I once spent an entire evening comparing home screens before I even looked at a fee schedule. Bad order.
Here is what I wish someone had told me first: the best taxable brokerage accounts are the ones whose costs and level of involvement match your real habits, not an idealized version of your investing life. Everything else is detail. Useful detail, though, so keep reading.
Which Account Is Actually Worth Opening?
If you are comparing Robinhood, Webull, E*TRADE and Betterment for 2026, start with three questions. Wait, make that four: what does it cost, how do you want to invest, do you need help choosing investments, and how much time will you really spend on it? Below are seven account choices across those four platforms. Fees and features change, so check each provider’s current pricing and disclosures before you open anything. This is general information, not personalized investment or tax advice.
A taxable account has no IRA-style tax break. What you get instead is flexibility. You can generally pull money out without retirement early withdrawal rules, though selling investments may create taxable gains or losses, and that trade-off deserves more of your attention than a slick app.
Fees, minimums and tools
A $0 minimum matters because it lets you start small. It does not tell you the whole story. Trading costs, advisory fees, fund expenses, transfer charges and how clearly the platform shows you all of that each count.
Then there is the experience itself. Do you want to pick stocks and ETFs yourself? Would recurring purchases keep you on a plan? Or would you rather answer a few questions and let a portfolio service do the daily work? Those are different jobs.
Prices below are commonly advertised standard pricing, not a promise that every transaction is free. Options, margin, certain funds, premium subscriptions and transfers can add costs. I know, fee schedules are not bedtime reading (I have fallen asleep on one). They can still save you a surprise later.
Price snapshot: The self-directed accounts covered here generally advertise $0 commissions for eligible online stock and ETF trades, with no required opening deposit. Other fees or transaction conditions may apply.
Robinhood or Webull?
Both put self-directed investing front and center. You choose what to buy, place your own trades, and can often begin without a large deposit. That freedom is handy if you are curious, but it also hands you the job of deciding what belongs in your portfolio.
Do not stop at the commission line. Look at the research tools you will use, how order types are shown, and whether the app nudges you to trade more than you planned. A lively interface can make investing feel easy. Sometimes too easy.
Robinhood individual taxable brokerage: A straightforward pick for beginners who want stocks, ETFs and fractional-share access in a mobile-first setup. The advertised commission for eligible online stock and ETF trades is typically $0, and there is generally no account minimum. The simple layout is a plus, though the streamlined research may feel thin if you want deeper company analysis.
Price snapshot: Typically $0 account minimum and $0 commission on eligible online stock and ETF trades; check the current fee schedule for other services and transactions.
Webull individual taxable brokerage: Webull suits a beginner who wants more charting and market data on screen while still making every decision personally. It commonly advertises $0 commissions on eligible online stock and ETF trades, with no required minimum. The busy interface can take a few sessions to learn, so do not feel you must use every tool on day one.
Price snapshot: Typically $0 account minimum and $0 commission on eligible online stock and ETF trades. Other products, data services or transactions may have separate costs.
Robinhood recurring-investment taxable account: If consistency is your goal, a recurring purchase schedule lets you invest a set amount on a regular cadence, where supported for eligible investments. That beats trying to guess the perfect day to buy. You still choose the investments, and recurring purchases do not protect you from market losses.
Price snapshot: Generally no opening minimum and $0 commission for eligible online stock and ETF trades; confirm any limits or added service fees before setting up recurring purchases.
Do you want to pick, or be managed?
E*TRADE and Betterment answer different questions. E*TRADE hands you tools to build and run your own portfolio. Betterment is built around automated management, which may appeal if researching individual investments sounds like an unpaid second job.
The difference shows up in price. A self-directed account may carry no advisory fee, while an automated one usually charges for management, and fund expense ratios can apply to both. Weigh the fee against the time and decision-making help you get back.
