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Best Brokerage Accounts for Index Funds: 2025 Picks

Our picks of the best brokerage accounts for straightforward, low-cost index investing.

Investing in index funds is a smart way to build wealth through diversification and low costs.

We’ve compiled a list of the best brokerage accounts for index investing, highlighting their features, fees and the unique benefits they offer to help you make an informed decision and maximize your investment potential.

Choosing the right brokerage account can significantly enhance your investment experience and returns.

So here are our picks for the best brokerage accounts for index funds.

Our top picks for brokerage accounts

Top pick for stock bonuses

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  • Trade stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds, alternative asset funds
  • $0 commission on stocks, ETFs and options with no options contract fees
  • Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open and fund a new account within 30 days
  • Access to a financial planner
Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $50 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.

Top pick for investing by theme

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  • Trade $0 commission stocks & ETFs with as little as $1
  • Get 4% annual equivalent rate on your cash
  • Earn up to $300 with qualifying deposits
  • Discover new opportunities with Opto's AI-driven thematic investing system
  • Theme and ETF screener

Best for mobile trading

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  • Trade stocks, options, futures, currencies, crypto, precious metals and more
  • Mobile, browser and desktop trading platforms
  • Earn 3.83% APY on your uninvested cash

Best brokerage accounts for index funds

The following are our top picks of the best brokerage accounts for index funds, each highlighted for certain unique strengths.

While we’ve categorized each broker based on a specific standout feature, many excel in multiple areas. For example, while Charles Schwab is noted as one of the best for teens, it also serves as an excellent option for beginners due to its user-friendly platform and comprehensive educational resources.

Best for beginners

Best app for analysis tools

Best for teens

Best for proprietary index funds

Why trust Finder

  • 15+ online brokers reviewed and rated by our team of experts
  • Evaluated under our unbiased rating system covering eight categories
  • 20+ years of combined experience covering financial topics

We're big on editorial independence. That means our content, reviews and ratings are fair, accurate and trustworthy. We don't let advertisers or partners sway our opinions. Our financial experts put in the hard work, spending hours researching and analyzing hundreds of products based on data-driven methodologies to find the best accounts and providers for you. Explore our editorial guidelines to see how we work.

Best for beginners

Robinhood

9.2 Excellent

Go to site Read review

Robinhood simplifies investing with its innovative, beginner-friendly mobile app featuring an intuitive design and agile interface.

Trade commission-free index funds with as little as $1, enjoy 24/5 market access and benefit from an IRA that pays up to 3% in matching contributions. Additionally, earn 4% APY on your uninvested cash with Robinhood Gold.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet a free stock
Public.com

9 Excellent

Get up to $10,000 and transfer fees covered when you move your portfolio to Public.
Go to site Read review

Public emphasizes transparency and stands out as one of the few brokers in the industry that doesn't use payment for order flow (PFOF).

Trade commission-free index ETFs with as little as $5 on Public's intuitive and user-friendly platform and earn 4.1% APY on your uninvested cash.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet up to $10,000 and transfer fees covered
M1 Finance

8.2 Great

Go to site Read review

Trade commission-free index ETFs with as little as $1, automate your investing and rebalance your portfolio with a single click.

Choose from M1's expertly crafted model portfolios or build custom pies of index ETFs tailored to your preferences.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$100
Signup bonusN/A
SoFi Invest®

8.6 Great

Go to site Read review

SoFi Invest offers one of the most user-friendly trading experiences among the brokers we review, providing easy market access with a robo-advisor option for automated investing.

Trade no-fee commission SoFi exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and third-party index funds with as little as $5. Additionally, SoFi provides access to credentialed financial planners, a valuable service that often costs hundreds of dollars per session. SoFi Plus members enjoy as many appointments with financial planners as they like during their eligibility period, while non-SoFi Plus members are limited to one appointment.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet up to $1,000 in stock
Cash App

7.4 Great

Read review

Cash App's commission-free trades, ease of use and fractional share trading make it an excellent choice for beginners investing in index funds.

Start investing with as little as $1, and seamlessly send and receive shares with just a few taps.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusN/A

Best app for analysis tools

Moomoo

8.8 Great

Get 8.1% APY for 3 months on idle cash and up to 60 free stocks with qualified deposits. T&Cs apply.
Go to site Read review

Moomoo offers advanced, customizable charting and free access to professional-grade tools, such as Morningstar ratings, comprehensive fund information, data indicators, real-time Level 2 market data and short sale analysis.

Track market capital flow to optimize transaction timing, view position cost distribution and other technical indicators and use Moomoo's Sentiment Indicator for a quick overview of the overall status of all technical indicators.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet up to 60 free stocks
eToro

8.2 Great

Copy crypto picks from top traders
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eToro offers a user-friendly mobile app featuring advanced charts and a community of over 35 million social investors.

Trade commission-free index ETFs with as little as $10.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusN/A
Webull

9.2 Excellent

Get 20 free fractional shares by depositing $500 or more and maintaining for 30 days. T&C apply.
Read review

Webull offers a user-friendly trading platform featuring advanced charts, order flow distribution, short interest data, institutional ownership and holdings data and comprehensive fund information.

Trade commission-free index ETFs with as little as $5, or automate your index investing with Webull's robo-advisor, Smart Advisor.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet 20 free fractional shares

Best for teens

Interactive Brokers

9.2 Excellent

Go to site Read review

Interactive Brokers offers a variety of commission-free index ETFs and mutual funds, along with several feature-rich trading platforms and UGMA/UTMA accounts for minors.

