Financial planning is much easier today because of the wealth of online resources for consumers and the best trading platforms that make investing and buying stock more manageable. The best trading platforms make buying stock, bonds, mutual funds, cryptocurrency and ETFs easy and fun. They also help consumers understand the market for investing with these products and give users a way to manage their online portfolios.
Our team has researched online trading platforms and come up with a list of the best. These trading platforms can help short-term investors, people saving for retirement, stock market enthusiasts and other potential trading platform customers get what they need. Read on to discover what companies like SoFi Invest, Robinhood Markets, Stash Investments, and TradeStation can help you grow your wealth.
The 5 Best Trading Platforms In Pennsylvania 2023: Rankings
- Fidelity: Best Overall Trading Platform in Pennsylvania
- Betterment: Easiest Trading Platform for Busy Pa Investors
- TD Ameritrade: Best Web-Based Trading Platform in Pennsylvania
- E*Trade: Most Popular Trading Platform for New Pa Investors
- Charles Schwab: Best Platform for Pa Securities Investors
Top Pa Runners-Up
1. Fidelity — Best Overall Trading Platform in Pennsylvania
Pros of the Fidelity Trading Platform in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More
- No fees for trades
- Highly rated customer service
- 203 local Fidelity locations available for customers
- AI-automated investor tools
- Multiple tools to manage portfolios
Cons of the Fidelity Trading Platform in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More
- Pricey broker-assisted trading fees
- Only available to U.S. residents
- No cryptocurrency or futures trading
Fidelity is at the top of the list for best trading platforms. This online trading site features little to no fees for trades yet still offers customers lots of tools to manage their wealth. There is no minimum amount you need to invest, giving even small-time investors a way to get started in trading.
Costs Associated with Fidelity Trading Accounts in Pennsylvania: 4.9/5
When it comes to costs, Fidelity wins over other best trading platforms hands down. There is no commission fee for trading stocks, options, penny stocks or ETFs. Additionally, this brokerage doesn’t charge typical account fees for transferring money, closing accounts, using checks or wiring money.
There is a contract fee for options of $0.65, and a broker-assisted trade is $32.95. International trades also may tack on additional fees to an account.
Types of Trades Available on the Fidelity Platform in Pennsylvania: 4.7/5
Customers can trade a variety of investment products on Fidelity’s site, including stocks, penny stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, fractional shares and international investment products.
Additionally, there are trades available for precious metals, IPOs, ETFs, ETPs, forex, fractional shares and high-yield corporate bonds. There are no offerings yet for cryptocurrencies and futures.
The Fidelity Mobile Trading App: 4.8/5
Fidelity customers also get access to a powerful mobile app that allows them to manage their portfolio from anywhere. The mobile app gets high ratings from customers due to its convenience and ease of use.
A majority of the functionality from the website is also available on the mobile app, including most trades, except fixed income and conditional transactions. Analysis and other tools are also limited on the app.
Fidelity Research and Education Offerings in Pennsylvania: 4.7/5
Fidelity users also love the organization’s research and education offerings for novice investors. Investing research and advice are available to users for free and give them more information about the market and investing strategies.
The site features an AI investing tool, Fidelity Go, which can help investors choose which products to trade. Fidelity also offers more customized investing research and guidance to customers with large portfolios with detailed wealth management plans.
Fidelity Trading Platform Customer Service in Pennsylvania: 4.8/5
Fidelity features outstanding customer service. Support is available 24/7 through live chat, email or the phone. There are 203 local Fidelity centers for customers to get advice in person. The Fidelity Education Center offers a variety of tools for users to screen trades.
Overall Pennsylvania Score of the Fidelity Trading Platform: 4.7/5
Fidelity earns top marks and designation of the best trading platform overall. It can benefit many different types of investors, from the small-time stock trader to someone with a large, diverse retirement portfolio. Its lack of account fees and low trading fees make it a best bet.
Not feeling Fidelity? Check out SoFi.
2. Betterment — Easiest Trading Platform for Busy Pa Investors
Pros of the Betterment Trading Platform in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More
- Fee of 0.25% of balance per year
- No transaction fees
- Automated rebalancing and tax coordination
Cons of the Betterment Trading Platform in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More
- Limited investment products
- High balance minimum for live investment advice
- Hard to set up an account
Investing in different types of funds and stocks often takes a lot of time and research, or you have to choose to pay someone to manage your money. Betterment offers a powerful robo-advisor option that can effectively manage your wealth or retirement portfolio.
