Margin trading allows investors to amplify their market exposure by borrowing funds from a brokerage, increasing both potential returns and risks. Choosing the right platform is crucial—it impacts everything from trading costs and leverage options to user experience and risk management tools. Whether you're a beginner looking for simplicity or an experienced trader seeking advanced features, this guide explores the top margin trading platforms for 2025, highlighting their strengths, ideal user profiles and key functionalities.
How We Selected the Top Margin Trading Platforms
Our evaluation process focused on several critical factors to ensure comprehensive and trustworthy recommendations:
- Pricing transparency and margin rates: We analyzed fee structures, including interest on borrowed funds and any hidden charges.
- Platform usability: We assessed mobile and desktop interfaces for intuitiveness and accessibility.
- Available assets: We reviewed the range of marginable securities such as stocks, ETFs, options, futures and cryptocurrencies.
- Educational resources: Platforms offering robust learning tools were prioritized, especially for beginner traders.
- Customer support and reliability: Reputation, responsiveness and platform stability played a significant role in our final selections.
1. Best for Mobile Users: Plus500
👉 Discover a streamlined mobile trading experience with powerful leverage tools.
Plus500 is a globally recognized fintech platform specializing in leveraged trading across multiple asset classes. It offers contracts for difference (CFDs) on indices, ETFs, forex, commodities and cryptocurrencies, making it ideal for traders who want diverse market exposure.
Key Features:
- Fast account setup with minimal documentation
- Intuitive mobile-first interface optimized for on-the-go trading
- No commission fees—revenue comes from spreads
- $100 minimum deposit requirement
- 0.7% currency conversion fee when trading in foreign currencies
While Plus500 delivers a seamless experience for active traders, it’s less suited for beginners due to the inherent complexity and risk of CFDs. The platform does not offer traditional stock ownership, so users should understand the implications of derivative-based trading.
Best For: Experienced traders who prioritize mobile accessibility and diversified leveraged instruments.
2. Best for IPO Investing: SoFi
SoFi Active Invest stands out for investors interested in participating in initial public offerings (IPOs) while utilizing margin trading. Known for its customer-centric model, SoFi offers zero commissions, no account minimums and competitive margin rates.
Key Features:
- $0 trading commissions
- No minimum balance to open an account
- Integrated personal finance tools (budgeting, credit score tracking)
- Access to fractional shares and IPO stock allocations
SoFi’s margin trading feature—called "Instant Diversification"—allows eligible users to borrow against their portfolio at competitive rates. Its straightforward interface makes it accessible, though advanced charting and analytics are limited compared to specialized platforms.
Best For: New and intermediate investors who value simplicity, low costs and access to emerging market opportunities like IPOs.
3. Best for Low Cost with Global Reach: Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a top choice for active traders seeking low margin rates and access to global markets. With one of the most extensive selections of marginable securities worldwide, IBKR supports trading in equities, options, futures, forex and bonds across over 150 markets.
Key Features:
- Industry-low tiered margin rates that decrease with higher loan balances
- Advanced platforms: Trader Workstation (desktop), Client Portal (web) and mobile app
- Real-time margin calculations and risk monitoring tools
- Portfolio Margin available for qualified accounts, enabling higher leverage based on risk-based models
Despite its power, the platform’s complexity can be overwhelming for new traders. Additionally, inactivity fees may apply for low-balance accounts with minimal trading activity.
Best For: Sophisticated traders who demand global market access, cost efficiency and granular control over margin usage.
4. Best for Mobile Margin Trading: Webull
👉 Access competitive margin rates with a sleek mobile-first design built for modern traders.
Webull combines zero-commission trading with robust margin capabilities in a highly visual, mobile-optimized environment. It appeals to both novice and active traders looking for advanced tools without paying premium fees.
Key Features:
- Tiered margin interest rates (lower with higher balances)
- Free Level II market data and advanced technical analysis tools
- Paper trading feature to simulate margin strategies risk-free
- Cryptocurrency trading available (margin access varies by asset)
The platform supports margin trading on U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs and options. While its asset selection isn’t as broad as some competitors, it covers most instruments used in leveraged strategies.
Best For: Tech-savvy traders who prefer mobile accessibility, real-time data and practice tools before going live.
5. Best for Beginners: Robinhood
Robinhood revolutionized retail investing with its commission-free model and minimalist mobile interface. It offers margin trading through Robinhood Gold, a subscription service that unlocks extended hours trading and lower interest rates.
Key Features:
- $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and options
- Simple dashboard showing buying power and margin balance
- Tiered margin rates based on borrowed amount
- Requires $2,000 minimum portfolio value to qualify for margin
While easy to use, Robinhood lacks depth in research tools and customer support responsiveness. It's best suited for those just starting with leverage rather than complex portfolio management.
Best For: Entry-level investors who want an easy entry point into margin trading with minimal friction.
6. Best for Comprehensive Resources: Fidelity
Fidelity blends reliability with rich educational content and competitive margin pricing. As a long-standing financial institution, it offers peace of mind along with powerful tools for both conservative and aggressive traders.
Key Features:
- Tiered margin rates that improve with larger debit balances
- Extensive research reports, market insights and webinars
- Active Trader Pro platform for advanced order types and risk analysis
- Margin calculators and scenario planning tools
Fidelity supports margin on stocks, ETFs, options and select mutual funds. Though options trades carry a per-contract fee, overall pricing remains competitive.
Best For: Investors who value education, platform stability and a full-service brokerage experience.
7. Best for Education: Tastytrade
Tastytrade is purpose-built for active options traders who rely on data-driven strategies and continuous learning. Its unique blend of live programming, risk modeling and intuitive design sets it apart.
Key Features:
- $1 per-contract fee (capped at $10 per leg) for opening options trades; closing is free
- Commission-free stock trading
- Portfolio Margin available for accounts with $110,000+ equity
- Live educational streams covering volatility, probability analysis and trade setups
The platform emphasizes risk-adjusted returns and transparency in margin impact. However, its niche focus on options may not suit stock-only investors.
Best For: Active traders focused on options strategies who want deep educational integration and analytical precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is margin trading?
Margin trading involves borrowing money from a broker to buy securities, increasing your purchasing power. While this can magnify gains, it also increases potential losses and exposes you to margin calls if the account value drops.
Which platform has the lowest margin rates?
Interactive Brokers consistently offers some of the lowest margin interest rates, especially for larger borrowing amounts. Fidelity and Tastytrade also provide competitive tiered pricing structures.
Is margin trading safe for beginners?
Margin trading carries significant risk and is generally not recommended for inexperienced investors. Platforms like Robinhood and Webull offer simplified interfaces that can help new users learn gradually—but caution is essential.
Can I trade crypto on margin?
Yes, some platforms like Plus500 and Webull allow cryptocurrency margin trading. However, crypto volatility makes this particularly risky—only experienced traders should consider it.
What is Portfolio Margin?
Portfolio Margin is an advanced feature offered by brokers like Interactive Brokers and Tastytrade that calculates margin requirements based on overall portfolio risk rather than individual positions, potentially allowing higher leverage.
How do I avoid a margin call?
Monitor your maintenance margin ratio regularly, maintain sufficient equity in your account and use stop-loss orders to manage downside risk effectively.
Choosing the right margin trading platform depends on your experience level, preferred assets, cost sensitivity and need for educational support. From beginner-friendly interfaces like Robinhood to professional-grade systems like Interactive Brokers and Tastytrade, there’s a solution tailored to every type of trader in 2025.