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Best Stock Brokers
Buying shares has never been cheaper, but stock brokers still differ a great deal in what they let you buy and what it really costs. Some give access to dozens of exchanges around the world, others focus on US and European blue chips; some charge a small commission per order, others charge nothing on the trade but recover their margin on currency conversion or account fees. It also matters whether you own the real share or a CFD that only tracks its price.
This ranking compares stock brokers regulated by at least one Tier-1 authority, focusing on the cost of buying shares and on the breadth of markets and instruments they offer.
How this ranking is ordered. Brokers are ranked by a stock-investing theme score: the average of their Costs & Pricing and Markets & Instruments ratings. Our regulation rules still apply — a broker rated below 4.0 for Regulation & Security cannot rank in the top three, and ties are broken by the stronger regulatory rating. The stars on each card show the broker’s overall CT Advisory24 score, which is the same on every page. See our methodology →
Interactive Brokers
The widest stock market access at very low cost
- US stocks from $0.005 per share (min $1) on IBKR Pro
- Stocks and ETFs on exchanges in 175+ market centres
- No account minimum and no inactivity fee
About Interactive Brokers
For stock investors, Interactive Brokers is hard to beat on reach and price. A single account opens exchanges across North America, Europe and Asia, so you can buy a German, Japanese or Canadian company as easily as an American one, and hold cash in many currencies to avoid repeated conversions. US shares cost half a cent each with a $1 minimum, which keeps small and large orders cheap alike. Options, bonds and funds sit in the same account for investors who want more than shares. The main hurdle is complexity: the professional platform is dense, and newcomers usually begin with the mobile app or the simpler IBKR Desktop.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Access to stock exchanges worldwide from one multi-currency account
- Very low per-share pricing on US stocks
Cons
- Platforms take time to learn for first-time investors
- Only one free withdrawal per month
Fees & Funding
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- EUR/USD Pricing
- Commission-based: 0.20 bps of trade value (min $2), no spread mark-up
- US Stock Commission
- $0.005/share, min $1 (IBKR Pro Fixed); $0 on IBKR Lite (US residents)
- Inactivity Fee
- None (no maintenance fee)
- Withdrawal Fee
- One free withdrawal per month; then e.g. USD 10 / EUR 8 by wire, 1 by ACH/SEPA
- Funding Methods
- Bank wire and electronic transfers (ACH, SEPA, BACS); checks in the US
Technical Sheet
- Founded
- 1977 (brokerage since 1993)
- Headquarters
- Greenwich, Connecticut, USA
- Regulators
- SEC, CFTC, FINRA (US); FCA; Central Bank of Ireland; ASIC; CIRO; SFC; SEBI; MAS; Kanto LFB (Japan)
- Markets
- Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, forex, bonds, funds — 175+ market centres
- Platforms
- IBKR Desktop, Trader Workstation (TWS), Client Portal, IBKR Mobile, GlobalTrader, IMPACT, APIs
- Max Retail Leverage
- 1:30 on major FX for retail clients (EU/UK/AU entities)
- Account Currencies
- 29 trading currencies (varies by entity)
- Demo Account
- Yes — free paper trading account
- Customer Support
- Phone, email and live chat — 24/5, plus limited Saturday hours
Data last checked: . Conditions vary by country and entity — always confirm with the broker.
IG Markets
Huge share range for traders and investors
- 10,500+ share CFDs, plus share dealing in selected countries
- Trading since 1974, listed on the London Stock Exchange
- US share CFDs from 2¢ per share (UK)
About IG Markets
IG gives stock traders one of the largest share ranges available from a single provider. Most clients access shares through CFDs, which allow long and short positions with leverage, while in selected countries IG also offers share dealing for investors who want to own the stock outright. Research is a real strength: market news, analyst commentary and screening tools are built into the platform, and ProRealTime and TradingView are available for advanced charting. Because the offer is split between CFDs and country-specific share dealing, the right account and its costs depend on where you live, so it is worth checking IG's local website first.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Very wide choice of shares from markets around the world
- Strong research, news and charting tools
Cons
- Owning real shares is only possible in selected countries
- Leveraged share CFDs carry a high risk of loss
Fees & Funding
- Minimum Deposit
- $0 by bank transfer; $50 by card
- EUR/USD Pricing
- From 0.6 points
- US Stock Commission
- US share CFDs: 2¢ per share (UK site)
- Inactivity Fee
- Monthly fee after 24 months without activity (e.g. CHF 18 on IG Switzerland)
- Withdrawal Fee
- Free by bank transfer
- Funding Methods
- Bank transfer, debit and credit cards
Technical Sheet
- Founded
- 1974
- Headquarters
- London, UK
- Regulators
- FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, FSCA, MAS, FMA, DFSA, JFSA, CFTC, BMA
- Markets
- 15,000+ markets (UK): CFDs on forex, indices, shares, commodities; share dealing in selected countries
- Platforms
- IG web platform & app, MT4, MT5, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, TradingView, tastytrade, API
- Max Retail Leverage
- 1:30 on major FX for retail clients (EU/UK/AU entities)
- Account Currencies
- GBP by default; other base currencies on request (UK)
- Demo Account
- Yes
- Customer Support
- Live chat and WhatsApp — 24/7 except Fri 10pm–Sat 8am UK time
Data last checked: . Conditions vary by country and entity — always confirm with the broker.