Costs Associated with Betterment Trading Accounts in Pennsylvania: 4.7/5
Betterment charges a low 0.25% fee each year on your investment balance to manage your account. There are no additional account management fees on top of that percentage. Customers with accounts over $2 million can get a discounted rate on this fee of 0.15%.
Customers who want a real financial advisor to give them advice about their portfolio must have at least $100,000 in their account and pay a 0.40% fee each year.
Types of Trades Available on the Betterment Platform in Pennsylvania 4.2/5
This tool focuses on advising and managing online portfolios. Betterment falls short on trading options. There are no capabilities to trade stocks, funds or other popular investment products.
Users can trade fixed-income ETFs primarily, and they can also redistribute their portfolios for IRAs, Roth, trusts, rollovers and other retirement accounts.
The Betterment Mobile Trading App: 4.5/5
Betterment’s mobile app offers most of the features found on its website. It features a sleek design and a responsive interface. Some users have reported problems with the network going down at times or issues with transferring funds via the app.
Betterment Research and Education Offerings in Pennsylvania: 4.5/5
For the standard subscription to Betterment, there are few offerings for research and education into investment products. Betterment has a variety of articles and videos explaining investment strategies and some tools and calculators for users to try out.
Finding information about specific topics can be a challenge since the resources are organized in a confusing way. Premium account users get more customized information about their portfolio’s direction.
Betterment Trading Platform Customer Service in Pennsylvania: 4.6/5
Betterment has several channels available for customer service. Representatives can be reached on the phone Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for questions about accounts and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. for checking and cash reserve support.
Email and social media interaction support are also available to users, with questions answered in a day or two, depending on the type of interaction.
Overall Pennsylvania Score of the Betterment Trading Platform: 4.5/5
Busy investors who don’t have too much time can benefit from Betterment’s hands-off approach. If you have a retirement account and don’t want to deal with managing its performance, Betterment’s model can help you reach your financial goals.
Betterment not right for you? Try Robinhood.
3. TD Ameritrade — Best Web-Based Trading Platform in Pennsylvania
Pros of the TD Ameritrade Trading Platform in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More
- Powerful and user-friendly mobile app
- Excellent availability of investment tools
- Detailed research and education offerings
Cons of the TD Ameritrade Trading Platform in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More
- Higher account fees
- No fractional share trading
- Overwhelming platform for beginners
TD Ameritrade’s website and mobile app have one of the best user experiences when it comes to online trading. That’s why this company is top of the list of best trading platforms. TD Ameritrade features extensive educational and simulation tools for a variety of investors.
Costs Associated with TD Ameritrade Trading Accounts in Pennsylvania: 4.6/5
TD Ameritrade offers commission-free stock trading on its site. Some securities that aren’t listed on the NYSE may cost $6.95 per transaction. There also are more than 3,700 mutual funds offered without a commission fee.
The site does charge $75 for transferring your account to another broker. Options contract fees are $0.65 per contract. Annual fees, activity fees or partial transfer fees are not charged to customers.
Types of Trades Available on the TD Ameritrade Platform in Pennsylvania: 4.7/5
Customers can buy and trade stocks, mutual funds, futures, bonds, commodities, Bitcoin futures, penny stocks and foreign exchange investment products. There are no other cryptocurrency trading options on the platform.
TD Ameritrade Mobile Trading App: 4.7/5
The mobile app is a highlight for TD Ameritrade customers. It features the same capability as the desktop site but is optimized for mobile users. This brokerage also offers an advanced investor app, TD Ameritrade thinkorswim, giving seasoned investors more control over trading and options.
TD Ameritrade Research and Education Offerings in Pennsylvania: 4.7/5
TD Ameritrade also has some of the most extensive research and education tools for investors, but someone new to the stock market and trading may be overwhelmed with all of the information at first.
Users can try out the trading simulation tool called paperMoney to see what would happen if they made certain moves. There are also lots of articles, videos and other customized content that allow any type of investor to make better decisions regarding their wealth management strategies.
TD Ameritrade Trading Platform Customer Service in Pennsylvania: 4.7/5
Customer service is available via a 24/7 phone line or a live chat option called Ask Ted. Additionally, TD Ameritrade is active on social media for clients needing support. Premium support with a live financial advisor is also offered on their site and mobile app.
Overall Pennsylvania Score of the TD Ameritrade Trading Platform: 4.6/5
Investors who want to take the time to research the market and create their own investment strategy can take advantage of what TD Ameritrade has to offer. They can also enhance their experience with this brokerage’s powerful online tools.
Looking for an alternative to TD Ameritrade? See what Stash Investments has to offer.
