Head-to-head comparison across ratings, fees, asset coverage, and platform breadth.
4.0 / 5
For active day traders and short sellers with $27K+ in capital who need multi-source HTB locates, true DMA without PFOF, and a human picking up the phone. Not a fit for buy-and-hold, beginners, or anyone who wants a polished mobile app.
4.0 / 5
Best one-app financial life for beginners and casual investors. Unbeatable on $0 options + IPO access + 1% IRA match. Avoid if you trade OTC, options spreads professionally, or hold meaningful idle cash.
Each broker scored 0–5 across the same 8 dimensions.
Green cells mark the winner on each metric. Tie rows are uncoloured.
| Metric | Cobra | SoFi | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| OverallEditorial score | 4.00 / 5 | 4.00 / 5 | Tie |
| Sub-ratingsCommissions & fees | 4.50 | 4.50 | Tie |
| Sub-ratingsPlatforms & tools | 4.50 | 3.50 | Cobra |
| Sub-ratingsMobile app | 2.00 | 4.50 | SoFi |
| Sub-ratingsResearch | 2.50 | 3.00 | SoFi |
| Sub-ratingsEducation | 2.00 | 3.50 | SoFi |
| Sub-ratingsCustomer service | 4.50 | 3.50 | Cobra |
| Sub-ratingsRange of investments | 3.00 | 3.50 | SoFi |
| Sub-ratingsActive trading | 5.00 | 3.00 | Cobra |
| PricingLowest margin rate | 5.25% | 4.75% | SoFi |
| PricingDefault cash sweep yield | — | 0.01% | SoFi |
| PricingPFOF on equities | Does not accept | Accepts | Cobra |
| Asset class | Cobra | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| US stocks (NYSE/Nasdaq/AMEX) | Yes | |
| OTC / Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | |
| Fractional shares | No | |
| Options (multi-leg + spreads) | Yes | |
| Mutual funds | No | Yes |
| US Treasuries / bonds | No | |
| Crypto (direct) | No | Yes |
| International stocks / ADRs | No | |
| Hard-to-borrow short locates | Yes | |
| US stocks (NYSE/Nasdaq) | Yes | |
| OTC / Pink Sheets / OTCQB / OTCQX | No | |
| Fractional shares (Stock Bits) | Yes | |
| Options (single-leg + defined-risk spreads) | Yes | |
| US Treasuries | No | |
| Corporate / muni bonds | No | |
| International stocks | No | |
| IPO Investing | Yes | |
| Pre-IPO / Private funds | Yes |