Best Margin Trading Platforms

Want to jump straight to the best? Benzinga readers love Interactive Brokers for margin trading.

Choosing the right platform for margin trading can be a game-changer for investors looking to amplify their purchasing power. With so many options available, finding a platform that offers favorable terms, low fees, and robust trading tools is crucial to managing the risks associated with borrowing to invest.

Quick Look at the Best Margin Trading Platforms:

• Best Overall Global Broker for Short Selling: TradeZero
• Best for Social Investing: eToro
• Best for Futures Trading: TradeStation
• Best for Options Education: Tastytrade
• Best for Beginners: Robinhood
• Best for IPO Investing: SoFi
• Best for Active and Global Traders: Interactive Brokers
• Best for Trading Ideas: Public.com
• Best for Traders of All Levels: Moomoo
• Best for Active Traders: Webull

10 Best Margin Trading Platforms

With so many platforms offering margin trading, finding the right one for your needs is crucial. Below are some top platforms that offer competitive margin rates, robust tools, and excellent customer service.

1. Best Overall Global Broker for Short Selling: TradeZero

TradeZero provides advanced trading tools and features for active traders. With its zero-commission structure on certain trades and competitive margin rates, it’s a popular choice among those who want a cost-effective way to leverage their investments. Margin trading on TradeZero starts at 9%. 

Why We Picked It: TradeZero offers low-cost trading with access to advanced tools, making it ideal for day traders who want to take full advantage of margin trading without incurring high fees.

2. Best for Social Investing: eToro

eToro is known for its social trading features, allowing users to follow and copy the trades of more experienced investors. This platform offers margin trading across various asset classes, including stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, making it versatile for traders of all levels. Rates start at 8.3% on eToro.

Why We Picked It: eToro’s unique social trading feature, combined with its wide range of tradable assets, makes it a great option for those who want to leverage expert insights while engaging in margin trading.

3. Best for Futures Trading: TradeStation

TradeStation is a well-established platform that offers professional-grade tools for active traders. It supports margin trading with competitive rates and provides educational resources for those looking to sharpen their trading skills. Margin rates are quite high at 12.5% to start.

Why We Picked It: TradeStation’s powerful tools and comprehensive educational offerings make it a top choice for serious traders who want to maximize their potential through margin trading.

4. Best for Options Education: Tastytrade

Tastytrade is known for its innovative approach to trading. Its platform focuses heavily on options and futures. With competitive margin rates and a wealth of educational content, it’s a favorite among options traders who want to explore the potential of margin trading. Margin rates on Tastytrade start at 8%.

Why We Picked It: Tastytrade stands out for its focus on options trading and its educational resources, making it ideal for traders who want to leverage options strategies with margin.

5. Best for Beginners: Robinhood

Robinhood popularized commission-free trading and has since expanded its offerings to include margin trading through its Robinhood Gold service. The platform is user-friendly and attractive to newer investors looking to explore margin trading with minimal fees. Rates are as low as 5.70%.

Why We Picked It: Robinhood’s ease of use and low-cost structure make it an accessible entry point for novice investors interested in margin trading.

6. 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.

Why We Picked It: 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.

7. Best for Active and Global Traders: Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers is renowned for its low margin rates and access to various global markets. It’s a platform designed for more experienced traders who require advanced tools and the ability to trade on margin across different asset classes and international exchanges. Margin rates are as low as 6.17%.

Why We Picked It: Interactive Brokers’ unmatched margin rates and global market access make it the go-to platform for seasoned traders looking to leverage their investments.

8. Best for Trading Ideas: Public.com

At Public, stock and ETF trades are commission-free, offering $0 commission trading on self-directed individual cash brokerage accounts that trade U.S. listed securities placed online. While trades are free of commissions, other fees may apply, such as regulatory fees, subscription fees, wire transfer fees and paper statement fees. Public also provides users the option to voluntarily tip to support its mission of offering commission-free trades without accepting any payment for order flow (PFOF).

Unlike most online brokers, Public does not participate in payment for order flow on equities trades. PFOF typically involves brokers routing trades to market makers for execution, potentially creating a conflict of interest between the broker and the investor. Public eliminates this conflict by routing all orders directly to exchanges and other execution venues, prioritizing transparency and alignment with its users.

For those looking to expand their portfolios, Public offers access to over 300 select over-the-counter (OTC) stocks, primarily focusing on large-cap international companies. Each stock page on Public includes additional research, data and company-specific analysis, empowering investors to make informed decisions. The platform’s suite of tools is designed to enhance your trading strategies, with features like customizable recurring investments, built-in price alerts and extended-hours trading to provide greater control over your investments.

Public also supports a variety of other investment options, including ETFs, options, bonds and cryptocurrencies, making it a versatile platform for a wide range of investment strategies.