4. E*Trade — Most Popular Trading Platform for New Pa Investors
Pros of the E*Trade Trading Platform in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More
- Low-cost options contracts
- User-friendly web and mobile app tools
- Offers frequent cash reward promotions
Cons of the E*Trade Trading Platform in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More
- $500 automated account minimum
- Some mutual funds cost $19.99 per transaction
- Info hard to find on website
New investors who may be a little tentative about managing their portfolios may benefit from using E*Trade. This entry on the list of best trading platforms helps breakdown the process and simplify trading.
Costs Associated with E*Trade Trading Accounts in Pennsylvania: 4.7/5
Stocks and other popular investment products are free to trade on E*Trade. Options cost $0.65 per trade or $0.50 for high-volume trades. Future trading incurs a fee per transaction. Some mutual funds transactions may incur a $19.99 fee.
E*Trade charges various account fees, including $75 to transfer an account balance to another broker and $25 for a partial transfer. There are no maintenance or inactivity fees.
Types of Trades Available on the E*Trade Platform in Pennsylvania: 4.8/5
Customers can trade nearly all types of investment products on E*Trade, including stocks, bonds, futures, mutual funds, ETFs, fractional shares, penny stocks, bonds, CDs and commodities.
The E*Trade Mobile Trading App: 4.6/5
Account-holders at E*Trade can pick from two different mobile apps from the brokerage. For a basic, hands-off experience, clients can use the E*Trade mobile app. For more capabilities and a customized experience, the Power E*Trade app may be a better option.
Users report a better, easier experience on the company’s mobile apps than the website. The website may be more challenging and harder to use when looking for specific tools and information.
E*Trade Research and Education Offerings in Pennsylvania: 4.7/5
E*Trade excels at teaching first-time investors the basics of investing and trading. It has an educational center with various articles, videos and tutorials. The site and app also feature scheduled live events and workshops to give investors more confidence and information.
They also recently started doing full-day workshops and boot camps for investors and site visitors. Users don’t have to have an E*Trade account to take advantage of the offerings for research and education.
E*Trade Trading Platform Customer Service in Pennsylvania: 4.5/5
While there are extensive published hours of customer service availability, some clients have gotten frustrated with long wait times to talk to a representative. Phone support, email and live chat are available 24/7. Customers can also visit 30 in-person locations.
Overall Pennsylvania Score of the E*Trade Trading Platform: 4.6/5
Getting started in trading and investing can be daunting, but E*Trade makes the process less confusing and more intuitive. For DIY investors who want to learn and understand how trading works, E*Trade is one of the best trading platforms around.
Still not finding what you’re looking for? TradeStation is a great E*Trade alternative.
5. Charles Schwab — Best Trading Platform for Pa Securities Investors
Pros of the Charles Schwab Trading Platform in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More
- Multiple research tools
- Different types of trading platforms
- Full-service customer support
Cons of the Charles Schwab Trading Platform in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, and More
- No automated cash money market plans
- Higher margin rates
- Few options for international stocks
Charles Schwab is a big player in the best trading platforms industry, with a history of providing excellent service. Their online platform offers a little something for every type of investor, from long-term retirement investors to day traders. It’s also the best option for varied ETFs and diversification.
Costs Associated with Charles Schwab Trading Accounts in Pennsylvania: 4.8/5
The cost to open an account is free, and stock trades are also free at Charles Schwab. Options are the industry-standard $0.65 per contract. There are more than 4,200 mutual funds that cost nothing to trade through this broker.
Account fees are also low. Transferring money out to another broker costs $25 or $15 if done via an online tool. There are no other account fees added on top of these costs.
Types of Trades Available on the Charles Schwab Platform in Pennsylvania: 4.7/5
Customers with a Charles Schwab account are able to trade stocks, penny stocks, futures, commodities, futures options, bonds, fractional shares, international investment products and simple and multi-leg options.
Clients aren’t able to access cryptocurrency markets in their accounts. They also are limited in the types of international transactions to a small number of markets and currencies.
The Charles Schwab Mobile Trading App: 4.6/5
The mobile app experience from Charles Schwab is limited in its functionality. Not all transaction types are available on mobile. Traders can’t enter conditional orders or check out all of the charting capabilities that the website offers.
Clients who use Charles Schwab can manage their accounts and trade from two different apps, Schwab Mobile and StreetSmart Mobile.
Charles Schwab Research and Education Offerings in Pennsylvania: 4.5/5
Charles Schwab users get access to their in-house network of investing education tools, news and commentary. These tools can help users learn more about the types of trades that may benefit their portfolios.
Users also get a subscription to the company’s quarterly investment strategies magazine and online screeners for trading. While there are lots of research tools available, there is more of a learning curve with this online platform than some others on the list of best trading platforms.
