Webull, like Robinhood*, is a popular stock trading app where newbie and experienced investors alike can buy and sell stocks for free, also known as commission-free trading.
Webull stands out, however, for its access to tax-advantaged IRAs so users can also make sure that they're safekeeping funds for retirement.
Below, CNBC Select reviews Webull's current offerings to give you the details on the investment options, features and fees so you can decide if it's right for your needs.
Webull
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum required to open an account or to start investing
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs and options; regulatory transaction fees, exchange fees and options contract fees may apply.
Bonus
Rotating welcome promotions, including free stock awards and deposit match bonuses of up to 4% on qualifying deposits. Premium subscribers ($3.99/month or $40/year) also earn a 3.5% match on IRA contributions.
Investment vehicles
Brokerage account: Webull commission-free investing IRA: Traditional, Roth, Rollover IRAs Robo-advisor: Webull Smart Advisor
Investment options
Stocks, ETFs, options, fractional shares, IPOs, ADRs, OTC stocks, futures, US Treasuries, bonds and select cryptocurrencies through Webull Crypto
Educational resources
Webull offers educational resources, including beginner guides, advanced trading strategies and a paper trading simulator to practice risk-free with virtual funds.
Terms apply.
Pros
- $0 minimum deposit to open an account and invest
- Commission-free trading stocks, ETFs, and options
- Advanced charting tools with 50+ technical indicators
- Extended trading hours available 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday, on select securities
- Paper trading simulator lets you practice strategies risk-free before investing real money
- Wide range of investment options including futures, bonds and crypto
- Access to tax-advantaged IRAs with a 3.5% contribution match through Webull Premium
Cons
- Self-directed platform (users are responsible for their own investment decisions with limited guidance)
- No mutual funds available
- Limited account types (no joint, custodial, trust or HSA accounts)
- Educational tools are limited compared to full-service brokerages
Webull review
Investment options
With Webull, you can trade stocks, options, ETFs and crypto with zero commissions. Investors also have access to IPO and fractional shares, making it easy to get in on a company before it goes public or buy a fraction of a share belonging to a big-name (and potentially expensive) stock. Webull currently offers trading for more than 5,000 stocks and ETFs and over 30 different types of cryptocurrencies.
While active investors will enjoy the commission-free trading, they can also open a traditional, Roth or Rollover IRA with Webull, giving themselves the option to manage their retirement funds along with their stocks all in one place.
It's important to note that there's no mutual fund investing through Webull. While an ETF can still provide that instant investment diversification you may be looking for, those looking for mutual funds can otherwise set up a separate brokerage account with someone like Fidelity, Charles Schwab or robo-advisor Betterment.
Features
Webull stands out mostly for its easy-to-use, commission-free trading platform and retirement-saving accounts. If you are new to stock trading, there is a helpful Webull blog where, under the "education" section, you can read about understanding cryptocurrency or the basic 101 of trading.
Currently, Webull users can get a bonus of five free stocks when they open and fund a new account: Sign up with Webull to get your two free stocks, each valued up to $300. Deposit any amount to receive three free stocks, each valued up to $3,000.
The platform also offers users a customizable desktop version of its platform if you prefer to trade on a bigger screen and investors have extensive extended trading hours before and after the market closes: 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. ET and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday. However, you can trade crypto seven days a week for 23 hours a day (crypto trading is unavailable between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET) on Webull.
Compared to Robinhood* and some other more basic investing apps, WeBull offers more advanced trading indicators, charts, screeners and customization which can be useful for intermediate to advanced traders.
Webull's app is available to download for free in both the App Store (for iOS), where it has 4.7/5 stars, and on Google Play (for Android), where is has 4.4/5 stars at the time this article was written.
Fees
Webull has no minimums to open an account and users don't need to reach a minimum to start investing, either.
Webull doesn't charge commission fees to trade stocks, options, ETFs or crypto.
Bottom line
Webull is a great investing platform, especially if you're an active trader who want lots of options, low costs, advanced trading tools and the ability to save for retirement all in one place.
More hands-off investors may want to consider mutual fund investing through the brokers we mentioned above, or an automated investing solution. SoFi Invest®*, for example, has a robo-advisor option with zero account management fees and no minimum requirements. It offers a broad range of low-cost ETFs and will automatically rebalance your portfolio on a quarterly basis. Read our full SoFi Invest review.
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*INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
*(Review Robinhood disclosures here.)
