Two brokers can both advertise “$0 commissions” and still cost you very different amounts once per-contract and per-share fees kick in. This calculator flips the question around: given how you actually trade, what does each broker cost you per month?
| Broker | Stocks (est.) | Options (est.) | Futures (est.) | Total / mo (est.) |
|---|
Fee figures are published headline rates last verified 2026-10-05 — always check the broker's current pricing page before deciding.
Estimates cover advertised entry-tier commissions only — exchange, regulatory, and other pass-through fees are excluded. "—" means the broker doesn't list that asset class or publish a comparable per-trade fee; "*" means the total only counts the asset classes the broker supports.
How it works
The calculator applies each broker’s fee schedule to the activity you enter:
- Stocks: trades × per-trade fee + total shares × per-share fee
- Options: trades × (base ticket fee + contracts per trade × per-contract fee)
- Futures: total contracts × per-contract fee
Brokers are ranked by estimated total monthly commissions, cheapest first. A — means the broker doesn’t list that asset class or publish a comparable per-trade fee, and a * marks a total that only covers part of your mix.
How to read this
Per-contract fees dominate for options traders. A “$0 commission” headline means little when you pay per contract: 20 options trades a month averaging 5 contracts each is 100 contracts, so the difference between $0 and $0.65 per contract is about $65 a month — roughly $780 a year — in commissions alone.
"$0 stock trades" can still hide costs. Brokers earning payment for order flow (PFOF) may route orders to whoever pays them rather than whoever fills you best. Margin rates vary widely and can dwarf commissions if you borrow to trade. And the bid/ask spread plus execution quality decide what you actually pay per share — a fraction of a cent of slippage per fill adds up fast for active traders.
The cheapest broker depends on your mix. A stock-only trader may pay nothing almost anywhere, a futures-heavy trader cares mostly about per-contract rates, and an options trader lives and dies by contract fees and ticket charges. Run your real numbers — the ranking can reorder completely when the mix changes.
Finally, note what this tool doesn’t model: exchange and regulatory pass-through fees, market-data subscriptions, platform fees, and interest on idle cash. Treat the output as a directional estimate, not a quote — and confirm each broker’s current schedule on its own pricing page.
Tips for using it well
- Count both sides of the trade. Exiting a position is a separate trade — a round trip usually costs twice a single entry.
- Options: count contracts, not positions. A four-leg strategy like an iron condor is four contracts per unit.
- Don’t optimize on cost alone. Fill quality, platform reliability, margin rates, and cash interest often matter more than a few dollars of commissions.
- Recheck before switching. Fee schedules change; confirm on each broker’s pricing page and factor in transfer or account-closing fees.
- Pair this with the Broker Finder to check which brokers actually offer the assets and features you need.
This tool is for education only and is not financial advice. Trading involves substantial risk of loss.