Charles Schwab Trading Platform Customer Service in Pennsylvania: 4.7/5
Charles Schwab has more than 400 retail locations around the country for in-person support. Phone, email and live chat help is available at any time, 24/7. Phone wait times can be lengthy. There is also an option to speak to a broker, but that service costs a premium.
Overall Pennsylvania Score of the Charles Schwab Trading Platform: 4.6/5
Charles Schwab is an excellent choice of an online trading platform if you have some background knowledge and want a diverse portfolio. It provides lots of different services for customers with average or extensive market knowledge.
SoFi provides an alternative option to Charles Schwab.
The Top Pennsylvania Runners-Up
Our Ranking Process for the Best Trading Platforms in Pennsylvania
The ranking process for the best trading platforms uses each company’s features, benefits to investors, customer service and trading options. We checked out the fees associated with each trading platform to find the best ones for your wallet.
Our rankings also considered the functionality of the broker’s website and mobile apps. Brokers with more detailed education and research offerings got more points for best trading platforms. Customer reviews were also considered in our rankings.
Start trading with Robinhood Markets.
Customer Guide to the Best Trading Platforms in Pennsylvania
The average stock market return each year is about 10%, but some investors can make more or less depending on their strategy. If you want to get the best trading platforms, you need to consider how you want to invest and what your goals are.
How much money should I invest each month in Pennsylvania?
The amount of money to invest each month depends on your expenses, how close you are to retirement age and your goals. It’s best to invest what you can afford. Consumers should be able to live comfortably on the rest of their monthly paycheck after investment contributions are taken out.
How does stock trading work in Pennsylvania?
Buying a stock is purchasing a small ownership share in the company. The point of buying stock is to purchase it at a low price and sell when the price jumps up, giving you a profit. The best trading platforms offer stock trading without a commission fee, like Fidelity and E*Trade.
See how Stash Investments can help you grow your wealth.
How do ETFs work in Pa?
ETF stands for exchange-traded fund. This means it’s a fund that has been put together by a firm and contains various types of investment products. ETFs from Charles Schwab are a good choice for beginning investors because they offer good performance with little background knowledge.
What are futures?
Trading futures means the customer is committing to buying or selling the investment product at some point in the future. Future markets include oil, gas, wheat, precious metals, foods, currencies and financial futures.
What is options trading?
Along with futures, trading options has become more popular. This type of product is a contract to buy or sell shares of a company when it gets above or below a set price. The contract usually will expire by a certain date and can be a risky move not recommended for those unfamiliar with options trading.
How do I choose the best Pennsylvania trading platforms for me?
Each of the best trading platforms offers investors a unique experience. First, think about how you plan to buy and sell investment products. Consider which products you most want to trade, such as stocks, bonds, futures or options. Then look at your potential trading activity and choose the platform that meets your needs.
Find out how to open a Tradestation account.
Best Pa Trading Platforms 2023 Comparison Summary
- Account Minimum: No minimum
- Transaction Fees: $0 fee for online trades of stocks, bonds, ETFs and mutual funds; $32.95 live broker fee
- Trades offers: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, Forex, CDs
- Account Minimum: No minimum for digital, $100,000 for premium
- Transaction Fees: 0.25% annual fee for digital, 0.40% annual fee for premium
- Trades offers: Fixed-income ETFs, cryptocurrency
- Account Minimum: No minimum
- Transaction Fees: $0 fee for online trades of stocks, bonds, ETFs and mutual funds; $6.95 penny stocks, $2.25 futures, $75 transfers
- Trades offers: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, Forex, CDs, futures
- Account Minimum: No minimum for most accounts, $500 for automated investing account
- Transaction Fees: $0 fee for online trades of stocks, bonds, ETFs and some mutual funds; $19.99 for some mutual funds; $75 transfers
- Trades offers: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, Forex, CDs, futures
- Account Minimum: No minimum
- Transaction Fees: $0 fee for online trades of stocks, bonds, ETFs and mutual funds, $25 transfers
- Trades offers:Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, Forex, CDs, futures
Top Pa Runners-Up
Manage Your Wealth With the Best Trading Platforms in Pennsylvania
If you’re ready to explore the world of the stock market, mutual funds, ETFs or cryptocurrency, you need a solid online trading platform. This list of the best trading platforms gives customers some direction for online trading. Consider your purpose for investing and choose the platform that meets your needs and may help you reach your financial goals within your preferred time frame.
Related articles:
- Best Credit Repair Companies in Pennsylvania
- Best Pennsylvania Tax Prep Software
- Best Checking Accounts in Pennsylvania
- Best Forex Brokers