Why We Picked It: Public.com’s focus on transparency and fair trading practices makes it a solid choice for those who want to engage in margin trading while staying connected with a community of like-minded investors.

9. Best for Traders of All Levels: Moomoo

Moomoo offers a feature-rich trading platform with advanced charting tools and low-cost margin trading. It’s particularly popular among tech-savvy traders who value the platform’s powerful analytical tools and access to real-time market data. Moomoo margin rates are as low as 6.8%.

Why We Picked It: Moomoo’s robust platform, with competitive margin rates and advanced tools, makes it an excellent option for traders who want to leverage technology to enhance their margin trading strategies.

10. Best for Active Traders: Webull

Webull is a commission-free trading platform that provides users with a comprehensive suite of tools for margin trading. Known for its sleek interface and advanced charting capabilities, Webull appeals to novice and experienced traders looking to maximize their investment potential. The current margin rate is 5.74% to 9.74%. 

Why We Picked It: Webull’s user-friendly interface and powerful trading tools make it a standout choice for those looking to engage in margin trading without incurring high costs.

What is Margin Trading?

Margin trading is a strategy where investors borrow funds from a broker to buy securities, using their existing investments as collateral. This leverage can enhance buying power, allowing investors to take larger positions than they could with their capital alone. While this can lead to higher profits if the market moves in the investor’s favor, it also increases the risk of substantial losses. If the market moves against them, investors may be required to repay the borrowed funds, potentially incurring significant debt. 

Margin trading involves understanding key concepts like minimum margin (the minimum amount needed to open a position), initial margin (the percentage of the purchase price that your own money must cover), and maintenance margin (the minimum equity that must be maintained in the margin account).

How Does Margin Trading Work?

When you trade on margin, you’re buying securities with borrowed money, allowing you to take larger positions than your cash balance alone would allow. 

Here’s how it works: you deposit a certain amount into your margin account, which acts as collateral. Your broker then lends you additional funds to purchase more securities. The key elements of margin trading include the initial margin requirement, the percentage of the investment you must pay for with your own funds, and the maintenance margin, which is the minimum account balance you must maintain. If your account falls below this level, you’ll face a margin call, requiring you to deposit more funds or sell off assets to bring your account back into compliance. 

Investors must pay interest on borrowed funds, which can increase the cost of the investment and erode profits if not managed carefully.

Margin Interest Rates

Margin interest rates vary significantly between brokers, and understanding these differences can significantly impact your costs. Most brokers offer a tiered structure, where the interest rate decreases as the amount borrowed increases. 

For example, a broker might charge 9% on loans under $10,000 but only 5% on loans over $100,000. Interest rates can differ based on the currency of the loan, with USD rates typically being lower than GBP rates. When choosing a margin trading platform, it’s essential to compare these rates to ensure you’re not paying more than necessary.

Stock Trading Fees

Stock trading fees can eat into your profits, especially in margin trading. Fees can be either flat or percentage-based, and while many platforms now offer commission-free trading for U.S. stocks and ETFs, fees may still apply for trading UK stocks or other international assets. Non-trading fees, such as withdrawal or inactivity, should be considered, as they can also add up over time. When evaluating margin trading platforms, it’s important to look at the complete fee structure to ensure your trading costs remain as low as possible.

Key Benefits of Margin Trading

Margin trading offers several key benefits, including the potential for higher gains due to increased purchasing power. Using leverage, traders can take larger positions with less capital, allowing them to capitalize on market movements more effectively. Margin trading also offers flexibility in repayment schedules, which can be advantageous for managing cash flow. When used strategically, it enables traders to hedge their positions, potentially reducing risk or magnifying profits.

The Risks Involved in Margin Trading

While margin trading can amplify profits, it also significantly increases potential losses. If the market moves against your position, you could lose more than your initial investment. Margin calls are another risk, requiring you to deposit additional funds or sell assets to maintain your position. Failure to meet a margin call can result in forced liquidation of your assets, potentially at a loss. The interest on borrowed funds can accumulate quickly, eroding profits and increasing overall risk exposure.

Are You Ready for Margin Trading?

Before engaging in margin trading, assessing whether you have the experience and financial stability to manage the risks involved is crucial. Margin trading is best suited for experienced investors who understand the complexities of leverage and have sufficient cash reserves to cover potential losses. It’s also important to consider the emotional toll of margin trading, as the potential for large losses can lead to stress and impulsive decision-making. If you’re not fully prepared to handle these challenges, starting with less risky investment strategies might be wise.

The Margin Trading Broker for You

Margin trading can be a powerful tool for amplifying your investment returns, but it’s not without its risks. Before diving in, ensure you understand how margin trading works and assess whether your financial situation can handle the potential downsides. The right platform can make all the difference, offering competitive rates, robust tools, and excellent customer support to help you manage your margin trades effectively. Choose wisely; margin trading could be a valuable addition to your investment strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions