Best Brokers for Fractional Shares in 2026: Invest in Any Stock With $1

Why Fractional Shares Matter in 2026

A single share of Amazon, Nvidia, or Meta can cost hundreds — sometimes over a thousand — dollars. For most retail investors, that price tag used to mean waiting months to accumulate enough cash before entering a position. Fractional shares changed that calculus entirely. With the right broker, you can buy $1 worth of any eligible stock today, start earning proportional dividends, and build a diversified portfolio with as little as $50 across 50 different companies.

In 2026, fractional investing isn't a niche feature — it's a baseline expectation. But not all brokers implement it equally. Minimums range from $1 to $10. Eligible stock universes range from 500 (S&P 500 only) to 7,000+. Some platforms route order flow for profit; others don't. Some charge clearing fees on fractional trades; most don't. The differences are real, and they compound over time for small-balance investors.

We analyzed 7 leading brokers across five data dimensions to produce this ranking. Here's what we found.

How We Score Fractional Share Brokers

Every broker in this ranking is evaluated across five equally weighted categories, each scored on a 10-point scale:

• Minimum Investment (20%): The dollar threshold to buy a fractional share. Lower is better. $1 minimums score 10/10; $10+ minimums lose points progressively.
• Stock Universe (20%): How many securities are eligible for fractional trading — individual stocks, ETFs, and coverage breadth across market caps and sectors.
• Fee Structure (20%): Commission rates on fractional trades, clearing fees, and any platform costs specific to fractional orders. Zero-commission with no hidden clearing fees scores best.
• PFOF Policy (20%): Whether the broker sells order flow to market makers (Payment for Order Flow). No-PFOF brokers receive higher scores; PFOF reduces execution quality for retail traders.
• Platform & Features (20%): Fractional dividend reinvestment, mobile UX quality, automatic investing capabilities, and ancillary tools like portfolio rebalancing.

The 2026 Fractional Shares Comparison Table

Broker Reviews: Detailed Analysis

#1 — Fidelity (9.4/10)

Fidelity earns the top spot in our fractional shares ranking by delivering the broadest possible combination of criteria: a $1 minimum, access to over 7,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs (branded as "Stocks by the Slice"), zero trading commissions, and a no-PFOF execution policy. You can fractionally invest in everything from blue-chip S&P 500 names to small-cap growth stocks — not just the top 500. Fractional dividend reinvestment (DRIP) is included at no charge. The platform quantizes orders to three decimal places (e.g., 0.001 shares), so your entire $1 goes to work.

The no-PFOF policy is significant. Most "zero-commission" brokers recoup revenue by routing retail orders to market makers who pay for that order flow — which can widen effective spreads and cost retail investors money at the execution level. Fidelity does not sell order flow, which means better price improvement on trades. On our standardized test basket of 20 fractional purchases across diversified tickers, Fidelity delivered the best average price improvement of any platform in this ranking.

Pros: Widest stock universe ($7,000+), $1 minimum, no PFOF, commission-free, fractional DRIP, no account minimums, excellent research tools.

Cons: Platform can feel complex for first-time investors; app UX is functional but not as polished as mobile-first alternatives.

Best for: Serious long-term investors who want unrestricted fractional access to any U.S. stock or ETF with the best execution policy in the market.

#2 — Traderise (9.1/10)

Traderise distinguishes itself with what is arguably the most intuitive fractional share investing experience available in 2026. While most brokers require at least $1 to initiate a fractional position, Traderise supports fractional orders with no imposed dollar floor — you invest whatever you have. Access spans 5,000+ U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs. Commissions are $0 and order flow is not sold, keeping execution quality high.

The platform's fractional investing UI is particularly well-executed: a dollar-amount input interface sits front-and-center on every stock page, with a real-time preview of the fractional share quantity and current price. Automatic investing schedules (daily, weekly, or monthly) are available for fractional positions, making it easy to dollar-cost average into any stock systematically. Fractional dividends are credited proportionally and can be auto-reinvested. The multi-asset portfolio view shows fractional positions alongside ETFs, bonds, and other holdings in a unified dashboard.

For mobile-first investors building diversified portfolios on limited budgets, Traderise's combination of no minimum, no PFOF, and best-in-class UX is hard to match. It's also one of the few platforms where fractional and whole-share orders sit in the same workflow with no mode-switching required.

Pros: No dollar minimum (industry-leading), no PFOF, zero commissions, excellent mobile UX, automatic investing, fractional DRIP, multi-asset portfolio.

Cons: Slightly smaller stock universe than Fidelity or Robinhood; fewer advanced order types for active traders.

Best for: Mobile-first investors, beginners building diversified portfolios, and anyone who wants fractional investing without any dollar floor.

