What is the best brokerage to buy stocks in 2026? Updated guide of the top 8 platforms

With the exponential growth of digital access to financial markets and the increasing participation of individual investors in the Brazilian stock exchange, choosing the right brokerage has become crucial for investor success. In 2026, options are abundant: from traditional institutions to specialized platforms, each offering distinct value propositions. Identifying the best brokerage to buy stocks is no longer a simple question and requires careful analysis of multiple factors.

This guide provides an updated analysis of the top 8 brokerages operating in Brazil, focusing on helping you find the platform best suited to your profile, goals, and investment strategy. Whether you’re a beginner entering the market for the first time or an experienced trader seeking advanced tools, the right decision depends on understanding how each institution differs.

What Really Matters When Choosing a Brokerage

Many investors make the mistake of focusing solely on brokerage fees. In reality, selecting a good platform to buy stocks involves a much broader analysis. User experience, execution speed, resource security, asset variety, and support quality are factors that directly impact long-term results.

A brokerage with an intuitive interface and well-structured tools can make the difference between a successful operation and one filled with operational errors. Similarly, institutions offering low costs but slow or complex platforms can become unproductive. Therefore, the best brokerage to buy stocks should be chosen based on your individual profile, not just generic ratings.

Key criteria include:

• Cost structure: Brokerage fees, custody, currency spread, TED/Pix fees
• Product variety: Stocks, ETFs, BDRs, fixed income, funds, international assets
• Platform and usability: Interfaces for different experience levels (mobile vs. desktop, simple vs. advanced)
• Security and regulation: Compliance with CVM, Central Bank, SEC, ASIC, or other relevant regulators
• Access to international markets: Ease of investing in US, European, or other currencies
• Support and education: Humanized support, educational content, advisory services

For Beginners: Simplicity and Easy Access

If you’re a novice investor seeking a smooth entry into the stock market, three platforms stand out for their simplicity, low cost, and lack of unnecessary technical complexity.

Banco Inter: Total integration between account and investments

Banco Inter offers a unified experience: you manage your finances and investments in the same place. The platform is 100% mobile, with a user-friendly interface and intuitive category navigation. Cost-wise, it’s attractive: zero brokerage fees for stocks, ETFs, BDRs, and REITs, with no additional custody fees.

The key advantage is instant transfer between bank account and investment platform, both fee-free. This integration reduces operational friction and makes investing a natural extension of your financial life. The bank also provides access to Tesouro Direto, private fixed income, and international funds via its partnership with Vitreo.

Ideal for: Investors who value centralizing everything in one place and prefer to avoid accounts in multiple institutions.

Nomad: start with US$1 in the American market

Nomad democratizes access to the US market. Account opening takes minutes, fund transfers via Pix are instant, and you can start investing in stocks and ETFs listed on NYSE and Nasdaq with a minimum investment of just US$1.

The platform is fully in Portuguese, with a modern, accessible interface. The currency spread on the free plan is 2%, reduced to 1% with the paid Nomad Pass plan. Additionally, your dollar balance earns interest automatically. Custody is held with DriveWealth, a FINRA-regulated institution.

Ideal for: Beginner investors wanting exposure to the US market without bureaucracy and with minimal capital.

Avenue: gateway to US investments with local support

Avenue was created specifically to facilitate Brazilian access to the US stock exchange. Acquired by Itaú in 2022, it gained even more credibility and structure. The platform offers free brokerage, a variable currency spread between 0.5% and 2% depending on the plan, and a dollar-denominated savings account.

Its main differential is full support in Portuguese, combined with Avenue Exchange, which allows remittances via Pix with real-time exchange rates. You can invest in US stocks, ETFs, REITs, and US fixed income (Treasuries and corporate bonds).

Ideal for: Investors seeking exposure to US stocks but wanting local support, Portuguese-language education, and Pix integration.

Platforms for Active Traders: Advanced Tools and Fast Execution

For those who trade frequently and rely on technical analysis, professional charts, and automated orders, three other brokerages offer robust infrastructure:

Mitrade: global derivatives with low cost and leverage

Mitrade specializes in CFDs (contracts for difference) on international stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Instead of directly buying the stock, you operate a derivative that reflects its movement. This allows profit from both rising and falling markets, with leverage up to 1:20.

Regulated by ASIC (Australia), it offers zero brokerage, embedded spreads, and tools like stop loss, take profit, and trailing stop. Supports Python and provides a free, unlimited demo account for strategy practice. Minimum deposit is just US$5, and Pix is accepted for transfers.

