Best E*TRADE Alternatives for Fractional Shares
If your goal is to find an online broker offering the possibility of buying partial shares, here is the breakdown of our top four alternatives:
Interactive Brokers
Founded in 1978, IBKR is one of the world’s most trustworthy brokers worldwide. The minimum amount to invest in fractional shares is $1 for eligible US and European stocks and ETFs, regardless of the share price.
💡 Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks, Options and ETFs, ideal for novice investors.
eToro
A modern and easy-to-use broker available worldwide that offers free commissions on stocks and ETFs and the possibility of belonging to a community of investors where you can follow and replicate what they are doing. You can buy fractional shares starting at $10.
Webull
A leading US-based broker that offers commission-free stocks, ETFs, and options trading (for US-listed products). Fractional share trading is only available for specific stocks and ETFs, only supported for market orders and the minimum amount to purchase a fractional share position is $5.
Public.com
Public.com is a recent US broker that gives users the ability to invest in stocks, ETF, and crypto, commission-free. You can buy fractional shares starting at $1, but not all securities available are eligible for fractional share orders, and it only applies to market orders (it does not permit limit orders for fractional shares).
1# Interactive Brokers
Visit Interactive Brokers
IB at a glance
Known forBeing the globe's default online broker
Minimum Deposit$0
ProductsStocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Forex, Commodities, Bonds and Funds.
Supported CountriesWorldwide (exceptions apply)
Founded in 1978 and publicly listed in NASDAQ (ticker: IBKR), Interactive Brokers is a global online broker which surpassed significant financial crises, showing resilience and a rigorous risk management process.
Interactive Brokers provides several different options for traders and brokers to choose from. The platform is designed for individuals and institutions alike, boasting global access to stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds, and funds from 150 markets. Interactive Brokers makes them all accessible from one streamlined and centralized platform. Their cutting-edge technology ensures more efficient trading speed and performs a more sophisticated portfolio analysis.
Of course, we would be remiss if we failed to mention that users can invest infractional shareswith Interactive Brokers. The company believes that traders should invest in the shares they want to diversify and build upon their portfolios regardless of price. The minimum investment for a fractional share is only $1 for US stocks listed on NYSE, AMEX, NASDAQ, ARCA, BATS, and some OTC Pink US penny stocks. The same applies toEuropean stocks and ETFs, regardless of the share price, listed on select exchanges, with average daily volume above $5 million and market cap above $5 billion.
As an aside, Interactive Brokers owns IBKR Global Trader, a mobile app geared toward newcomers to the investment industry that allows stock, options, and ETF trading. This product offers automatic currency conversions, fractional shares, and a demo version.
E*TRADE fractional shares Alternatives – IBKR GlobalTrader
Although a global enterprise, the platform is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, and is a member of FINRA and SIPC. It’s regulated by the US SEC and other agencies around the world.
Want to know more about Interactive Brokers? Check our Interactive Brokers Review.
Interactive Brokers Pros and Cons
- An expansive asset class offering, including fractional shares
- Sophisticated platform with a user-friendly interface
- One of the largest and most reputable brokers worldwide
- Very reasonable fees and low margin rates
- Crypto is only available for US customers
- Limited crypto selection
- Complex fee structure
2# eToro
Visit eToro
81% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
eToro at a glance
Known forSocial investing, CFDs, commission-free trading
Minimum Deposit$10 (it varies between regions)
ProductsCFDs, ETFs, Stocks, Commodities, Forex, and Cryptocurrencies
Supported CountriesWorldwide. Exceptions include Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Russia.
As the world’s leading “social investing” platform, eToro offers fractional share trading. In addition, they provide a fantastic resource explaining the benefits of fractional shares on their platform. Yet further below, we’ve done the work for you of highlighting the key pros and cons of fractional shares.
To buy or sell fractional shares on eToro, follow the same steps you naturally would for whole shares. Instead of specifying the number of shares you wish to transact with, select the option for determining the exact currency amount to trade.
