "https://comparefairly.com/en/US/best-online-brokers-for-beginners.md",
  "neutral": false,
  "notice": "Neutral ranking, never paid; sorted on measured criteria. Each value is sourced or marked as an estimate (see per-item fields).",
  "query": "best online brokers for beginners",
  "source": "CompareFairly",
  "title": "Best Online Brokers for Beginners in the US",
  "unranked": false,
  "url": "https://comparefairly.com/en/US/best-online-brokers-for-beginners"
}