Opening a brokerage account is the first step to investing. The best accounts for beginners are easy to use, charge no commissions, and have good educational resources. Here are the top picks for 2026.
Best Brokerage Accounts for Beginners
1. Fidelity — Best Overall for Beginners
- Commission: $0 on stocks, ETFs, and options
- Account minimum: $0
- Best for: Beginners who want a full-service broker with great tools
Fidelity is consistently rated the best brokerage for beginners. The platform is clean and intuitive. Educational resources are excellent. You can buy fractional shares starting at $1. Customer service is available 24/7 by phone. No account minimum and no inactivity fees.
2. Charles Schwab — Best for Low-Cost Index Investing
- Commission: $0 on stocks and ETFs
- Account minimum: $0
- Best for: Long-term index fund investors
Schwab has $0 commissions, no account minimum, and access to Schwab’s own low-cost index funds (some have 0% expense ratios). The platform has more features than many beginners need, but it is still accessible. Excellent retirement account options.
3. Robinhood — Best for Mobile-First Investors
- Commission: $0
- Account minimum: $0
- Best for: Young investors who want a simple mobile app
Robinhood popularized commission-free trading. The app is the cleanest and simplest available. It now offers IRAs with a 1% match. The platform lacks research depth, but it is excellent for getting started with stocks and ETFs. Robinhood Gold adds features for $5/month.
4. SoFi Invest — Best for All-in-One Finance
- Commission: $0
- Account minimum: $1 for fractional shares
- Best for: SoFi banking customers who want investing in the same app
SoFi Invest is good for people who already bank with SoFi or have SoFi loans. Everything lives in one app. Active investing (individual stocks) and automated investing (robo-advisor) are both available. No account minimum.
5. Public — Best for Investing Community Features
- Commission: $0 on stocks and ETFs; premium tiers available
- Account minimum: $0
- Best for: Social investors who want to follow others’ portfolios
Public shows what other investors are buying and offers portfolio following. It also has a strong Treasury Bill yield offering. Good for beginners who learn from social proof and want to see what others are doing.
What to Look for in a Beginner Brokerage Account
No Commissions
All major brokerages now offer $0 commission on stock and ETF trades. Do not pay commissions. There is no reason to in 2026.
No Account Minimum
You should be able to open an account and start with any amount. Fidelity, Schwab, and Robinhood all require $0 to open.
Fractional Shares
Fractional shares let you buy a piece of expensive stocks (like Amazon or Google) for as little as $1. This is important for beginners with limited starting funds.
Educational Resources
Fidelity and Schwab have the best educational content. This matters when you are learning the basics of how investing works.
What Should a Beginner Invest In?
Most financial experts recommend beginners start with index funds or ETFs. These are baskets of stocks that track a market index (like the S&P 500). They offer instant diversification, low fees, and solid long-term returns.
Common beginner funds:
- Fidelity Zero Total Market Index (FZROX): 0% expense ratio
- Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI): 0.03% expense ratio
- iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV): 0.03% expense ratio
Brokerage Account vs. IRA: Which Comes First?
If you qualify, max out an IRA before a taxable brokerage account. IRAs offer tax advantages that regular brokerage accounts do not.
2026 IRA contribution limits: $7,000 ($8,000 if age 50+).
Both Fidelity and Schwab offer IRAs with the same $0 minimums and commission-free trading.
Bottom Line
For most beginners, Fidelity is the best choice. It has $0 minimums, $0 commissions, excellent educational resources, and a platform that grows with you as your portfolio grows. Schwab is equally strong. Robinhood is better if you only want a simple mobile experience. Open an account, start with a low-cost index fund, and invest consistently. The account choice matters far less than the habit of investing.