Want to buy shares or speculate on stock prices but don’t know which brokerage to use? We’ve reviewed, compared and rated the best stock brokers and platforms for day trading stocks.
The brokers listed below primarily offer stock trading through CFDs (Contracts for Difference). This allows for leverage and short-selling, making them effective tools for day traders. However, CFDs do not provide direct ownership of shares and are generally not appropriate for long-term investors due to overnight financing costs.Top 6 Stock Brokers for Day Trading
Our comprehensive analysis of 143 brokers, conducted as of October 2026, reveals the following day trading platforms as the top choices for stock traders:
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- Demo account
- Min. deposit: $0
- Automation
-
- Fractional Shares
- Demo account
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
-
- Demo account
- Min. deposit: $100
- Automation
-
- Demo account
- Platforms: WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView
- Min. deposit: $100
74% of retail accounts lose money with this provider. -
- Demo account
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker
71.28% of retail traders lose money when trading CFDs -
- Fractional Shares
- Demo account
- Platforms: eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral
61% of retail CFD accounts lose money. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Learn how we test brokers and why you can trust our ratings.
Why Are These Brokers the Best for Stock Trading?
Here is a quick overview of why we think these are the best stock brokers:
- IG is the best stock broker for day trading in Ireland in 2026 4.8/5 IG offers 13,000+ shares to trade or invest in, with more listed firms than nearly every competitor. The broker also excels for its zero commissions on US shares, while out-of-hours trading provides access to 70+ shares, plus popular ETFs and trusts, when the markets are closed. IG has also added an AI Index, providing opportunities on top US companies working in artificial intelligence and machine learning, such as Nvidia.
- XM 4.8/5 XM offers hundreds of shares spanning major markets and sectors, including the US, UK, Europe and Asia. The broker also stands out for its turbo stocks with high leverage and fractional shares that reduce the entry barrier for beginners. The regularly updated dedicated stock market analysis from XM can also help active traders identify opportunities.
- AvaTrade 4.9/5 AvaTrade offers hundreds of shares on leading exchanges including the US NYSE and UK FTSE. You can take positions on leading tech firms like Tesla, Apple and Microsoft with no day trading restrictions and 24/5 support that impressed during testing. There is also an above-average selection of 45+ indices and 60+ ETFs for additional stock market opportunities.
- FOREX.com 4.3/5 FOREX.com provides access to a wide array of US, EU, and UK stock CFDs, featuring spreads as narrow as 1 point. This enables you to speculate on established household names and emerging IPOs, fostering ample opportunities for diversification within stock portfolios. US stocks are accessible from as low as 1.8 cents per share.
- Eightcap 4.6/5 Eightcap offers 590+ US, Australian, and European shares as well as a modest range of indices, including the Dow Jones and FTSE. Its Labs offer excellent educational tools, notably the ‘Navigating Stock Market Volatility’ guide. On the downside, Eightcap still doesn’t offer fractional shares for budget traders, which are available at brokers like XTB.
- eToro 4.0/5 eToro offers access to thousands of stocks and shares from all over Europe, the US and beyond, with new opportunities on Dubai's top stocks added in 2024, and over 180 Nordic equities introduced in 2025. Traders can invest alone or join millions of other traders in eToro's popular social trading community. Buy-and-hold investors can also try out the broker's Smart Portfolios, covering exciting thematic collections like Big Tech.
Best Stock Brokers For Day Trading 2026 Comparison
Uncover the top stock broker for your needs with our comparison of features essential for active stock traders:
| Broker | Stock Fee | ESG Stocks | Spot Trading | Financial Regulator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | 0.02 | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA |
| XM | 1.79 (Apple) | ✘No | ✔Yes | CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, SCA, FSA, FSC-Belize, FSC-Mauritius, CMA-Kenya, CMA-UAE |
| AvaTrade | 0.13 | ✘No | ✔Yes | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, JFSA, BVI, FSRA/ADGM, AFM, CMA-Kenya, CIRO (via Friedberg Direct) |
| FOREX.com | 0.14 | ✘No | ✔Yes | NFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSA, MAS, CIMA, CMA-UAE |
| Eightcap | 0.03 (Apple Inc) | ✘No | ✔Yes | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA |
| eToro | 0.57 (Apple) | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | FCA, CySEC, MiCA, MFSA, FSRA, ASIC, FSAS, MAS, GFSC |
How Safe Are These Stock Brokers?
