The Bullish Bears break down stock trading companies into brokers, tools, or services. We share a list of the top companies, with reviews on tools, scanners, journaling, trading apps, platforms, zero commission brokers, and brokers for trading or investing. Our list includes some of the best ones and gives breakdowns of the positives and negatives of each. Just click any of the links to read our reviews.
Chart by TradingView.
List of Stock Trading Companies
- TradeStation – best overall broker for trading
- TD Ameritrade – best broker for beginner traders and charting
- Interactive Brokers – best broker for international trading
- LightSpeed – best day trading broker
- CMEG – best offshore broker
- Tradovate – best small broker for futures trading
- TastyWorks – best broker for options trading
- e-Trade – best broker for ease of use
- Fidelity – best broker for investing
Please do your research before choosing any brokers, services, or tools. The ratings above are our opinions and do not constitute a recommendation to go with any of these companies.
What Does a Stock Trading Company Do?
Online stock trading companies are financial institutions coordinating securities buying and selling. They are also known as brokerage firms. They allow investors to trade securities on major stock exchanges. They offer different types of products and services, including:
Brokers: Facilitate the buying and selling of securities with the ability to receive real-time market data and chart analysis tools.
Advisors: Many stock trading companies have financial advisors or services that can advise investors on their financial portfolios.
Analysis and research: Many stock trading firms also offer research and analysis services to help investors stay updated about their investments and make informed decisions about their financial portfolios.
Custodial services: Some stock trading companies offer custodial services, which involve safeguarding and holding securities on behalf of their clients.
Clearing and settlement services: These companies handle the clearing and settlement of trades, verifying the details and transferring ownership from the seller to the buyer.
Some of the most popular stock trading companies include Charles Schwab, Fidelity, E*TRADE, and TD Ameritrade.
Stock trading companies consist of online brokers, trading services, trading apps, trading tools, and stock scanners. Trading involves the buying and selling of securities via major stock exchanges. These companies provide traders with the services and tools necessary to facilitate trading activities. Online brokers are the platforms that you use to place your trades. Trading services teach you how to trade or offer tools to assist with trading.
Choosing the Right Broker
Brokers are one of the most important aspects of becoming a good trader. Yes, support and resistance and patterns are essential but the best brokerage firms allow you to put your training into action. Just think about it.
If you hated your broker or it was cumbersome and not easy to use, you’re probably going the be less successful than you would be with having access to the best brokerage firms.
We decided to take a look at the brokers out there and talk to you a bit about the top brokerage firms. Not just the best brokers for day trading but for swing trading as well. You can take a look at the different options available to you and decide what broker meets the needs of your trading style.
There are many different trading styles and each broker has their own special niche. There’s a lot of competition among stock broker companies nowadays. We think of it as the broker wars. Brokers are fighting for your business. Between marketing, and pricing, they are going all out for your affection. Only the strong will survive, which makes it great for the consumer, which is you and us. Just think about it…the more the competition, the better the commission fees. The lower the fees, the more money that you can keep in your brokerage account. Whomever has the best fills, and technology also plays a major roll. Winning!
The name of the game with trading is to grow your brokerage account. Buy low and sell high, and keep your profits. The less that you pay in commission fees, the more money in your pockets. That simple!
There is a long list of brokerages available to US traders but which one is the right one for you?
Specifically, we can assume that most new traders will be opening relatively small accounts.
There’s no shame in it, everyone has to start somewhere!
No matter what your style of trading or investing is, the ultimate goal for everyone is to grow their personal wealth. With that being said, some brokerages are definitely better for new traders than others.
Here’s what every new trader should be looking for in a prospective brokerage!
Ease of Use
This is the most important thing, isn’t it? With any brokerage, you’ll want to make sure that the trading process is smooth and intuitive. The last thing you want is to be confused or worse, make a mistake, and miss out on a good trade.
The best brokers for small accounts have the simplest layouts: buy or sell, number of shares, market, or limit price. That’s all you really need when you’re first starting out as a trader.
How can you ensure that a brokerage is easy to use? Do some research. There are usually YouTube videos on how to use a specific brokerage system. Most brokerages also offer a tutorial or demonstration of how to use the platform.
I highly recommend educating yourself before jumping into trading with your real money. Furthermore, if you are brand new to trading, you might also want to start with a paper account.
