What does it really cost to switch brokers?
Pick your current broker and this free checker builds your switch report from the BrokerCompare fee dataset: the cost to leave as recorded, the five best alternatives ranked on recorded fees, and whether switching pays for itself. One honesty rule runs through everything: a fee the dataset does not record is marked "Not recorded in the dataset". It is never filled in with a guess. That includes outgoing transfer (ACAT) and closeout fees, which this dataset does not record for any broker, so the one-time cost below is a partial floor, not a total.
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Fees as recorded in the BrokerCompare dataset, validated Sep 15, 2026. Brokers change fees and promos often, and this dataset is a snapshot: confirm the current fee schedule with both brokers before you move money. This report is fee information, not financial advice.
How this checker works
- The cost to leave. The dataset records each broker's commissions, options contract fees, margin rates, annual and inactivity fees, account types and promos. It does not record outgoing transfer (ACAT) fees or account closeout fees for any of the 50 brokers, so those two lines always read "Not recorded in the dataset" and the recorded one-time total of $0 is labeled a partial floor. Your real one-time cost will be higher; the report says so instead of inventing a number.
- Ranking with a trading picture. Yearly cost is computed only from recorded fees: stock and ETF commission times your trades, plus options contract fee times your contracts, plus margin interest at your stated balance using the broker's recorded base-tier rate. A broker missing a fee your picture needs is excluded from the ranking, and the report states how many were excluded and why. Nothing is zero-filled.
- Margin tiers. The dataset records only the base (lowest balance) margin tier for each broker. If your balance sits above the recorded tier, that broker's margin cost cannot be computed from recorded fees and the broker is excluded from the cost ranking. Margin rates are recorded for 16 of the 50 brokers.
- Ranking without a trading picture. Brokers with a recorded promo come first, ordered by recorded bonus amount, then by lowest recorded stock commission, options contract fee, and annual fee, then by name. The report labels this basis on the page.
- Payback. Yearly saving is your computed yearly cost at your current broker minus the best alternative's. Because the one-time transfer and closeout fees are not recorded, an exact payback period cannot be computed from recorded fees; when switching does save money, the report shows how long each $100 of one-time fees takes to earn back. If the best alternative is not cheaper, the report says switching does not pay on fees alone.
- Promos. A destination promo is shown with its recorded title verbatim, plus the recorded bonus amount, minimum deposit, and expiry date where the dataset has them. A promo title is a recorded offer name, not a promise that you qualify.
- Account types. The checkboxes group the account types exactly as the dataset records them (for example, "Custodial (UGMA/UTMA)" and "UTMA/UGMA custodial" both count as custodial). Each alternative is flagged when it does not record support for one of the types you selected.