Top 10 brokerage firms: compare and review best discount online investment companies in 2012

Market goes up, market goes down - it's not easy to make money investing in or trading stocks. Even when one manages to get a profit, it is often significantly reduced by the trading costs (commissions, fees, margin interest and subscription to market data).

For this reason, it is important to find online brokerage firm that offers the lowest fees but is still very reliable and provides excellent customer service. We compared the best discount stock brokerage companies on overall customer value. We hope that the ratings of investment brokerage houses below will be instrumental in your selection of the right company for you.

Scottrade Pricing

• $7 per stock/etf trade
• Options: $7 plus $1.25 per contract
• Mutual Funds: 2,800+ free, $17 for all other mutual funds
• CDs, OTC Secondary Corporates, OTC Secondary Municipals, U.S. Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds and STRIPS, New Corporate Offerings: subject to a markup or markdown
• Listed Corporate Bonds: $35 fee + $3 per Bond (minimum investment $1,000)
• Unit Investment Trusts (UIT): $50 liquidation fee
• Foreign Stocks Transferring In or Out: $60 per transaction

Scottrade Advantages

• Truly excellent customer service
• 500+ local branches
• Free real-time streaming quotes and charts
• Online community
• Perfect broker for beginner investors
• Great Trade Ideas tool
• No IRA fees (setup, annual, termination)
• Just $500 to open account

Scottrade Review

Current Scottrade Promotion Offer

Click on the link to get up to $100 in transfer fee reimbursed: Scottrade

OptionsHouse Pricing

• $3.95 per stock/etf trade
• Options: $5 for up to five contracts, $1 for each additional contract OR $8.50 plus 0.15/contract
• Mutual Funds: $9.95
• Call support to buy U.S. treasury bonds and listed corporate bonds

OptionsHouse Advantages

• Great commissions
• Very good trading tools and charts
• Virtual trading available
• Extensive educational materials

OptionsHouse Review

Current OptionsHouse Promotion Offer

TradeKing Pricing

• $4.95 per stock/etf trade
• Options: $4.95 plus $0.65 per contract (for up to 8 contracts) and $4.95 plus $0.65 per contract (for over 8 contracts)
• Short options valued at 5 cents or less, can be bought to close these positions for no charge (commission free)
• Multiple legs will only be charged one base price of either $4.95 or $8.95, depending on how many total contracts are involved
• Mutual Funds: $9.95
• Bonds: $4.95/bond ($14.95 minimum)
• Treasuries: $24.95 per transaction
• Certificates of Deposit (CDs): $24.95 per transaction

TradeKing Advantages

• Competitive option tools and pricing
• Great customer service
• Trader Network: best investor community out there
• Free IRAs (no setup and annual fees)

TradeKing Review

Current TradeKing Promotion Offer

OptionsXpress Pricing

• $8.95 per stock/etf trade
• Options for active traders: $12.95 for up to 10 contracts, $1.25/contract for over 10 contracts
• Mutual Funds: $9.95
• Bonds: $5.00 per bond, $9.95 Minimum
• Futures: 1-40 contracts $6.99; 41-100 contracts $5.99; 101-300 contracts $4.99; 301-1,000 contracts $3.99; 1,001 + contracts $2.99

OptionsXpress Advantages

• Great trading tools
• No platform fees
• No hidden fees
• Top rated customer service
• No setup and annual fee IRAs
• Great research amenities
• Free real-time and streaming quotes
• Virtual trading
• $0 to open cash account
• Free online classes
• Free DRIPs

OptionsXpress Review

Current OptionsXpress Promotion Offer

Thinkorswim Pricing

• $9.99 per stock/etf trade
• Options: $9.99 plus $0.75 per contract
• No-load mutual funds: $49.99
• Treasuries at auction: $25 flat fee
• Futures: $3.50 per contract (inclusive of exchange fees)

Thinkorswim Advantages

• Best-in-class trading platform
• No trading platform fees
• Online autotrading management tools
• Paper trading feature (practice trading)
• Free IRAs
• Lots of local branches
• No charge for streaming quotes

Thinkorswim Review