Trade fractional shares of index funds with as little as $1, or choose an automated portfolio of actively managed funds with Interactive Advisors.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusN/A
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

8.8 Great

Read review

Minors and parents with children looking to start investing will find E*TRADE an excellent choice. As a pioneer of online trading, E*TRADE offers a diverse lineup of account types, including custodial brokerage accounts, IRAs for minors and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts.

Trade commission-free index ETFs and mutual funds, with 24/5 trading on select ETFs. Additionally, E*TRADE's robo-advisor, Core Portfolios, provides a straightforward, automated portfolio management option.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet up to $1,000
terms apply

Best for proprietary index funds

Charles Schwab

8.8 Great

Read review

Schwab provides access to over 3,000 index mutual funds and ETFs, along with trading in 33 of its proprietary index mutual funds and ETFs that span US equity, international equity and US fixed-income markets. All index ETFs are commission-free.

Additionally, benefit from a robo-advisor, personalized financial advisory services and the renowned thinkorswim trading platform.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet a $101 bonus
Fidelity Investments

9.2 Excellent

Go to site Read review

Trade 28 Fidelity index mutual funds, including equity, fixed income and hybrid options, along with 13 Fidelity Freedom Index Funds and 21 Fidelity index ETFs. Additionally, access over 370 third-party index mutual funds and more than 1,840 third-party index ETFs.

Invest with as little as $1, or automate your investments with Fidelity's robo-advisor.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusN/A
Vanguard Brokerage

8.2 Great

Read review

Trade a wide variety of commission-free Vanguard index mutual funds and ETFs, including options in stock, bond, balanced, international, ESG and target-date funds.

Trade index ETFs with as little as $1, and access both Vanguard's human and automated advisory services.

Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$50,000
Signup bonusN/A

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Finder is not an advisor or brokerage service. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation to invest with any one company, trade specific stocks or fund specific investments. All editorial opinions are our own.

Methodology: How we choose the best brokerage account for index funds

Finder’s investments experts reviewed 18 brokers to identify the best brokerage accounts for investing in index funds.

Our analysis is based on 147 key metrics collected directly from brokers, evaluating each platform across eight categories, including investment options, trading costs, account types and more.

Since most brokers offer access to index funds, we highlight the unique characteristics that make these brokers stand out for index fund investing.

We regularly update our best picks as products evolve, ensuring our recommendations reflect the most competitive options available in the market.

How do I open a brokerage account?

Complete the account opening process online in minutes with most investing platforms available today.

Choose an investing platform and complete a brief application by providing personal information such as your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number.

Completed applications are typically approved instantly, though the broker may take a couple of days to verify your information.

Then, connect a bank account to fund your account.

What to look for when choosing the best brokerage account

Finder’s picks for the best brokerage accounts provide a starting point for finding the right broker for your investing style and goals.

Consider the following factors when comparing your options:

  • Fees. From trading fees to miscellaneous fees, it’s important to understand the cost of trading and investing. Consider which investment products you plan to trade and the fees that apply, but also be mindful of any back-end fees, such as inactivity or transfer fees, that can also eat into your profit.
  • Tradable assets. Not every broker offers the same investment options. Stocks, options and ETFs are standard, but some brokers offer mutual funds, bonds, futures, forex, crypto and more. If you’re looking for the best broker for S&P 500 investing and other index funds, all brokers on our list offer access to these options.
  • Account types. What other account types, in addition to a brokerage account, does the broker offer? If you’re interested in saving for retirement, compare brokers offering IRAs. Consider your other investment needs and how important it is to maintain all your accounts under one roof.
  • Research and data tools. In-house research and tools simplify investing, as you don’t have to venture elsewhere to make an informed decision about an investment. If you’re a passive index investor, extensive research and analysis tools may not matter much. Active stock pickers may feel otherwise.
  • Mobile app reviews. Mobile trading is more popular than ever, allowing you to trade and invest from anywhere. Check out what current or previous customers say about the platform’s functionality.
  • Signup bonus. While it may not make sense to choose a broker solely based on whether it offers a signup bonus, a new customer incentive such as a free stock may be enough to help you choose one over another if all else is equal.

Compare and find the broker that's right for you

Match your experience level with your trading and investing goals to find the right broker for you.
If you're a And want to Consider this
Beginner investor
Do most or all of your trading on your mobile device
Beginner investor
Trade and invest with as few fees as possible
Beginner investor
Outsource portfolio management automatically and at a low cost
Beginner investor
Gain exposure to multiple assets like stocks, bonds or gold through a single fund
Experienced investor
Get an overall idea of providers on the market and what they're best for
Experienced investor
Invest internationally in stocks, ETFs and other assets
Retirement saver of any experience level
Save for retirement with upfront tax benefits
Retirement saver of any experience level
Save for retirement and enjoy tax-free withdrawals
Investor of any experience level
Diversify with low-cost index funds

Check out Finder's picks for the best brokerage accounts

Compare top brokerage accounts and apps to help you maximize your investment.

Frequently asked questions

What type of account do you need to invest in index funds?

Invest in index funds through various account types, including taxable brokerage accounts, IRAs and workplace retirement plans such as 401(k)s. The specific index funds available for trading depend on each broker’s offerings.

What are the downsides of investing in index funds?

Investing in index funds has some downsides, including limited flexibility, as they passively track a market index and cannot capitalize on market opportunities. They also offer no protection against market downturns since they reflect the overall market performance. Additionally, index funds may include underperforming stocks.

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
Matt Miczulski's headshot
Written by

Investments editor

Matt Miczulski is an investments editor at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions. Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University. See full bio

Matt's expertise
Matt has written 190 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Trading and investing
  • Broker and trading platform reviews
  • Money management

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