With so many available options, choosing the right stock trading software may feel overwhelming. The ideal software can significantly impact your investment journey, influencing everything from the fees you pay to the tools you have at your disposal.
This guide will give you an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of software available for stock trading.
How We Chose the Best Stock Trading Software
We evaluated the software based on commission structure and pricing transparency, platform usability and the range of available account types. Educational tools, investor resources and the quality of customer service were also considered.
6 Best Stock Trading Software
Plus500 — Best Overall
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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).
Highlights of the platform include:
- 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: Benzinga enjoys how Plus500 helps 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.
Interactive Brokers – Best for Global Reach
- Best For:Active and Global TradersVIEW PROS & CONS:Securely through Interactive Brokers’ website
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a good choice for investors seeking access to global stock markets. Its reach across many countries and exchanges, combined with low costs and sophisticated trading technology, caters to those looking to diversify their equity holdings internationally.
Key Features:
- Fees: IBKR offers a competitive commission structure for stock trading across global markets. It offers tiered and fixed pricing plans that are often lower than competitors, especially for international trades. There are no account minimums for most account types.
- Investment Access: IBKR provides access to stocks listed on exchanges worldwide. Its extensive global reach allows investors to buy and sell shares in companies from many countries. Beyond stocks, it offers an array of other asset classes including options, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), futures, currencies and bonds.
- Platform Experience: IBKR’s Trader Workstation desktop platform is customizable and feature-rich, providing real-time data, advanced charting and a variety of order types for global trading. Its mobile and web platform interfaces are more streamlined.
- Tools/Education Highlights: IBKR provides advanced trading tools for global stock analysis including charting with international market data, technical indicators, news feeds from around the world and risk-management tools for multicurrency portfolios. Educational resources cater to experienced traders navigating global markets.
- Drawbacks: Trader Workstation is complex and can be challenging for beginners.
Who It’s Best For: Experienced investors and traders who want access to global stock markets, appreciate low trading costs and are comfortable with a sophisticated trading platform with extensive features for international investing.
Webull – Best for Beginners
Webull’s user-friendly stock trading software is particularly appealing to beginners. Its sleek, mobile-first interface, combined with commission-free trading and fractional shares provides a straightforward and affordable entry point to stock investing.
Key Features:
- Fees: Webull offers commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs and options. There are no account minimums to open a standard brokerage account, making it easy for beginners to start with a small amount of capital.
- Investment Access: Webull provides access to a range of U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs. It also supports options trading for those looking for more advanced strategies. It offers fractional shares, allowing investors to buy a portion of a stock even with a limited budget.
- Platform Experience: Webull’s intuitive software is designed for easy navigation. Beginners will find the interface clean and straightforward with clear displays of account information, stock quotes and charting tools.
- Tools/Education Highlights: Webull offers basic charting tools with common technical indicators that beginners can use to understand price movements. Real-time market data is available and the app provides educational resources like introductory articles and videos on investing concepts.
- Drawbacks: Although it’s excellent for beginners, Webull’s research and analytical tools are less comprehensive than platforms geared toward experienced traders. The range of investment products is also more limited. Customer support options may not be as extensive as those offered by larger, more established brokerages.
Who It’s Best For: Newer traders who want a commission-free platform with a user-friendly mobile interface and the ability to invest in fractional shares with no account minimums.
NinjaTrader – Best for Active Traders
- Best For:Advanced Futures TradingVIEW PROS & CONS:securely through NinjaTrader's website
NinjaTrader’s customizable software is ideal for active stock traders who want advanced charting, technical analysis tools, backtesting capabilities and algorithmic trading. NinjaTrader can be connected to various brokerage accounts to facilitate active stock trading.
Key Features:
- Fees: NinjaTrader is a pay-as-you-trade platform that must be connected to a supported brokerage account. Commission structures depend on the brokerage you choose. NinjaTrader offers different licensing options for its software including a free version with limited features and paid lifetime licenses for full functionality. NinjaTrader doesn’t require an account minimum, but the connected broker may have its own requirements.
- Investment Access: When connected to a compatible broker that offers API connectivity, NinjaTrader provides direct access to a range of stocks listed on various exchanges. The stocks and markets available depend on the capabilities of the connected brokerage account. NinjaTrader can be used for stocks, but it’s primarily designed for futures and forex trading.
- Platform Experience: NinjaTrader’s customizable desktop platform offers advanced charting capabilities, depth of market display and powerful order-entry tools for fast-paced trading. It allows trading directly from charts and supports many order types. NinjaTrader doesn’t have a mobile platform, but some connected brokers may offer mobile solutions that complement the desktop platform.
- Tools/Education Highlights: NinjaTrader’s technical analysis tools include a library of built-in indicators and the ability to create custom indicators using NinjaScript. Algorithmic traders value its backtesting and strategy automation features. The platform also offers simulated trading for practicing strategies risk-free. Educational resources focus on platform use and futures trading strategies.
- Drawbacks: The platform’s complexity may be daunting for new users. Its features and customization options can have a steep learning curve and the need to connect a separate brokerage account adds an extra step to the setup process.
Who It’s Best For: Experienced stock traders who want advanced charting tools, sophisticated order entry, algorithmic trading capabilities and the flexibility to customize their trading environment.
