Head-to-head comparison across ratings, fees, asset coverage, and platform breadth.
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.
3.7 / 5
Direct-access broker built for active day traders who need DAS Trader Pro, ECN order routing, integrated short locates, and OTC/penny stock access. Strong on short-locate workflow; weak on transparency, mobile, and reputation given multiple FINRA enforcement actions.
Each broker scored 0–5 across the same 8 dimensions.
Green cells mark the winner on each metric. Tie rows are uncoloured.
| Metric | SoFi | SpeedTrader | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| OverallEditorial score | 4.00 / 5 | 3.70 / 5 | SoFi |
| Sub-ratingsCommissions & fees | 4.50 | 3.50 | SoFi |
| Sub-ratingsPlatforms & tools | 3.50 | 4.30 | SpeedTrader |
| Sub-ratingsMobile app | 4.50 | 2.50 | SoFi |
| Sub-ratingsResearch | 3.00 | 2.50 | SoFi |
| Sub-ratingsEducation | 3.50 | 2.50 | SoFi |
| Sub-ratingsCustomer service | 3.50 | 4.00 | SpeedTrader |
| Sub-ratingsRange of investments | 3.50 | 2.80 | SoFi |
| Sub-ratingsActive trading | 3.00 | 4.70 | SpeedTrader |
| PricingLowest margin rate | 4.75% | 8.00% | SoFi |
| PricingDefault cash sweep yield | 0.01% | — | SoFi |
| PricingPFOF on equities | Accepts | Does not accept | SpeedTrader |
| Asset class | SoFi | SpeedTrader |
|---|---|---|
| US stocks (NYSE/Nasdaq) | Yes | |
| OTC / Pink Sheets / OTCQB / OTCQX | No | |
| Fractional shares (Stock Bits) | Yes | |
| Options (single-leg + defined-risk spreads) | Yes | |
| Mutual funds | Yes | Limited |
| US Treasuries | No | |
| Corporate / muni bonds | No | |
| Crypto (direct) | Yes | No |
| International stocks | No | |
| IPO Investing | Yes | |
| Pre-IPO / Private funds | Yes | |
| US stocks (NYSE/Nasdaq/AMEX) | Yes | |
| OTC / Pink Sheets / OTCQX / OTCQB | Yes | |
| Fractional shares | No | |
| Options (equity, ETF, SPX, other indices) | Yes | |
| US Treasuries / bonds | Limited | |
| Foreign stocks ("F" tickers) | Limited | |
| IRAs | No | |
| Cash accounts | No | |
| Hard-to-borrow short locates | Yes |