Best Margin Trading Platforms in May 2025

Margin trading platforms allow you to borrow funds from a brokerage to increase your trading capital, which amplifies both potential gains and losses. The best platform depends on your needs, including the assets you want to trade, the amount of leverage you require, your risk tolerance and the fees involved.

This guide will give you an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of each margin trading platform.   

How We Chose the Best Margin Trading Platforms

We evaluated the platforms based on their commission structure and pricing transparency, platform usability and the range of available account types. Educational tools, investor resources and the quality of customer service also were considered.

7 Best Margin Trading Platforms

Best for Mobile Users: Plus500

Plus500 is a global multi-asset fintech group that operates trading platforms globally, offering a range of trading products, including CFDs, share dealing and futures trading (US).

Key Features:

• Quick onboarding
• Simplified mobile trading
• Easy-to-use platform
• CFDs for indices, ETFs, shares, forex, commodities, options and cryptocurrency
• Free deposits and withdrawals
• $100 minimum investment
• 0.7% currency conversion fee per transaction, when the currency in your account is different from those traded

However, Plus500 is not a platform for novices as it solely makes money from spreads and does not charge a commission. You may start trading Plus500 right away, leverage your experience, expand your portfolio and start making money right away.

Who It’s Best For: Plus500 helps all types of investors build multi-asset portfolios that can be tasked to save for the future, produce income now or something in between, including its intuitive interface and rich cache of information.

Best for IPO Investing: SoFi

SoFi is a financial services company that offers a range of products, including investment accounts with margin trading capabilities. Known for its customer-centric approach, SoFi provides competitive rates and no account minimums, making it an appealing option for investors who want flexibility.

Key Features:

• $0 commissions
• Minimal extra fees
• Excellent customer service
• Wide variety of assets from which you may choose

Who It’s Best For: SoFi’s customer-friendly policies and flexible margin trading options make it a great choice for those who want a simple yet effective trading platform.

Interactive Brokers – Best for Low Cost with Global Reach

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) has low margin rates, extensive access to global markets and a range of securities available for margin trading. Its competitive pricing structure and sophisticated trading tools make it a compelling choice for experienced traders who want to leverage their capital efficiently across different asset classes.

Key Features: 

• Fees: IBKR offers some of the lowest margin rates in the industry. It uses a tiered pricing structure where interest rates decrease as the loan amount increases. Rates vary depending on the currency borrowed. 

• Investment Access: Margin trading is available across a variety of financial instruments, including stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on many global exchanges. 

• Platform Experience: IBKR offers powerful desktop (Trader Workstation), web (Client Portal) and mobile applications with robust margin trading functionalities. Trader Workstation offers detailed account information, real-time margin calculations and tools for monitoring margin requirements and potential margin calls. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: IBKR gives traders tools to monitor their margin use and risk, including real-time margin balances and margin impact analysis. It offers educational resources on margin trading that is geared toward experienced traders who understand leverage.

• Drawbacks: The complexity of IBKR’s platform and margin calculations may be overwhelming for beginner traders. Inactivity fees can apply to accounts with low trading activity and small balances. 

Who It’s Best For: Experienced traders who want low-cost margin, broad global market access and advanced trading platforms with comprehensive margin management tools. 

Webull – Best for Mobile Margin Trading

Webull is a user-friendly, mobile-first platform offering commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs and options along with competitive market rates. Its intuitive interface and access to margin trading with relatively low barriers to entry make it an attractive option for both new and experienced traders.

Key Features: 

• Fees: Webull offers tiered margin rates that become more favorable for higher margin balances. Its rates are competitive in the industry and subscribing to Webull Premium can provide lower rates.

• Investment Access: Webull provides margin trading on a range of U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs and options. Its selection of assets is not as extensive as some brokers but it covers the most popular instruments for leveraged trading. It also offers trading in cryptocurrencies, although margin availability varies and comes with significant risk.

• Platform Experience: Webull’s intuitive mobile app is well-designed for both beginner and active traders. The platform offers easy-to-access account information, clear displays of margin balances and tools for monitoring margin levels and potential margin calls. The desktop platform offers similar functionality with enhanced charting capabilities. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: Webull provides real-time market data, advanced charting tools with numerous technical indicators and Level II quotes. It also offers paper trading to practice strategies, including those involving margins, without risking real capital. Its educational resources cover basic trading concepts, including margins.

• Drawbacks: Although trading is commission-free, regulatory and exchange fees may apply. Its available assets for margin trading might be more limited than other brokers. Customer service has sometimes been criticized. 

Who It’s Best For: Cost-conscious traders who want a user-friendly, mobile-first platform and competitive margin rates for trading stocks, ETFs and options.

Robinhood– Best for Beginners 

Robinhood’s user-friendly mobile-first design and commission-free trades have expanded access to investing to novice traders. It offers eligible users margin trading with a simple interface, providing increased buying power that attracts people who value ease of use and a streamlined mobile experience.

Key Features: 

• Fees: Robinhood offers tiered margin rates that vary based on the amount borrowed, with lower rates available to Robinhood Gold subscribers. Its rates are competitive for smaller margin balances or with a Gold subscription, making margin access affordable for many users.

