Online stock trading brokers provide an intuitive and user-friendly platform from which you can monitor stocks, order trades and receive news about the market. These services are geared toward non-professional traders who want to control their investments and managing their trades without relying on a broker. Online platforms allow you to set up watch lists, create option chains and view streaming, live quotes. The best stock trading sites including OptionsHouse. TradeKing and optionsXpress provide these solid platforms along with low commission and trade fees so you can focus your money on the market and watch your investments grow. To learn more about choosing a broker and investing, have a look at our articles on online stock trading .

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Online Stock Trading: What to Look For

Trading & Research Tools

The platform each service offers may be a deciding factor when choosing an online broker. All of the services we reviewed have customizable platforms that allow you to set up watch lists, alerts and option chains, as well as create custom reports, charts and graphs so you can monitor the investments and statistics that matter the most to you. Some services offer automated trading, which automatically orders trades based on parameters and rules you establish. Many services have calculators that estimate risk and volatility, among other elements, to help you decide when and what to trade.

Investments Offered

In addition to stocks and options trading, most brokers offer trades for exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds and mutual funds. Many services offer trades in international stock markets, forex and futures, though those involve higher risks. All the brokers we reviewed offer individual retirement accounts (IRA) to help you begin saving for retirement.

Mobile Access

Every service we reviewed offers a mobile-trading option. Mobile access is offered via apps available for download or through a mobile-optimized version of the service’s website. The best online trading sites offer both options. All services on our lineup offer stock trading and most also offer other trading, including options. From your mobile devices, you can keep track of your watch lists, positions and option chains. Some services offer additional features, such as check depositing and barcode-scanning capabilities.

Support & Customer Service