How reliable are the top stock brokers and do they have tools that help protect your funds?
| Broker | Trust Rating | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Negative Balance Protection | Segregated Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | |
| XM | ✘No | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | |
| AvaTrade | ✘No | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | |
| FOREX.com | ✘No | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | |
| Eightcap | ✘No | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | |
| eToro | ✘No | ✔Yes | ✔Yes |
Mobile Stock Trading Comparison
Are these brokers good for stock trading on mobile?
| Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | iOS & Android | ✔Yes | ||
| XM | iOS, Android & Windows | ✘No | ||
| AvaTrade | iOS & Android | ✘No | ||
| FOREX.com | iOS & Android | ✘No | ||
| Eightcap | iOS & Android | ✘No | ||
| eToro | iOS & Android | ✘No |
Are the Top Stock Brokers Good for Beginners?
Stock trading beginners should use providers that provide trading with virtual money (demo accounts) and have other features that new traders need.
| Broker | Demo Account | Minimum Deposit | Minimum Trade | Education Rating | Support Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | ✔Yes | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| XM | ✔Yes | $5 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| AvaTrade | ✔Yes | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| FOREX.com | ✔Yes | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Eightcap | ✔Yes | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| eToro | ✔Yes | $50 | $10 |
Compare Advanced Stock Trader Features
Are these stock trading platforms good for advanced traders?
| Broker | Automated Trading | VPS | AI | Pro Account | Leverage | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) | ✔Yes | ✔Yes |
| XM | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | ✘No | 1:30 | ✔Yes | ✘No |
| AvaTrade | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✘No | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro) | ✔Yes | ✘No |
| FOREX.com | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✔Yes | ✔Yes | ✘No | 1:30 | ✔Yes | ✘No |
| Eightcap | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✔Yes | ✘No | ✘No | 1:30 | ✔Yes | ✘No |
| eToro | Automate your trades via CopyTrader - follow profitable traders. Open and close trades automatically when they do. | ✘No | ✔Yes | ✘No | 1:30 | ✘No | ✔Yes |
Compare the Ratings of Top Stock Brokers
Find out how the top stock brokers score in all core areas following our hands-on tests.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Assets | Mobile | Fees | Accounts | Research | Education | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | |||||||||
| XM | |||||||||
| AvaTrade | |||||||||
| FOREX.com | |||||||||
| Eightcap | |||||||||
| eToro |
Compare Stock Trading Fees
The cost of trading stocks with a brokerage may have a large impact over time:
| Broker | Cost Rating | Fixed Spreads | Inactivity Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| IG | ✘No | $12 | |
| XM | ✘No | $5 | |
| AvaTrade | ✔Yes | $50 | |
| FOREX.com | ✘No | $15 | |
| Eightcap | ✘No | $0 | |
| eToro | ✔Yes | $10 |
Community Sentiment
See how users rate these brokers based on the average customer ratings submitted on DayTrading.com, plus ratings from Trustpilot, the Apple App Store and Google Play.
| Broker | Our Users' Rating | Trustpilot Score | Trustpilot Reviews | iOS App Rating | Android App Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | 10153 | ||||
| XM | 3134 | ||||
| AvaTrade | 13590 | ||||
| FOREX.com | 2535 | ||||
| Eightcap | 3909 | ||||
| eToro | 32220 |
How Popular Are These Stock Brokers?
Some traders prefer the most popular stock brokers (those with the most signed up clients).
Why Trade Stocks With IG?
