Top 5 Brokerage Accounts with No Minimum Deposit (2025 Guide for US Investors)

Let’s get one thing straight right away: the idea that you need to be wealthy or have thousands of dollars sitting around to start investing is completely outdated. For years, this was one of the biggest myths that kept people like you and me on the sidelines, feeling like building wealth in the stock market was a game reserved for the privileged few. Thankfully, that era is over. The financial world has changed dramatically, and the single biggest barrier to entry—the high minimum deposit—has been torn down by modern, forward-thinking brokerage firms.

Today, you can open an account and start your investing journey with as little as $5, $1, or even just the pocket change you have left over at the end of the week. In this guide, we’re going to break down the top 5 US brokerage accounts with no minimum deposit for 2025. We’ll look at the platforms that are not just accessible but are also built with beginners in mind, helping you take that crucial first step toward building your financial future, no matter how much you have to start with.

Why a $0 Minimum Deposit is a Game-Changer for New Investors

The shift to a $0 minimum deposit model isn’t just a minor perk; it’s a fundamental change that has democratized the world of investing. For decades, Wall Street felt like an exclusive club with high entry fees. If you didn’t have $2,000, $5,000, or even $10,000 to meet an account minimum, the door was closed. This created a cycle where only those who already had money could easily access the tools to make more. By eliminating this requirement, brokerages have leveled the playing field, making it possible for anyone with a smartphone and a few dollars to become an owner of the world’s biggest companies.

Beyond just opening the door, no-minimum accounts provide the perfect training ground. Let’s be honest, investing can feel intimidating. You’re putting your hard-earned money on the line, and the fear of making a mistake is real. Starting with a small amount—say, $25 or $50—allows you to learn the ropes without the stress of risking a significant sum of capital. You can get a feel for how the market moves, how to place a trade, and how to build a diversified portfolio, all while the stakes are low. This hands-on experience is invaluable and builds the confidence you need to invest larger amounts as your income and knowledge grow. This approach is the core of our micro-investing beginner guide, which focuses on building wealth through small, consistent contributions.

It’s also important to recognize that this isn’t some niche offering anymore. Thanks to fierce competition between online brokers, features like no-minimum deposits and commission-free trades on stocks and ETFs have become the new industry standard. This is a massive win for the everyday investor. You no longer have to choose between a broker that’s cheap and a broker that’s high-quality. As we’ll see in our list, some of the most respected and feature-rich names in the industry are now the most accessible.

How We Picked the Best No-Minimum Brokers for 2025

In a world where dozens of apps and platforms are vying for your attention, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why we took a rigorous and transparent approach to selecting the brokers on this list. Our goal wasn’t just to find accounts that were free to open, but to identify the platforms that truly set beginners up for long-term success. We’ve spent countless hours opening accounts, testing mobile apps, navigating desktop platforms, and comparing the fine print so you don’t have to.

We believe that a great beginner brokerage is about more than just a $0 price tag. It’s about creating a supportive ecosystem that helps you learn, grow, and feel secure. We evaluated each broker against a core set of criteria that we know are most important to someone just starting their investment journey. From the simplicity of the user interface to the quality of educational resources, every aspect was considered from the perspective of a new investor like “Alex, the Aspiring Investor.”

Here are the key factors that every broker on our list had to excel in:

• Account Minimums: An absolute must-have. Every broker on this list requires $0 to open a standard brokerage account.
• Fees: We focused on platforms offering $0 commission fees for stock and ETF trades. We also dug into other potential costs, like account maintenance or transfer fees, to ensure there were no nasty surprises.
• Beginner-Friendliness: The platform, both on the web and on mobile, had to be intuitive and easy to navigate. A confusing interface is a major roadblock for new investors.
• Investment Options: We prioritized brokers that offer a wide range of stocks and ETFs, and most importantly, access to fractional shares, which are crucial when you start investing with little money.
• Trust and Security: This is non-negotiable. Every firm listed is regulated in the US, is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), and has a long-standing reputation for protecting its clients’ assets.

The Top 5 Brokerage Accounts with No Minimum Deposit

1. Fidelity: Best Overall for Beginners

When you’re looking for a brokerage account, it’s tempting to think you have to choose between one that’s easy for beginners and one that’s powerful for experts. Fidelity completely shatters that notion. In our view, it’s the single best starting point for a new investor because it offers the perfect blend of simplicity and substance. The platform is welcoming and straightforward, but beneath the surface lies a treasure trove of institutional-grade tools, research, and educational resources that you can grow into over time.

