For many Canadian self-directed investors, this environment has led to increased trading activity, as people look to take control of their portfolios and react in real time. Online brokerages are seeing higher trading volumes, and that makes the quality of your platform—and the support behind it—more important than ever. Between Zerodha and Angel One, Zerodha is more popular among investors based on active clients. However, Zerodha is a discount broker while Angel Broking is a full-service broker that offers discount brokerage plans. Zerodha doesn’t provide Research reports or investment tips, however, Angel One offers these facilities to its clients. Trading volatile financial markets with Largest Brokerage Firms can be challenging, even for experienced traders.
After topping the category last year, TD Direct Investing takes the runner-up spot in 2025 with a score of 107 points—down eight points from 2024. The shift is largely due to Questrade’s game-changing move to $0 commissions, which gave it its competitive edge. The main drawback is Questrade’s market information tools during the trade process could be more comprehensive—an area where runner-up TD Direct Investing currently has the edge.
The company offers a range of financial products, including Forex, stocks, options, and more. Over the years, it has become one of the largest online trading providers, with a reputation for offering innovative products and services. As of December 2023, Swissquote’s assets under management was reported to be CHF 52.2 billion (~$60.18 billion), serving over 600,000 clients across various markets such as Forex, stocks, bonds, commodities, and more. The company also offers resources to effectively manage their portfolios, such as trading platforms, market analysis, and financial news updates. CMC Markets has long been a leader in Australia’s online investing landscape. It stands out for offering a broad range of Australian and international investment products, low-cost trading for small orders, and an excellent browser-based trading platform.
What to consider when choosing a stock broker
Some $0 commission brokers advertise “free” trading but hide the trade-offs—like limited features or slower trade execution. On the flip side, commission-based brokers can have extra charges, like required market data subscriptions or hidden platform fees. The Account Experience category looks at how easy it is for Canadian investors to view and manage their investment accounts online, whether on a computer or a mobile app.
- Some brokers let you trade alternative investments, a catch-all category for niche categories.
- In exchange for a tiny commission on every trade, the broker sends your orders on to stock exchanges and market makers.
- Fidelity’s size and scale are a testament to its long history of providing reliable and affordable investment services.
Fidelity Investments’ Fee Structure
Opt for Largest Brokerage Firms that set themselves apart as an industry leader by actively embracing innovation. Take IC Markets as an example, which is renowned for Segregates clients funds and boasts an extensive array of 2250 tradable instruments. Moreover, IC Markets caters to the needs of its clients with both an online trading platform and a mobile application, making it incredibly convenient to access the markets from anywhere, at any time. With its investor-first approach, Paytm Money ranks tenth on the list of top stock brokers in India. It focuses on F&O and equity trading, depository services, and IPO investments. As one of the leading stock brokers, it is also registered with PFRDA as a Point of Presence and offers investment options in the National Pension Scheme (NPS).
This post will discuss India’s top 10 stock brokers and what sets them apart in its highly competitive market. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or a newcomer to the investing world, understanding the strengths of these platforms is likely to help you make mindful decisions based on your financial goals. CHESS-sponsored trades are an important way of proving share ownership. If your share trading platform operates with a CHESS-sponsored model, you’ll be provided with a Holder Identification Number (HIN) if you don’t already have one. For beginners and experienced investors alike, educational resources are a way to continue improving their knowledge and strategies.
- Vanguard is the largest stock brokerage firm one of the most popular full-service stock brokerages for investing in mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
- A brokerage account is a type of account similar in function to the accounts you have with a bank.
- When choosing a broker for Large Brokerage Investment Platforms trading, it’s essential to compare the different options available to you.
- As of end of April 2025, Schwab’s total client assets stood at $9.89 trillion.
- Our proprietary assessment process evaluates over 20 factors, including online broker fees, tools, research options, customer service, educational content, and more.
- If you read something you feel is incorrect or misleading, please contact us.
Buying ETFs in Canada Tool: The MoneySense ETF Screener
We review 16 different areas to see how simple and smooth it is to get around, both before and after you log in. The other discount brokers like Angel One, Upstox, and 5Paisa have also made into the top ten stockbrokers in India as per the number of active clients. Please note that the total number of active clients of all stockbrokers is 4,56,71,347 (4.46 Cr) as of 31st July 2024, as mentioned on the NSE India website.
These factors include fees, account minimums, and promotional offers. The bank’s investment services offer ETFs and mutual funds, and clients can choose between self-directed investments, using the services of a team of advisors, or having a dedicated advisor. Portfolio advisory service fees range from 0.20% to 1.50%, based on the amount invested. Minimum investments range from $50,000 to $500,000, based on the investment options. For its automated Fidelity Go service, the firm charges a 0.35% advisory fee for balances exceeding $25,000 but requires no minimum to open an account.
Trading platforms tested
Before signing up to a share trading platform, ensure that you can afford–and are happy to–pay the minimum investment. Often this is $500, but it can increase to over $1,000 or decrease significantly to $0 for smaller platforms. Whether you manage a long-term stock portfolio, trade complex options strategies, or actively scalp intraday, make sure the platforms and features offered by your broker complement your style and facilitate your trades. In addition to our review of Interactive Brokers’ online brokerage platform, we’ve also reviewed the company’s robo-advisor service, Interactive Advisors.
The information provided by Forbes Advisor is general in nature and for educational purposes only. Any information provided does not consider the personal financial circumstances of readers, such as individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Forbes Advisor does not provide financial product advice and the information we provide is not intended to replace or be relied upon as independent financial advice.
That doesn’t mean they’re perfect investors—it just means they’ve learned enough to, with luck, make smarter moves and stay in control. TD Direct Investing’s ongoing strength in this category should not be confused with an endorsement of TD Easy Trade, however. The recognition stems from the traditional TD Direct Investing platform, not its simplified mobile counterpart. While TD Easy Trade’s offer of 50 free trades might sound attractive, the catch is that you must use that stripped-down mobile app to access them.
SoFi Active Investing is a solid option for investors who already use other SoFi products, such as its bank or loan accounts. This is because the broker offers a few unique features that are rare in the industry. To choose the best online broker, you should start by considering the key factors that our team focuses on when evaluating brokerage accounts.
What Is Share Trading?
For largest online brokers most investors, it can pay to simply open a brokerage account at an online broker. These brokers allow you to buy stocks yourself through their websites or trading platforms, often with no fee or commission. None of the brokers on our list are full-service brokers; they are all discount online brokerage firms.
This brokerage is a clear standout for its well-rated mobile app and also has unique investment offerings like IPOs, options, and fractional shares. Unlike Assets Under Management (AUM), AUA involves a non-discretionary role focused on administrative functions. These functions encompass a wide array of services, including fund accounting, tax compliance, trade processing, and custodial duties, executed by leading global banks and financial institutions.
Gold—TD Direct Investing
Schwab’s acquisition of its rival TD Ameritrade in 2019 reinforced its position as one of the leaders in the industry. Schwab offers an attractive list of ETFs and mutual funds, and TD Ameritrade is an excellent choice for those looking to trade at a low cost. The SIPC covers your funds, up to $500,000, in the unlikely event the brokerage fails. This insurance doesn’t cover any funds you may lose due to market shifts or personal investment decisions. The best online brokerages usually don’t charge a monthly account management fee. Though the best online brokers charge low fees, you’ll likely be responsible for covering certain costs as you invest.