IG continues to provide a comprehensive package with an intuitive web platform, best-in-class education for beginners, advanced charting tools bolstered by its recent TradingView integration, real-time data, and robust trade execution for experienced day traders.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
IG quick facts
- Fractional Shares
- ✘No
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Regulator
- CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA
- Platforms
- Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Automation
- ✔Yes
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD
Stock Exchanges
IG offers trading on 21 stock exchanges:
- Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
- Bombay Stock Exchange
- Borsa Italiana
- Deutsche Boerse
- Dow Jones
- Euronext
- Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- IBEX 35
- Japan Exchange Group
- Korea Exchange
- London Stock Exchange
- Nasdaq Dubai
- National Stock Exchange Of India
- Russell 2000
- S&P 500
- SIX Swiss Exchange
- Shanghai Stock Exchange
- Shenzhen Stock Exchange
- Tadawul
- Taiwan Stock Exchange
- Toronto Stock Exchange
Pros
- IG is amongst the best in terms of its range of instruments, which includes stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, plus added US-listed futures and options as well as an AI Index, providing diversification opportunities.
- The ProRealTime advanced charting platform is free as long as certain modest monthly trading activity requirements are met.
- As a well-established broker, IG operates under strict regulatory guidelines in multiple jurisdictions, maintaining a high level of trust.
Cons
- Beginners might find IG’s fee structure complex, with various fees for different types of trades or services, potentially leading to confusion or unexpected charges.
- IG has discontinued its swap-free account, reducing its appeal to Islamic traders.
- IG applies an inactivity fee of $12-$18 per month after 2 years, deterring casual investors.
Why Trade Stocks With XM?
With a low $5 minimum deposit, advanced charting platforms in MT4 and MT5, expanding range of markets, and a Zero account offering spreads from 0.0, XM provides all the essentials for active traders, even earning our ‘Best MT4/MT5 Broker’ award in recent years.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
XM quick facts
- Fractional Shares
- ✔Yes
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Regulator
- CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, SCA, FSA, FSC-Belize, FSC-Mauritius, CMA-Kenya, CMA-UAE
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
- Minimum Deposit
- $5
- Automation
- ✔Yes
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, ZAR
Stock Exchanges
XM offers trading on 16 stock exchanges:
- Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
- Borsa Italiana
- CAC 40 Index France
- DAX GER 40 Index
- Deutsche Boerse
- Dow Jones
- Euronext
- FTSE UK Index
- Hang Seng
- IBEX 35
- Japan Exchange Group
- Korea Exchange
- Nasdaq
- Russell 2000
- S&P 500
- SIX Swiss Exchange
Pros
- XM stands out for its commitment to trader education, with a wealth of well-presented resources, including webinars, tutorials, and even real-time trading sessions through XM Live.
- XM’s customer support has delivered over years of testing, with 24/7 assistance in 30 languages, response times of under 2 minutes and a growing Telegram channel.
- XM’s Zero account is ideal for day trading with spreads from 0.0 pips, 99.35% of orders executed in <1 second, and no requotes or rejections.
Cons
- XM is falling behind the curve by not offering cTrader, which is favored over MetaTrader by some serious traders for its smoother user experience and superior charting package.
- Although trusted and generally well-regulated in some regions, XM also has global entities registered with the weak regulators like FSC (Belize) and FSA (Seychelles), whilst UK clients are no longer accepted, reducing its market reach.
- While the XM app stands out for its usability and exclusive copy trading products, the selection of technical analysis tools needs to be improved to meet the needs of advanced traders.
Why Trade Stocks With AvaTrade?
