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Best Brokers for Fractional Share Investing for December 2024

Review Updated
Matt Frankel, CFP®
Author: Matt Frankel, CFP®
Matt Frankel, CFP®
Matt Frankel, CFP®
Writer, Analyst

Matt is a Certified Financial Planner™ and investment advisor based in Columbia, South Carolina. He writes personal finance and investment advice for Motley Fool Money and its parent company The Motley Fool, with more than 4,500 published articles and a 2017 SABEW Best in Business award. Matt writes a weekly investment column for the Motley Fool ("Ask a Fool") that is syndicated in USA Today, and his work with Motley Fool Money has also been syndicated to MSN and Yahoo! Finance. He has been regularly featured on Fox Business and many other major outlets. He’s a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Nova Southeastern University, and holds a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University.

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| 2 others [ + ]
Cole Tretheway
Reviewer: Cole Tretheway
Cole Tretheway
Cole Tretheway

Cole Tretheway is a full-time personal finance writer whose articles have been featured on Motley Fool Money and The Motley Fool. He has a degree in English with a Certificate in Professional and Technical Communication from California Polytechnic University, SLO.

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Ashley Maready
Fact Checked: Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready
Ashley Maready
Writer and Editor

Ashley Maready is a former history museum professional who made the leap to digital content writing and editing in 2021. She has a BA in History and Philosophy from Hood College and an MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University. Ashley loves creating content for the public and learning new things so she can teach others, whether it's information about salt mining, canal mules, or personal finance.

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Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

Fractional share brokers let you buy expensive stocks for cheap. It's simple. Instead of "buy one share of Company A," you click "buy $5 of Company A." This way, you can buy pieces of big companies like Apple for as little as $1.

It's perfect when you don't have lots of money to invest. Or when you want to invest evenly across stocks (e.g. $50 per stock), regardless of how much a whole share costs. Not all brokers let you do this. But the best brokers for fractional share investing do, including the ones below.

  • Our team of experts assessed 45+ trading platforms
  • We evaluate all brokerage accounts across the same 4 key criteria: user experience, cost efficiency, product variety, and support and security
  • Our brokerage ratings are never influenced by our advertising partners
  • We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased

There are a lot of options to compare out there. If you're looking for a place to start, here are a few fractional share brokers our experts recommend and why they like them:

Our 6 Best Brokers for Fractional Share Investing

Broker/Advisor Best For Commissions Learn More
Award Icon 2025 Award Winner
Public Offer Image
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
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Best For:

Fractional bonds

 Commission:

$0 commissions, 1%-2% crypto markups
Learn More for Public

On Public's Secure Website.

SoFi Active Investing Offer Image
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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= Excellent
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Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
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= Poor
Best For:

Everything finance app

 Commission:

$0 for stocks,¹ $0 for options contracts⁴
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing

On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.

Award Icon 2025 Award Winner
Robinhood Offer Image
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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= Excellent
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Best For:

Free and modern app

 Commission:

$0 for stocks, ETFs, and options; up to $5 monthly for Robinhood Gold
Read Review
Fidelity Offer Image
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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= Excellent
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Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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.
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= Excellent
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Best For:

Reliable brand

 Commission:

$0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.
Read Review
Charles Schwab Offer Image
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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 Circle with letter I in it. 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
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Best For:

Depth and choices

 Commission:

$0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.
Read Review
Cash App Investing Offer Image
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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 Circle with letter I in it. 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
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Best For:

Easy-to-use app

 Commission:

$0 for stocks, fees vary for Bitcoin
Read Review

Reviews of the best brokers for fractional share investing

For fractional bonds: Public

Public
Learn More for Public

On Public's Secure Website.

Ratings Methodology
Award Icon 2025 Award Winner
Public

Public

Learn More

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Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Bottom Line

Trade fractional shares of stocks and bonds. With zero fees for many trades, Public is a uniquely low-cost broker. You can invest in a surprising range of assets, including ETFs, options, crypto, and royalties.

Fees:

$0 commissions, 1%-2% crypto markups

Account Minimum:

$1

Learn More for Public

On Public's Secure Website.

Pros

  • Fractional bonds
  • Alternative investments
  • Free educational content

Cons

  • Only offers taxable brokerage accounts
  • Fees for crypto, bonds, and alternative assets

Why Public made the list: Public gives fractional stock traders a place to invest in fractional stocks and bonds, an uncommon perk. Plus, you can invest in several alternative asset classes, including cryptocurrencies, music royalties, and more. With a $1 account minimum and a top-rated app, Public could be worth a closer look.

Read our full Public review

For everything finance app: SoFi

SoFi Active Investing
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing

On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.

