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The stock market is one of the best places to put your money to work for you for the long run. To invest in a diversified stock and bond portfolio, you will need a brokerage or retirement investment account. There are many different brokers out there with a range of products, services, and fees. Some also offer competitive bonuses and rewards to attract new clients.
We've researched the industry to find the best broker bonuses and help you choose the right one for you. Bonuses may change without notice, so check back here frequently for the latest rewards and promotions.
Broker/Advisor | Best For | Commissions | Learn More | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Best For:
Intro bonus for deposits of as little as $25⁷ |
Commission:
$0 for stocks,¹ $0 for options contracts⁴ |
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing
On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website. |
2025 Award Winner
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Best For:
1% IRA match |
Commission:
$0 for stocks, ETFs, and options; up to $5 monthly for Robinhood Gold |
|
2025 Award Winner
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Best For:
Intro bonus for deposits of $1,000 and above |
Commission:
Commission-free; other fees apply |
Learn More for E*TRADE
On E*TRADE's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Best For:
Intro bonus even for smaller deposits |
Commission:
$0 for stocks, $1 per option contract (opening trades only), $0 per crypto purchase and sale |
Learn More for Tastytrade
On Tastytrade's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Best For:
Intro bonus for deposits of $5,000 and above |
Commission:
$0 per trade |
Learn More for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Best For:
Intro bonus for deposits of $5,000 and above |
Commission:
$0 stock trades |
Learn More for TradeStation
On TradeStation's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 3.5 out of 5 stars.
3.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 3.5 out of 5 stars.
3.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Best For:
Free stocks for deposits of $100 and above |
Commission:
$0 for stocks, ETFs, and options |
Learn More for Moomoo
On Moomoo's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Best For:
Up to $1,000 in referral bonus |
Commission:
$0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares. |
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Best For:
Intro bonus for deposits of $20,000 and above |
Commission:
$0 for online stock and ETF trades |
There's no single best broker bonus out there. However, here are the top broker bonuses for different investment sizes.
To qualify for the best brokerage sign-up bonuses, you'll usually need to be a new customer and make a minimum deposit. But bonuses aren't the only factor to consider when choosing a stock broker. Check out our guide for how to choose the right brokerage firm to learn more about finding an investment account that suits your needs.
SoFi has built a robust and valuable ecosystem to help manage your money in one place. SoFi Invest® enhances that ecosystem with $0 stock commissions¹ and low account minimums.
$0 for stocks,¹ $0 for options contracts⁴
$0
Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new Active Invest account.⁷
On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.
The SoFi Invest® bonus might appeal to anyone with a small amount to invest, as you only need $25 to take part. It works along the same lines as an arcade claw machine, though all customers will win something. New customers can participate in an electronic lucky dip to win one of the following offers:
You then convert the prize into fractional shares of your choice.
If you're considering moving your retirement money to a new brokerage, SoFi Invest® has another interesting welcome bonus. When you move funds into SoFi Invest® Active retirement accounts (Traditional, Roth, or SEP IRA), you can earn a 1% match.⁸
SoFi Invest® stands out for its top-notch mobile app, commission-free stock and options trading, and low account minimum.
Check out our SoFi Invest® promotions page for more.
Robinhood continues to lead the way in making investing more accessible. Plus, the investing pioneer's IRA match stands out, especially if you use Robinhood Gold.
$0 for stocks, ETFs, and options; up to $5 monthly for Robinhood Gold
$0
Robinhood will give new customers between $5 and $200 to spend on their first stock or fractional share when they link a bank account or debit card. Around 99% of people will receive $5, 0.9% will receive $10, and 0.1% will receive the maximum of $200. You'll be able to choose from a list of 26 top stocks and you'll have 60 days to claim your reward.
It's also worth considering Robinhood's IRA match. Especially as many of the offers on this page don't apply to retirement accounts. If you transfer an IRA to Robinhood, you'll get 1% back on the amount you move.
Check out our Robinhood promotions page for more.
E*TRADE has something for everyone with its mix of trading platforms. In terms of sign-up bonuses, the broker rewards both new and existing customers who are ready to deposit funds or securities.
Commission-free; other fees apply
$0
Open and fund and get up to $1,000
On E*TRADE's Secure Website.
The popular low-cost broker E*TRADE has two offers -- one for new customers and another for existing ones who open a new account. Both offers are valid until Jan. 31, 2025.
If you're new to E*TRADE and use the promo code OFFER24 when you open one of its non-retirement brokerage accounts, you could qualify. You need to deposit money or securities within 60 days of account opening.
If you already have an E*TRADE account and open a new one, you need to deposit at least $1,000 in funds and securities across your accounts to qualify. You can earn between $50 and $800 in bonuses, depending on how much you deposit and where you put the money.
Check out our E*TRADE promotions page for more.
A solid pick for options and futures investors wanting both a high-quality trading platform and cheap commissions under one roof. What's more, Tastytrade's mobile app simplifies on-the-go options trading.
$0 for stocks, $1 per option contract (opening trades only), $0 per crypto purchase and sale
$0
On Tastytrade's Secure Website.
Tastytrade, the trading platform that stands out for its options trading, is offering new customers as much as $5,000 when they sign up. To qualify, you'll need to deposit at least $2,000 in cash or by account transfer and enter MYNEWBONUS in the referral code field when you open an account. You won't be able to withdraw your funds for a year if you want that tasty bonus. The offer is valid until Dec. 31, 2024.
You'll need to open a new J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account from the offer launch page. Next, deposit money, transfer securities, or roll over assets within 45 days, and keep them there for at least 90 days to qualify for this bonus offer. Offer expires Jan. 23, 2025. The bonus amount depends on how much you deposit:
The offer does not apply to J.P Morgan's robo-advisor account. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers commission-free stock, mutual fund, and ETF trading.
Check out our J.P. Morgan Investing promotions page for more.
This low-cost platform has low commissions on a wide mix of investment options. Plus, if you're looking for a new brokerage, it offers competitive bonuses for many types of investors.
$0 stock trades
$0
New accounts with qualifying assets earn $50 to $5,000 using code FOOLAFYJ
On TradeStation's Secure Website.
If you open a non-retirement account with TradeStation and deposit more than $5,000 in cash or securities within 45 days, you could qualify for a welcome bonus. You'll need to use the promo code TSTVAGFD and leave the assets with TradeStation for 270 days, after which your reward will be deposited into your account.
Check out our TradeStation promotions page for more.
Moomoo offers an impressive suite of tools for professional-grade active investing and day trading. But this brokerage also keeps its fees low, with no commissions and low rates on margin loans. If this sounds good to you, open an account today to take advantage of its new client promotions.
$0 for stocks, ETFs, and options
$0
On Moomoo's Secure Website.
Moomoo has a three-pronged welcome offer for new customers that runs until March 31, 2025. It will pay a special APY of 8.10% on uninvested cash for three months after account opening. That's its cash sweep base rate APY of 4.35%, plus a three month extra boost of 3.75%.
On top of this, new clients who deposit at least $100 can win free stocks worth between $2 and $2,000 each. Make a qualifying deposit and maintain a balance of $100 or more for 60 days to win five free stocks, or $1,000 for 10 free stocks (15 in total).
Finally, transfers of stocks and options worth up to $20,000 from certain brokerages are eligible for a 1.5% match. Read the fine print to make sure your transfer will qualify.
Charles Schwab pioneered the low-cost brokerage model decades ago, and that legacy continues with its mix of no-commission-fee offerings. The robust lineup of account types and investment vehicles and the high-quality app round out the stacked feature set.
$0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.
$0
There are two ways to earn welcome rewards with Charles Schwab right now.
Referred friends and family of Charles Schwab clients can earn a Bonus Award for becoming a new Charles Schwab client and making a qualifying net deposit. There's a limit of one cash bonus per account and only one account per client with the referral. New investors using the referral offer can receive up to $1,000 in bonus cash as long as they meet the tiered deposit requirements.
Referrals aren't the only way you can earn a welcome bonus with Schwab. The Schwab Starter Kit™ will give new investors $101 to buy five fractional shares as well as access to its introductory investing videos. To qualify, you need to deposit at least $50 within 30 days of opening a new taxable retail brokerage account.
Check out our Charles Schwab promotions page for more.
Merrill Edge® Self-Directed is a standout brokerage with $0 online stock and ETF trades, strong research offerings, and excellent customer support. Owned by Bank of America, you can also get access to its fantastic Preferred Rewards program.
$0 for online stock and ETF trades
$0
Use the offer code 600ME to receive an introductory bonus when you open a Merrill Edge® Self-Directed account with at least $20,000. You'll need to deposit qualifying assets within 45 days of account opening and keep them there for at least 90 days to qualify.
Merrill Edge® Self-Directed has all the features you'd expect from a top broker and is a particularly great option for Bank of America customers.
Check out our Merrill Edge promotions page for more.
Investors usually need to make a minimum qualifying deposit and keep their funds in the account for a specific period to qualify.
When picking the best broker promotions, first figure out the minimum requirements to qualify for the bonus. For example, many cash bonuses require you to make a minimum deposit, which can be both cash and securities, and to hold those funds in an account for a set period of time.
Another factor to consider is whether it is a stock bonus or a cash bonus. Some brokerages offer free stocks to new customers who deposit a certain amount. However, many of these stocks are chosen at random, and there's only a small chance you'll get a high-value stock.
Don't open a brokerage account purely because of the sign-up bonus. Look for an account that will suit your investment needs and won't charge you a fortune along the way. A bonus can be a nice boost to your investments, but it's more important to find a brokerage with the account types, products, and tools you want to use.
You can use a cash bonus to purchase stocks, bonds, or funds, or keep it as cash as part of a diversified portfolio. Just be aware that if you want to transfer the bonus out of your account, there may be a minimum holding period. Otherwise, you could lose the bonus.
If you got a stock bonus, you may hold or sell awarded stocks once they're credited to your account. The value from the sale of the stock can be withdrawn or used to buy other eligible securities.
TIP
Before you sell any bonus stock, think about what you'll pay. For example, if there is a $4.99 trading commission and the stock you received is worth $3, then it would not be worth liquidating the stock.
If you can sell a stock with no commission, analyze the stock to see if it is right for your investment portfolio, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Research to see if the stock is for a growing company with the potential to appreciate in value over time. If not, then it may be worth selling and purchasing other securities that better fit your financial goals.
Yes, as long as the minimum requirements are met, you can open accounts at more than one brokerage to get multiple bonuses. Keep in mind that the funds must be left in the account for a specific period or the bonus may be revoked.
In addition, some brokerages have account closing fees that may be more than the bonus is worth.
If you're just getting started with investing, check out our list of the best online stock brokers for beginners to learn more about your options.
At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.
See our full methodology here: Ratings Methodology
Not all brokers offer sign-up bonuses. Those that do often only offer them for limited promotional time periods, and may only offer them on specific accounts. Bonuses are not that common in the brokerage world, but may be a way you can get extra cash to put toward your wealth-building goals.
The best brokerage bonus depends a lot on the amount you have to invest and what kind of account you are looking for. Don't only look for the best bonus -- think about which brokerage will meet your needs longer term.
Brokerages we evaluated for consideration on this page: Acorns, Ally Invest, Axos Self-Directed Trading, Betterment, Cash App Investing, Charles Schwab, Delphia, Domain Money, Ellevest, Empower, eToro Brokerage, E*TRADE Core Portfolios, E*TRADE, Fidelity, Fidelity Cash Management, Fidelity Go®, Firstrade, FOREX.com, Interactive Brokers, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing, M1 Finance, Magnifi, Marcus Invest, Merrill Edge® Self-Directed, Moomoo, NinjaTrader, Personal Capital, Plynk, Prosperi Academy, Public, Robinhood, Rocket Dollar, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios, SoFi Active Investing, SoFi Robo Investing, Stash, Stockpile, Tastytrade, Titan, Tornado App, TradeStation, Tradier, Vanguard, Vanguard Digital Advisor®, Wealthfront, Webull, Zacks Trade.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
SoFi Disclosure:
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org).
Robinhood disclosure
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.
Securities are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cryptocurrency services are offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected. For more information see the Robinhood Crypto Risk Disclosure.
Trades of stocks, ETFs and options are commission-free at Robinhood Financial LLC. Other fees may apply. Please see Robinhood Financial’s Fee Schedule to learn more.
Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Robinhood and are not transferable. Not all securities available through Robinhood are eligible for fractional share orders. For a complete explanation of conditions, restrictions and limitations associated with fractional shares, see the Fractional Shares section of our Customer Agreement.
Robinhood Gold is an account offering premium services available for a $5 monthly fee. Not all investors will be eligible to trade on Margin. Margin investing involves the risk of greater investment losses. Additional interest charges may apply depending on the amount of margin used. Bigger Instant Deposits are only available if your Instant Deposits status is in good standing.
Investing is risky. Bonus offers subject to terms and conditions, visit robinhood.com/hoodweek for more information. Margin is not suitable for all investors. Robinhood Gold is offered through Robinhood Gold LLC and is a subscription offering services for a fee. Brokerage services offered through Robinhood Financial LLC (member SIPC), a registered broker dealer.
E*TRADE services are available just to U.S. residents.
tastytrade, Inc. (“tastytrade”) has entered into a Marketing Agreement with The Motley Fool (“Marketing Agent”) whereby tastytrade pays compensation to Marketing Agent to recommend tastytrade’s brokerage services. The existence of this Marketing Agreement should not be deemed as an endorsement or recommendation of Marketing Agent by tastytrade and/or any of its affiliated companies. Neither tastytrade nor any of its affiliated companies is responsible for the privacy practices of Marketing Agent or this website. tastytrade does not warrant the accuracy or content of the products or services offered by Marketing Agent or this website. Marketing Agent is independent and is not an affiliate of tastytrade.
tastytrade was previously known as tastyworks, Inc.
J.P Morgan Disclosure
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE