I’ve been using Webull for 1.5 years because my American friend referred it to me. But Webull started forcing its paid premium on me, lowering my APY on cash, and other issues. So I started looking for other broker apps to figure out the best one for trading US stocks, keep cash in, building retirement accounts. Here’s what I’ve found out. There aren’t any referral links in my research. I did it for myself and simply share my materials and conclusions.
Key Takeaways
- Webull cuts APY for non-premium users and pushes upsells – no longer competitive for most investors under $20000.
- Fidelity is the best all-around broker: high cash APY, strong tools, no fees, full support.
- Vanguard suits passive, long-term investors focused on index funds and low overhead.
- Schwab excels for retirement planning with human advisors and robust IRA tools.
- Robinhood pays high APY only with Gold; lacks depth for serious investing.
- IBKR leads for global access; tastytrade wins on options pricing; Wealthfront handles full automation.
- Choose based on strategy – not ads, not referrals, not hype.
Broker Comparison Table
| Broker | Commission on Stocks/ETFs | Account Minimum | Fractional Shares | Options Fee | Platform & Tools | Customer Service |
| Fidelity | $0 | $0 | Yes (stocks only) | $0.65/contract | Desktop/mobile platforms, research reports, planning tools | 24/7 phone support; 200+ branches |
| Charles Schwab | $0 | $0 | Yes | $0.65/contract | Industry‑leading education, Schwab StreetSmart, mobile app | 24/7 phone; 300+ branches |
| Webull | $0 | $0 | Yes | $0.65/contract | Advanced charting, pre‑/post‑market trading, API access | Email/chat; limited phone |
| Robinhood | $0 | $0 | Yes | $0.65/contract | Simplified UI, fractional shares, crypto trading | Email; no 24/7 phone |
| SoFi Invest | $0 | $1 min to trade Business Insider | Yes (≥ $5 increments) | $0 | Basic charting, fractional shares, automated portfolios (robo) | Phone M-F, limited hours SoFi |
| M1 Finance | $0 | $100 for automated “pies” | Yes | Not available | Automated investing, one daily trade window | Email support |
| IBKR Lite (Interactive Brokers) | $0 | $0 | Yes | $0.65/contract | Professional TWS platform, global markets access | Chat/phone; non‑24/7 |
| E*TRADE | $0 | $0 | Yes (“Stock Slices”) | $0.65/contract | Power E*TRADE desktop, mobile app | Phone; branches |
| Vanguard | $0 | $0 | No | N/A (no options) | Basic web tools, mutual‑fund focus | Phone; limited hubs |
Cash APY% Comparison
| Broker | APY |
| Webull Standard (net assets < $25 000) | 0.50 % |
| Webull Standard (net assets ≥ $25 000) | 3.75 % |
| Webull Premium (subscription $3.99/mo) | 4.10 % |
| Robinhood Standard | 0.25 % |
| Robinhood Gold (subscription $5/mo) | 4.00 % |
| Fidelity (SPAXX sweep) | 3.99 % |
| Schwab cash sweep | 0.05 % |
| SoFi high‑yield savings | 3.80 % |
| M1 Finance high‑yield cash account | 4.00 % |
| Interactive Brokers IBKR Lite | 3.33 % |
| Interactive Brokers IBKR Pro | 4.33 % |
| E*TRADE Max‑Rate Checking | 3.00 % |
| Vanguard Cash Plus | 3.65 % |
What is the best invest app for smartphones?
Fidelity Investments Mobile App – US stocks, ETFs, mutual funds; $0 commissions; fractional shares from $1; 3 300 + no‑transaction‑fee mutual funds; options; bonds; fixed income; crypto; basket portfolios; real‑time quotes; watchlists; alerts; mobile check deposit; bill pay; cash management (> 4 % APY); award‑winning research and trading tools.
Interactive Brokers IBKR Mobile - commission‑free stocks, options, ETFs; advanced trading shortcuts; 400 + data columns; option exercise and spread templates; news; research; charting; scanners; order presets; global markets; professional API access.
thinkorswim Mobile (TD Ameritrade) - 300 + technical charts and indicators; synced desktop settings; market scans; stocks; options; futures; forex; paperMoney®; Level 2 streaming quotes; customizable charting; streaming news; Trader TV. Fidelity rated Best App for Investing by NerdWallet.
