The Best Online Brokerages of June 2026: $0 Trades and No Account Minimums

I’ve been investing in the stock market for 15+ years, and have never once stepped into a physical branch to do anything. Every account I own was opened online, funded from my couch, and managed from my phone.

Things have gotten even faster these days. You can open a brokerage account, link your bank, and place your first trade in about 10 minutes, all without talking to anyone. And, with the right broker, it costs you $0 to do it.

My team at Motley Fool Money reviews dozens of brokers every year. Here are my top picks for June 2026.

1. Fidelity — best for doing everything online in one place

To be fair, I’m biased here. Fidelity is my personal favorite broker for low-cost investing. But it’s not just me — it earned our Best Stock Broker Overall award for 2026, and the online experience is a big reason why. Opening an account takes a few minutes, and it has a huge range of account types to choose from.

Funding your account is just as smooth. You link a bank, transfer money electronically, and start trading right away. The app is clean and easy to navigate. And since Fidelity is one of the biggest brokers in the world, finding support or how-to guides is simple whenever you need it.

There are no account minimums, so you can open an account before you’ve figured out funding. And you won’t be penalized for a low balance. It also offers $0 commissions on stock and ETF trades. For most long-term investors, it is a true one-stop online home.

Who it’s best for: Anyone who wants a single, low-friction online account to build a portfolio and leave it alone for years.

2. Charles Schwab — best for online help when you actually need it

Schwab took our Best Stock Broker for IRA Investors award in 2026, and it’s also one of my personal favorites. My wife has her Roth IRA and a regular brokerage account with Schwab (I manage both accounts) and I’m constantly impressed with the platform.

I use both the mobile app and website to move money and buy stocks. For new accounts, you can open and fund one entirely online by following simple prompts. It also offers a “starter kit” promotion if you invest $50 right after opening.

What I think sets Schwab apart is the help on the back end. It has 24/7 phone and chat support, plus one of the deepest online education libraries I have seen. Like any true low-cost broker, it carries no account minimums and $0 stock and ETF trades.

Who it’s best for: Investors who want everything online but like knowing real, round-the-clock support is one tap away.

3. SoFi Active Investing — best for getting started online fast

SoFi® won our Best Stock Broker for Beginners award for 2026, and the online onboarding might just be the smoothest of the bunch. The app is widely considered very accessible to use, especially for investing newbies.

I’ve watched plenty of people wait until they had “enough” money to begin investing, and that delay quietly costs them. SoFi® offers fractional shares to erase that excuse, letting you invest with as little as $5 into a fund or stock the day you open the account. Terms apply.

For someone investing $25 a week starting today, rather than waiting a year to save up first, it gives that first $1,300 a full extra year to compound. Over decades, that head start alone can be worth thousands.

Who it’s best for: First-time investors who want to be fully set up and investing right away, from their phone. I typically recommend SoFi® to younger, tech-savvy folks who might also like the SoFi Checking and Savings account (Member FDIC).

How to open and fund an account online

The remote process looks nearly identical no matter which online broker you choose. Here is the full flow, start to finish:

• Choose your account type (e.g. regular brokerage, Roth IRA, etc)
• Apply online with your name, address, and Social Security number
• Verify your identity and answer some regulatory questions (level of experience, risk tolerance, source of funding)
• Link your bank account electronically
• Transfer your opening deposit (or set up recurring transfers, which I highly recommend!)
• You can now place trades and buy stocks with the available funds

That pretty much covers the basics. No matter which app you use, I encourage you to do more research and learn how to invest responsibly. The legwork you put in today will pay dividends (literally!) later in life.

I built my entire portfolio online, one small transfer at a time, and the tools have only gotten better since I started. Anyone reading this can do the same thing today.

See our full list of the best online brokers for 2026 and get started today.