Best Online Brokers | Best Online Brokers: ETFs | Best Online Brokers: No Fee IRAs
Investors can take advantage of low-cost ETFs by finding the best online brokers with low commission fees, great research and trading tools and great customer service.
ETFs, exchange traded funds, are quickly becoming the low-cost replacement for mutual funds. It’s not surprising really. ETFs offer the advantages of a mutual fund with the liquidity of stocks.
The average mutual fund just can’t compete with the low expense ratios of most ETFs. Combine that with the low-cost per trade offered by discount brokers and ETF popularity will grow.
That said, some online brokers offer the incentive of commission free ETFs. Eliminating those trading costs are a big deal. Just be aware of the limitations of these offers. There is usually a 30 day holding period. And the ETFs offered may not fit your investment strategy. So double-check which ETFs are offered as commission free.
If the incentives don’t get you, stick with what works. Find a low-cost broker with great investing tools and great customer service. The best online brokers for ETF investors are listed below.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out our guide on how to compare online brokers.
Since brokers can change their commissions and fees at any given time, it’s best to visit the site and review all the information carefully before opening an account.
TD Ameritrade
- Over 100 Commission Free ETFs
- Rated #1 for Long Term Investors and Novices by Barron’s
- Award winning trading tools and support
- Free independent third-party research and educational resources
- Find out more with our TD Ameritrade Review
| Stock Trade | ETF Trade |
Options Trade | Options Contract | Minimum Deposit | IRA Annual Fees |
| $9.99 | $0 – $9.95 | $9.95 | $0.75 | None | None |
E*Trade
- Offers 90+ commission free ETFs
- Has a range of investing tools including an ETF screener to customize your search by criteria
- Access live portfolio advice to check your ETF choices and get professional recommendations
- Industry leader for over 20 years
| Stock Trade | ETF Trade |
Options Trade | Options Contract | Minimum Deposit | IRA Annual Fees |
| $9.99 | $0 – $9.99 | $9.99 | $0.75 | $500 | None |
Betterment
- Betterment offers easily adjustable asset allocations to fit your risk level
- Money is invested in a blend of two baskets: Treasury Bond ETFs and Stock Market ETFs
- Straightforward fee of 0.15% to 0.35%, depending on your balance
- No transaction fees
- Automatic account rebalancing
- Check out the Betterment review
TradeKing
- Named #1 in customer service for 2012 as a discount broker by SmartMoney magazine
- One of the lowest trade commissions at $4.95 per ETF trade
- Find the right ETF with the award-winning suite of research and trading tools
- Connect with other investors in the Trader Network
- Check out the latest TradeKing promotions
| Stock Trade | ETF Trade |
Options Trade | Options Contract | Minimum Deposit | IRA Annual Fees |
| $4.95 | $4.95 | $4.95 | $0.65 | None | None |
optionshouse
- Competitive flat commissions at $3.95 for each ETF trade
- Trade with an award-winning cutting edge trading platform developed by professionals
- Virtual trading platform to test your strategies first
- Rated “Best for Options Traders” by Barron’s in ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12
| Stock Trade | ETF Trade |
Options Trade | Options Contract | Minimum Deposit | IRA Annual Fees |
| $3.95 | $3.95 | $5 – $8.50 | $0 – $0.15 | None | None |