AvaTrade offers active traders everything they need: an intuitive WebTrader, powerful AvaProtect risk management, a smooth 5-minute sign-up process, and dependable support you can rely on in fast-moving markets.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
AvaTrade quick facts
- Fractional Shares
- ✘No
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Regulator
- ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, JFSA, BVI, FSRA/ADGM, AFM, CMA-Kenya, CIRO (via Friedberg Direct)
- Platforms
- WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
- Minimum Deposit
- $100
- Automation
- ✔Yes
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, ZAR
Stock Exchanges
AvaTrade offers trading on 15 stock exchanges:
- Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
- Borsa Italiana
- Deutsche Boerse
- Euronext
- Hang Seng
- IBEX 35
- Japan Exchange Group
- London Stock Exchange
- Nasdaq
- Russell 2000
- SIX Swiss Exchange
- Shanghai Stock Exchange
- Shenzhen Stock Exchange
- Taiwan Stock Exchange
- Toronto Stock Exchange
Pros
- Years on, AvaTrade remains one of the few brokers offering a bespoke risk management tool, AvaProtect, that insures losses up to $1M for a fee and is easy to activate on the platform.
- AvaTrade launched AvaFutures to offer low-margin access to global markets, then expanded in 2025 as one of the first brokers to add CME’s Micro Grain Futures, and then later in the year went further by integrating with TradingView.
- The WebTrader excelled in our hands-on tests, sporting a user-friendly interface for beginners, complete with robust charting tools like 6 chart layouts and 60+ technical indicators.
Cons
- The AvaSocial app is good but not great – the look and feel, plus the navigation between finding strategy providers and account management needs upgrading to rival category leaders like eToro.
- While signing up is a breeze, AvaTrade lacks an ECN account like Pepperstone or IC Markets, which provides the raw spreads and ultra-fast execution many day traders are looking for.
- AvaTrade’s WebTrader has improved, but work is still needed in terms of customizability – frustratingly widgets like market watch and watchlists can’t be hidden, moved, or resized.
Why Trade Stocks With FOREX.com?
FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
FOREX.com quick facts
- Fractional Shares
- ✘No
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Regulator
- NFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSA, MAS, CIMA, CMA-UAE
- Platforms
- WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView
- Minimum Deposit
- $100
- Automation
- ✔Yes
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN
Stock Exchanges
FOREX.com offers trading on 14 stock exchanges:
- Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
- Borsa Italiana
- CAC 40 Index France
- DAX GER 40 Index
- Dow Jones
- Euronext
- FTSE UK Index
- Hang Seng
- Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- IBEX 35
- Japan Exchange Group
- Nasdaq
- S&P 500
- SIX Swiss Exchange
Pros
- There’s a wealth of educational resources including tutorials, webinars, and a stacked YouTube channel to help you get educated in the financial markets.
- FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.
- With over 20 years of experience, excellent regulatory oversight, and multiple accolades including runner-up in our 'Best Forex Broker' awards, FOREX.com boasts a global reputation as a trusted brokerage.
Cons
- The group being FOREX.com, GAIN Capital Group LLC, had to pay a $700k fine to NFA for improperly handling some client accounts.
- FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.
- Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
Why Trade Stocks With Eightcap?
Eightcap delivers in every area for day traders with a growing selection of charting platforms, education via Labs, and AI-powered tools. Now sporting 120+ crypto CFDs, it's also become a stand-out choice for crypto trading, winning our 'Best Crypto Broker' award two years in a row.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Eightcap quick facts
- Fractional Shares
- ✘No
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Regulator
- FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker
- Minimum Deposit
- $100
- Automation
- ✔Yes
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SGD
Stock Exchanges
Eightcap offers trading on 16 stock exchanges:
- Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
- CAC 40 Index France
- DAX GER 40 Index
- Dow Jones
- Euronext
- FTSE UK Index
- Hang Seng
- Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Japan Exchange Group
- London Stock Exchange
- Nasdaq
- New York Stock Exchange
- Russell 2000
- S&P 500
- SIX Swiss Exchange
- Toronto Stock Exchange
Pros
- Eightcap stands out with a selection of powerful trading tools and resources, including MT4 and MT5, and more recently the 100-million strong social trading network TradingView.
- Having excelled across all key areas for day traders, Eightcap outperformed every competitor to win our 'Best Overall Broker' award for 2024, also securing our 'Best Crypto Broker' title for 2025 and 'Best TradingView Broker' for 2025.