XTB
Commission-free real stocks for European investors
- 0% commission on stocks and ETFs up to €100,000 monthly turnover
- Real shares and fractional investing on the XTB app
- Listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
About XTB
XTB has become one of Europe's most popular choices for buying real shares without paying commission. Orders are free up to €100,000 of monthly turnover, which covers almost every private investor, and fractional shares make it easy to invest small amounts in large companies. The xStation platform and the mobile app are clean and quick, with screeners, analyst content and a large education section. XTB is a listed company regulated by the FCA, CySEC and the Polish KNF. Accounts are held in euros, dollars or sterling, so buying in other currencies involves a conversion, and an inactivity fee applies after a year without trading.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Zero commission on real stocks for most private investors
- Easy, modern platform with good research and education
Cons
- Only three account currencies, so conversion costs can add up
- €10 monthly inactivity fee after 12 months without activity
Fees & Funding
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- EUR/USD Pricing
- Spread-only on CFDs (0% commission)
- US Stock Commission
- 0% up to €100,000 monthly turnover, then 0.2% (min €10)
- Inactivity Fee
- €10/month after 12 months without trading and 90 days without deposits
- Withdrawal Fee
- Free above $50; $30 below (international entity)
- Funding Methods
- Bank transfer, cards, Skrill (2%), Neteller (1%)
Technical Sheet
- Founded
- 2002
- Headquarters
- Warsaw, Poland (XTB S.A., Prosta 67)
- Regulators
- FCA, CySEC, KNF, CNMV (branch), FSC Belize
- Markets
- Real stocks & ETFs, CFDs on 50+ FX pairs, indices, shares, ETFs, commodities and crypto; spot crypto (CySEC clients)
- Platforms
- xStation 5 (web, desktop), XTB mobile app
- Max Retail Leverage
- 1:30 retail (EU/UK); up to 1:500 via international entity
- Account Currencies
- EUR, USD, GBP
- Demo Account
- Yes — free, no expiry (web and app)
- Customer Support
- Live chat, phone and email — 24/5
Data last checked: . Conditions vary by country and entity — always confirm with the broker.
DEGIRO
Low-cost share investing across 29 exchanges
- US stocks for €1 plus a €1 handling fee
- Stocks on 29 exchanges, plus options, futures and bonds
- Part of flatexDEGIRO, a German bank under BaFin supervision
About DEGIRO
DEGIRO is designed for European investors who buy and hold shares. Its commissions are low and simple, its exchange list is long, and investors who want to go further can trade options and futures or buy bonds from the same account. The group behind it is a listed German bank, which adds a layer of reassurance for long-term savers. The platform keeps things deliberately simple, without forex or CFDs, and funding is by bank transfer only. Each account works in one base currency set by your country of residence, so every purchase in another currency is converted, which matters if you invest heavily in US stocks.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low, transparent commissions on European and US shares
- Long list of exchanges and access to options, futures and bonds
Cons
- Single base currency, so foreign stocks always involve conversion
- No cards or e-wallets for deposits — bank transfer only
Fees & Funding
- Minimum Deposit
- €0
- EUR/USD Pricing
- Not available (no forex/CFDs)
- US Stock Commission
- US: €1 + €1 handling fee; EU main markets: €3.90 + €1; ETF Core Selection: 1 free trade/month
- Inactivity Fee
- No
- Withdrawal Fee
- Free
- Funding Methods
- Bank transfer only (no cards)
Technical Sheet
- Founded
- 2008
- Headquarters
- Netherlands (Amsterdam); parent flatexDEGIRO AG, Frankfurt
- Regulators
- BaFin (flatexDEGIRO Bank), AFM and DNB (Dutch branch)
- Markets
- Stocks on 29 exchanges, 5,000+ ETFs, options, futures, bonds, funds; no forex/CFDs
- Platforms
- DEGIRO web platform and mobile app
- Max Retail Leverage
- Margin (Custody/Active profiles); no CFDs
- Account Currencies
- Single base currency set by country of residence (cannot be changed)
- Demo Account
- No
- Customer Support
- Phone and email, Mon–Fri 08:00–22:00 CET
Data last checked: . Conditions vary by country and entity — always confirm with the broker.