What truly sets Fidelity apart is its unwavering focus on the customer. They were one of the first major brokers to slash fees to zero, and they continue to innovate with features that directly benefit individual investors. Their customer service is legendary; you can get a knowledgeable human on the phone 24/7 to help with any question, big or small. This combination of no fees, powerful features, and stellar support makes Fidelity an account you can open today and comfortably use for the rest of your investing life.

• Minimum Deposit: $0
• Trading Fees (Stocks/ETFs): $0
• Fractional Shares: Yes, for over 7,000 US stocks and ETFs, starting from just $1.
• Standout Feature: An unparalleled combination of excellent 24/7 customer service and a vast library of free educational articles, videos, and webinars.

Pros & Cons:

• Pros: Top-tier research from multiple sources, no account fees or hidden charges, a highly reliable and stable platform (both web and mobile), and their own zero-expense-ratio index funds.
• Cons: The full desktop platform (Active Trader Pro) can feel a bit complex for an absolute beginner at first, though the standard web and mobile versions are very user-friendly.

Who It’s For: The beginner who wants a “do-it-all” account. If you want a broker that you’ll never outgrow, with robust tools and fantastic support, Fidelity is the clear winner.

2. Charles Schwab: Best for Research and Long-Term Growth

Charles Schwab has long been a titan in the investment world, known for its exceptional customer service and commitment to the individual investor. Following its full integration of TD Ameritrade, Schwab has become an even more formidable powerhouse, combining its own strengths with the legendary thinkorswim trading platform. For a beginner who loves to learn and do their homework before investing, Schwab offers an environment that is second to none.

While Fidelity may have a slight edge in the sheer number of fractional shares offered, the debate over Fidelity vs Schwab for beginners often comes down to personal preference in platform layout and research style. Schwab provides a clean, organized experience and provides proprietary market commentary and analysis that many investors find invaluable. It feels like a premium service without the premium price tag, making it an excellent choice for those who plan to be serious, long-term investors.

• Minimum Deposit: $0
• Trading Fees (Stocks/ETFs): $0
• Fractional Shares: Yes, via “Stock Slices,” which allows you to buy shares of any company in the S&P 500 for as little as $5.
• Standout Feature: Free access to the acclaimed thinkorswim platform, which offers elite-level charting and analysis tools that you can grow into as your skills advance.

Pros & Cons:

• Pros: Fantastic proprietary and third-party research tools, award-winning customer support, and seamless integration with Schwab’s excellent banking services.
• Cons: The fractional shares program (“Stock Slices”) is limited to S&P 500 companies, which is less comprehensive than Fidelity’s offering.

Who It’s For: The beginner who is also a diligent researcher. If you want to dive deep into market analysis and have access to professional-grade tools from day one, Schwab is an outstanding choice.

3. Vanguard: Best for Passive, Long-Term ETF Investors

Vanguard is more than just a brokerage; it’s a philosophy. Founded by the legendary John C. Bogle, the company pioneered the concept of low-cost index fund investing, and its core mission remains to serve the long-term, buy-and-hold investor. If your goal is to simply and steadily build wealth for retirement over several decades, without getting caught up in the noise of daily market fluctuations, Vanguard is your spiritual home.

It’s important to clarify a common point of confusion: while many of Vanguard’s famous mutual funds still require a $3,000 minimum investment, their brokerage accounts do not. You can open an account with $0 and buy Vanguard’s ultra-low-cost ETFs (and most other stocks) with no commission and no minimums. The platform is admittedly less flashy than its competitors, but that’s by design. Vanguard wants to encourage disciplined, long-term behavior rather than frequent trading.

• Minimum Deposit: $0 for a standard brokerage account.
• Trading Fees (Stocks/ETFs): $0 for Vanguard ETFs and most other stocks/ETFs.
• Fractional Shares: Yes, you can purchase fractional shares of nearly all Vanguard ETFs and most publicly traded stocks.
• Standout Feature: An unparalleled reputation built on a client-owned structure and a steadfast philosophy of low-cost, passive investing.

Pros & Cons:

• Pros: The undisputed gold standard for low-cost index funds and ETFs, a strong focus on long-term financial planning, and a structure that puts investor interests first.
• Cons: The web and mobile interfaces feel dated and are less intuitive than modern competitors. It’s not designed for traders or those seeking a sleek user experience.

Who It’s For: The quintessential “set it and forget it” investor. If your plan is to primarily buy a few low-cost ETFs every month for the next 30 years, Vanguard is the perfect, no-frills platform for you.