- Eightcap added TradeLocker in 2026 for certain regions, marking it out as the best regulated TradeLocker broker, while still delivering Eightcap's ultra-fast execution and low fees for active traders on the charting software.
Cons
- The demo account expires after 30 days and can only be extended upon request - a notable inconvenience compared to the likes of XM with its unlimited demo mode.
- Despite a useful library of educational guides and e-books in Labs, Eightcap still trails IG’s comprehensive toolkit for aspiring traders with its dedicated IG Academy app and 18 course categories.
- In spite of an increasing variety of tools, Eightcap doesn't offer industry favorites like Autochartist or Trading Central, which offer cutting-edge charting analytics, live news, and market insights for short-term traders.
Why Trade Stocks With eToro?
eToro's social trading platform leads the pack with a terrific user experience and active community chat that can help beginners find opportunities. There are also competitive fees on thousands of CFDs and real stocks, plus excellent rewards for experienced strategy providers.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
eToro quick facts
- Fractional Shares
- ✔Yes
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Regulator
- FCA, CySEC, MiCA, MFSA, FSRA, ASIC, FSAS, MAS, GFSC
- Platforms
- eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral
- Minimum Deposit
- $50
- Automation
- ✔Yes
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, DKK
Stock Exchanges
eToro offers trading on 26 stock exchanges:
- Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
- Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
- Borsa Italiana
- CAC 40 Index France
- DAX GER 40 Index
- Deutsche Boerse
- Dow Jones
- Dubai Financial Market
- Euronext
- FTSE UK Index
- Hang Seng
- Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- IBEX 35
- Japan Exchange Group
- Korea Exchange
- London Stock Exchange
- Nasdaq
- Nasdaq Nordic & Baltics
- National Stock Exchange Of India
- New York Stock Exchange
- Russell 2000
- S&P 500
- SIX Swiss Exchange
- Shanghai Stock Exchange
- Taiwan Stock Exchange
- Tokyo Commodity Exchange
Pros
- The copy trading app facilitates a best-in-class social environment, with an engaging social feed and community chat that we love using.
- eToro has bolstered its investment offering, regularly adding new crypto assets, and now offering over 100 digital currencies.
- Charts are powered by TradingView and offer strong technical analysis features, including 9 chart types and over 100 indicators.
Cons
- There are limited contact methods aside from the in-platform live chat.
- There is a $30 minimum withdrawal amount and a $5 fee, which will affect novices with low capital.
- There are no guaranteed stop loss orders which would be a useful risk management feature for beginners.
How Did DayTrading.com Choose The Best Brokers For Day Trading Stocks?
We exhaustively evaluated each stock broker, assigning them an overall rating that served as the basis for our platform rankings. This rating is a culmination of:
- Quantitative metrics: We scrutinized over 200 data points across 8 core categories, carefully documented by our experts.
- Qualitative insights: Our extensive testing process yielded valuable observations that further informed our evaluation.
Below are the key considerations that shaped our stock broker ratings. We recommend you take these factors into account when choosing an online stock broker.
Regulation and Trust
We prioritized online stock brokers that are authorized by trusted financial regulators like the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).
That’s because top-tier regulators ensure stock brokerages provide measures that can help protect your capital from business failure. The UK’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), for example, protects investments up to £85,000.
Leading regulators also enforce restrictions on leveraged stock trading for retail investors, typically set at 1:5. Leveraged trading is particularly common among short-term traders and it’s regulated to curb potential losses, offering protection in case the stock markets move against you.
- Plus500 maintains its position as one of the most heavily regulated stock brokers (via CFDs) we’ve tested with real money, earning our trust with 7 licenses and a listing on the London Stock Exchange.
Stock Trading Fees
We chose brokers that offer low stock trading and non-trading fees, taking into account commissions on popular shares, margin fees, plus any deposit/withdrawal and inactivity charges.