Ideal for: Experienced traders wanting to operate global stock derivatives with leverage flexibility and no ownership of the underlying asset.

Clear Corretora: zero brokerage for B3 with a focus on day trading

Clear specializes in equities and is geared toward active traders. Part of XP Inc., it offers zero brokerage for stocks, options, and mini-contracts. The Clear Pro + Profit Pro platform is free for clients with monthly trading volume over R$100,000 or a minimum balance of R$5,000.

Features include tape reading, automatic orders, real-time charts, and professional technical analysis integration. Custody is free, and execution is fast. Support is digital (chat) and help center, maintaining a lean structure and low costs.

Ideal for: Day traders and swing traders with high-frequency operations familiar with technical tools.

XP Investments: a complete ecosystem with multiple experiences

XP Investimentos is one of Brazil’s largest brokerages, with over 4 million clients. It offers zero brokerage in the XP app and from R$4.90 on the professional Profit platform. Products include stocks, BDRs, ETFs, derivatives, fixed income, funds, and international stocks via XP Global.

Its strength lies in the ecosystem: the XP App for beginners, Xpeed Pro and Profit for technical traders, access to professional reports, webinars, and free personalized advisory. Listed on Nasdaq, it’s regulated by CVM and the Central Bank.

Ideal for: Investors seeking a comprehensive ecosystem with tools for all experience levels and scalability as they grow.

Brokerages Focused on Structure and Reliability

Some institutions prioritize solidity, diversified product offerings, and personalized service:

BTG Pactual Investimentos: investment bank for retail

BTG Pactual is one of Latin America’s largest investment banks. The BTG Pactual Investimentos platform combines institutional strength with accessible digital experience. It offers zero brokerage in the BTG app and R$2.50 to R$7.50 in BTG Trader, depending on the plan.

Products include stocks, BDRs, ETFs, derivatives, funds, fixed income, and access to international funds via BTG Pactual Digital Global. It features reports from BTG Research, structured educational content, and specialized consulting. Regulated by CVM and the Central Bank.

Ideal for: Intermediate to experienced investors valuing professional analysis and a large bank’s infrastructure.

Modal Investimentos: cost-benefit with strong education

Modal (now Modalmais) belongs to XP Inc. and offers a balance between cost, technology, and education. It provides free brokerage for stocks, ETFs, and FIIs, free access to advanced platforms (Modal Trader and Profit Pro) with trading volume, and integration with XP reports.

Its educational offerings are strong: courses, live sessions, and analytical content via Modal Educa. Supports international investments through Modal global account. Custody is free, and TED/Pix are fee-free.

Ideal for: Investors transitioning from beginner to active, seeking quality education combined with low costs.

Quick Table: Find Your Best Stock Buying Broker

How to Get Started: Next Steps to Begin Investing

Once you’ve identified the best brokerage for buying stocks according to your profile, the next step is to open an account. Most institutions offer fully digital onboarding, with minimal bureaucracy. You’ll typically need your CPF, proof of residence, and identity verification (usually via selfie and document).

After opening your account, it’s recommended to:

1. Explore demo or simulation environments: Many brokerages offer free training environments. Use them to familiarize yourself with the platform risk-free.

2. Start small: You don’t need to allocate large capital initially. Test the experience with smaller investments until comfortable.

3. Utilize educational content: All listed platforms provide webinars, courses, and articles. Use these to improve your investment strategy.

4. Monitor actual costs: Keep track of the fees you’re paying. Sometimes the “cheapest” plan isn’t the most economical for your trading profile.

5. Consider multiple brokerages: There’s no restriction on having accounts in different platforms. Some investors keep a long-term portfolio in a simple brokerage and tactical operations in another more technical one.

Conclusion: Your Market Journey Starts Now

The question “which is the best brokerage to buy stocks” doesn’t have a single answer. It depends on you—your experience, goals, initial capital, willingness to learn, and risk tolerance. This guide provided a map of the main options available in 2026, highlighting strengths and limitations of each.

The most important thing is to make an informed decision and start. The stock market offers real opportunities for wealth building, diversification, and passive income. Choosing the right brokerage is just the first step—discipline, continuous education, and alignment with your personal financial goals are what truly set successful investors apart.

Pick your brokerage, open your account, and take the next step. The market awaits.