4. M1 Finance: Best for Automated, Portfolio-Based Investing

M1 Finance carves out a unique and compelling niche in the brokerage landscape. It’s not quite a traditional broker, and it’s not quite a robo-advisor—it’s a clever hybrid of both. The platform is built around a concept called “Pies.” You create a custom portfolio (your Pie) by choosing the stocks and ETFs you want to own and assigning a target percentage to each. For instance, your Pie could be 50% in a broad market ETF, 20% in Apple, 20% in Google, and 10% in a clean energy ETF.

Once you’ve built your Pie, M1 Finance does the rest. Every time you deposit money, it’s automatically invested across your holdings to keep your portfolio aligned with your target percentages. This system is brilliant for promoting disciplined, automated investing. It takes the emotion and guesswork out of deciding what to buy and when. For anyone who wants a structured, hands-off approach without paying the advisory fees of a typical robo-advisor, M1 is a fantastic solution. You can learn more about this automated style of investing in our ultimate micro-investing guide.

• Minimum Deposit: $0 to open an account, but you need a $100 balance to begin investing in your Pies. We include it as a “low minimum deposit brokerage” because its unique model is worth the exception.
• Trading Fees (Stocks/ETFs): $0
• Fractional Shares: Yes, this is the core of the platform. Every investment is automatically divided into fractional shares to match your Pie’s allocation.
• Standout Feature: The “Pie” concept makes building, managing, and automating a diversified portfolio incredibly simple and intuitive.

Pros & Cons:

• Pros: Excellent for automating investments and enforcing discipline, a beautiful and modern user interface, and promotes a healthy, long-term portfolio-based mindset.
• Cons: You have limited control over individual trade execution times (trades are executed once or twice a day during a set “trading window”). This makes it completely unsuitable for active traders.

Who It’s For: The hands-off investor who knows what they want to own and wants the platform to automate the buying and rebalancing process for them.

5. Robinhood: Best for Mobile Experience and Ease of Use

Robinhood was the original disruptor that forced the entire industry to adopt commission-free trading. While the company has faced its share of controversy, there is no denying that its platform offers one of the most intuitive, streamlined, and frictionless user experiences available today. For a mobile-first beginner who is easily intimidated by complex charts and financial jargon, Robinhood’s minimalist design can be a breath of fresh air.

Opening an account and placing your first trade can take just a few minutes, a process that has onboarded millions of new investors to the market. The app excels at making investing feel accessible and less daunting. While it lacks the robust research tools and educational depth of competitors like Fidelity or Schwab, it serves its purpose as a simple gateway to the market. For those curious about a direct platform comparison, you can read our breakdown of Acorns vs Robinhood to see how it stacks up against another popular beginner app.

• Minimum Deposit: $0
• Trading Fees (Stocks/ETFs/Options/Crypto): $0
• Fractional Shares: Yes, for a wide variety of stocks and ETFs.
• Standout Feature: The sleek, minimalist mobile app that stripped away the complexity and “gamified” the experience of getting started with investing.

Pros & Cons:

• Pros: Unbeatable user-friendliness on mobile, an extremely fast and simple onboarding process, and offers commission-free trading of cryptocurrencies in the same app.
• Cons: Limited research tools and educational content, a history of platform instability during periods of high market volatility, and a business model (payment for order flow) that has drawn scrutiny.

Who It’s For: The mobile-first beginner who prioritizes a simple, no-frills, and fast user experience above all else. It’s a great platform to dip your toes in the water, even if you may eventually graduate to a more feature-rich broker.

At-a-Glance: Comparing the Top No-Minimum Brokers

To help you make a quick decision, here’s a simple table summarizing the key features of our top picks for the best brokerage accounts with no minimum deposit.

Broker	Minimum Deposit	Trading Fees	Fractional Shares	Best For
Fidelity	$0	$0	Yes	Overall for Beginners
Charles Schwab	$0	$0	Yes	Research & Education
Vanguard	$0	$0	Yes	Passive ETF Investors
M1 Finance	$0 ($100 to invest)	$0	Yes	Automated Investing
Robinhood	$0	$0	Yes	Mobile User Experience

Beyond the Minimum: Other Key Factors for Beginners

Trading Fees vs. Other Fees

It’s fantastic that commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs has become the norm. For most beginners who are simply buying and holding these assets, the core experience at the brokers listed above will be genuinely free. However, it’s wise to understand that “commission-free” doesn’t mean “cost-free” in every possible scenario. Brokers are businesses, and they have to make money somehow.

They typically do this in ways that don’t directly affect the average beginner, such as earning interest on the uninvested cash in your account, payment for order flow (a complex topic for another day), or lending securities. Where you might encounter a fee is for less common activities, like wiring money out of your account, requesting paper statements, or transferring your entire account to another brokerage. The good news is that for standard operations—depositing money, buying stocks/ETFs, and holding them—you should not expect to pay fees at any of our recommended platforms.

