{"slug":"best-online-brokerage","title":"Best online brokerage","question":"What are the best online stock brokerages in 2026?","verdict":"As of 2026-07-07, ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini collectively rank Fidelity #1 for online brokerage on ModelsAgree — unanimous among the 3 models that have answered. The models' case: Best overall mix of $0 stock/ETF trades, strong research, fractional shares, retirement tools, customer support, cash management, and low-cost funds. The models' main caveat: Make its active-trading platform feel as fast and modern as Interactive Brokers or thinkorswim. The strongest alternative is Charles Schwab — Huge product breadth, excellent education, strong service, branch support, thinkorswim, good research, and a polished all-in-one investing experience. Source: https://modelsagree.com/best/best-online-brokerage (modelsagree.com, CC BY 4.0).","category":"Money","url":"https://modelsagree.com/best/best-online-brokerage","updated":"2026-07-07","models":["ChatGPT","Claude","Gemini"],"consensus":"All 3 models rank Fidelity the top pick","disagreement":null,"combined":[{"rank":1,"product":"Fidelity","domain":"fidelity.com","score":15,"appearances":3,"modelRanks":{"ChatGPT":1,"Claude":1,"Gemini":1},"reason":"Best overall mix of $0 stock/ETF trades, strong research, fractional shares, retirement tools, customer support, cash management, and low-cost funds"},{"rank":2,"product":"Charles Schwab","domain":"schwab.com","score":12,"appearances":3,"modelRanks":{"ChatGPT":2,"Claude":2,"Gemini":2},"reason":"Huge product breadth, excellent education, strong service, branch support, thinkorswim, good research, and a polished all-in-one investing experience"},{"rank":3,"product":"Interactive Brokers","domain":"interactivebrokers.com","score":9,"appearances":3,"modelRanks":{"ChatGPT":3,"Claude":3,"Gemini":3},"reason":"Best for serious investors and active traders thanks to low margin rates, global market access, strong execution, advanced tools, and broad asset coverage"},{"rank":4,"product":"E*TRADE","domain":"etrade.com","score":5,"appearances":3,"modelRanks":{"ChatGPT":4,"Claude":5,"Gemini":4},"reason":"Strong web and mobile platforms, Power ETRADE, good screeners, options tools, research, and a balanced experience for self-directed investors"},{"rank":5,"product":"Robinhood","domain":"robinhood.com","score":3,"appearances":2,"modelRanks":{"Claude":4,"Gemini":5},"reason":"Best-in-class mobile UX, fractional shares, 24/5 trading, fast-growing ecosystem (IRA with match, Gold cash yield, crypto), and low-friction onboarding that made it the default for younger investors."},{"rank":6,"product":"Merrill Edge","domain":"merrilledge.com","score":1,"appearances":1,"modelRanks":{"ChatGPT":5},"reason":"Excellent Bank of America integration, Preferred Rewards benefits, solid research, $0 stock/ETF trades, and strong fit for existing BofA customers"}],"perModel":{"ChatGPT":[{"rank":1,"product":"Fidelity","reason":"Best overall mix of $0 stock/ETF trades, strong research, fractional shares, retirement tools, customer support, cash management, and low-cost funds","fix":"Make its active-trading platform feel as fast and modern as Interactive Brokers or thinkorswim"},{"rank":2,"product":"Charles Schwab","reason":"Huge product breadth, excellent education, strong service, branch support, thinkorswim, good research, and a polished all-in-one investing experience","fix":"Raise default cash yields so idle cash is not a drag versus Fidelity and Interactive Brokers"},{"rank":3,"product":"Interactive Brokers","reason":"Best for serious investors and active traders thanks to low margin rates, global market access, strong execution, advanced tools, and broad asset coverage","fix":"Make the interface and onboarding simpler for normal long-term investors"},{"rank":4,"product":"E*TRADE","reason":"Strong web and mobile platforms, Power ETRADE, good screeners, options tools, research, and a balanced experience for self-directed investors","fix":"Become more price-competitive on margin, cash yield, and options costs"},{"rank":5,"product":"Merrill Edge","reason":"Excellent Bank of America integration, Preferred Rewards benefits, solid research, $0 stock/ETF trades, and strong fit for existing BofA customers","fix":"Modernize its trading tools and app experience to compete with Schwab and ETRADE"}],"Claude":[{"rank":1,"product":"Fidelity","reason":"Zero-commission stock/ETF trades, industry-leading research and screeners, high default cash yield via auto-sweep into money market funds, excellent fractional shares, strong retirement/IRA support, and no account fees — the best all-around broker for long-term investors.","fix":"Build a genuinely competitive active-trader desktop platform to rival thinkorswim so it stops ceding serious traders to Schwab and IBKR."