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Brokerage reviews

Reviews of the brokerages, robo-advisors, and planning apps Tweed covers. Each one sets out the fees, account types, and bonus terms, and says who the account suits.

37 guides and 3 calculators

Advisor and planning app reviews

Apps that track your accounts or plan your retirement, rather than hold your money.

Review

Empower review 2026

What the free dashboard does, what each paid tier costs, and how it compares to Betterment and Wealthfront.

Updated 7 min read

Key terms

IRA match
Cash a broker deposits into your IRA as a percentage of what you contribute, usually with a holding period before it is yours to move.Robinhood IRA review: Is it worth it in 2026? →
Robo-advisor
An account where the provider picks and manages the investments for you, usually for an annual advisory fee.Wealthfront review: Is it worth it in 2026? →
Sign-up stock
A free share a brokerage gives a new customer, taxed as income at its value on the day you receive it.The 5 best apps for free stocks in 2026 →
Referral link
A sign-up link from an existing customer. The app credits a referral reward only to new customers who signed up through it, on terms each app sets.How to get a Robinhood referral code and free stock in 2026 →

Frequently asked questions

Is a brokerage account FDIC insured?

No. The stocks, ETFs, and funds in a brokerage account are securities, not bank deposits, so SIPC covers them instead, and only against the broker failing, not against market losses. Uninvested cash is the part to check: if a broker sweeps it into a bank deposit, FDIC rules can apply there.

Learn more: Charles Schwab review: Is it worth it in 2026?

How much money do you need to open a brokerage account?

None of the brokerages in the best brokerage accounts roundup require a minimum deposit to open an account. What you need depends on what you want to buy, and fractional shares let you start with a few dollars.

Learn more: 5 best brokerage accounts for 2026

What is an IRA match?

An IRA match is cash a broker deposits into your IRA as a percentage of what you put in. Only an employer can match a 401(k); an IRA match comes from the broker and is based on your deposits. Matched money usually has to stay in the account for a set period or the broker can take it back.

Learn more: Robinhood IRA review: Is it worth it in 2026?

Can you switch brokerages without selling your investments?

Yes. An in-kind transfer, known as ACATS, moves your shares and funds to the new brokerage without selling them, so it does not trigger tax or reset your cost basis. Some brokerages charge a fee to transfer out, and the receiving broker will sometimes cover part of it.

Learn more: 5 best brokerage accounts for 2026

Do you pay taxes on free sign-up stock?

Yes. Free sign-up stock counts as income at its value on the day you get it, and the brokerage may report it on a Form 1099-MISC. Selling the share later is a separate capital gain or loss measured from that value.

Learn more: The 5 best apps for free stocks in 2026