Social investing refers to copying the trades of retail or professional investors. While the platform provides a fantastic learning database with instructional videos and a full-length blog, it prides itself on springboarding your practical learning.
eToro also provides a wide selection for CFD (“Contract for Difference”) trading. These enable you to gain exposure to an underlying asset’s movements without owning it. This is a risky strategy with most traders losing money, so make sure you know the risks involved. Check out our detailed guide on CFDs vs real shares trading.
eToro remains a solid platform for the most popular asset classes alongside thorough investor education and social investing. The one-stop-shop approach works for new traders and veterans alike.
E*TRADE fractional shares Alternatives – eToro
The platform is a member of FINRA and SIPC, and is regulated by the US SEC. Its international equivalents, based in the UK, EU, Australia, or Seychelles, are also regulated.
If you want to learn more, check oureToro Review.
eToro Pros and Cons
- Commission-free stock and ETFs trading (not all ETFs are commission-free)
- Slick, modern, and easy for anyone to use
- Quick and smooth account opening
- Offers a demo version
- Covers most popular asset classes, including cryptos, alongside fractional shares
- World-leading with social investing
- Fees for withdrawal and inactivity
- Spread, overnight, inactivity, and currency conversion fees higher than average
- Only one currency account (USD)
- Certain trading spreads can be high
- Options trading is not offered
3# Webull
Visit Webull
Webull at a glance
Known forFractional shares, IRAs, commission-free trading
Minimum Deposit$0
ProductsStocks, ETFs, Options, and Cryptocurrencies (only US markets).
Supported CountriesUS
Webull provides high-tech financial solutions for traders and the investment industry. A relatively new online brokerage, Webull was founded just a few years ago in 2017.
Fractional share trading is only available for specific stocks and ETFs – You will notice the “F” logo displayed on the detail page of each asset, indicating if a particular security is supported for fractional trading. Besides, the fractional share trading only supports market orders, there is a $5 minimum when purchasing a fractional share position, and the number of shares must be greater than 0.00001. You can check all this information the Webull’sguide for fractional shares.
Moreover, if you’re looking for a place to get up and running quickly with liquid investments, including margin accounts and options, Webull does its job well. American investors appreciate the inclusion of IRAs and Roth IRAs.
Webull has 0% commissions on trading activities in all its product offerings. The revenue streams come from stock loans, interest on free credit balances, margin interest and payment for order flow.
Webull Pros and Cons
- No commission fees
- No deposit minimum
- Fractional cryptocurrency trading in multiple cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Dogecoin, etc.)
- Advanced trading tools for users
- Stocks + options + fractional shares
- No mutual funds
- Weak customer support
E*TRADE fractional shares Alternatives – Webull
If you are looking for complex products (forex, futures, or others), Webull may not be the right investment platform. It supports several features such as Extended Hours Trading (you can trade in pre and after-hours sessions), a PC version for more advanced customisations (plus mobile and web versions), and customer support 24/7. Essentially, you will find the basics for investing.
Webull is registered with and regulated by the US SEC and FINRA. It’s also a member of the SIPC.
4# Public.com
Visit Public
Public at a glance
Fractional Shares
Minimum Deposit$0
ProductsStocks, ETFs, and Cryptocurrencies (only US markets).
Supported CountriesUS
Public.com gives users the ability to invest in stocks, ETF, and crypto, commission-free. The platform also offers a variety of educational tools for those who are new to or open to exploring more about, the stock market, investing, and beyond.
The platform offers fractional shares for a minimum market order of $1. Keep in mind that not all securities available are eligible for fractional share orders. For more details, please consult Public.com fractional shares disclosure.
The online broker is used by a community of over 3 million members and prioritizes its members’ best interests by veering away from selling their trades to market makers or taking money from Payment for Order Flow (PFOF).
Finally, Public.com enables fractional share investing for users, so they can invest in the companies they want while still minding their budget and risk tolerance.
E*TRADE fractional shares Alternatives – Public.com
Public.com Pros and Cons
- Fractional shares
- Offers educational tools
- No payment for order flow
- Commission-free
- No minimum deposit
- Strong and intuitive UI
- Limited product portfolio – only stocks, ETFs, and crypto
- Only available to US investors
- Traditional, taxable account types are the only options