The Brokerages
The most popular retail brokers in the US, UK, and Europe — linked straight to their official sites, described without the sales pitch. Where people actually keep their money.
Independent editorial list, ordered loosely by popularity — not a ranking, not a recommendation, and absolutely not financial advice. We have no affiliate, referral, or commercial relationship with any broker below as of today; if that ever changes, this page will say so clearly. All trademarks belong to their owners.
United States
The heavyweights of American retail investing.
The responsible-adult default — full-service investing with research for days, and consistently top of the retail surveys.
The everything-broker. Absorbed TD Ameritrade — and its beloved thinkorswim platform — whole.
The app that made trading feel effortless — for better and occasionally for worse.
The power user's broker: global markets, professional tools, minimal hand-holding. Also huge outside the US.
The veteran that taught the internet to trade, now living under Morgan Stanley's roof.
Charts-first mobile trading for people who outgrew the starter apps.
The buy-and-hold temple. Index funds, long horizons, zero adrenaline by design.
Social-flavored investing with a long-term lean and a calm feed.
United Kingdom
ISAs, SIPPs, and the platforms that hold them.
The UK's biggest platform — millions of customers, every fund under the sun, ISAs and SIPPs included.
The commission-free favourite that made the UK app store its home.
The steady DIY platform for ISA-and-pension people who like things sensible.
Flat-fee investing that starts making real sense once your portfolio gets serious.
The friendly UK starter broker — commission-free with a famously simple app.
The veteran trading house — deep tools, global markets, and serious education resources.
Europe & Global
For portfolios with passports.
The copy-trading pioneer turned global multi-asset platform, available in most of the world.
The Dutch low-cost workhorse of European stock investing.
Germany's savings-plan darling — automatic investing from your phone.
The European broker with a trading-floor heart and a widely-praised platform.
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