Opto Review 2024: $0 Commission, Fractional Theme Investing

Opto at a glance

Feature	Rating	Details
Investment options	★★★★★	Invest in stocks and ETFs.
Trading costs	★★★★★	Commission-free stocks and ETFs, but no margin trading.
Account fees	★★★★★	No annual fee, inactivity fee or outgoing account transfer fee.
Account types and minimums	★★★★★	No account minimum, but only individual taxable accounts are available.
Trading platforms and technology	★★★★★	Mobile app only, with a basic mix of tools and information, such as screeners and alerts.
Features and amenities	★★★★★	Fractional shares and market news.
Customer support	★★★★★	Contact Opto support by email only.
Mobile app rating and security	★★★★★	Google Play app reviews: 4.2/5 based on over 35 reviews, as of July 202 Apple App Store app reviews: 4/5 based on over 13 reviews, as of July 2024
Cash sweep rates	★★★★★	No cash sweep program.

To learn how our star ratings are calculated, read our methodology.

Opto is best for beginner investors and trend investors

Opto’s user-friendly mobile app, commission-free stocks and ETFs, minimal account fees and thematic investing make it an excellent choice for beginners seeking a low-cost platform to start investing.

For those interested in cutting-edge technologies and trends, Opto’s thematic investing approach offers a valuable opportunity to capitalize on innovations expected to drive future economic growth.

What we like about Opto

Opto offers several favorable features, including its focus on thematic investing, its user-friendly trading platform and its low trading costs and account fees.

Investing by theme

Opto’s thematic investing platform offers access to over 50 themes, from Robotics and AI to Blockchain, Pet Care, Clean Energy and more. These themes are categorized into broader groups:

• Disruptive technology – 21 themes
• Climate change – 12 themes
• Demographic & social change – 11 themes
• Next generation economy – 4 themes

Opto uses AI to identify and assign the most relevant theme to each stock and ETF. For example, Microsoft is categorized under Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security and Internet of Things.

Themes must meet specific criteria, including a current market value of at least $1 billion and a projected growth trajectory exceeding $2.5 billion. According to Opto, this ensures a diverse range of investment trends with long-term growth potential, avoiding cyclical patterns.

Opto’s themes make it easy to spot new opportunities that might otherwise be missed. You can then invest in thematic ETFs or individual companies aligned with a particular theme.

Additionally, Opto lets you analyze the combined performance of stocks within a theme. For instance, at the time of this writing, the Bitcoin theme led year-to-date performance with a 39.7% increase, followed by Semiconductors, Blockchain and Copper.

Using these performance metrics can help you identify and capitalize on emerging trends.

Commission-free stock and ETF trades

Trade over 10,000 stocks and ETFs with zero commissions on Opto. Enjoy additional benefits like no annual fees, no inactivity fees and no outgoing account transfer fees.

User-friendly mobile app

Opto’s mobile app is exceptionally user-friendly and easy to navigate, making investing straightforward and accessible. It features a simple chart with performance data, company insights, news and a company overview, including market cap data, trading volume and a company description.

Where it falls short

Here’s where we think Opto could improve.

Limited investment options

Some investors may find Opto’s focus on stocks and ETFs limiting. Those seeking to diversify their portfolios with a wider range of asset classes will need to explore other platforms.

Only available via mobile app

Opto is exclusively available as a mobile app, meaning you cannot access your account through a web browser.

Ony individual taxable accounts, no retirement accounts

Opto only offers individual taxable brokerage accounts and does not provide IRAs. Retirement-focused investors seeking to incorporate thematic investing into their tax-advantaged portfolios will need to consider other options.

No phone support

Opto’s support is limited to in-app messaging and email, with no option for immediate assistance.

Opto’s fees

Type of fee	Fee details
Minimum deposit to open	$0
Minimum investment	$1
Annual fee	$0
Stock trading fee	$0
Inactivity fee	$0
Outgoing account transfer fee	$0

Is Opto legit?

Opto Markets is a legitimate UK-based company incorporated in July 2023. It operates as a fully-owned subsidiary of CMC Markets, a UK-based publicly-traded financial services firm known for providing online trading services.

While Opto is not a broker-dealer, investment adviser or a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), it works with Alpaca Securities LLC as its broker.

Alpaca Securities LLC is a Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) member, offering up to $500,000 in protection for securities and cash held by its clients.

Customer experience

As of July 2024, Opto Markets has no reviews on major review sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trustpilot or Reddit.

However, customer sentiment on the Apple App Store and the Google Play App Store is generally positive.

Users appreciate the app’s user-friendly interface and insightful investment tools, though some feel it lacks advanced features and capabilities.

Compare Opto to other platforms

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