Approval For Margin and Options
You might be wondering why this is a good thing when looking for the best brokers for small accounts. To be honest, if you’re just starting out in the stock market you don’t need easy access to margin or options.
If you don’t know what you are doing, this is a fast way to liquidate your account in a hurry! Most brokerages need to approve your access to options trading, but some are willing to give this access out to any new traders.
Margin trading is another feature that has really been glorified by sites like the WallStreetBets subreddit. For most traders, margin accounts are used for advanced trading strategies and only when you know what you’re doing. New traders are better off sticking to a normal brokerage account and learning the ropes.
Free Online Trading Brokers
There are a lot of different free trading brokers and online brokers in the industry. Some companies are better than others depending on whether you’re going to trade stocks, options, or futures. Fees have become much more affordable due to all of the competition between companies in the industry.
Commission fees play a part in why we may choose the broker that we do. As a result free trading brokers have become quite popular.
In the US, most of the best brokers for small accounts have implemented zero commission trading fees.
While this is the case, always make sure you read the fine print. Some brokerages have no fees on buying but they do when selling.
Others will charge fees if you don’t hit a certain number of trades per month.
Before you sign up for a new account, make sure you completely understand the fee system involved.
Be especially aware of paying for a premium account with a brokerage. If you are signing up for a specific brokerage for certain perks, make sure you don’t have to have a premium membership to use those perks. You could be in for a surprise monthly or annual fee that you weren’t expecting!
Trading Service
A trading service is a platform or service offered by an institution or brokerage firm that allows investors to buy and sell securities. These services typically include an online trading platform, which allows investors to place orders to buy or sell securities online. Many services also offer various tools and resources to help investors make informed decisions about their investments, including real-time market data and chart analysis tools, financial advisors, research and analysis services, and custodial services.
They are typically offered by brokerage firms, which are financial institutions that specialize in coordinating the buying and selling of stocks and other securities. These companies typically charge a fee for their services. Many brokerage firms offer several different account types, including individual accounts, joint accounts, and retirement accounts. They also offer different trading platforms and tools to meet investors’ needs.
Trading Company, Service, or Community?
Stock trading services fall under the overall umbrella of trading companies. Several types of services fall under this umbrella, ones that brokerage firms or financial institutions don’t run. These services are more dedicated to helping the trader on a more personal level with their trading skills. Since major brokerage firms need more time or staff to help individual traders on a dedicated level, these types of services can be helpful to traders. These companies could be run by individuals or a team of people and can be service-based, education-focused, or a combination of both.
They offer services such as courses, trade rooms, live streaming, watch lists, and stock signals. These services can help guide and teach people how to apply their trading style in the real world. These companies are usually membership fee-based. Companies that offer these types of services are not created equal. Sadly, many of them do not have their member’s best interests at heart and can be scams. If you want to join a company that offers these types of services, then do a Google search and read their reviews.
The Bullish Bears are an educational trading community and service that offers members trading courses, trade rooms, custom-built Discord, and alert signals via Discord tools and scanners. The main focus in our community is on education. We are a company that focuses on teaching you the skills how to become an independent trader. Read Bullish Bears reviews.
Educational Trading Companies
Trading education companies provide resources and training to help traders learn about financial markets and how to trade effectively. They offer a range of services and products, such as:
Courses and classes: These are structured educational programs that cover various topics, such as charting, trading strategies, managing risk, and the psychology of trading. Courses and classes may be done online or in person.
Personal coaching and mentoring: Some companies offer one-on-one coaching or mentoring where traders can learn from experienced traders or coaches to develop their trading skills.
Books and other materials: Many companies also offer ebooks, books, and other materials to help traders learn more about their trading style and the markets in general.
The Bullish Bear’s main focus is on education in our community. We have courses and a lot of resources to help guide you as a trader, but it’s up to you to put in the work and invest in yourself. Trading is risky and hard, so the more time you invest into learning, the better chance you’ll have to succeed. It’s solely up to you when making trading decisions.
Tools
Trading tools are platforms or software traders use to analyze and make trading decisions. They can identify trading setups, manage risk, and execute your trades. Some examples include:
Charting software: These companies allow traders to view price data for different financial securities and use technical analysis to identify candlesticks and trends.
Trading platforms allow traders to place trades and manage their portfolios. Many offer charting tools, technical analysis tools, and other features such as stock news and trade alerts.
Research and news: These trading companies provide traders with financial research, news, and other data to help make informed trading decisions.
Some of our favorite tools are TradingView, Trade Ideas, and Benzinga. They are well-known, reputable companies in the industry. It’s important to never rely on any tools to make trading decisions. Use them to guide you but not as a crutch.
Journaling Companies
Trading journaling companies provide platforms or software allowing traders to analyze and track their trades. They can help traders track their trade history, identify winning and losing strategies, and improve their overall trading performance.
Trading journals often include features such as:
Tracking trades: These companies allow traders to view historical trades, including profit and loss levels. This is one of the primary reasons that traders use these companies.
Analyzing performance: The companies often include tools for analyzing trade histories, such as profit and loss charts and metrics for risk management.
Planning: Some companies allow traders to create a trading plan and track their progress.
Analysis: Many companies also allow traders to add detailed notes about their trades, along with adding analysis to help them increase their trading performance.
The Bullish Bears are big fans of tracking your trades and progress. Seeing your historical wins and losses is an invaluable tool to help you grow as a trader. Automated tools are a very convenient way to save time for tracking trades yourself. If you’re new or on a budget, you don’t need to use a paid journaling tool. You can easily create an excel or word document. It will take you a bit more time to track your traders. However, it can also help you to slow down before jumping into another trade.
Stock Scanner Companies
Stock scanner companies allow traders to scan for trade setups based on certain criteria. They often identify potential trades or scan for stocks using criteria, price, volume, volatility, or patterns.
They can be either platforms or software that allows traders to input a variety of search criteria, such as:
Price: Users can scan for securities within a certain price range or those above or below a certain price.
Volume: Users can screen for stocks with a predetermined volume target.
Indicators: Users can search for securities that meet certain technicals, such as a moving average line, crossovers, trendline breaks, and specific patterns.
Fundamentals: Users can scan for stocks based on financial data such as earnings reports, dividends, and company revenue.
The Bullish Bears are fans of Trade Ideas, ThinkorSwim, Finviz, and Barchart for scanners. Trade Ideas is our favorite paid scanner because it allows for much customization. However, it’s expensive if you’re new and on a budget. ThinkorSwim is free and allows for much customization, but it requires a bit more knowledge to get set up. Finviz and Barchart are a bit simpler to use. We share our Trade Ideas layout and several customized ThinkorSwim scanner settings with our members.
Charting Companies
Stock charting companies allow traders to view historical price data for securities. They typically include several charting benefits, such as viewing different chart time frames (e.g., hourly, daily, monthly), applying technical indicators, and tracking the performance of different securities or indexes.
Traders can use them to spot patterns or trends and make informed trading decisions. Some examples include:
TradingView: An online platform offering a wide range of charting, technical analysis features, and other benefits such as alerts and community forums.
StockCharts: An online platform offering a range of technical analysis and charting tools, news feeds, and real-time market data.
ThinkorSwim: A platform provided by TD Ameritrade that offers charting, scanning, advanced analysis tools, news, and one of the best paper trading simulators.
The Bullish Bear’s favorite charting company overall is ThinkorSwim. They are great for charting most trading styles. Their charting platform is free if you have a brokerage account set up with them. TradingView is our favorite paid charting tool because of its ease of use and budget-friendly pricing. eSignal is our favorite top-tier charting platform if you’re looking to day trade because they allow for micro-second charts. However, they are one of the most expensive.
Stock Alert Companies
Stock alert companies offer notifications or alerts about potential trade setups or opportunities. They can be delivered in various ways, such as via text message, push notification, or email.
Alerts can be triggered by several different criteria, such as:
Price targets: Some companies offer alerts when a security reaches a certain price, either above or below a certain target.
Technical indicators: Some companies provide signals when a stock creates specific technical setups, such as ma crossovers or trendline breaks.
Fundamental data: Some companies offer alerts when a company reports earnings or when there are major changes within the company.
The Bullish Bears offers alert signals to our members via Discord tools and bots. They are advanced tools that should only be used once you know how to trade. We can’t stress enough how dangerous following alerts can be if you don’t know how to trade. Alert services should be used as a guide to practice trading or getting trade ideas, not for you to rely on as a trader. Read how our signals work here.