Ratings Methodology
SoFi Active Investing

SoFi Active Investing

Learn More

Double arrow

Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Bottom Line

Buy SoFi Stock Bits with as little as $5 on SoFi Invest, the all-in-one banking and investing platform.³ Trades are commission free,¹ giving you easy access to popular stocks and ETFs.

Fees:

$0 for stocks,¹ $0 for options contracts⁴

Account Minimum:

$0

Learn More for SoFi Active Investing

On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.

Pros

  • Many investment types
  • Investing, banking, and lending
  • Zero commissions on stocks, options, and mutual funds

Cons

  • Lacks advanced trading features
  • Limited account types
  • $5 minimum per share

Why SoFi made the list: SoFi gives fractional share investors an all-in-one personal finance app: investing, banking, and lending.

SoFi offers bank accounts, loans, and an easy-to-use investment platform that lets you quickly and easily trade fractional shares of stock.³ (More than 4,000 stocks and ETFs can be traded fractionally.) In addition to stocks and options, SoFi offers access to stock IPOs, mutual funds, and alternative investments.

Read our full SoFi Active Investing review

For free and modern app: Robinhood

Ratings Methodology
Award Icon 2025 Award Winner
Robinhood

Robinhood

Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Bottom Line

Buy fractional shares of hundreds of companies for no fees with as little as $1. Free commissions and a modern interface make Robinhood a top pick among strong competitors.

Fees:

$0 for stocks, ETFs, and options; up to $5 monthly for Robinhood Gold

Account Minimum:

$0

Read Review

Pros

  • Beautiful interface
  • Zero commissions
  • Deposit matching

Cons

  • Lacks bonds or mutual funds
  • Lacks free stock research

Why Robinhood made the list: Robinhood gives fractional share investors the most intuitive investing app on the market, at affordable prices.

The highly rated Robinhood trading app lets you open standard brokerage accounts and IRAs, and its app and desktop platforms make it easy to buy and sell stocks. Robinhood doesn't charge you fees for trading. By opting into its paid membership, you can get Robinhood to match your IRA deposits 3%.

Read our full Robinhood review

For reliable brand: Fidelity

Ratings Methodology
Fidelity

Fidelity

Our Rating:

Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
5.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Bottom Line

Buy fractional shares for as little as $1 for over 7,000 companies. Fidelity gives you a whole suite of commission-free investment options. It's a big name with tons of resources.

Fees:

$0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.

Account Minimum:

$0, ($1 minimum per fractional share transaction)

Read Review

Pros

  • Beginner-friendly
  • Many accounts and investment types
  • Tons of research and educational content

Cons

  • High margin rates

Why Fidelity made the list: Fidelity offers fractional share investors a full-featured broker with a stellar reputation for reliability.

It's uncommon for the oldest online brokers to offer fractional share investing, but Fidelity breaks the mold. In addition to fractional share trading, Fidelity offers lots of account types, advanced investing tools, stock research reports, and much more. It's a great choice for investors of all experience levels.

Read our full Fidelity review

For depth and choices: Charles Schwab

Ratings Methodology
Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab

Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Bottom Line

Schwab Stock Slices lets you buy shares of companies in the S&P 500 with as little as $5. What's more, Schwab has a good reputation. It offers an easy trading platform, great customer service, and access to global markets.

Fees:

$0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.

Account Minimum:

$0

Read Review

Pros

  • Many accounts and investment types
  • Deep trading interface
  • Lots of research and educational resources

Cons

  • High margin rates
  • $5 minimum investment per stock
  • Can only buy fractional shares of S&P 500

Why Charles Schwab made the list: Charles Schwab offers fractional share brokers a deep platform with tons of features.

Charles Schwab is one of the largest and oldest online brokers in the world, and it lets you trade fractional shares of S&P 500 component stocks. It has a massive number of trading tools, educational resources, research reports, and it's one of the only places you can trade stocks directly on international exchanges. 

Read our full Charles Schwab review

For easy-to-use app: Cash App Investing

Ratings Methodology
Cash App Investing

Cash App Investing

Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Bottom Line

Buy fractional shares with as little as $1. Cash App is a one-stop, simplified shop for your banking, payment, and investing needs, including stocks and cryptocurrencies.

Fees:

$0 for stocks, fees vary for Bitcoin

Account Minimum:

$0

Read Review

Pros

  • Super simple app
  • Send money, spend, bank, and invest
  • File taxes for free

Cons

  • Only offers stocks and Bitcoin
  • Only offers taxable brokerage accounts
  • Lacks advanced trading and research tools

Why Cash App Investing made the list: Cash App Investing offers fractional share traders a place to trade stocks and Bitcoin with zero fluff.