Fidelity – Best for Educational Resources
- Best For:Stock ResearchVIEW PROS & CONS:securely through Fidelity Investments's website
Fidelity offers a wealth of resources accessible directly through its user-friendly software. Fidelity provides an excellent platform for both new and experienced investors who want to continue learning and stay informed.
Key Features:
- Fees: Fidelity offers commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs and options. There are no account minimums to open most brokerage accounts, making it accessible to investors of all levels. While some specialized services or transactions may have fees, the core trading experience is cost-effective.
- Investment Access: Fidelity provides access to a range of investment products including stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds and bonds. It also offers fractional shares, allowing investors to buy portions of stocks.
- Platform Experience: Fidelity’s mobile app and website are designed with a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to navigate and find the information they need. The platforms offer clear account overviews, customizable dashboards and seamless trading capabilities. They avoid overwhelming new users with excessive complexity.
- Tools/Education Highlights: Fidelity’s educational resources include articles, videos, webinars and infographics covering a range of investment topics from basic concepts to advanced strategies. It also offers virtual coaching sessions and learning centers tailored to different investor experience levels. The platforms integrate research and analysis tools from Fidelity and third-party providers, helping users make informed decisions.
- Drawbacks: Active traders may find the charting tools and real-time data streams less advanced than platforms designed for high-frequency trading. The volume of educational content may be overwhelming for beginners.
Who It’s Best For: Investors of all levels who want comprehensive educational resources, in-depth research and a user-friendly platform with commission-free trading.
Robinhood – Best for Low Cost
Robinhood pioneered commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs and options. Its mobile-first platform has made investing more accessible to a new generation of investors who are focused on keeping trading costs to a minimum.
Key Features:
- Fees: Robinhood offers commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs and options. While there may be fees for some premium features or regulatory transactions, the core trading experience is free. It also doesn’t require an account minimum to open a standard brokerage account.
- Investment Access: Robinhood offers access to a variety of U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs and options. It also provides access to a limited selection of cryptocurrencies. Fractional shares are available for many stocks, allowing users to invest with smaller amounts of capital.
- Platform Experience: Robinhood’s mobile-first design is simple and easy to use. The intuitive interface makes it easy for beginners to execute trades.
- Tools/Education Highlights: Robinhood offers basic charting tools and limited data. The educational resources are introductory, focusing on basic investing concepts. Active traders or those seeking in-depth analysis may find the tools and educational content lacking compared to more established brokers.
- Drawbacks: More experienced traders may find Robinhood’s limited research and analytical tools inadequate. The range of investment products offered is also narrower than that of some full-service brokers.
Who It’s Best For: Robinhood’s app is best suited for cost-conscious beginners and those who want a simple, commission-free mobile trading experience for U.S. stocks, ETFs and options.
Choosing the Right Stock Trading Software
Choosing the right stock trading software can make a major difference in your investing results. Whether you're buying your first stock, actively managing a portfolio or executing technical trades, the right software can enhance decision-making, reduce costs and improve execution speed.
Your ideal platform depends on your experience level, goals and how hands-on you want to be with your trading.
For globally diversified investors, Interactive Brokers stands out with access to more than 150 markets across 33 countries. It’s built for experienced traders who need powerful analytics, customizable charts and tight execution spreads across asset classes. If your strategy involves international equities or you value advanced tools like real-time margin impact analysis and global risk metrics, IBKR delivers.
For newer investors or mobile-first users, Webull’s clean and intuitive interface provides a seamless entry point to stock trading. Commission-free trading, real-time quotes and fractional share investing make it ideal for budget-conscious users who are learning the ropes without getting bogged down by complexity.
For high-frequency or technical traders, NinjaTrader offers one of the most customizable trading environments available. With advanced order-routing options, backtesting capabilities and algorithmic trading through NinjaScript, it’s purpose-built for those who demand full control over strategy execution. If you value automation, fast order entry and the ability to test models before going live, this platform is hard to beat.
For investors focused on education and research, Fidelity remains one of the most comprehensive platforms available. With thousands of educational videos, expert market commentary and tools designed to walk you through every step of investing – from retirement planning to ETF selection – Fidelity is an excellent option for long-term investors who want to grow their knowledge while building wealth.
For low-cost, simple trading, Robinhood keeps the barrier to entry low. With zero commissions, fractional shares and a highly responsive app, it’s well-suited for beginners or those with minimal capital who just want to build a small portfolio quickly and easily. However, those seeking deeper analytics or wider asset access may want to look elsewhere.
Ultimately, the best stock trading software is the one that aligns with your objectives, budget and trading style. Consider:
- How often you plan to trade
- What markets or assets you want access to
- Whether you value simplicity or advanced customization
- If you need integrated research, education or robo-advising
- How important mobile access is to your workflow
Choosing software that complements – not complicates – your investing strategy can give you a powerful edge as you grow your portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is stock trading software?
Stock trading software is a digital platform that allows users to buy and sell stocks, ETFs and other financial instruments. These platforms often include real-time data, charting tools, order execution features and account management capabilities.
Which stock trading software is best for beginners?
Webull and Robinhood are both excellent for beginners due to their simple interfaces, commission-free trading and support for fractional shares. Fidelity is also a strong choice for its educational resources and easy-to-use tools.
Can I trade international stocks with stock trading software?
Yes, but not all platforms support international markets. Interactive Brokers is widely regarded as one of the best options for trading global stocks across 150+ markets in over 30 countries.
