Top Online Investment Platforms of 2025: Best Features and Lowest Fees

Admin
Jun 23
9 min read

Updated: Jun 26

Investing online has never been easier or cheaper. By 2025, most major brokers and robo-advisors offer zero commission investing on stocks and ETFs, along with polished mobile apps and retirement-account support. In this post we compare the best investment platforms of 2025 – from robo-advisors like Betterment and Wealthfront to full-service brokers such as Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Vanguard, E*TRADE, TD Ameritrade, Merrill Edge, and even Robinhood. We’ll look at fees, ease of use, research tools, customer support and retirement features, so you can find the low-fee brokerage accounts and robo advisor that fit your needs.

Modern online brokers pack a lot of tools into one screen. For example, the image below shows an investor using a platform with live charts and indicators – features now common on many investment apps.

*Figure: Many platforms now include interactive charts and real-time market data (as shown above). These research tools help both beginners and experienced investors analyze ETF and stock performance.*

Whether you’re focused on ETF investing platforms or picking individual stocks, all of today’s top brokers let you trade commission-free. You’ll still pay minimal fees (like a small per-contract charge on options), but trading and account fees have largely gone away. In fact, most brokers now offer $0 stock/ETF trades and $0 account minimums – making it easy to start with even a small balance. Our comparison covers ease of use (web and mobile apps), fees (commissions, advisory fees, account fees), customer service (support hours and methods), research tools (screeners, education, charting) and retirement accounts (IRA/401k options). We also highlight each platform’s pros and cons in clear bullet lists.

Betterment (Robo-Advisor)

Betterment is a popular robo-advisor for hands-off investing. It charges 0.25% per year on balances (or a $4 monthly flat fee) for its core service. Betterment portfolios are made up of low-cost ETFs (expense ratios ~0.04–0.11%), and it requires just $10 to begin investing. You fill out goals and risk info, and Betterment automatically diversifies across U.S. and international stocks, bonds and other assets. There are useful features like automated tax-loss harvesting, goal-based retirement planning, and even specialized portfolios for social impact. Betterment also offers a cash-management account with high FDIC coverage (up to $2M per person).

• Pros: Low management fee (0.25%) and no trading commissions ; no minimum to open (just $10 to invest). User-friendly apps and website – very “set-it-and-forget-it” for beginners. Offers automatic rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting, retirement planning tools and social-ESG portfolios Good IRA support (traditional, Roth, SEP, Inherited, etc.).

• Cons: $75 fee to transfer all funds out. Some users report slow transfers and support issues. More advanced traders may miss features like individual stock trading or deep research tools. (Betterment Premium, with human advisors, requires a $100K minimum and 0.40% fee.)

Wealthfront (Robo-Advisor)

Wealthfront is another top robo-advisor with a similar fee: 0.25% per year on managed portfolios. It has a $500 minimum for automated investing (though its no-fee stock trading account has a $1 minimum). Wealthfront builds diversified ETF portfolios (average ETF expense ~0.08%) and offers some unique options like an S&P 500 “Direct Indexing” portfolio for extra tax-loss harvesting. It also lets you trade individual stocks and ETFs without management fees. One standout is the Wealthfront Cash Account – a high-yield cash management account (with FDIC insurance up to $8M). Wealthfront’s mobile app and

website are highly rated for ease of use, and customers praise its intuitive interface and high savings rates.

• Pros: Easy-to-use interface and planning tools for goals. Consistent 0.25% fee (with no extra commissions). No inactivity/account fees. Strong mobile app (NerdWallet reports very positive user reviews). Offers free daily tax-loss harvesting and automatic rebalancing. Unlimited access to financial-planning tool “Path” even without fee (if you only link accounts).

• Cons: $500 minimum to start automated investing. It’s purely robo-managed (no human advisors). Fewer investment options outside its ETF portfolios (no mutual funds, limited alternative assets). Some reviewers note minor tech glitches when linking external accounts. (Wealthfront does not offer traditional 24/7 phone support beyond weekdays.)

Fidelity

Fidelity is one of the most well-rounded online brokers. It offers $0 commissions on U.S. stocks and ETFs, a $0 minimum, and a huge lineup of research and tools. NerdWallet notes that Fidelity has “zero-fee index funds and strong customer service”. It provides access to over 3,300 no-transaction-fee mutual funds and very low-cost Fidelity index funds (including “Zero” expense-ratio ETFs). Fidelity’s mobile app is highly rated for usability, and it pays a competitive interest rate on uninvested cash. The platform includes extensive screeners, live Bloomberg TV in the app, and support 24/7 via phone and chat.

• Pros: Commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs and options. No account minimum. Exceptional research tools and providers (Morningstar, Wall Street Journal, UBS, and more). Top-notch customer service (24/7 support plus branch network). Rated a “best app for investing” . Offers many no-fee index funds (including Fidelity’s ZERO funds) and competitive high-yield cash sweep accounts.

• Cons: Broker-assisted trades (phone trades) are relatively expensive. The platform is very full-featured, which can be overwhelming for absolute novices. (Otherwise, few drawbacks – NerdWallet gave Fidelity 5/5 stars overall.)

Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab is another top-tier broker. It matches Fidelity with $0 stock/ETF commissions and no minimum balance. Schwab offers intelligent portfolios and also a fully-featured trading suite (including the advanced thinkorswim platform, inherited from TD Ameritrade). Like Fidelity, Schwab has thousands of no-transaction-fee mutual funds and low-cost proprietary index funds. Notably, Schwab provides 24/7 support (phone and chat), and its branch network is available across the U.S. The NerdWallet review praises Schwab’s customer service and notes its “strong trading platforms”.

• Pros: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs . No account minimum. Robust product lineup (stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds, futures, forex). Excellent research and educational resources (including extensive third-party research). Offers Schwab’s own ETFs and index funds with extremely low expense ratios (many <0.10%). 24/7 phone and live chat support, and over 8,000 mutual funds free to trade.

• Cons: Schwab’s web and mobile interfaces have some quirks; recent app reviews are mixed (some users report glitches after merging with TD Ameritrade). Schwab charges $0.65 per options contract (though active traders get discounts). Advanced traders must switch between two platforms (Schwab.com for general trading and thinkorswim for advanced tools). (Importantly, thinkorswim remains one of the best platforms for active traders, but its complexity can overwhelm beginners.)

Vanguard

Vanguard is ideal for long-term, buy-and-hold investors who focus on index funds and ETFs. Like others, Vanguard now offers $0 commissions on stock and ETF trades. Its strength is famously low-cost funds: Vanguard’s average expense ratio is only 0.09% (well below the industry average). You also get a high interest rate on uninvested cash (>4% as of 2024). However, Vanguard’s trading platform is more basic – it’s designed for simplicity rather than fancy tools. Funding an account can be slower (some users report needing to mail a check to finish setup).

• Pros: Ultra-low-cost index funds and ETFs (Vanguard pioneered index investing). $0 stock/ETF trades; options are $0 plus $1 per contract. No inactivity fees. Excellent execution quality (Vanguard doesn’t accept payment for order flow). Good IRA/401(k) rollover options and a simple, investor-friendly mobile app.

• Cons: The online platform is “no-frills” – it lacks advanced charting or real-time trading tools. Account funding and customer service are limited to weekdays (phone M–F 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET). Vanguard charges a $25 annual account fee (waived for e-delivery) and a $100 fee for full account transfers out. Its apps have fewer features than competitors. Overall, Vanguard is best for patient, long-term portfolio building rather than day trading.

E*TRADE

ETRADE (now part of Morgan Stanley) offers both easy and advanced trading. It provides $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and many mutual funds, with a per-contract options fee of $0.65 (dropable to $0.50 for very active traders). ETRADE has two main platforms: a user-friendly web/mobile app, and “Power ETRADE” for active traders (with advanced charting, options chains, etc.). The broker also boasts over 6,000 no-transaction-fee mutual funds* and 24/7 customer support (phone around the clock, live chat weekdays).

• Pros: Powerful trading tools (Power E*TRADE) and screeners for sophisticated traders. Wide tradable asset selection (stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, futures). Extensive educational resources – webinars and courses on everything from basics to options. Commission-free trades and no account fees (inactivity or annual). Very large list of NTF mutual funds (helpful for buy-and-hold investors).

• Cons: Default cash sweep earns a very low rate (around 0.01–0.15% as of mid-2024). The learning curve for Power E*TRADE can be steep. Some users find the site’s guidance sparse (as one NerdWallet tester noted, the app “isn’t super intuitive unless you’re well-versed in investing terminology”). There is a $75 fee to transfer assets out (partial or full).

TD Ameritrade

Note: In 2025, TD Ameritrade clients are being migrated to Charles Schwab. When standalone, TD Ameritrade was known as a top broker for all types of investors. It offered $0 stock/ETF commissions and a $0 minimum, and had thinkorswim, one of the industry’s most powerful trading platforms. NerdWallet and StockBrokers.com praised TD Ameritrade for its “fantastic trading platforms, excellent research, [and] industry-leading education”. It had two mobile apps (TD Ameritrade Mobile and TD Ameritrade Trader) and unmatched education materials (videos, articles, quizzes, and reports from Morningstar, TheStreet, etc.).

• Pros: Commission-free trading on stocks/ETFs. Best-in-class tools: thinkorswim for advanced traders, plus mobile and web apps for casual trading. Rich third-party research and customizable market screeners. Extensive support (including 300 branches nationwide and 24/7 chat/phone). Ideal for all experience levels, with content for beginners and pros alike.

• Cons: Does not offer fractional shares or cryptocurrency trading (unlike some rivals). The design can feel less modern than app-first brokers. (Most of TD’s features have now merged into Schwab’s platform.)

Merrill Edge

Merrill Edge (Bank of America’s brokerage) is a strong choice for BofA customers and beginners. It offers $0 commissions on trades and integrates seamlessly with Bank of America accounts (single login, instant transfers between accounts). Merrill Edge provides 24/7 customer support (phone, chat or email) plus in-branch appointments at BoA branches. It has robust educational content and unique tools, such as an ESG “Idea Builder” that helps screen stocks/ETFs by value. The Merrill Edge Mobile App is intuitive and can be accessed through the Bank of America app for a one-stop experience.

• Pros: Zero commissions on stocks, ETFs and options (only $0.65 per options contract) . No account minimum or inactivity fee. Seamless BofA integration – see all your accounts together. Extensive investor education (articles, webinars, courses) and unique tools for new investors. 24/7 support and in-person help at BoA branches. Easy mobile trading (including cash management features).

• Cons: Cash sweep interest is very low (around 0.01%) . No fractional shares. The full account transfer-out fee ($49.95) is higher than some peers. The platform is simpler (Merrill Edge MarketPro) but lacks advanced charting compared to more trading-focused brokers. Best suited for Bank of America clientele and modest portfolio sizes.

Robinhood

Robinhood is a mobile-first platform best known for pioneering $0 commissions and easy signup. It offers $0 stock, ETF, options, and crypto trades with no minimum or inactivity fees. Robinhood has added features like fractional share buying and even a 1% IRA contribution match (3% for Robinhood Gold members). The interface is extremely user-friendly and fast, ideal for newer investors or those who want a simple app experience. It also offers after-hours trading (extended to 24/5) and unique features like direct IPO access for retail investors.

• Pros: Truly beginner-friendly app with instant account setup and funding. $0 commissions on most trades. Supports fractional shares and cryptocurrencies (unlike traditional brokers). Low margin rates and an IRA with automatic contribution match (rare in brokerage IRAs). 24/7 in-app chat support and extended trading hours.

• Cons: Very limited research and asset classes. No access to mutual funds or bonds (only ETFs and crypto). Basic charts and data only; premium data (Level II quotes, Morningstar reports) require a paid Gold subscription. Risk of easily making impulsive trades due to the app’s simplicity. (Robinhood’s interface is sleek, but it offers fewer educational resources than others.)

Conclusion: Which online investment platform is best?

All of these platforms offer zero-commission investing, but they differ in focus. Robo-advisors like Betterment and Wealthfront excel at hands-off, goal-based investing (with low advisory fees and simple mobile apps), while brokers like Fidelity, Schwab, and Vanguard give you direct control over ETFs and stocks plus extensive research tools. E*TRADE and TD Ameritrade shine for active trading, and Merrill Edge is great for Bank of America customers or beginners who value in-person support. In 2025’s low-fee landscape, you can often get free trades and free educational content – so choose the platform whose tools and service match your experience level and financial goals.