Cash App Investing is best known for being a person-to-person payment platform, but it does a lot more than that. Through it, you buy and sell stocks. No fancy application needed -- Cash App Investing will only ask for super necessary information, like your Social Security number. 

Read our full Cash App Investing review

How do I choose a fractional share broker?

Here are two key questions. You'll need to answer them when looking for a broker to trade fractional shares:

  • How much does this firm charge in transaction fees? Unless you're OK with fees nibbling away at your investments, you'll want a brokerage with low or no fees.
  • How easy has the broker made the process? Some apps and sites make buying and selling fractional shares easy, and some don't. Look at the broker's website -- as well as its app reviews, if you plan to use an app -- to get a feel for the interface.

TIP

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How to open a brokerage account for buying fractional shares

You can open a brokerage account quickly. Here's how:

  1. Navigate to the broker's website.
  2. Look for a button labeled "Open an Account."
  3. Provide personal info. You may be surprised by how much information you're asked to supply. Brokers need this information to comply with federal laws and regulations.

Here's a sample of what info you may be asked to provide:

  • Your name
  • Social Security number (SSN) or taxpayer identification number (TIN)
  • Address
  • Telephone number
  • Email address
  • Date of birth
  • Driver's license, passport information, or some other form of government-issued ID
  • Employment status and occupation
  • Insight into your investment objective and risk tolerance.

How to buy fractional shares

Once you find a broker that offers fractional shares, and you've checked its fee schedule, it's time to fund your account and start buying. Here's how to buy fractional shares:

  1. Deposit funds into your account. It may take several days for the funds to settle in the account.
  2. Select the stock or ETF that you want to purchase. Many brokers do not provide a list of fractional share stocks. If yours does not, make sure it offers fractional shares for the stocks you have chosen.
  3. Choose the amount you want to invest in each stock or ETF. You may deposit a set dollar amount every month. Or, it may be based on your selected portfolio allocation.
  4. Follow the prompts to make a purchase. The money to cover your purchase will be deducted from the funds you have deposited into the account.

Can you buy fractional shares of any stock?

You can buy fractions of any stock offered as fractions by your brokerage.

Some companies don't offer fractional shares. Keep this in mind as you're shopping around for the right brokerage.

Different brokers also tend to offer slightly different stocks. Plan ahead to ensure you sign on with the right broker. Let's say you have your heart set on buying fractional shares of Tesla and CVS stock. Make sure any broker you're considering offers both.

How much do fractional shares cost?

Typically, fractional shares cost as little as $1 to $5 per stock. That's a far cry from having to put together nearly $3,000 for a single share of AutoZone.

Can you make money with fractional shares?

Yes, you can make money with fractional shares -- you can also lose money with fractional shares. Just like with whole shares of stock, whether you make money with fractional shares depends on many factors. These factors include the market and the company itself.

Is buying fractional shares worth it?

There are several reasons why buying fractional shares is worth it.

Fractional shares allow you to begin investing with very little money. They're a great way to get your feet wet without betting the farm. Once you open a brokerage account, you may get access to educational resources (depending on your brokerage). 

Pros

  • Invest in the stock market with little money.
  • Invest in high-priced stocks.
  • Build a diversified portfolio of stocks and ETFs with less money.
  • Rebalance your portfolios much easier.
  • Put your money to work immediately.

Cons

  • Complicates recordkeeping and bookkeeping.
  • Complicates transferring shares.
  • Complicates liquidity.
  • Removes shareholder rights (sometimes, depending on broker).
  • Eliminates dividend earnings if the fraction is truly tiny.

What are fractional shares?

A fractional share is a position in a stock equal to less than a whole share. The fraction is between 0 and 1.

Fractional shares are important because they make it easier for new or small investors to buy stocks.

You'll often see half-shares after stock splits. Companies sometimes offer 1.5 or 2.5 new shares for every existing share. This results in fractional shares. But fractional shares can be even smaller. Many companies calculate them down to thousandths or ten-thousandths of a share.

Our brokerage rating methodology

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

FAQs

  • Fractional shares are partial shares or a portion of a company's stock. They can be bought and sold just like whole shares. Doing so makes investing more affordable. For example, some stocks can cost upward of $1,000 a share. An investor with only $500 can't afford one whole share. But fractional shares let the investor buy up to half a share, earning a stake in their favorite company.

    Fractional shareholders get the same benefits as other shareholders. These include voting rights (depending on the broker) and dividends. Fractional shareholders earn (or lose) the same percentage gains (or losses) as investors who own whole shares.

  • Many brokers are starting to offer fractional shares to attract younger and beginner investors. But some brokers don't offer them yet. This may be because brokers aren't ready for the recordkeeping and bookkeeping of fractional shares.

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.