Admirals
Real stocks inside MetaTrader 5
- 4,000+ real stocks and ETFs on 15 exchanges
- US stocks from $0.02 per share (min $1)
- Accounts in 8 currencies, including EUR, GBP and PLN
About Admirals
Admirals is an unusual choice for stock investors because it brings real shares into MetaTrader 5, the platform most traders know from forex. Its Invest.MT5 account gives access to thousands of stocks and ETFs on 15 exchanges, with low per-share pricing on US stocks and a percentage fee on European ones. That makes it practical for traders who want to hold an investment portfolio next to their CFD positions without switching provider. The range is narrower than at dedicated stock brokers, and MetaTrader is not designed for long-term investing, so buy-and-hold investors may find a simpler app more comfortable.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Real stocks and ETFs alongside CFDs with one provider
- Low pricing on US shares and a wide choice of account currencies
Cons
- Smaller exchange coverage than dedicated stock brokers
- MetaTrader feels technical for buy-and-hold investors
Fees & Funding
- Minimum Deposit
- $100 (or EUR/GBP/CHF 100)
- EUR/USD Pricing
- From 0.1 pips + $3 per lot per side (Zero account); commission-free accounts with wider spreads
- US Stock Commission
- Invest.MT5: $0.02/share per side (min $1) on US stocks; 0.10% (min €1) on EU stocks
- Inactivity Fee
- €10/month after 2 years of inactivity (only if balance > 0)
- Withdrawal Fee
- First withdrawal each month free; then e.g. €1 by bank transfer
- Funding Methods
- Bank transfer, cards, e-wallets (not all e-wallets for all clients)
Technical Sheet
- Founded
- 2001
- Headquarters
- Estonia (Tallinn) – Admirals Group AS
- Regulators
- FCA, CySEC, ASIC, JSC (Jordan), plus Seychelles and South Africa entities (Estonian licence relinquished 2026)
- Markets
- CFDs on forex, indices, commodities, stocks, crypto; 4,000+ real stocks and ETFs on 15 exchanges (Invest.MT5)
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, MetaTrader WebTrader, Admirals Platform (web), Admirals mobile app
- Max Retail Leverage
- 1:30 on major FX for retail clients (EU/UK/AU entities)
- Account Currencies
- EUR, GBP, USD, CHF, CZK, HUF, PLN, RON
- Demo Account
- Yes
- Customer Support
- Live chat, phone, email — 24/5, many languages
Data last checked: . Conditions vary by country and entity — always confirm with the broker.
What It Costs to Buy US Stocks
The example below shows the commission for buying 20 shares of a US company priced at $50 — an order worth $1,000 — on each broker’s standard pricing for real shares.
| Broker | US stock pricing | Commission on a $1,000 order | Real shares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | $0.005 per share, min $1 (IBKR Pro) | $1.00 | Yes |
| IG | Share CFDs: 2¢ per share (UK) | Depends on account and country | Selected countries |
| XTB | 0% up to €100,000 monthly turnover | $0 | Yes |
| DEGIRO | €1 + €1 handling fee | €2.00 | Yes |
| Admirals | $0.02 per share, min $1 (Invest.MT5) | $1.00 | Yes |
Commission only; currency conversion, exchange and regulatory fees may apply on top. Pricing can vary by entity and country of residence. Data checked November 2026.
How to Choose a Stock Broker
Check which markets you can reach. If you only buy large US and European companies, most brokers will do. If you want Asian, Canadian or smaller European exchanges, the list narrows quickly — and access to options, bonds or funds narrows it further.
Look beyond the commission. Currency conversion is often the largest hidden cost for investors buying foreign shares. A broker that lets you hold several currencies, or that charges a low conversion fee, can be cheaper overall than one with zero commission. Check inactivity and withdrawal fees too, especially if you plan to invest occasionally.
Know what you own. Real shares are held in custody in your name; CFDs are contracts with the broker that track a share’s price. Both have their uses, but they carry different risks and costs, and only real shares are suited to long-term saving.
The value of shares can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest. Share CFDs are leveraged products and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Should I buy real shares or share CFDs?
Real shares give you ownership of the company, voting rights where offered, and dividends paid in cash; you can hold them for years without financing costs. Share CFDs only track the price, can be used with leverage and to go short, but charge overnight financing on open positions. For long-term investing, real shares are usually the better fit.
Are commission-free stock brokers really free?
Not entirely. Brokers that charge no commission may still earn money from currency conversion, from the spread, from inactivity fees or from interest on uninvested cash. If you buy shares in a currency different from your account currency, the conversion fee can cost more than a low commission would.
Is my money protected if a stock broker fails?
Shares bought through a regulated broker are normally held in segregated custody accounts, separate from the broker’s own assets. On top of that, investor compensation schemes cover cash and securities up to set limits — for example £85,000 under the UK FSCS and €20,000 under the minimum EU scheme. The cover depends on the entity holding your account.
Can I buy US stocks from outside the United States?
Yes. All brokers in this ranking offer US stocks to international clients. Non-US investors usually need to complete a W-8BEN form so that the reduced treaty rate of withholding tax applies to US dividends. Your broker provides the form during account opening.
How many stocks should a beginner own?
There is no fixed number, but a portfolio concentrated in a handful of companies carries much more risk than a diversified one. Many beginners combine a broad ETF with a few individual shares they understand well. Investing regularly and keeping costs low matters more than picking the perfect stock.
About the Author – Claudio Tuteri
Economist and Founder of CT Advisory24, an independent project focused on broker analysis, financial education, and transparent comparison of regulated brokers.
Claudio defines the evaluation methodology, reviews broker rankings, and ensures consistency across analyses based on regulation, costs, platform quality, and investor protection.