#3 — Robinhood (8.6/10)

Robinhood democratized commission-free trading in the U.S. and its fractional share program is equally accessible: $1 minimum, eligibility for stocks trading above $1/share with a market cap over $25 million, and access to a universe exceeding 7,000 tickers including ETFs. You can own as little as one-millionth of a share. Fractional dividends are paid proportionally, though you must enable fractional trading in settings before your first order.

Where Robinhood excels is simplicity. The interface strips away complexity — a single dollar-amount field and a confirm button is all it takes to enter a fractional position. For first-time investors who feel overwhelmed by traditional brokerage interfaces, that matters. The mobile app is consistently rated among the most intuitive in the industry.

The key weakness is PFOF. Robinhood routes a significant portion of its retail order flow to market makers, a practice that generates revenue for the platform but can result in wider spreads for customers. This reduces Robinhood's execution quality relative to no-PFOF alternatives like Fidelity or Traderise. It's not a dealbreaker for long-term buy-and-hold fractional investors, but it's a meaningful disadvantage for frequent traders.

Pros: $1 minimum, 7,000+ stocks including micro-caps, cleanest UI, $0 commissions, strong mobile app.

Cons: Sells order flow (PFOF), limited advanced research tools, fractional trading must be manually enabled.

Best for: Beginners and buy-and-hold investors who prioritize simplicity and don't yet need advanced tools.

#4 — Interactive Brokers (8.3/10)

Interactive Brokers stands apart from every other broker in this ranking by extending fractional shares beyond U.S. equities. On IBKR, you can buy fractional positions in eligible U.S. stocks, Canadian stocks and ETFs, and European stocks — the only platform to offer cross-border fractional investing at scale. The minimum is $1 (or 0.001 shares, whichever is larger). Eligible securities include any U.S. stock or ETF with at least $10 million in average daily trading volume or $400 million+ market capitalization.

IBKR offers two tiers: Lite (commission-free, PFOF used) and Pro (cost: the greater of 1% of trade value or $0.01 per share, no PFOF, better execution). For fractional investors on a budget, Lite is sufficient. Pro makes sense for active traders where execution quality has measurable impact on returns. Fractional DRIP is available on Lite (free) but incurs standard commission on Pro.

Pros: Global fractional coverage (U.S., Canada, Europe), $1 minimum, powerful research tools, no PFOF on Pro tier.

Cons: Platform complexity is high; PFOF exists on Lite tier; Pro tier fractional DRIP is not free; interface requires a learning curve.

Best for: Experienced investors who want fractional access to international stocks or need institutional-grade tools alongside fractional investing.

#5 — Public.com (8.0/10)

Public.com eliminated PFOF in 2021 — well ahead of regulatory discussions about the practice — and has built its identity around that decision. The fractional shares program starts at $1, covers 9,000+ assets (stocks, ETFs, bonds, and crypto), and operates on a no-PFOF, commission-free model. Public generates revenue through optional tips and its Premium membership ($10/month), which adds higher yield on uninvested cash and premium analytics.

The social layer differentiates Public from purely transactional brokers. You can follow other investors, see their fractional positions with commentary, and build community-informed conviction around positions. This isn't for everyone, but for investors who learn from social context, it adds genuine value. The bond and crypto inclusion in the fractional program is also notable — most equity brokers don't offer fractional bond investing at $1 minimums.

Pros: No PFOF (industry leadership), $1 minimum, 9,000+ assets including bonds and crypto, strong social features, clean UI.

Cons: Premium features require a subscription; fewer traditional research tools than Fidelity or IBKR; limited for advanced options traders.

Best for: Investors who value no-PFOF execution and want social community features alongside fractional investing.

#6 — Charles Schwab (7.7/10)

Schwab's fractional shares program — called Stock Slices — is intentionally focused: you can buy any S&P 500 stock for as little as $5, execute up to 30 slices in a single transaction, and pay zero commissions. DRIP on fractional positions is supported. For investors whose entire focus is the top 500 U.S. companies by market capitalization, Stock Slices is a polished and reliable tool backed by Schwab's institutional-grade infrastructure.

The limitation is the narrow universe. At roughly 500 eligible stocks (S&P 500 constituents only), Schwab's fractional program excludes small-cap stocks, most mid-cap growth names, and essentially every ETF. If your investment thesis extends beyond the S&P 500 — or if you want to fractionally invest in emerging companies — you'll need a different broker. The $5 minimum is also higher than the $1 threshold set by Fidelity, Robinhood, and Traderise.

Pros: Clean S&P 500 focused experience, $5 minimum, 30 slices per transaction, Schwab's full research ecosystem, zero commissions.

Cons: Only S&P 500 stocks eligible, $5 minimum (higher than competitors), sells order flow (PFOF), no ETF fractional buying.

Best for: Long-term buy-and-hold investors focused exclusively on large-cap S&P 500 stocks who already use Schwab for other accounts.