E*TRADE self-directed taxable brokerage: A fit if you want room to grow from basic stock and ETF orders into more research and investing tools. Eligible online stock and ETF trades are commonly listed at $0 commission, and there is generally no required opening deposit. More features help, but a new investor may need time to sort the essentials from the extras.
Price snapshot: Commonly $0 minimum and $0 commission for eligible online stock and ETF trades. Options and other services can carry separate charges; review current terms.
Betterment automated taxable investing: Built for investors who want a managed portfolio rather than a list of stocks to pick. You answer questions about goals and risk, then the service manages the portfolio for you. Its standard digital investing fee has commonly been 0.25% annually, with a $0 minimum advertised for getting started; verify current fees and eligibility. That management fee is the price of automation, and underlying fund expenses may apply too.
Price snapshot: Commonly a $0 opening minimum and a 0.25% annual management fee for standard digital investing, plus applicable fund expenses. Confirm current pricing with the provider.
Starting with almost nothing
Starting with $20 or $50 is perfectly respectable. A $0 minimum means the provider does not require a set opening balance, though you still need cash to buy an investment or meet any fund-specific minimum. Fractional shares, when offered for a particular security, stretch small deposits further.
Robinhood, Webull and E*TRADE are common self-directed choices here. Betterment can also be an entry point for managed investing, but its management fee and fund expenses matter even without an opening requirement. A $0 minimum is not $0 total cost.
Webull fractional-share taxable account: For someone starting with smaller amounts who likes a hands-on screen, Webull may offer fractional trading for eligible securities and account types. Check the current list before you plan around it. The market information is useful, but it may look like a lot when you are still learning basic order terms.
Price snapshot: Typically no required opening deposit and $0 commission on eligible online stock and ETF trades. Fractional-share eligibility and other fees depend on current terms.
Price snapshot across the group: These providers commonly advertise $0 minimums for the accounts discussed, but that does not mean every investment has a $0 purchase threshold. ETFs have expense ratios, and managed portfolios can charge advisory fees. Read the current disclosures before you fund an account.
Matching the account to your goals
Want to pick your own stocks or ETFs? Compare Robinhood, Webull and E*TRADE by the tools you will use, not the longest feature list. Robinhood keeps things simple. Webull leans into charts and market data. E*TRADE offers a broader self-directed toolkit. Any of them can work for a beginner willing to learn and own the decisions.
Prefer to set a goal and let a service manage the portfolio? Betterment is the automated option in this group, and the fee deserves careful thought if your balance is small. A 0.25% annual advisory fee on a $1,000 balance works out to about $2.50 a year before fund expenses, assuming that rate applies all year. Fees can change, and returns are never guaranteed.
Taxes come along for the ride. Selling an investment for more than you paid can create a capital gain, and dividends and interest may be taxable too. Keep records, learn how your holdings are taxed, and consider a tax professional if your situation is complicated. I would never buy something just because an app parked it at the top of the screen.
My shortlist is simple. Pick self-directed investing if you want control and are ready to decide. Pick automated management if you value convenience and understand the fee. I lean self-directed for anyone who will actually read the fee page.
At Unwritten, our editors choose every product and story idea independently — we only recommend things we’d genuinely tell a friend about.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a taxable brokerage account?
It is an investment account without the special tax treatment of an IRA. You can usually withdraw money whenever you like, but selling investments at a gain can create a tax bill.
Do I need money to open a taxable brokerage account?
Many providers advertise a $0 minimum to open one. You still need enough cash to buy an investment, and some funds have their own purchase minimums.
Is Betterment cheaper than a self-directed account?
Not on the sticker price. Self-directed accounts often charge no advisory fee, while Betterment has commonly charged 0.25% a year for standard digital investing. That fee pays for automated portfolio management.
Are $0 commissions really free?
Not always. The $0 usually applies to eligible online stock and ETF trades. Options, margin, transfers, premium tools and fund expense ratios can still cost money.
Are fractional shares available everywhere?
No. Availability depends on the provider, the security and the account type, so check the current list before you plan around it.