Stock News Companies
Stock news companies provide news and information about the market and securities in real-time or close to it. They offer a wide range of features, including:
Market news: This can include economic factors, market headlines, and anything else that could affect securities positively or negatively.
Company news: This can include specific company news, such as earnings reports, changes in management, and mergers and acquisitions.
Commentary and analysis: Many companies offer analysis from analysts and financial experts, offering perspective and insight on events and how they can affect the markets.
The Bullish Bears are fans of Benzinga for a news service. If you are new or on a budget, make sure to have a proven trading plan first before purchasing a news service.
Stock Simulator Companies
A stock simulator, or paper trading platform, allows traders to practice trading securities without using real money. They created a simulated environment that closely resembles the real market, which allows traders to practice different trading styles and get comfortable before going live.
They often allow traders to add real-time market data, which is important. Some companies offer resources, such as videos and posts, to help learn about the different trading styles.
Simulators can be a helpful tool, especially for new or looking to get comfortable with their trading strategy. It’s important to realize that paper trades aren’t real, so the results are typical with real live market action.
ThinkorSwim is hands down our favorite stock simulator, and best of all, it’s free to use if you have a TD Ameritrade account. TD Ameritrade used to allow customers to add real-time data to their paper account for free, but now they ask customers to fund an account. You should be able to open an account for $500 but contact them to confirm.
Trading App Companies
Trading app companies create software applications (apps) that allow you to place trades on the go from your phone or mobile device. They offer many of the same benefits as desktop platforms.
Trading apps can be useful for traders who need to access the markets while on the move or for those who prefer to use their mobile devices for trading. Some trading apps are standalone products, while others are mobile versions of desktop-based trading platforms.
ThinkorSwim, Robinhood, and Webull have some of the best trading apps. Please be careful when you are on an app. It can be a bit more challenging doing technical analysis, and you are relying on a cellular connection to make trades. This type of trading is better for options or swing trading.
Discord Trading Companies
A trading discord is an online community of traders focusing on strategies such as penny stocks, options, or futures. They can be an invaluable resource for traders who want to collaborate and socialize with other like-minded people who share their same interests in trading. These communities offer live streaming, chat rooms, and voice channels where members can share trade ideas, ask questions, and talk about the markets. Some discords offer additional services such as courses, alert signals, and scanners.
Discord is the most convenient way to access trade rooms because of its intuitive and user-friendly platform. Traders can access their desktop or mobile app from anywhere in the world with a button. It can take a bit of getting used to Discord, but once you learn how to use it, then it’s easier to want to go back to using an older technology.
The Bullish Bears team can’t stress enough how awesome Discord is. We spent a lot of time and resources using other live-streaming services and researching about creating our app, and we just couldn’t beat what Discord offered. Their app gives our members a user-friendly and intuitive experience in our trade rooms. With just a click of an app icon, you can chat with other traders around the world in an instant. It takes a bit of a learning curve to get used to Discord if you are new, but once you get familiar with it, you won’t want to return to traditional chat rooms’ antiquated technology. Check out the Bullish Bears trading discord.
Frequently Asked Questions
- TradeStation - best overall stock brokerage firm
- TD Ameritrade - best broker for getting started
- LightSpeed - one of the best day trading brokers
- SpeedTrader - one of the best day trading brokers
- Centerpoint Securities - best broker for short locates
- NinjaTrader - best futures broker
- CMEG Group - offshore broker with no PDT rule
- TastyWorks - a good broker for options trading
- Fidelity - good basic broker
- LightSpeed
- SpeedTrader
- TradeStation
- Centerpoint Securities
- CMEG Group
- Interactive Brokers
- CMEG
- TD Ameritrade
- Robinhood
- Webull
- TradeStation
- Robinhood - trade stocks for free - $0 US stock, ETF, options, and cryptocurrency trades
- Webull - $0 US stock, ETF, options,
- E-Trade - $0 for stocks, options, and etf's
- Ally Invest - $0 for stocks ($3.95 at discounted select pricing rate) $0.00 Commission-free ETFs
- Robinhood
- Webull
- E*Trade
- MooMoo
- Ally Invest