The Power of Fractional Shares

We’ve mentioned fractional shares several times, but it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate just how revolutionary they are for new investors. In the past, if you wanted to buy a share of a major company like Amazon or Google, you might have needed over $100 just to purchase a single share. This priced many people out of owning a piece of the companies they know and love. It also made diversification—spreading your money across many different investments—incredibly difficult with a small amount of capital.

Fractional shares solve this problem completely. They allow you to buy a small slice of a share for as little as $1. Instead of needing $150 to buy one share of Company X, you can invest just $10 and own 1/15th of a share. This means that even with just $50, you can build a diversified portfolio by buying small pieces of 10 or 20 different companies and ETFs. It is the single most important feature for making the most of a small starting capital. We’ve compiled a list of the best fractional share platforms if you want to explore this feature further.

Account Types (Individual vs. Roth IRA)

When you sign up for a brokerage, you’ll be asked what type of account you want to open. For most beginners, the choice will be between a standard (taxable) individual brokerage account and a Roth IRA. A standard account is the most straightforward: you deposit after-tax money, and you’ll pay capital gains taxes on any profits you make when you sell your investments. It’s flexible and has no restrictions on when you can withdraw your money.

However, we strongly encourage every new investor to consider opening a Roth IRA as their first account. A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account where you also contribute after-tax money, but all of your investments grow completely tax-free. When you withdraw the money in retirement (after age 59½), you won’t owe a single penny in taxes on decades of growth. This tax advantage is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available. All the brokers on our list offer Roth IRAs with no minimum deposit, making it easy to start saving for your future in the most tax-efficient way possible.

Safety and Insurance (SIPC)

Handing your money over to a financial institution can feel nerve-wracking, which is why understanding the protections in place is so important for your peace of mind. All of the brokerage firms on this list are members of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). This is a non-profit corporation created by the U.S. government to protect investors.

SIPC insurance protects the securities and cash in your brokerage account for up to $500,000 (including a $250,000 limit for cash) in the very unlikely event that your brokerage firm fails and your assets go missing. It is crucial to understand what SIPC does *not* do: it does not protect you from market losses. If you buy a stock and its value goes down, that’s a normal investment risk, and you are not insured against that. SIPC is there to protect you against the failure of your broker, not the failure of your investments. It’s a fundamental layer of security that makes investing with these established firms safe.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the absolute minimum amount of money I need to start investing?

While all these platforms allow you to open an account with a $0 balance, you’ll need some money to actually buy an investment. Thanks to fractional shares, the absolute minimum you need can be as little as $1. With platforms like Fidelity or Robinhood, you can take a single dollar and buy a tiny slice of an S&P 500 ETF or a major stock. This is the central idea in our how to invest with little money guide—every dollar counts.

Q2: Are these “free” brokerage accounts really free?

For the vast majority of activities a beginner investor will undertake, yes, they are genuinely free. You can open an account, deposit money, and buy and sell US-listed stocks and ETFs without paying any commissions or account maintenance fees. Brokers make money through other, less direct means like interest on cash balances, payment for order flow, and offering premium subscription services. For a standard buy-and-hold investor, the core experience is free of charge.

Q3: What is SIPC insurance?

SIPC stands for the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. It’s a form of insurance that protects the assets in your brokerage account up to $500,000 in the rare case that your brokerage firm goes bankrupt or otherwise fails. This protection covers stocks, bonds, ETFs, and cash held in your account. It is critical to remember that it does not protect you against investment losses from a declining market. All brokers on this list are SIPC-insured.

Q4: Can I have more than one brokerage account?

Yes, absolutely. There is no limit to the number of brokerage accounts you can have. Many savvy investors maintain accounts at two or more different firms to take advantage of specific features. For example, you might use Vanguard for your long-term retirement IRA and use Fidelity or Robinhood for a taxable account where you invest in individual stocks. It’s perfectly normal and can be a smart strategy.

Your Investing Journey Starts Now

If there’s one thing we hope you take away from this guide, it’s this: the single biggest barrier to building wealth—the need for a large sum of money to start—is gone. The excuses are gone. The gatekeepers are gone. The opportunity to start building your financial future is right here, right now, and it’s more accessible than it has ever been in history.

Don’t get stuck in “analysis paralysis.” Read through the options, consider your personal style, and pick the platform that feels like the best fit for your goals. Whether it’s the all-around excellence of Fidelity, the research power of Schwab, or the simplicity of Robinhood, the most important step is simply to get started. Click through to their site, open an account, and deposit your first $10, $25, or $100. The best time to start investing was yesterday. The second best time is today.