Picking a brokerage account with low trading fees is especially important if you are day trading stocks, as a large volume of transaction fees can cut into profit margins.
- XTB continues to stand out for its low stock trading fees after introducing zero commissions on shares and charging a competitive 0.5% conversion fee. It’s also one of a limited number of stock brokers we’ve tested to offer high interest on uninvested cash (up to 4.9%).
Stock Market Access
We favored brokers with access to a wide range of stock exchanges, providing short-term trading opportunities across a selection of markets and industries.
Importantly, stock market trading is centralized, meaning that shares in most large companies are sold through national exchanges, such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ), and London Stock Exchange (LSE).
Companies will not be listed on all exchanges, therefore, you should look for a broker with a global reach, especially if you want to build a diverse portfolio.
Also, some brokers specialize in buying and selling company shares directly, while others only allow you to speculate on stocks as the underlying assets using products like CFDs. These derivatives can be an excellent option for day traders looking for leveraged vehicles to profit from shorter-term price movements.
- Year after year, we’ve been impressed with CMC Markets, which offers an almost unrivalled suite of 10,000+ shares including major stocks in technology, banking, finance, plus consumer and retail sectors.
Stock Trading Platforms and Apps
We selected brokers with excellent stock trading platforms and apps that have clearly been designed with ease of use in mind for beginner traders, alongside helpful stock screeners and sophisticated analysis tools for advanced investors.
That’s because a user-friendly platform ensures smooth navigation, timely execution of trades, and provides valuable tools and insights to inform stock trading decisions.
- eToro’s stock trading platform and app stood out during testing for its simple interface that will appeal to new traders. It also provides intuitive charting and in-built indicators that will serve day traders, as well as integrated research and news feeds, trading calendars and expert commentary.
What Is A Stock Broker?
An online stock broker allows you to purchase company stocks and shares, or trade related derivatives like CFDs, via a website, desktop platform or mobile app, using just the internet.
These brokers will have connections to the stock market and will purchase the stock on your behalf. Trades can be executed at the click of a button, in real-time via their online platforms.
How Do Stock Brokers Make Money?
Stock brokers make money through several avenues. Often you will pay a commission, which is a flat fee per transaction. That said, we’re increasingly seeing online stock brokers, such as XTB, move to commission-free models.
In these instances, stock brokers may make money through a markup on the spread, which is the difference between the price a buyer is willing to pay (bid) and the price a seller is willing to accept (ask) for a particular stock, representing the transaction cost and liquidity in the market.
Some stock brokers are also market makers meaning they create liquidity by taking the other side of your trade. Sometimes, brokers can make money this way if a stock trader makes a loss.
How Do I Start Trading Stocks?
The first step is to open an account with a stock brokerage.
You will find a wide assortment of online stock brokers and trading platforms available online, but choosing the best one for you depends on the stocks you want to trade, your trading strategy and your personal preferences.
You will then need to deposit the minimum amount, which typically ranges from $0 to $500. We’ve learned that depositing more upfront can often provide access to better quality stock trading tools and market research.
After that, you can log into the stock trading platform or app to find opportunities and place trades.
If you are new to stock trading, I recommend starting with a demo account. They simulate real-life market conditions, but any orders placed are with ‘paper money’. This means you can explore a platform and practice day trading stocks before risking real money.
Michael MacKenzieAuthorFAQ
Are Online Stock Brokers Safe?
The best way to stay safe is to choose a trustworthy stock broker. The most reliable sign of a trustworthy stock broker is authorization from one or more respected regulators, such as the SEC in the US, the ASIC in Australia, the FCA in the UK, or the CySEC in Europe.
We regularly verify the licenses of our recommended stock brokers on the respective regulator’s database to ensure they are authorized by the financial bodies they claim to be.
Our team is also comprised of industry experts who keep abreast of major security incidents and unfair trading practices – marking such stock brokerages down where appropriate. This was the case with Robinhood when its trading practices were found to be harmful to retail investors.