Best US Stock Brokers for 10 Investor Scenarios
1. Passive Long-Term Investor (<$20,000)
Recommended Broker: Vanguard
Vanguard offers ultra-low-cost index mutual funds and ETFs with no commissions on trades. Its basic platform aligns with buy-and-hold strategies, and the default cash sweep into a money market fund earns ~4.23% APY. While it lacks fractional shares for stocks, long-term investors using index funds won’t need them. No subscription tiers or gimmicks-just long-term efficiency.
2. Beginner Investor (<$5,000)
Recommended Broker: Fidelity
Fidelity provides $0 commissions, no account minimums, and fractional shares (Stocks by the Slice), making it highly accessible to new investors. The mobile and desktop platforms are user-friendly but feature-rich. Extensive educational resources and 24/7 support give new investors the tools and confidence to grow independently.
3. Dividend Income Investor
Recommended Broker: E*TRADE
E*TRADE’s dividend reinvestment program (DRIP) supports automatic reinvestment into fractional shares. The broker includes dividend tracking tools, screeners with yield metrics, and reports from Morningstar. Its $0 commission structure and strong customer support round out a robust platform for building and managing an income portfolio.
4. High-Yield Cash Preservation
Recommended Broker: Robinhood (Gold)
For users prioritizing idle cash yield, Robinhood Gold provides ~4.0% APY through FDIC-insured sweep partners for $5/month. It also includes instant deposits and $0 stock trades. While the platform lacks advanced tools, it excels in maximizing uninvested funds for short- or mid-term preservation strategies.
5. Internationally Mobile Investor
Recommended Broker: Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
IBKR supports clients in 200+ jurisdictions and offers access to 160+ markets in 30+ countries. It includes multi-currency accounts, low forex fees, and the ability to trade foreign and US assets from a single interface. Its Lite and Pro tiers serve both casual and advanced users, making it ideal for expats and global investors.
6. Advanced Investor Trading Options and Stocks ($50,000–$250,000)
Recommended Broker: tastytrade
tastytrade leads in options pricing: $1 per contract to open, $0 to close, capped at $10 per leg. It’s engineered specifically for advanced options strategies, with tools for probabilities, Greeks, and visual modeling. While research is limited, its core offering is unmatched for serious options traders with mid-sized portfolios.
7. Fully Automated Investing (Minimal Manual Involvement)
Recommended Broker: Wealthfront
Wealthfront automates ETF portfolio construction, rebalancing, and tax-loss harvesting for a 0.25% annual fee. It includes goal-based planning and a cash account with competitive interest. No trading decisions required-investors just deposit funds and let the algorithm manage everything.
8. Retirement-Focused Investor (IRA, Long-Term Wealth)
Recommended Broker: Charles Schwab
Schwab offers all IRA types with no maintenance fees and access to thousands of no-transaction-fee funds. Retirement tools are industry-leading, with portfolio analyzers, income projections, and human advisor access at 400+ branches. Schwab is built for sustained, strategic long-term wealth accumulation.
9. Active Investor with Advanced Research Tools and Real-Time Analytics
Recommended Broker: TradeStation
TradeStation delivers professional-level tools: customizable analytics, backtesting, Monte Carlo simulations, and real-time data. It supports programmable strategies and advanced order types. For traders who rely on precision, insight, and speed, TradeStation’s platform provides full control.
10. High-Net-Worth Investor (Full-Service, Human Advisor Support)
Recommended Broker: Merrill Lynch / Merrill Edge
Merrill integrates full-service financial advisory with self-directed capabilities. High-net-worth clients get in-branch advisor access, personalized portfolio services, and premium rewards through Bank of America. It combines private wealth management and retail brokerage into one comprehensive ecosystem.
Conclusion
After 1.5 years with Webull, I realized it was no longer serving my needs. The lowered APY on cash, push toward paid subscriptions, and lack of real long-term investing tools made it clear I needed to move on. I spent a week comparing every major US broker. What I found is that no single platform is best for everyone. Fidelity offers the strongest all-around value. Vanguard and Schwab dominate for long-term and retirement planning. IBKR is unmatched globally. The rest serve niche roles or fall short behind paywalls and gimmicks. Choose based on your goals – not ads, not referrals.
Which broker works best for you so far? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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