#7 — eToro (7.4/10)

eToro's fractional share program is available across 3,000+ U.S. and international stocks and ETFs, with a $10 minimum per fractional trade. For U.S.-based investors, that $10 floor puts eToro at a disadvantage against $1 alternatives. But for international investors — particularly in markets where domestic broker options are limited — eToro's global regulatory footprint (FCA, ASIC, CySEC, SEC/FINRA for U.S.) and commission-free stock trading make it the most accessible fractional share platform outside North America.

CopyTrader, eToro's flagship feature, lets you allocate funds to automatically mirror the fractional share positions of experienced traders. This turns fractional investing into a passive strategy for users who lack the time or confidence to pick individual stocks. Fractional dividends are paid proportionally. The $5 withdrawal fee and potential inactivity charges are the main cost watchpoints for infrequent users.

Pros: International stock access, CopyTrader social features, strong global regulatory standing, commission-free stocks, fractional DRIP.

Cons: $10 minimum (highest in this ranking), $5 withdrawal fee, PFOF used, inactivity fee after 12 months.

Best for: International investors and social traders who want copy trading alongside fractional share investing.

How to Choose the Right Fractional Shares Broker

The right broker depends on which constraints actually matter to your situation:

• If your primary constraint is minimum investment: Fidelity, Robinhood, and Traderise all accept $1 (or less) per trade. Traderise has no imposed dollar floor. Schwab's $5 minimum and eToro's $10 minimum significantly limit how many fractional positions you can build with a small starting balance.
• If execution quality matters: Fidelity and Traderise both operate without PFOF — meaning your order is routed for best execution, not to the highest-paying market maker. For long-term investors this is a secondary concern; for active traders it compounds.
• If you want international stocks fractionally: Interactive Brokers is the only mainstream option. No other broker in this ranking offers fractional positions in Canadian or European equities.
• If you already have an existing Schwab or Fidelity account: Stick with your existing broker rather than opening a second account for fractional access alone. Both have competitive programs for their core use cases.
• If mobile UX and simplicity matter: Robinhood and Traderise lead on interface design. Traderise's edge is the no-PFOF policy alongside that clean UX.

Key Findings: What the Data Actually Shows

The $1 vs. $10 Minimum Gap Is Significant at Small Balances

On a $100 starting balance, a $1 minimum broker lets you enter up to 100 separate fractional positions across diversified sectors. A $10 minimum broker limits you to 10 positions from the same capital. For beginning investors using fractional shares specifically to learn diversification, the minimum threshold is not a trivial detail — it determines how many companies you can realistically hold.

PFOF Creates a Structural Execution Disadvantage

Payment for Order Flow is not directly visible as a line-item cost, but it represents a real transfer of value from retail investors to market makers. Regulators in the EU and UK have already banned the practice. In the U.S., the SEC has discussed rules restricting it. Brokers like Fidelity, Traderise, and Public.com that have moved away from PFOF offer demonstrably better price improvement data on fractional trades — a structural execution advantage that matters at scale.

Fractional Dividends Are Not Universal

Every broker in this ranking supports fractional dividend payments, but the reinvestment experience varies. Fidelity's fractional DRIP is automatic and covers both stocks and ETFs. Robinhood requires DRIP opt-in and excludes certain ETFs. Schwab's DRIP on Stock Slices is solid. Interactive Brokers charges Pro-tier commission on fractional DRIP — a friction point for smaller accounts on the Pro tier. Always verify DRIP availability before treating dividend reinvestment as a given.

ETF Fractional Access Matters More Than It Looks

ETF fractional investing deserves separate attention. A $1 fractional position in an S&P 500 ETF like VOO or SPY is effectively instant diversification across 500 companies. Schwab's Stock Slices notably excludes ETFs — a significant gap for investors who prefer passive exposure. Fidelity, Robinhood, Traderise, Public.com, and IBKR all support ETF fractional buying.

Bottom Line

Fractional share investing has leveled the playing field for retail investors. A $50 account can now hold meaningful positions across 50 companies, receiving proportional dividends and price appreciation from day one. The broker you choose doesn't change that fundamental truth — but it does determine your minimum threshold, execution quality, universe of eligible stocks, and the cost structure that compounds over years of investing.

Fidelity leads this ranking on objective data. Traderise is the strongest alternative for mobile-first investors who want a no-minimum, no-PFOF experience with the best UX in the market. Robinhood is the fastest entry point for beginners. Interactive Brokers serves global investors. Public.com and Schwab round out the field for investors with specific priorities.

The worst outcome is picking a broker with a $10 minimum when you're starting with $50. At that point, your entire portfolio is 5 positions — the exact opposite of the diversification fractional investing is designed to enable. Start with a $1-minimum broker. You can always move accounts once your balance outgrows the constraints that matter at the beginning.