},{"rank":2,"product":"Charles Schwab","reason":"Full-service breadth with the thinkorswim platform (absorbed from TD Ameritrade), deep research, strong customer service and physical branches, robust banking integration, and broad product range from index funds to futures.","fix":"Stop paying near-zero on uninvested cash (cash sweep defaults to low-yield bank deposits) — auto-sweeping into a money-market rate would close the biggest gap versus Fidelity."},{"rank":3,"product":"Interactive Brokers","reason":"Unmatched global market access (150+ markets), the lowest margin rates in the industry, professional-grade tools (Trader Workstation), superior order execution, and strong securities-lending income share — the top pick for active, sophisticated, and international traders.","fix":"Simplify the steep platform learning curve and clunky UX so it's approachable for ordinary investors, not just professionals."},{"rank":4,"product":"Robinhood","reason":"Best-in-class mobile UX, fractional shares, 24/5 trading, fast-growing ecosystem (IRA with match, Gold cash yield, crypto), and low-friction onboarding that made it the default for younger investors.","fix":"Add real research, screeners, and breadth (mutual funds, bonds, broad international access) plus stronger customer support to graduate from beginner app to serious primary broker."},{"rank":5,"product":"E*TRADE","reason":"Solid Power ETRADE platform for options and active trading, good mobile apps, strong educational content, and the backing/stability of Morgan Stanley with access to its research.","fix":"Improve cash sweep yields and accelerate platform innovation, which has stagnated since the Morgan Stanley acquisition relative to Fidelity and Schwab."}],"Gemini":[{"rank":1,"product":"Fidelity","reason":"Offers zero-expense ratio index funds, fractional share trading on all stocks and ETFs, top-tier research tools, and reliable customer service.","fix":"Modernize the mobile app user interface to reduce clutter and make navigation more intuitive."},{"rank":2,"product":"Charles Schwab","reason":"Features the powerful thinkorswim trading platform, robust customer service, extensive physical branch access, and high-quality educational resources.","fix":"Increase the yield on its default cash sweep accounts, which currently pay negligible interest compared to competitors."},{"rank":3,"product":"Interactive Brokers","reason":"Provides institutional-grade execution, access to over 150 global markets, low margin lending rates, and advanced order types.","fix":"Simplify the onboarding process and user interface to make the platform less intimidating for beginner investors."},{"rank":4,"product":"E*TRADE","reason":"Delivers the highly intuitive Power ETRADE trading platform, strong options tools, and seamless integration with Morgan Stanley banking services.","fix":"Lower the standard options contract fee and margin rates to better compete with discount brokerages."},{"rank":5,"product":"Robinhood","reason":"Features a highly intuitive mobile interface, lucrative IRA match programs, 24-hour market access, and high interest on uninvested cash.","fix":"Add support for traditional assets like mutual funds and bonds while expanding advanced analytical charting."}]},"missedByModel":{"ChatGPT":[{"product":"Vanguard","reason":"excellent long-term fund shop, but weaker trading tools and interface"},{"product":"Robinhood","reason":"great simple mobile experience and crypto access, but thinner research, support, and portfolio tools"}],"Claude":[{"product":"Vanguard","reason":"peerless low-cost index funds and fiduciary culture, but a dated, slow platform and weak trading tools keep it out of a \"brokerage\" top 5"},{"product":"Webull","reason":"sharp, low-cost active-trading app with strong charting, but thin research, lighter product range, and less trust than the incumbents"}],"Gemini":[{"product":"Webull","reason":"Missed the top 5 due to lackluster customer support options and the absence of mutual funds or fixed-income assets"},{"product":"Vanguard","reason":"Missed the top 5 because its platform lacks advanced trading tools and the user experience is tailored strictly for passive buy-and-hold investors"}]}}