The information in the table below was last verified in February 2010.
| Broker | Commission | Minimum balance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| OptionsHouse | $2.95 | none ($1,000 to open) |
Focuses on options trading, but has particularly cheap stock trades as well. |
| Zecco | $4.50 | none | Ten free trades per month with $25,000 balance. |
| TradeKing | $4.95 | none | |
| Scottrade | $7.00 | none ($500 to open) |
Have numerous brick-and-mortar offices. |
| Fidelity | $7.95 | $2,500 | Purchasing Fidelity mutual funds is commission-free. Retirement accounts and accounts of immediate family members can be counted together for calculating commission tier. |
| Charles Schwab | $8.95 | $1,000 | |
| TD Ameritrade | $9.99 | none | |
| E*Trade | $9.99 | $2,000 | |
| Banc of America | $14.00 | $50,000 | Information quoted for the Standard Self-Directed Investing account. Can get lower commissions (down to $0), or have a lower fee-free balance, if other conditions are met (e.g. with a Bank of America checking account). |
| OptionsXpress | $14.95 | none | Focus on options trading, though they also permit the usual range of trading (including stocks). |