Payment for order flow, trading restrictions during volatility, and margin call nightmares. I analyze the terms that affect your investment accounts and trading freedom.
Side-by-side comparison of consumer fairness scores across major stock trading platforms.
| Platform | Score | Grade | Key Gotcha | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
E
E*TRADE
Best in Category
|
65 | B- | Traditional broker with PFOF practices | View Review → |
|
F
Fidelity
|
58 | C+ | Still requires mandatory arbitration | View Review → |
|
W
Webull
|
52 | C | Chinese ownership, extensive data sharing | View Review → |
|
R
Robinhood
Lowest in Category
|
45 | C- | GameStop restrictions, aggressive PFOF | View Review → |
All platforms sell your order flow to market makers. This may result in worse execution prices compared to direct market access, often undisclosed in detail.
Platforms reserve broad rights to restrict trading during market volatility. The GameStop incident showed how quickly buying can be restricted.
Brokers can liquidate positions without notice during margin calls. You have limited control over which securities are sold and at what price.
Many platforms automatically enroll accounts in securities lending programs, allowing them to lend your shares to short sellers without explicit consent.
Click through for complete analysis of each platform's terms of service.
If you've experienced trading restrictions, unauthorized liquidation, or account issues with your broker, we have resources to help you understand your rights.
Need help understanding your rights or resolving a brokerage dispute?