With technological advancement, it has become easier for investors to trade online. They must know the best online trading platforms to add value to their portfolios. Many brokers offer excellent customer service and trading tools to improve trading and maximize profits. So, the first step towards building a strong portfolio is choosing the right platform to trade on. While a few trading platforms are ideal for traders, others are suitable for investors.

TD Ameritrade
This online platform is perfect for traders and requires no deposit. It offers a free trade for 60 days and has been ranked as one of the best online trading platforms for 2018.

Fidelity Investments
Fidelity Investments is a trading platform suitable for investors. It requires a minimum deposit of around $2,500 and offers around 500 free trades for 2 years. It is known for its exemplary customer experience and is appreciated for its quality order execution. It is easy to use and is ranked at the top in terms of research tools.

Merrill Edge®
This online platform is known for the best reward program and requires a zero deposit.

E*TRADE
E*TRADE is best known for options trading and has a minimum deposit requirement of around $500. It offers free trades for 60 days, and you may get around $600 on sign up. It is ranked at the top for mobile trading services.

It is best to compare the offers and the features of different online platforms before you open your account. You will also need to consider the costs associated with each trade because that will matter in the long term. For instance, Fidelity charges around $4.95 per trade whereas E*TRADE’s cost per trade stands at around $6.95. Hence, it is important to compare every account and then decide on the best online trading platform that fits your investment criteria and is easy to use.