• Investment Access: Robinhood allows margin trading on U.S.-listed stocks ETFs and options. Its selection has expanded, but it’s not as comprehensive as brokers catering to more sophisticated traders. It also offers cryptocurrency trading, but margin may not be available for all crypto assets and comes with significant risks.

• Platform Experience: Robinhood’s platform is known for its intuitive, user-friendly mobile app. Margin balance and buying power are clearly displayed and initiating margin trades is easy. The desktop platform is also simple. The ease of use is a big draw for beginners and investors who prefer a streamlined mobile experience.

• Tools/Education Highlights: Robinhood offers basic charting tools and real-time market data. It has some educational resources, including explanations of margin trading and its risks. But its analytical tools and educational content are less extensive than brokers geared to more active or experienced traders. 

• Drawbacks: Although Robinhood offers commission-free trading, regulatory and other fees may apply. Its customer service has been criticized as unresponsive. The platform might lack the advanced tools and detailed analytics that active margin traders might want. A minimum portfolio value of $2,000 is required to access margin investing. 

Who It’s Best For: Beginners and casual traders who want a simple, mobile-first platform with accessible margin trading and commission-free transactions.

Fidelity – Best for Comprehensive Resources

Fidelity offers a dependable margin trading platform backed by a long-standing reputation for stability and customer service. With competitive margin rates that decrease for higher balances and a range of marginable securities, Fidelity caters to both active traders and long-term investors who want to leverage their portfolios.

Key Features: 

• Fees: Fidelity provides tiered margin rates that become more competitive as the margin debit balance rises. Its rates are in line with or better than many full-service brokers offering cost-effective leverage for various account sizes. 

• Investment Access: Fidelity allows margin trading on a wide selection of U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs and options. The platform supports sophisticated trading strategies across these asset classes. Fidelity also offers mutual funds and fixed-income products, though margin availability may vary. 

• Platform Experience: Fidelity offers several platforms, including its user-friendly website and mobile app and Active Trader Pro, a downloadable platform designed for active traders. All platforms provide clear visibility of margin balances, buying power and margin requirements. Active Trader Pro offers advanced tools for monitoring margin and managing risk.

• Tools/Education Highlights: Fidelity’s educational resources include articles, videos and webinars that explain margin trading concepts, risks and strategies. It also offers margin calculators and tools to help users understand the impact of leverage. Its research and analysis tools support informed margin decisions.   

• Drawbacks: Fidelity offers commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs and options, but options trades have a per-contract fee. Active Trader Pro’s more advanced features may present a learning curve for new traders.

Who It’s Best For: Investors and active traders who want a reliable platform with competitive margin rates, extensive educational resources on margin trading and a range of investment options. 

Tastytrade – Best for Education

Tastytrade is designed for active options traders. It provides a platform with a commission structure that can be advantageous for high-frequency trading. Its margin capabilities are suitable for implementing complex option strategies and its emphasis on education and risk analysis tools makes it a platform geared toward active traders using leverage in options.

Key Features: 

• Fees: Tastytrade charges a per-contract fee – $1 for stock options capped at $10 per leg – to open options trades and zero to close. Stock trades are commission-free. Its margin rates are tiered and are competitive, especially for larger balances. It also offers Portfolio Margin for eligible accounts with higher equity, potentially allowing greater leverage based on risk. 

• Investment Access: Tastytrade focuses on options and futures with margin available for these instruments as well as for stocks and ETFs. The platform is suited for executing multileg options strategies that often require margin. While it offers access to a range of securities, its tools and educational content emphasize options trading.

• Platform Experience: Tastytrade offers an intuitive desktop platform, a web-based platform and a mobile app, all designed with a “see it, click it, trade it” philosophy aimed at fast and efficient order execution. The platforms provide clear displays of margin requirements and offer tools like Curve Analysis for visualizing options trades. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: Tastytrade’s education content includes a live-streaming network and on-demand videos covering options trading strategies, risk management and platform tutorials. The platforms also integrate risk analysis tools to help traders understand the potential impact of margin on their positions.

• Drawbacks: The commission structure can be beneficial for active options traders, but it’s different than the per-share model of some other brokers. The platform’s focus on options might make it less appealing to investors who are more interested in stocks or ETFs with margin. Portfolio Margin, offering higher leverage, has significant equity requirements. 

Who It’s Best For: Active options traders who want a platform with extensive options-focused education and margin capabilities tailored to complex strategies.

Choosing the Right Margin Trading Platform

Choosing the right margin trading platform can impact your investment success. The platforms offer many options catering to a variety of trader profiles.

Interactive Brokers’ low-cost margin and extensive global reach appeal to experienced traders. Webull offers a user-friendly, mobile-first experience with competitive rates, while Robinhood provides simple margin access for beginners. Fidelity delivers reliable margin with comprehensive resources and a strong reputation. For active options traders, tastytrade combines a unique fee structure with robust educational tools.

The right brokerage platform’s features, fee structures and available markets should align with your investment objectives and trading styles. 

Frequently Asked Questions